again, this is just all wrong.
we have 4 wins, 3 draws and 2 losses in games insigne and berna started (half of those they were getting up to speed).
replace bono with average mls GK who makes 1 howler in that stretch, not 6 or 7 and we end up with probably 7 wins 2 draws, and that's before you add in starters in a few other spots, which we surely will, including a new DP.
i still think we're a couple seasons away from being a philly 2022 level contender, but we're only 2/3 starting players away from being a really good team right now.
"There are some people who might have better technique than me, and some may be fitter than me, but the main thing is tactics. With most players, tactics are missing. You can divide tactics into insight, trust, and daring." - Johan Cruyff
Maybe this is my hot take but we have the best player in the league who can score goals from nothing and a very solid second DP. Both guys are defensively responsible too which is rare.
If we solidify through the spine of the team anything is possible here. We need 1-2 guys who are very solid, and everyone else can simply be a dependable professional who does a job.
We are sandbagging ourselves with youth players + Bono at the moment. Makes things seem way worse than what they are.
"There are some people who might have better technique than me, and some may be fitter than me, but the main thing is tactics. With most players, tactics are missing. You can divide tactics into insight, trust, and daring." - Johan Cruyff
For sure. I’m getting more in the camp of fortify everything and worry less about a new striker as DP.
Play to the strength of your best players. Control the middle of the field, make yourself hard to beat and lean on your stars to find goals. Quit throwing everyone forward and pressing all the time, leaving us open at the back.
Bob has to come out of his 4-3-3 Ivory tower and prove he can still coach, rather than just be an idealist.
The 4-3-1-2 last week after Montreal clogged up the wing outlets was about three games later than he should've first tried it.
Insigne and Bernadeschi have both proven their vision is so good they can play inside midfield and forward roles and we lose nothing. He basically has full tactical flexibility at this point if we sign at least one defensive midfielder, a real anchor/bulldog type.
He's horrible to play against but Frankie Amaya's having that kind of year at Red Bull. He's usually hovering between five and seven tackles per game and he makes it very hard to build up against them.
Struber was shit at Barnsley, where the lack of parity in spending meant he couldn't fit players to roles. But playing Gegenpress 4-2-2-2 with role players in each spot, NYRB is pretty good this year.
The exact opposite, in a way, of what we're doing, which is more total football aimed: all three eights can switch places and roles, wingers underlap to allow fullbacks to attack. Central defenders sometimes join the attack, forwards drop back to cover holes....
I'm not sure our route fits MLS particularly well even with our spend. It would be nice if we could revert to the opposite on a moment's notice, take advantage of the fact that the one thing young, fit, unexperienced players should be able to learn to do quickly is press high.
It's weird, too, because Marsch is a Bob disciple. He even called him for advice before the start of Leeds' season, according to a Guardian profile today.
Last edited by jloome; 09-14-2022 at 11:31 AM.
Amaya is exactly the type of player I was thinking about. I want the first thing going through any opposing AM or forward’s mind who receives the ball with his back to goal to be “I’m going to get plastered”
I do sort of wonder if they'd almost prefer we didn't make the playoffs. With the world cup coming up, that's a valuable month of transfer work. And we have a lot of needs, still.
Yeah, I hate that guy. Plus, because he's short and stocky, he usually actually manages to avoid fouling the other guy. Usually. But fuck, he's annoying whenever TFC plays NYRB. I hate his tenacious desire to destroy our midfielders so much, I'd probably have a hard time with him coming to TFC. Until he did it for us, and then I'd probably get over it really quickly.
Rumours online that insigne's wife had a miscarriage.
Horrible news if true.
I've been thinking this all year. Firstly for the reason you mentioned and secondly to rest our DPs with a good long off season.
Pretty sure MLSE isn't thinking this but I suspect it's at least a silver lining for BB and maybe Manning.
But that will just compound the pressure to have a great 2023.
It's unfortunately very common. It's basically a coin flip. You would think with how common it is, people in general would be aware of that. My wife and I only learned that fact from the doctor at the hospital (this was a few years ago). I only mention all this to help normalize this as a topic. It's soul crushing in the moment, but it gets better.
DAZN Italia... TFC: Toronto - Little Italy... feature...
Insigne and Criscito are my kind of footballers... character wise; full-stop.
And why I have an affinity for MBradley.
Yet, Bernardeschi...
His performance/s aside... his personality... it draws one in; it is infectious.
I am lucky to understand Italian. Some of this comes across in his broken English; like his 'Com'on TFC' ear-worm!
If it wasn't for that language barrier though, for others missing a nuanced understanding in the way he communicates,
The ease and humility, a twinkle of wonderment in his eyes...
Maybe, probably, TFC's best 'complete marketing package' signing ever so far.
In a segment of that feature...
He is presented with a gift of image personalized footballing moments guitar picks...
Enjoys, loves to play; a passion of his.
Asked if he has any regrets...
Replies without pause... No... None/Zero...( explains with all that he has been a part of, done, accomplished with his teammates at club and national levels)...
Then states...
If I close my eyes, (go back and) ask that boy at Fiorentina (Youth), what dreams did you have?
These!
BTW, thanks DAZN, rumours visually confirmed...
Lives west-side, in my neighborhood!
Basically, just down the street.
About a 5 minute walk / kilometer from my home.
I truly love Berna man, think he may become my favorite TFC player of all time for what he does on and off the pitch. (Currently Giovinco and Osorio are up there for #1).
A couple days ago they had some sort of Amazon workers family day that got invited to BMO Training, Berna and a few other players were there greeting them.
I had two friends who went, said Berna was there, meeting everyone and was such a nice guy.
Glad I bought his jersey!
Side Note - I really hope Manning and BB are talking to Berna on players who may want to come from Italy. He mentioned a lot had reached out...