TFC 2022-2023 player off-season roster discussion

[jloome]

Sam Adekugbe to MLS? TFC? Maybe. I suspect not anytime soon given any mindset. He is dealing with the aftermath of living through the experience and the real prospect of having to find, then likely bury, his friend and teammate Christian Atsu; as well as colleague, Sporting Director Taner Savut. Himself, a Turkish former defender and right-back. By all accounts, Adekugbe was celebrating Atsu's match winner with him merely a few hours before this tragedy happened.

Good point. He actually went back into the buildings to help search for survivors. He'll be dealing with trauma from that for months at a minimum.

I had a friend who worked as a journalist with the Toronto police and other departments when they were investigating and preparing to bust the largest child porn ring in global history. She saw most of the material they saw, and that had her out of action for months, with a lot of counselling required. Sam's going to be facing something pretty similar, I imagine.

[Mr. Inbetween]

Let's Go... TFC vs. LAFC... Club Friendlies @ 2PM Today.

[jloome]

Let's Go... TFC vs. LAFC... Club Friendlies @ 2PM Today.

When I was a kid in England in the 70s, Subbuteo was so dope. They had a version where the players could actually kick, if you pushed down on their heads. Not sure if that was a competitor or not.

I had subbuteo cricket, complete with a bowler who had a little ramp at the end of his cupped hand to deliver the ball and a batsman with a bat you could bring back and swing using a little pull tie.

Awesome stuff. It's funny to think there are multiple Subbuteo Jimmy Brennans out there.

[OgtheDim]

Check out this tweet at https://twitter.com/TorontoFC/status/1624482623744507905

Interesting lineup

Oh, and then there is this

Check out this tweet at https://twitter.com/TorontoFC/status/1624492868231372802

[leedsandTFC]

so no oso and kaye today, and vazquez was just withdrawn in the 35th minute and replaced by a teenager...

it would be malpractice if we didn't sign at least one more midfielder before the season started...

[leedsandTFC]

to echo what jloome said previously, it woudl be nice to get some more communication from the club.

we're playing a friendly today without 2 of our 3 starting midfielders and we havent heard a word from the club why.

[Defoe]

so no oso and kaye today, and vazquez was just withdrawn in the 35th minute and replaced by a teenager...

it would be malpractice if we didn't sign at least one more midfielder before the season started...

It’s a disgrace. Oso misses one game and we are already exposed.

[leedsandTFC]

johnson got subbed out and they conceded 2 mins later.

granted they have mostly TFC II guys out there now, but good to see that SJ has only conceded 1 goal in like 115 mins, and it was a rebound off a save from a breakaway.

[reggie]

we have a 36 yr old a 35 yr old and 2 guys that have been injury prone the last couple of years.one had a serious head injury.we need a starter in the mid

[SenorDingDong]

johnson got subbed out and they conceded 2 mins later.

granted they have mostly TFC II guys out there now, but good to see that SJ has only conceded 1 goal in like 115 mins, and it was a rebound off a save from a breakaway.

Defensively so far, I like what I see when we have our starting 11 out.

First game - first 45 min was our full roster basically. We end 0-0 with a Berna missed pen.

This game - first 55 min is our full roster almost. We end 1-1 against reigning MLS cup champs.

I know we are not scoring a lot, but I would much rather have our defense solid. Goals will come.

[jloome]

Defensively so far, I like what I see when we have our starting 11 out.

First game - first 45 min was our full roster basically. We end 0-0 with a Berna missed pen.

This game - first 55 min is our full roster almost. We end 1-1 against reigning MLS cup champs.

I know we are not scoring a lot, but I would much rather have our defense solid. Goals will come.

I have no idea what formation we were playing today, with that lineup. 442?

[leedsandTFC]

I have no idea what formation we were playing today, with that lineup. 442?

yes, a 4-4-2.

it's more obvious than ever now we need midfielders.

considering bob mentioned strengthening the midfield when asked last week about if squad building was done, you've got to think they are working on something.

[OgtheDim]

How does Dimonande, Jimenez, Insigne & Berni fit into a 4-4-2?

[leedsandTFC]

How does Dimonande, Jimenez, Insigne & Berni fit into a 4-4-2?

insigne lm, berna rm, dio and jj upfront

[jloome]

THat means our central midfield for 55 minutes was 37-year-old Victor Vasquez and 35-year-old Michael Bradley.

Strewth. Sure hope nothing's wrong with Oso or MAK, because we are THIN.

[ag futbol]

What exactly was the centre midfield 2 to start this game. Bradley - VV?

I appreciate that our Italian DPs are very well rounded and chip in more of their share of defending across the midfield 4 but that’s just not a fast enough CM pairing. We’ll get carved open.

We should never be setup like that.

[Red CB Toronto]

[leedsandTFC]

it sounds like lafc barely had a chance while starters were in, scored the winner 10 mins after starters were removed and 2 mins after johnson was removed.

the main takeaway though is that we badly, badly need another 2 midfielders.

[Section 223]

it sounds like lafc barely had a chance while starters were in, scored the winner 10 mins after starters were removed and 2 mins after johnson was removed.

the main takeaway though is that we badly, badly need another 2 midfielders.

Many fans have been asking for Bob to address this need for midfielders many months ago , he lets midfield depth leave club and brings in 35 year old who had mobility issues when he first played here, and still continues to play his son without any kind of a break. If an Italian goes down with injury this will turn into another year of punishment for us supporters

[jloome]

Seems LAFC left their starters on for most of the second half.

[Initial B]

I'm assuming that BB is going to wait until June to bring in additional reinforcements, which no doubt will be some midfielders.

[jloome]

I'm assuming that BB is going to wait until June to bring in additional reinforcements, which no doubt will be some midfielders.

Still two weeks to go, still time to pick up another body.

[leedsandTFC]

Still two weeks to go, still time to pick up another body.

yep, with the recent nelson transfer and bringing up unprompted that they were looking to strengthen the midfield, i'd be shocked if we didnt have someone else in before the 1st game

[OgtheDim]

Two weeks

Man the PTSD around this place

[jloome]

Man the PTSD around this place

It's been at least four years since any of us started a season with overwhelming confidence. I'm genuinely concerned that our backup players are too young and inexperienced to be major replacements if someone goes down in the midfield.

I think we have a potentially dominant first team. But between the absence of depth and my skepticism about our tactical approach and/or the coaching thereof, whichever contributed more to the issues, I'd just be a whole lot less worried if they found one more veteran, solid, dependable midfielder.

So... yeah, TFCPTSD, basically.

[los sonadores]

As others have mentioned, only cursory reporting on the team (no reports bothers mentioning our 35 year old + midfield or why Oso and Kaye are not on the pitch - their injuries were one of our downfalls last season) doesn’t help confidence. Let’s hope to god or whomever that the Nelson transfer leads to more depth before the season opens. We need a midfielder pretty desperately and someone who can back up both Layrea and Petretta or at least a rightback - Richie can play on the left if needed).

[Hala Hrvatska]

I'm assuming that BB is going to wait until June to bring in additional reinforcements, which no doubt will be some midfielders.

Far to late. We need them now.

We must start of out the gate strong.

This is bordering on absolute negligence if we don't add midfielders.

[NK Toronto]

Starting to wonder if re-signing Osorio was a good idea. This guy can't stay healthy.

[Bushmancan]

Far to late. We need them now.

We must start of out the gate strong.

This is bordering on absolute negligence if we don't add midfielders.

Agreed, the only thing that keeps me optimistic, this type of acquisition can be handled through GAM and signing a couple of solid workhorse midfielders. Might need to be done through a trade however, who is still out there that we can get before the summer starts. Saying wait to the summer is a story we have heard before.

[leedsandTFC]

Far to late. We need them now.

We must start of out the gate strong.

This is bordering on absolute negligence if we don't add midfielders.

fully agree with this, if we don't add another midfielder (at least) before the season starts it would be negligence, not bordering on it.

signs point to us doing it though, so let's hope something gets done this week.