Originally Posted by
Auzzy
I think Insigne was the wrong DP, found in the wrong way.
However, now he's ours. The next big problems came after the signing: not finding him the proper supporting cast, and not coaching and playing the team in a way that gets the most out of him and everyone else.
Against a team like Philly, you see there's a MASSIVE void in the centre of TFC's midfield and front line. MAK is incredibly hot and cold, and not very fast. The fact that he was not pulled after his giveaway for the fourth goal, after a number of previous similar screw-ups, shows us that we're incredibly weak in that area, and/or that BB is blind. (Or is BB blinded by his belief in himself?)
Osorio is very good, but he's never been very fast, and now he's 30. Seeing him trying to track back on the third goal against was telling. He should be playing with a couple of young dynamic players up the centre, not MAK and...
Michael Bradley. Enough said. He would also be OK with a couple of young fast workhorses around him, but not with the above two.
The even bigger problem is at centre forward of course. Trying to put Insigne up there against a team like Philly is a testament to failure. Of course he didn't spend much time at CF in the first half, but that left a big void up front. Almost zero pressure on Philly's defence helped them to control the game all over the park.
Can they please hire a running coach for Perruzza (and others)? It's amazing to see someone run so un-athletically at age 22. It affects everything he's trying to do up there, and again applies minimal pressure on the opposing defence, while opening no space for Insigne and Berna. Our other young backup forward, Ayo, has also become very unathletic. You see plenty of young cheap forwards around MLS: even if they aren't incredibly gifted, they create pressure and havoc in the middle, open up room for everyone else, and get into spaces where they can walk in or tap in a goal.
I can't even remember who our top centre forwards were supposed to be this season. Wasn't it Diomande and someone else? What a freaking disaster.
TFC's has lots of talented players, especially Insigne and Berna, but too many of them are best on the sides of the pitch. We have depth there and can make meaningful subs. But with the spine mostly empty, and no quick movement up or down the middle, it becomes quite easy to defend against the wing play, and to put too much pressure on our central defence.
Coello and others offered some meaningful contributions in the middle. There is hope, if BB can see what is needed, and if they have a bit more turnover in the summer.
All that being said, Insigne had two other glorious chances that a player on his salary NEEDS to bury. That would have totally changed the complexion of the game. Perhaps a bit of rust after his layoff? I hope so.