Match Day 25 - Impact @ TFC Sunday Aug 20 7:38 pm - OH Baby

[Mr. Inbetween]

I don't know if Dunfield is that creative but I would try and with a couple changes:

--------------Romero--------------
Blessing--Rosted-Mabika--Petretta

------------Osorio-Ibarra--

---Mailula------Insigne------Bernardeschi

----------------Owusu

Really like jloomes insight on this formation, though I prefer the exact same tweaks as you have suggested. Unfortunately, I cannot see Dunfield keeping both Osorio and Bradley off the pitch at the start. I agree with jloome that historically Fede has enjoyed more success in areas left-to-centre than right-to-centre. IIUC, the 4-2-3-1 seems to be giving CFMTL issues. In the end, I do not think Terry would even field these set-ups of the formation we seem to want. At best, if he does use the 4-2-3-1, it would most likely be...

------------------Romero-----------------
---Blessing--Rosted-Mabika--Petretta---
-------------Ibarra-----Coello------------
-Bernardeschi--Osorio/Bradley--Insigne-
----------------Mailula/Owusu-----------

I suspect that in the end Dunfield reverts to his tried, tested and true, the 4-4-2...

-----------------TM--------------
---LB/KF---SR/LS---AM---RP---
--FB--FI--JO/MB/BS--LI/JMR—-
-------CM/DK-------PO/CJS-----

[jloome]

Servania is not a RB

Can we stop trying to fit him into that because he played it a few times

He has no awareness of defensive responsibility in that role, he ball watches, he provides nothing going forward and the CB always has to cheat his way slightly.

He was better there in the last match than Franklin. He’s got all sorts of issues but he’s still a better footballer than Kobe at this point.

[OgtheDim]

Toronto FC vs CF Montréal
BMO Field (7:30PM ET)
REF: Joe Dickerson
AR1: Chris Elliott
AR2: Oscar Mitchell-Carvalho
4TH: Renzo Villanueva
VAR: Greg Dopka
AVAR: Mike Kampmeinert


Dickerson is on the FIFA board, fwiw.

Check out this tweet at https://twitter.com/MLS_PR/status/1692211368634593445

Lloyd Sam tends to call bad stuff straight but Krakauer is.....not good.

[MikeForbes]

Hopefully Romero can show out and prove himself as a viable starter. We as a board tend to overrate new/young players almost every single time.

[Ultra & Proud]

Hopefully Romero can show out and prove himself as a viable starter. We as a board tend to overrate new/young players almost every single time.

This guy is different than our usual bias of all our Canadian prospects already having one foot in a top 5 Euro league before they even get off the bench for TFC. This guy looked alright at LAFC and was pretty good for his national team the last few windows.

[jloome]

This guy is different than our usual bias of all our Canadian prospects already having one foot in a top 5 Euro league before they even get off the bench for TFC. This guy looked alright at LAFC and was pretty good for his national team the last few windows.

Bob gave him a good chunk of a season as starter at LAFC and he did ... okay. He wasn't an obvious starter, too inconsistent and too many small mistakes.

But at his age, that's really normal for a goalkeeper, I think. Very rare that they're so locked in perfect that they go to bigger leagues at his age.

[MikeForbes]

Check out this tweet at https://twitter.com/JohnMolinaro/status/1692581011173834761?s=20

[Derko]

Just play with some pride and determination, after all we are plaing against Limpact, ffs, Now is the time for Jonathan Osorio to stand out and be a leader, and our senior players to play with grit and be an example to our young players.
TFC have been a poor excuse and full of excuses all year

[Ultra & Proud]

Just play with some pride and determination, after all we are plaing against Limpact, ffs, Now is the time for Jonathan Osorio to stand out and be a leader, and our senior players to play with grit and be an example to our young players.
TFC have been a poor excuse and full of excuses all year

I think they'll play well and in part because MB is back. Probably will make a difference in overall attitude, not his play directly.

I look forward to the long lost MB out posts Monday from Hala and that other guy.

[SenorDingDong]

Victor just posted on Insta that he loves having Seba in training. Can't be a bad thing to have a winner in MLS influence the other Italians.

[OgtheDim]

Victor just posted on Insta that he loves having Seba in training. Can't be a bad thing to have a winner in MLS influence the other Italians.

Well somebody has to replace Peruzza's leadership...

[613reppingTFC]

I saw it says insigne is questionable despite training all week? Anyone else hear anything on this?

[Ultra & Proud]

I saw it says insigne is questionable despite training all week? Anyone else hear anything on this?

I assume he is permanently questionable until he is sold or the Saudi window closes.

[Mr. Inbetween]

We can do it! 2-0.

Feelin' Blessed... https://youtu.be/9X2dySD8VRI

[SenorDingDong]

The amount of South Africans following and commenting onnTFC social posts is kind of crazy now.

They love Mailula. Call him "cash no deposit"

[OgtheDim]

Well the weather is nice.....

[ag futbol]

I’ve just woken up and decided we’re winning today. Just a hunch.

This year the difference between Montreal looking respectable and terrible appears to be mostly if Choiniere is available / has a good game. Criminal Herdman hasn’t brought him in yet.

[ensco]

I’ve just woken up and decided we’re scoring today. Just a hunch.

I would take this.

[SenorDingDong]

Prince And Mailua better start. If Dunfield doesn't that's a mistake on his end in my opinion.

[MikeForbes]

A small part of me expects us to actually score today. One of the debuting guys. Speaking of which, any ideas on the lineup? The only guarantee is Michael Bradley starting and playing all 90 minutes.

I'll say

Romero

Servania-O'Neill-Rosted-Petretta

Kerr-Bradley-Ibarra-Oso

Prince-Sapong

[Luanda]

A small part of me expects us to actually score today. One of the debuting guys. Speaking of which, any ideas on the lineup? The only guarantee is Michael Bradley starting and playing all 90 minutes.

I'll say

Romero

Servania-O'Neill-Rosted-Petretta

Kerr-Bradley-Ibarra-Oso

Prince-Sapong

No Italianos, Maluila, Mabika?

[MikeForbes]

No Italianos, Maluila, Mabika?

Cassius didn't get here until last week, so I am assuming he starts on the bench. Insigne is questionable. Bernie is a definite possibility, hopefully he actually showed something in training to warrant his spot. And it doesn't seem like Dunfield particularly rates Mabika. He likes those old school League One "No nonsense" defenders which generally means taller white guys that lack athletism.

[ag futbol]

I’m not going to be shocked if Bradley starts at CB. Because 1) with no SJ and no Hedges it’s basically completely on Ibarra to be the leader out there and keep things tight. 2) it avoids the conundrum of having to sub him. 3) midfield is crowded and our CB position is weak

[MikeForbes]

I’m not going to be shocked if Bradley starts at CB. Because 1) with no SJ and no Hedges it’s basically completely on Ibarra to be the leader out there and keep things tight. 2) it avoids the conundrum of having to sub him. 3) midfield is crowded and our CB position is weak

I was just thinking that myself. Pair Bradley and Mabika together and see what happens.

[jloome]

I’m not going to be shocked if Bradley starts at CB. Because 1) with no SJ and no Hedges it’s basically completely on Ibarra to be the leader out there and keep things tight. 2) it avoids the conundrum of having to sub him. 3) midfield is crowded and our CB position is weak

He’s never been a defensively dominant player, really. He’s a career number eight, although early he played more of an 8/10.

We’ve used him as a six but he’s never been convincing there. I don’t know why we’d want him in the backline. Richie could do it because he’s fast as hell.

He’s still best as a shuttler, where the ground coverage is less essential. But we still have to have anchor to protect him if we do that.

[OgtheDim]

Well in theory Ibarra can be an anchor but that would require Dunfield to be a better coach & the complete obliteration of years of TFC passing muscle memory.

[MikeForbes]

Well in theory Ibarra can be an anchor but that would require Dunfield to be a better coach & the complete obliteration of years of TFC passing muscle memory.

Michael will literally fight Ibarra to see who can drop back the furthest to start every attack.

[SenorDingDong]

If Insigne is still Injured I play this as my starting. If the new guys can play in the second half they arr good enough to start. Get the nerves out early and avoid being subbed into a situation where we are down a goal or something.

--------------Romero--------------
Servania--Rosted-Mabika--Petretta

------------Bradley-Ibarra--

---Mailula------Osorio------Bernardeschi

----------------Owusu

[jloome]

If Insigne is still Injured I play this as my starting. If the new guys can play in the second half they arr good enough to start. Get the nerves out early and avoid being subbed into a situation where we are down a goal or something.

--------------Romero--------------
Servania--Rosted-Mabika--Petretta

------------Bradley-Ibarra--

---Mailula------Osorio------Bernardeschi

----------------Owusu

Yeah, this works.

[ag futbol]

He’s never been a defensively dominant player, really. He’s a career number eight, although early he played more of an 8/10.

We’ve used him as a six but he’s never been convincing there. I don’t know why we’d want him in the backline. Richie could do it because he’s fast as hell.

He’s still best as a shuttler, where the ground coverage is less essential. But we still have to have anchor to protect him if we do that.

I just think the backline is weak, inexperienced, and lacks leadership in its current form. Fully acknowledge MB’s not perfect and won’t convert as well as Laryea did. Stop gap for this game? Absolutely. As a longer term convert? No.

I think he just needs to retire. Not sure 8 vs 6 makes any difference in terms of his usefulness. Lack of pace will still bite him there, his passing range looks a bit limiting in todays game, and threatening goal is usually an exception rather than a rule. Teams are still going to target him on corners.

Honestly, I’d have preferred if we just brought him back to wave to the crowd and say goodbye.