MLS Rumours: Bosko Balaban to TFC?

[VPjr]

http://www.mls-rumors.net/2008/12/in...oronto-fc.html

MLS Rumours (you know them...the most credible source for news in MLS land) is reporting that veteran Croatian striker is in deep negotiations with a "mystery" MLS club.

They are speculating its TFC....I sure as hell hope this story is true

Balaban is, in my opinion, the Croatian version of JP Angel.

Here's his wiki

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bo%C5%A1ko_Balaban


BTW, the same story links Marvell Wynne moving to Gronigen or Torino (that's two wildly different possible qualities of league...I can't see Marvell in Serie A quite yet)

[DigzTFC!]

This is one rumor that I'm excited about. I hope he's negotiating with us. I think he could be a real star in this league

[Broadview]

According to wiki he still appears with the Croatian Nats.

Can anyone confirm this?

[flatpicker]

From Wiki: "Balaban has been a regular squad member of the Croatian national team since 2000, but in recent years he rarely appears in the starting line-up and plays mostly as a second-half substitute."

A good player that isn't gonna make regular appearances with the national team.
I like that...

[Ossington Mental Youth]

Sounds like they picked it up from our rumors thread above.
Sounds about right for wynne (more specifically Gronigen), i also agree with regards to him not being quite Serie A material however Torino isnt exactly a top club, so its not entirely unrealistic (although i dont think hes quite that talented yet)

[Pigfynn]

This IS the type of guy we need IMO

check his strike rate and at a high level he has been consistant.

If he wants to come, bring him, bring him now!

[MrHawk]

Balaban is off the NT now with the emergence of

Da Silva
Olic
Petric

And the future of
Kalinic
Mandzukic
Tadic
Tomasov

the list goes on and on.

[joga]

MLS Rumours (you know them...the most credible source for news in MLS land) is reporting that veteran Croatian striker is in deep negotiations with a "mystery" MLS club.

you know what i don't understand... why do sooooo many people put down MLS rumours and still check it - and post on it - so regularly. if you think their all BS then don't read it, is what i say.

BTW, the same story links Marvell Wynne moving to Gronigen or Torino (that's two wildly different possible qualities of league...I can't see Marvell in Serie A quite yet)

as much as the next guy, i don't wanna see wynne go - our only bright spot on D, and thats not saying much. i gotta say, going to torino kinda makes sense to me. he fits the mold of most serie a right full-backs.. tons of speed and no feet. every team in serie a has a wynne-type player (maybe with a little more skill and experience).

going to a bottom of the table serie a team that is fighting to stay up and a potential serie b team next term, torino is where wynne would fit in nicely IMO.

side note - i have been following serie a 20 years or so and love the league. IMO the best brand of footy in the world.

as for Bosko Balaban; is he a potential DP? b/c if thats the case... PLEASE don't do it mo. PLEASE for the love of pete find us a real DP.

[MrHawk]

When Balaban, Srna and Olic were busted for breaking curfew, that pretty much sealed Balaban's fate.

Petric was basically his replacement.

He'll survive in this league, and if he can regain his form from Brugge, he'll easily be the top scorer in this league. That's IF he regains his form.

[Strikers]

If we are able to get him that would be great.

[Ossington Mental Youth]

as for Bosko Balaban; is he a potential DP? b/c if thats the case... PLEASE don't do it mo. PLEASE for the love of pete find us a real DP.

Who do you consider a real dp?

[poppamidnight]

DP or not DP, this guy strike rate makes you give him that $....

Personally, i'd prefer a BIGGER name (like much of you) even though i know the name means sh** all (mr becks)

If you nab his with the DP slot, i really think there still needs to be another DP (trade for the one on the market)

I really like the sounds of this guy:
-avalible when international match's roll around
-awesome strike rate
-still young
-Seemingly healthy
-fan favourite/non-locker room cancer

[flatpicker]

"Name means sh**"

you got that right...

I don't want anyone brought in here for their name!

I want someone that can play!

[Ossington Mental Youth]

id take a schelotto over a becks any day

[joga]

Who do you consider a real dp?

i have no-one in mind.. although i don't think a guy who had a great strike rate in Belgian or Croatia (no offense to those leagues, none at all) is worthy of DP spot/money in MLS. yes, MLS is a lesser league than most in the footy world... although i believe we can attract better players who have proven themselves in better leagues with the kinda money MLSE has to offer.

.. and another thing, i don't think a striker is our biggest concern. we're soft on D and shoring up our mid-field is a bigger priority IMO. if we can get Balaban at TFC for Dichio-type money, i would welcome that.

Ossington Mental Youth, who do you consider a real DP?

[BuSaPuNk]

Balaban would be a great pick up for us. DP or non DP. He has an amazing strikerate, and would tear this leauge to shreads!!

[Ossington Mental Youth]

HAHAHA
fair enough.
Thats a good question, not entirely sure who i consider to be a good dp. I guess id have to see a list of whos available and who would be interested. I do agree that we are soft on D but i think just as badly we need a juan pablo angel type of striker up front. Dunno if we really need anyone in midfield at this point, perhaps another winger couldnt hurt. I wouldnt be upset with a CB dp but we both know that isnt likely. Dont think Balaban would necessarily be a poor choice for a DP.

I do agree that he has played in lesser leagues than some of the DP players but that being said hes relatively young, hes still more or less a candidate for his national team, had a decent strike record in higher leagues. I wouldnt be upset if we signed him. I do think, granted im not as knowledgeable about him as some, that hed still do quite well, well enough to warrant a dp slot, in this league

[Captain Croatia]

Balaban would be able to do it all in this league. Strong, fast, if he can get in better form he would strike a goal game.

[Yohan]

Balaban would be able to do it all in this league. Strong, fast, if he can get in better form he would strike a goal game.

He'd be a hit with all the Serb TFC fans!

[Brooker]

Bosko Balaban....

i won't comment much on the guy cuz i don't really know him.... but what a great name.

[TFC OZZ]

I'm gonna be honest, this is the first rumored DP in a long time that actually has gotten me excited. This is exactly the kind of player that I would like so see, although I am still a firm believer in trying to obtain Kenny Cooper as our DP, I think this guy would fit the bill -from my opinion at least- for our DP.

[CretanBull]

id take a schelotto over a becks any day

Schelotto = will help you win more games

Beckham = doubles the value of your franchise

We like one thing, the investors like the other

[Ossington Mental Youth]

Schelotto = will help you win more games

Beckham = doubles the value of your franchise

We like one thing, the investors like the other

absolutely but im talking with regards to how well the team does, as opposed to what MLSE will pick (which i suspect will be somewhere between the two or surprisingly a dp thats a lesser name but effective)

[Wagner]

[TOBOR !]

Balaban is, in my opinion, the Croatian version of JP Angel.

So we sign him, get to the MLS Cups final only to see him get badly outplayed by his opposite number as he alternates between frowning, sulking, and trying on his best "it's-not-my-fault-it's-this-load-of-twats-around-me-that-can't-do-anything-right" expression.

Maybe there's a better comparison.

[MG42]

haha, well played

[Cashcleaner]

Nor sure how this guy necessitates a DP slot. I'm not blown away by his creds though he was a bit of a mainstay with the Croatian national team - not too shabby in its own right.

I'll have to give this prospect a big "M'eh" because I'm just not feeling it, but on the other hand his numbers are too bad either.

[CretanBull]

The Croatian league is a decent one, he'd be good for 15-20 goals here for sure. If we can get him at without using our DP slot (even use allocation money) he'd be a steal. I think that MLSE will want more marketing appeal from use of the DP slot.

[Cashcleaner]

^ Thats what I'm thinking as well, Bull. Oh for real the Croatian League is legit and his time spent on the national team says quite a bit as well. Looks like a good fit, but perhaps we could pick him up without resorting to using the DP allocation.

[Beach_Red]

The Croatian league is a decent one, he'd be good for 15-20 goals here for sure. If we can get him at without using our DP slot (even use allocation money) he'd be a steal. I think that MLSE will want more marketing appeal from use of the DP slot.

The only thing holding this team back right now from a big marketing breakthrough is winning. Look at how popular the Blue Jays were when they were winning and look how many empty seats there are when they aren't in contention.

The hardcore fans are onboard - how many MORE people do they need on the waiting list? - but a winning season and a playoff run is the only thing that will break the team out big.

I expect even MLSE knows this.