Was it really Leiweke doing this scouting though? I highly doubt it. The staff are still there to do that, but they are of course under direction regarding the kind of names to bring forward.
Reducing player salaries can mean from $18M on 3 DPs to $15M on 3 DPs. The cut was never specified. One key part that has been included every time this budget got brought up by Manning was that the ownership wanted to get younger. That's an important component that everyone chooses to gloss over and it's something that is vital because our squad was/is old(ish) and slow regardless of age.
"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
you are giving Lieweke way too much credit. He didn’t identify anyone Bez did go look at all of the articles written when Seba signed. He is a sales guy, the carnival barker. I will give him credit as he got MSLE to open their wallets and spend big. But the thing with DP signings is they are either very good Seba, Henry, Bradley etc or they flame out like Defoe, Marquez or washed up like lampard, pirlo, Gerrard
Until this FO puts their stamp on this team there is no point in trying to compare also if there is a reduction in budget then it’s not really an apples to apples comparison. On a side note I’m interested to see what Bez does when he doesn’t have a near unlimited budget like he did here
I keep scanning through rosters looking for who this DP could be. Honestly, I feel this signing is going to be amazing or entirely underwhelming. There isn't a very long list of players that fit the mould described.
James Rodriguez?
I wonder which footballers Drake has in his Rolodex?
Didn't he say people that know football would know the guy and that he wasn't as big a name as Giovinco when he came?
When Giovinco came he was only a big name to folks that followed Juve, Serie A, or the IMNT. I barely knew of him because I follow none of those things. So if this guy is less known than than then it means you'd have to be into his national team or team/league to know.
I wonder if there’s some sort of direction from MLS as well. Having the most expensive team not even being American puts the stingy owners in a bad PR position, I suppose. Considering how irritatingly hands-on they can be (no, you can’t pay Frei that! No, you can’t have a DP CB, etc.), and considering the salary gap, it wouldn’t surprise me.
Well the MLSE board room has been busy today with committing over $55M to Auston Mathews. Next up will be something similar to Mitch Marner, so the cash is being thrown around MLSE land. Will be interesting to see how this plays into TFC and mow much they can spend.
https://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/...act-extension/
Remember The Man, The Legend, The Goal 5-12-07 and All That #9 Left On The Pitch, Thanks For The Memories !!!
Check out this tweet at https://twitter.com/samstejskal/status/1092854421027991554
Some details on Toronto signing Terrence Boyd: Told his base salary is around $200k. Deal is guaranteed for 2019 with multiple option years. Low-cost flyer for a solid talent.
Boyd on 200k is a very good deal
If he does poorly: "you see, he was only successful because of Lieweke/unlimited budget/maple syrup. MLSE were idiots for hiring him."
If he does brilliantly: "How could they let the genius architect of our team get away to help Columbus? MLSE were idiots to let him go."
From a performance standpoint, yes, but I have a friend who won't follow the team unless there is at least one Italian on the squad. This same effect may apply to other nationalities.
“Years have gone by and I’ve finally learned to accept myself for who I am: a beggar for good football.
I go about the world, hand outstretched, and in the stadiums I plead: ‘A pretty move, for the love of God.’
And when good football happens, I give thanks for the miracle and I don’t give a damn which team or country performs it.”
-Eduardo Galeano
I like the Boyd pickup, especially at that number. I'm also optimistic that having Ayo surrounded by Jozy and Boyd will do numbers for his development. He will be working with guys who know how to navigate the highs and lows of being a USMNT star and hopefully this is something that will help him both on and off the field.