Is Manning still in Italy? If so, Destro, wearing the captain's armband for Genoa today, is putting in a nice audition with probably the first backheel goal of his career.
In all seriousness though, I've had an eye on Destro since he came up through the Inter youth setup, and while he's no Belotti, he'd definitely still do a job in MLS. I can see 15 goals playing alongside Insigne and Pozuelo over a whole season.
I’m not concerned. Generally keepers don’t age like other player so likely be okay for the short term.
Having said that, I’d prefer an inanimate object between the sticks over Bono because at least the inanimate object won’t turn the ball over as often and likely will give up the same amount of high scoring rebounds.
If you are one of Bono’s relatives, don’t bother taking out a user name to login on here to let me know he single handedly won games this year for TFC as I’ll concede he did. My response will be that Anyone can win games when it doesn’t matter, we need someone that won’t lose them when it does matter.
So, like, Belotti is happening!? This would be fantastic!
Check out this tweet at https://twitter.com/TransfersMLS/status/1479112660968869899?s=20
Manning never went to Italy. He was set to go to Italy a few days ago, but tested positive for covid, so had to delay his trip.
Check out this tweet at https://twitter.com/Total_TFC/status/1478546004672753664
Check out this tweet at https://twitter.com/Total_TFC/status/1478552295793176586
Reports in Brazil say that Sao Paulo expects an answer from TFC on Soteldo's loan today.
When you think about it, we have freed up a fair amount of cap space and gained TAM/GAM (things like OGs contract as well).... i was wondering how we were chasing all of these players but maybe they can juggle this. Back end looks decent Auro - O'Neill, Mavinga, ??(Insert Name), Lawrence. and give Franklin a run... the thing Laryea brought was the ability to attack as well but if you move Shaf to the right and reinforce the strikers. Maybe we are fine.
Still need a striker answer... and i think the midfield sorts itself out... but everything will depend on the type of game that BB wants to play.
Yes!... Sam "They couldn't be any worse than the first team, Right?... Wrong!" Allardyce. Controversy, seems to follow this man.
One day I hope to attend and experience any proper- in season EPL/CL match. Even as a neutral, for the air and the heritage. On the bucket list.
Forever Blowing Bubbles...
He played 21 games for Toronto Metros-Croatia. I don't think the NASL was a very serious league at all and of course we all know how it ended. The MLS is lightyears ahead in terms of the game play itself, fan culture, soccer specific stadiums, $$$$$'s, TV deals, etc. A 5-year deal with a European star is a lot different today than back then when it was more of a circus-league with Pele and co. on tour.
Don’t get me wrong, I think Bradley can still play in the league and start the occasional game. I just wouldn’t make him an everyday starter.
Also wonder how he handles this transition to the later years of his career. Certain he’s of strong character but he also wouldn’t be the first athlete to fail to recognize how his abilities have changed with age and insist on playing an outside role in his twilight years (if that was happening).
We need another CB for sure. I'm a believer in Mavinga but you can basically pencil him in now for at least a couple muscle strains and I think O'Neill is a good #3 but not an everyday starter. If those Salcedo rumours come to fruition that would be excellent.
On Shaff, for me he 100% has to play on the left. He has the pace and quick first step to make him a dangerous crosser, but he doesn't have the quick feet and close control to play his off-side effectively. Laryea could play both sides because of how shifty he is on the ball. Shaffelburg's not like that, if anyone remembers how Ashtone Morgan looked whenever we had to have him fill in at RB, that's how effective Shaff would be there.
With Insigne presumably occupying the left attacking side full-time, I would convert Shaff to a LB. He can get spot duty at LW whenever Insigne isn't playing but I think he could be a great weapon at LB, bombing down the flank and whipping in crosses. We had Edwards make the same transition when he moved up from TFC II initially, where he was always a winger, and Shaff is an even better crosser of the ball. He'll need to learn the defensive side of things but this is his route to getting a lot of minutes despite Insigne's arrival and still being effective, which I don't see happening if we move him to the right.
^ Yeah, I would agree as the next best alternative for him. I still think we then need an answer to the right (will miss Laryea there). Not sure Achara is the guy (wanted him to be). btw... Akinola isn't forecasted to be available until the summer. Not sure we have anyone who can play there effectively then.
The thing that worries me about Akinola is he is kind of built like Altidore a bit which has not served Altidore well in terms of durability. I fear Akinola will have a similar injury prone career with on/off availability all the time like he has so far so hopefully TFC doesn't count on him as being the striker solution.
https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/mls-s...-is-january-11
Superdraft info, incl GAs
“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
The NASL was the best thing that it could be for that time, and many of its investors put in serious money for acquiring players. It wasn't like the Harlem Globetrotters for basketball, despite the crazy gimmicks and things they did to raise interest in a "foreign" game. The Metros-Croatia (later known as the Blizzard), who Eusebio played for, was one of the model franchises and was a professionally managed club. The NASL doesn't compare to the professionalism that MLS has today, but MLS wouldn't exist if it weren't for the NASL. If you check, apart from ethnic youth teams, most youth soccer clubs in the GTA and in the US date from the heyday of the NASL in the 1970's or later. It literally gave birth to the youth soccer movement that provided many of the players that make up the bulk of MLS teams. It also gave a lot of lessons on how not to do things, but hindsight is 20/20.
Last edited by Oldtimer; 01-06-2022 at 01:59 PM.
MLS is a tough, physical league, that emphasizes speed, and features plastic fields, grueling travel, extreme weather, and incompetent refs. - NK Toronto
Watching Bradley in the second half of the season I noticed he become quiet and frankly did not act as a captain should, I truly believe he knew his father was coming TFC and just stopped caring because his dad was on his and everything was going to get better. At 1.5 million there is no chance we can trade him away, no chance any team would pay that salary for Bradley
That's always been my thing with Oso. He plays up to whatever level is asked of him for TFC and Canada, but also seems to play down as well. Plenty of games the last few injury filled years without all our DPs where he's had opportunity to take over and be that guy, but rarely breaks a game open by himself, even in Canadian Championship against what should be lesser competition.
His best year was when he was when defenses had to worry about Jozy, Seba, Victor first, allowing him to have a bit more space, or ability to show up in the box unmarked. Here's hoping restacking our offence gives Oso another opportunity for a huge year if teams are doubling up on Poz and Insigne!
Shame about Richie leaving - Championship should be a bit of a level up from MLS for getting more experience but I love the moves like Tajon to a team where he can also get some european games in as well. Hopefully another stepping stone in the right direction for him. He's earned it after being one of the most entertaining guys to watch the last few years. He's got the speed and acceleration to break games open at any level, interesting to see if the rest of his tool kit can keep up against better defenses.
He's allegedly two-footed; can play with both. Does seem much stronger on the left to me, though, although maybe that's just because we haven't seen him on the right.
Good defender most of the time for a forward, gets caught too tight sometimes.
He's a wingback or a winger, really. Bradley likes modern formations so I have a sneaking suspicion we'll see him as a wingback backup and a wing backup.
Belotti seems unlikely unless we again double what he'd get in England. He has had suitors for several seasons. Numerous premiership teams inquiring, including new-money Newcastle.
Then again, that seemed true of Insigne at one point.
It would be a dream lineup, but something like
----------------Borjan------------------
----Salcedo--Mavinga--Criscito----
Auro-----------------------------Lawrence
---------Delgado-----Osorio----
---Pozuelo---------------Insigne------
--------------Belotti-----------------
That lineup would some serious damage in MLS.
It'll probably end up more like
------------Westburg--------------
Auro--Mavinga--Criscito--Lawrence
----Delgado--Bradley--Osorio--
-------Pozuelo-----Insigne---------
----Akinola/New Striker/Peruzza
Last edited by jloome; 01-06-2022 at 02:29 PM.
Could not agree more. One of the babies, in the baby steps, of football in Anglo North America.
Shit... awash again in the memories of my father and me as a child and yute...
Enjoying together, every so often, The Toronto Metros, -Croatia, and Blizzard at Lamport, Varsity and Centennial Park Stadiums.
The keeper Celentano in the SuperDraft is officially a Generation Adidas player. Seems like a pretty safe pick for TFC if they actually pick at 3.