The middle defender in a back-three requires much more composure (think Moor) than Mavinga has. I think he and Criscito would split duties in a back-four.
Maybe this is nothing but aren’t Mavinga and Criscito both left footed? Feels like there should be a natural right footed CB in that pairing.
^ Makes me think that rumour is real. Or, at the very least, we’ll be bringing in a startling quality right side CB.
Our new boy Lorenzo Insigne starts and captains Napoli against Juventus right now. Free trial available for FuboTV for anyone who wants to watch.
TFC gets a mention in this Serie A matchup a minute in. Maybe we are a "big club".
Insigne with a little flick into the box leads to a Dries Mertens (who has been linked to Montreal in the past) goal.
Destro is a classic center-forward. If anything, Akinola would go out wide, but he hasn't shown much in that position IMO. Given how poor Mavinga was at center-back last season, I guess a move to left-back isn't out of the question, but I'd rather TFC just try to preserve his glass legs by keeping him as a backup CB.
Insigne looks so good vs Juve. We got a special one.
Depending on what TFC has planned for their DP spots, this could be a guy to pair with Ayo at the striker position.
Check out this tweet at https://twitter.com/SoccerInsider/status/1479185578080059392?s=20
I agree with all that you're saying, and you say yourself that the MLS is on a completely different level now. That's all I meant. It's not to slight the past, it's simply to put into perspective the magnitude of the Insigne signing in 2022. But yes, we're enjoying our football today because of the scene that came before it and that deserves respect of course -- even if it was a little cartoonish and the overall look of the football and league was strange especially from a European standpoint (where I grew up).
It’s interesting how far back Insigne drops, he is regularly in a MF winger position. Does anyone who watches Serie A know how typical that is for him?
"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 don’t have to go back to the NASL days to see the transition of the game in North America. The MLS has improved dramatically since it was kickstarted with the ‘94 World Cup.
Even since the awarding of Toronto FC, the mls has changed… who would have thought franchises would be competing to sign starters from big European clubs and regularly selling players to those aforementioned clubs.
I think he knows he is no longer the player he was; TFC's main man.
He is a thinker, likely prepared to transition out within the next two seasons.
Let me be clear, pure speculation on my part, but...
I believed, more than a coach, into President of TFC.
Similar to MLSE/ML's Brendan Shanahan.
With Bradley's father Bob possibly acting as a senior advisor, similar to Cliff Fletcher or Lou Lamoriello.
Exploiting both of their connects and knowledge. Of course with Bobs hiring...
Bill Manning would have been pushed to focus on the Argos, as well as the project of BMO upgrades for WC26.
With Nick Eves hiring from Woodbine Entertainment Group- Race Track a few years back...
With his exposure to the early planning of that expansion project...
This outcome became way less probable IMO.
It is impossible to compare football in 1976 to football 45 years later.
But I feel there is little debate that a 33 year old Eusebio was/would be a much bigger player on the world stage, than Insigne.
Eusebio was, for a time (ie late 60s) the best player in the world, the equal in his time of Ronaldo today. Imagine TFC with Ronaldo in 2018…
"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
Not a big Serie A watcher myself (I find the league to play at an extremely slow pace) I noticed him helping out his LB a ton for Italy in the Euros though. It is refreshing to see a potential DP not just shrugging his shoulders and completely ignoring his defensive duties.
I saw his heat map at one point and it seems to reflect this.
I was a bit surprised at his touches in the box. Seems to be centred more around the outer left edge of the 18, where someone like Salah on the other side gets in deeper. Probably because he's a good shooter of the ball.
IMO, from the times I have watched his team or national play, it is not uncommon; he is engaging when he engages in those movements- runs.
What I would like to see in person is a few of those outside of the opponents box cut ins with ground hugging shots into goal; skimming the post's inside edge.
Check out this tweet at https://twitter.com/manuelveth/status/1479209864014401540?s=21
Don’t know much about him, but this would be a good way for us to build out the back end of the roster with some affordable and higher upside players. As the 5th/6th CB on the roster, I’m sure there’s some adequate CPL defenders we can bring on.
Fabrizio Romano just live on the La LigA rap up, says Insignes people are saying 11 mil but he figures the numbers will be closer to 7 mil
net
"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
Forest are playing Arsenal in the FA Cup on Sunday….
Luca Petrasso and Kobe Franklin are apparently signing homegrown deals
insigne looked amazing, but the way he plays highlights the need to sign a great strike to complement him