Love him but can we get younger….please!
Pinball is an amazing speaker. He came to my school way back when I was in high school and did a motivational speech and he had everyone engaged and motivated. I'm sure he speaks to all the MLSE teams.
As for roster moves, I was expecting an U 22 six a long time ago. So, good, even if a band-aid. And frankly I trust Atlanta on young South American talent more than I do us.
It’s an interesting league in that way, really an Americas New World league. One club favours signing Germans, another Scandinavians, another Brits, and then the SA content. Look at Tata’s U 22 requested adds to Miami! Together it’s a picture of many decades or even century’s of North American immigration.
And Kaye for Blessing, we’ll see if it works out, but it sounds a good shot. If we can add an effective striker and stay healthier we should be quite watchable (given a decent coach should we get one).
For me, regardless of consent, the red flag here is that it seems it's 'TFC' that is filming his 'goodbye' to his teammates and posting it. I would have much preferred if it was a MarkTheWizzz initiative and post; to then be reposted/retweeted by TFC. On the other hand, his insta message to Revs fans seems very upbeat. Perhaps the transfer and goodbye was more shock than traumatic?
Regarding the Fede to Bologna transfer rumour. Earlier yesterday in this thread I suggested caution not because of the cited poster or original source but for it's mention of Beppe Bozzo. Failed to realize that the agency change about May of this year taken by Fede was actually a return to a former; Bozzo's and his AGB Sport Management, whom Fede left after his move from Fiorintina to Juve. FWIW, while at Juve Fede left Bozzo to join Mino Raiola whom he subsequently left due to his sickness and then death to join TFC through Federico Pastorello's agency; P&P Sport Management
Seems speculation is that the main hurdle is Fede's wage; surprise, surprise, it's Joey's BolognaFC! While the clubs coach Motta apparently highly values Fede, the club is run on shoestrings. His TFC USD6M wage is about more than a 1/3 of BFC's highest, Arnautovic's/CF @ circa USD3.85M and more than 1/2 of BFC's second highests, Sansone/LW, Soriano/AM and Orsolino/RW, all @ circa USD2.27M. Fede would have to accept/offer the discounted-discount rate for his service. Might happen; IDK.
Last edited by Mr. Inbetween; 07-15-2023 at 04:54 AM.
I must agree here!
Yes, he's making this year probably what 5 experienced guys having master's degree would make in total this year on a averagely well-paying, or well-paying jobs!
But he does not play bad intentionally! The main culprits are those hiring him.
If at a big established company, with a solid HR department is hired a guy with a guaranteed contract for "X" years, with a well researched and documented work history for at least 20 years (equivalent in some more "regular" job compared to pro sports) who is paid 10 times more like the other master's degree holders are paid at this company, but the guy will perform at his job after a full year like a dude with a highest level of education being 10 classes, not that HR department is the guilty one?
I mean unless the guy has gone completely mad, mad like he should be interned in a mental institution, why would anyone do his job intentionally bad, when knowing if he performs good enogh, he still has "X-1" years on the job, but otherwise he can be fired? The employee getting mentally insane would be the one and only reason when not the HR department is the guilty one hiring him, if he is drastically underperforming.
Last edited by PizzaEatingYeti; 07-15-2023 at 03:36 AM.
I reference the NFFC Sam Surridge transfer to MLS's NFC because of it's reported USD6.5M transfer fee. For me, this is nuts for that players and causes havoc upon Richie Laryea's valuation. Until this occurrence, I had hoped the lack of news on RL's situation from NFFC or TFC was an indication TFC was trying hard to find a way to make it work to keep him. A suspicion of mine being maybe because RL just might prefer to stay in North America for family reasons. Either with TFC and, if not, then within MLS with an east coast club. The worse scenario for myself is that he does not go to Europe but ends up with another MLS club. That would be the cherry on the top of a shit sundae of a season.
Last edited by Mr. Inbetween; 07-15-2023 at 03:44 AM.
For L&TFC, seems DAZN Italia suggested yesterday the first meeting has already taken place. Let's see what happens; if there is another/follow-up. Dazn is also indicating the transfer would not be contingent on Orsolini/RW staying or moving on. Fede as jloome has suggested several times is historically in SerieA transient positionally within the forward and mid lines.
Check out this tweet at https://twitter.com/DAZN_IT/status/1679811815063134208
Last edited by Mr. Inbetween; 07-15-2023 at 04:52 AM.
Hah, that’s funny. I didn’t think of that. He said there was no history in Toronto… true for many Italians, no doubt, but in fact the CNE grounds is early enough Toronto history… and the Food Building and the Horse Palace right beside our grounds qualify as history. Scadding cabin, the oldest building in the city… a tiny 18th century cabin would probably seem like pretty crude history.
^^
FWIW, now some of the chatter is that that meeting may have involved discussions of a 'loan' scenario. Understand how that may work, just do not understand the why; if it makes sense for TFC/Fede given the situation? Is the position so untenable that the club needs to be doing favours for Saputo? Could it be an indication this rumour is weak?
Last edited by Mr. Inbetween; 07-15-2023 at 06:08 AM.
Bologna = Joey
The motives behind these possible discussions (and I don't trust agent talk so that's an if ) are less then sincere interest. As previously indicated, Bologna can't afford him & there is no way TFC is going to loan out a DP - they stay on the books.
Does anyone else find all this negative talk on Pinball absurd? I think too many of you are way overthinking this.
Total TFC
@Total_TFC
"Bernardeschi says yes to Bologna."
He is determined to leave Toronto FC and return to Italy, and he's convinced by the idea of joining Bologna. The operation is now starting to become more concrete. His salary is still an obstacle, but talks will continue.
[via
@Gazzetta_
i dont know how reliable capology is but bologna was in the 30mil euro range last season and have a player in the 3.6 euro range and a bunch of guys at 2 mil euros
Last edited by reggie; 07-15-2023 at 08:45 AM.
His salary will have to go to like 1/3 of what it is here but if he wants out that's his only way.
They are probably asking for TFC to cover some
It's all the anti-Argo sentiment here. Pinball is a motivator. Sports psychology is huge now and widely accepted, and Pinball fits into that perfectly with his positivity and motivation.
They're not bringing him in to be Ted Lasso (hiring a football coach to coach soccer), it's the same as any job in the world where they have a retreat day and bring in a guest speaker. I'm positive that teams all over the world do this. But anything connected to the Argos here and it gets ridiculed. Sure, Pinball is an Argos guy, but he's also a guy who loves the city of Toronto and loves people in general and wants to bring the best out of everyone.
Pinball spoke as a keynote speaker at a Conference I was attending in London. I thought he was pretty goodm, as was did most of the other professional attendees based on their reactions. It might have worked, considering he was a top player in another sport, so other top players might respect him. In my opinion, it couldn't have done any more harm than what has been going on behind the scenes. I guess we'll see if it worked in a couple of hours.
I think his motivation skills are fine. But the fact he reports to Bill and it’s an international team makes it a bit of an odd fit. And signing that game ball… is that like their pledge to save Bill’s job or something? Sort of setting them up to all feel like failures again.
I think they have to let the stench in the room air out more before they hit everyone with this stuff. And sort out the Italians. Until then, too many things hanging over the team.