Looking at the games in person, on TV and recorded, this team has been outplayed except in Kansas. A lucky tie in Columbus, a pitiful loss against Seattle and then this week. Sure it was a better effort than last week by far (could it have been worse?). BUT we only had two shots ON goal and none in the second half. That kind of play would guarantee us last place. We need strikers who can strike a ball on goal and put some in. We have scored 1 goal in the last three games. It's not the defence at fault it's the attack. Looking objectively at the games, yes we have some good spells, the odd flair from a player but mainly mediocracy. Midfield play is adequate but with no outcome nine times out of ten. So, it is the players, the coaching or both to blame. I shall attend every game but hopefully we will see changes in personnel and tactics. Sorry to say but Dicchio should be let go and Barrett used as a sub. Whether Vitti will make it we have yet to learn but we need a new striker and attacking midfielders. Dallas attacked in numbers we rarely did. A long way to go but we need a better team or a better performing team if we are to make the play offs. We all thought that we were in for a much better season. Four games in and it looks doubtful.
Is this team good enough for MLS? Sure...I've watched a lot of games so far this year and we're just about as good (if not better) than almost everyone else. A "complete" roster is indeed rare in this league. Don't worry, we'll make the playoffs...I even think we'll win the Canadian Championship, but we'll get our asses handed to us in the CCL...just not deep enough, but again, just like the rest of the teams in MLS.
Interesting question. Are the Leafs good enough? They got a standing ovation on Sat night, and some players did a celebratory skate around the rink. Yep, they are good enough alright. Are the Raptors good enough. UhHuh, they got a carter on their team, and a superduper gm with a nice Italian name. Now that is a model of success. What at team, what a city. As long as MLSE owns TFC, get used to supporting a loser.
No. Guvara, Ricketts, Harmse, Serioux, Robbo, not good enough. Only decent players are Wynne, Barrett and Frei.
Celebratory?!!!??? Don't be an idiot. That wasn't celebratory. That was a thank you to the crowd. They know they stunk.
This. We have a roster that allows us to compete for a playoff spot in MLS and will give us a decent shot at the Canadian Championship. Until the roster is expanded and the salary cap increased we'll have our hat handed to us in the CCL, because we don't have anywhere near the depth needed to compete in two or more competitions.
They need an actual Striker. Defense is much better this season, only conceded 2 goals max per game so far. The midfield has quality.. but they lack depth. If any of them go down theres really no one to replace them. Main issue is we need a consistent striker who can be relied upon every game. Barrett doesn't have it, Vitti has potential and Dichio is Dichio. They need to poach Europe and get a regular consisnt striker from the Portugese League, French or Scottish or something. Not the best in the world but above average for the MLS.
I doubt we will be able to even get the CCL, theres just something missing from most MLS teams. I refuse to subscribe to Gol Tv to watch teams play long ball, and not even that well at that. League 2 games have more quality. Theres no chemistry. Honestly even most USL games are a lot more enjoyable to watch.
GOL also carries La Liga, Bundesliga, Brazil Paulista, as well as the leagues of Uruguay and Colombia so if you're refusing to pay your $2.95 / month based on your disdain for TFC/MLS and the ten or so games that GOL will be carrying this season, your just cheating yourself.
If that were true, they would have quietly left the rink, as some of the classier players did (ponikerosky). This stick waving salute is new in the NHL, and has been reduced to a mockery when low life teams like the leafs start doing it. It is comparable to a convicted criminal waving to the court after receiving his sentence.
Ok, who cares what the LEafs did at the end of the game... It's beside the point. Is the team good enough? Yes... On paper... Probably one of the better teams in the league (full roster, relative depth). The problem is that I really don't think that Carver knows how to create chemistry and get the best of his players. I look at DeRo. The guy is and was a beast in this league. He still is. But if the coach doesn't know how to play a style that suits him then he's useless. The issue is that we don't use our midfield enough. We boot the ball up and sometimes our midfield can pick it up... but the play isn't designed to 1) carry the ball up and 2) to use the wings enough. Our strikers are good (though I think Barett could spend some time on the bench... good effort, but confidence just not there).
I don't buy that at all. Definately not at striker and centreback. Probably not at the wide midfield positions either. Personally, I think that we're a pretty average MLS team for the most part. Better in some parts, weak in others, and no real depth (especially since Carver typically fails to integrate the kids most of the time). Let's be clear: we've got a converted back-up level DM at CB, backed up by a "should be in the USLer", virtually no cover at left back, strikers who haven't scored after 4 games, and 17 year old strikers starting at LM. That better not be one of the better teams in the league. Luckily, most MLS teams don't have all the right piece consistently either. What Carver has really failed to do, other than during our successful 5 game homestand at the beginning of 2008, is turn that average MLS squad into a well functioning UNIT that can play above itself. I'm more and more becoming convinced that's the difference in MLS. Getting the most out of the misfit parts most consistently. Schmid, Kinnear, Yallop, and Nicol didn't have the best at every position but they got enough out of their best to cover for it. Everyone else wobbles along doing okay at some times and poor at others. Sometimes those teams even make runs deep into the play-offs if they get hot at the right time. That's us this year I'm afraid: not really bad but not really good and hopefully lucky enough over the course of the season to eke out a play-off spot. Sadly, achieving that minimum expectation will probably be enough to gloss over what I think are some bigger structural problems.
As I said on another thread, there's one key problem with the team, which I think, if solved will make us pretty competitive: the wing. We have only one actual winger, Ricketts, who is currently slumping. We've got an excess number of strikers who are filling in at wing, and well, they're not cut out for it. Bring in a few decent wingers and we'll be just fine.
Well I have the american version that doesn't seem to carry TFC games. Back to the topic I agree we have one the best teams on paper. But there seems to be a real lack of understanding between the players. Balls are rarely played into space. There are hardly runs off the ball. When I played hs soccer, I was never really good, but I would often make great passes because as soon as I got the ball I already had some idea of what my players were going to do. TFC is so predictable. I'm an overweight smoker and I could probably cut out some of their passes, their just so telegraphed.
Q. Is This Team Good Enough? A. Only on paper! Easily, the 2009 team has more talent than 2008's roster. Same style, same problems, same issues, same concerns, same tactics, ... Same coach/manager... is the clock ticking down on Carver yert?
I have to agree here. On paper would should be plenty better than last year. Will it translate out. At first it seemed it might. Now not so sure. Brings it back to coaching. The hoof the ball up from the back to hit the lone target man doesnt work. We need to work the ball through Guevarra and Dero (although at the same time Guevarra holds on way to long) I still think they will end 10 points better than last year ergo .... playoffs. There will not be a 10 game stretch this year where they get like 3 points...not going to happen.
Guevara and Serioux aren't good enough yet Barrett is? Watch a few games before posting does wonders for your credibility.
The team is definitely good enough, however the team does not play well together as it is mismatched in key areas. It is a matter of tactics and using the right personel. During several games last year and on occassions this year I have actually seen JC instructing the wingers to track back and defend the opposing winger, therefore when TFC wins the ball we cannot attack with pace as our winger is out of position. I am not sure how much of a natural winger Ricketts really is? He has no breakaway speed , does not take on the oposing players 1 v 1 when he should and provides very little arial crosses. I think DeRo and Smith can play the wing well and they are naturally right and left footed respectively. Problem he has not been playing Smith consistently and this is a problem for any youngster. Ibby is not the answer on the wing, that is absolutely ridiculous.
Isn't it a bit early to start with the pulling of hair and gnashing of teeth. I think that a hell of a lot of people began the season with seriously overinflated expectations. But lets just put things into perspective here. After 4 games: Season one .... 0 wins, 4 losses, 0 draws, 0 goals for, 10 goals against Season two .... 2 wins, 2 losses, 0 draws,5 goals for, 8 goals against Season three .. 1 win , 1 loss, 2 draws, 5 goals for, 6 goals against We're about even with last season, and we were on playoff pace until the summer months. What did we add? De Ro .... Houston's first four games last season .... 3 ties and a loss. Serioux .... Dallas' first four games last season .... 2 wins, 2 losses. These guys represent upgrades and played with arguably more talented teams last season. Dallas crashed, Houston did OK - what's to be gleaned from this? Even with the crap game against the Sounders, this team has looked a damn sight more dangerous that it ever did last season. The defence is tighter and more mobile than it was. We have gaps, but then again, so do most of the other sides in MLS. We need a central defender, granted - apparently there's an Ecuadoran CD on trial (Houston owns his rights) - that might be an answer. It might not. Let's see. We're prepared to eat Barrett alive, but the poor bastard has been working his ass off - he wants it too much. I'm all for resting him in an effort to let him get his confidence back - bring him in as a sub but honestly ... cut him some slack. Ricketts - he was cold as hell when he joined us (and he was streaky to begin with) - but we sang his merits last season. At the end of May, if we're still sucking wind, then I'll get worried. You want to worry? Here's the real reason to worry.... TFC MLS record for July and August 2008 1 win, 6 losses, 3 draws (lucky win against Colorado) 2007 1 win, 6 losses, 4 draws (lucky win against RSL) Until June 30, I'll be carefree and drinking G & T's on my back deck.
yes I watch the games. maybe its you that needs to look at the game. he runs good lines, gives options, chases down the defenders and holds it up well. He's got some loss of confidence at the moment, but as a season ticketholder for the last 2 years, he's head and shoulders above anyone else we've had over that time. the bigger problem is that there is no one supplying him. if we had a decent winger to cross it, he'd be a different player. Maybe you can fix that and get back to me. Guevara is an overpaid lazy waste. Only time will prove me right and you'll be thanking me when he gets shipped somewhere else and saves us 300K in wages. He does nothing but slow play down. You're defending Serioux?????? Please......
It's difficult to judge Guevara because you are using him in a system that doesn't make use of his abilities. The tactics and players we have don't match up. If we play long ball, then we need a big man up front, but he should also be fast. Dichio is big, but not fast. Vitti could be a hybrid, but I don't think he's as strong. Barrett might have the speed and work rate, but he's not a big target. Guevara has no role in that system. If we were playing a short passing game with Robinson, DeRo, etc, then he'd be more effective... but remember... this is still only MLS caliber... and short passes are picked off a lot more than with higher skilled players in better leagues. Individually, we have good players, but as a system we fail (we're improved because the quality of players have improved). You can't just grab a bunch of good players and say go. It's about running a good system and finding players that will fill their role properly. Those players don't have to be all stars, they just have to do their job.