FWIW, my recollection is Fede was the "kill counters by pulling up and passing backwards WAY too much". The data only captures progressive/forward passes...but it inversely true, ya? .................PrgDist/90......Prog/90 Gaston........234.4............4.15 Fede...........183.1............3.30
Looking like multiple guys were on a fitness regime in the off-season! SO...what color are these practice jerseys? Is that part of our "palette"?
Interesting target... He's been producing 10g/season while not playing every game...so health/minutes at 32 is a question/concern. His wrecking ball style would be either a) really disruptive/effective or b) a candidate for the most cards in the league. Hey @NYCFC go get Michail Antonio I been screaming from the heavens for this guy #NYCFC pic.twitter.com/6KfC8uQqip— Antonio Rojas (@tony_2290) January 27, 2023 I believe his last "deal" was 7mil in 2015...so if Heitz could some how pull him in as a max TAM...DO IT. If he would have to be our DP...um...nah. With the resources we have, I'd rather GO BIGGER.
Tune into the 4th round of the FA Cup on Monday...DerbyCo vs WestHam https://www.transfermarkt.us/vorbericht/index/spielbericht/4013661
really like Antonio as a person and have loved watching him play but seems like he’s already on the downswing and his style of play doesn’t age well but if he’s the guy it’d be pretty good fun to cheer for him
I bet we could get 2 seasons of double digit goals from him, but he's not going to play every game and our current forwards require an entirely different setup around them to be effective. If we had a Sapong type as a backup, I'd be more on board.
I'm a vocal Sapong supporter -- especially as team ambassador in the community -- and a pretty vocal anti-Kacper guy, but you could argue Kacper had a better season than Sapong last year https://fbref.com/en/players/ef4e4c5d/CJ-Sapong https://fbref.com/en/players/4c53a714/Kacper-Przybylko but 2019 Sapong type guy -- defs (though 2019 Kacper type guy would be nice too)
Sorry to be repetitive but…. A bird in hand is worth two in the bush. Waiting to acquire the mythical “perfect” striker does not guarantee he will materialize. Someone now will give the player time to integrate and develop a working relationship and rapport with teammates. The additional points generated early in upcoming season could be critical later.
True, unless the bird poops in your hand, much like our previous couple of high prices strikers have done.
Good reply but there must be a known quantity, reasonable-quastriker out there someplace. Mostly I was cautioning against a search for a mythical Understand your comment. I would like us to find someone not bird poop and not a mythical unicorn.
Sorry- not my intention is not to set a low bar. Definitely do not want bird poop or anything even close. But I also feel there is value in completing the transaction now rather than later. Also do not want to waste time pursuing something that does not exist (ie. A mythical unicorn).
Sean Johnson to Canada is official https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/toronto-fc-sign-usmnt-goalkeeper-sean-johnson-in-free-agency
Of course sooner is desired, and I think the early start to the season adds pressure to ‘just do something’…but I’ll argue 4 things that support being patient. 1) the current XI is largely the same, but now know each other and are not dinged up 2) MLS DP tags are critical to get right 3) like with Torres, there’s going to be marketplace action in the next 3mo 4) with the war chest we have accumulated we should be aiming for monster signing That said, I’m anxious for the U22 and TAM signings. Hopefully Antonio can be a TAM signing…but I doubt it…and we already have a a TAM striker, so hard to imagine 2. interesting times ahead~
Ok- discussion time. Assumption #1=DP will be a quality striker “soon”. Assumption #2= We have funds, roster space and the desire to acquire 2-U22, 1- max TAM and 1- medium TAM slot. Question- Please share your thoughts on the position, the timing and which slot space you prefer. ( NOT who) Almost forgot to mention. One rumor says Joe would welcome ideas and might spring for a free meal for the person with the best plan.( just a rumor).
1. The current XI is simply not good enough. Hopefully they will be better if they are not dinged up. (and we really did not know the full extent of Kacper's and Torres' injuries last season). 2. Of course, we have had as misses as hits. We have had four "hits" -Blanco, Nikolic, Schweinsteiger and, perhaps, Shaqiri. However, even I think the jury is still out on Shaqiri being a hit as a DP. Accam was decent, as were Beric (first year) and Rios (but he was not around long enough to matter). Some of our "misses" have been legendary (Castillo, Fernandez, Puppo, Anangono, Gilberto, etc.) Most have been "misses" but not legendary misses (Ljungberg, Maloney, Kennedy, Aliseda, etc.) 3. We signed Torres PRIOR to last season. Not sure why you would bring him up in the context of the "marketplace." He was signed on February 19, 2022, but just did not join the team until May. 4. If we do make a monster signing, who is not an over 30 declining international, waiting until Summer is acceptable. If we have a monster signing who is a big name, we need that player now.
My opinion is the DP has to be a striker, and we should be patient to find one that will fit stylistically with and "unlock" Shaqiri. The fit is more important than being a big name or timing. To the "don't wait for a unicorn", it's a balance...you can't wait wait wait and then bring them in for 10games. Something has to be done that delivers 1500+min and 15goals to be considered a good signing. One U22 slot should be a striker, and signed by the first homegame. One TAM should be "Gressel-like" LB, and signed before the first window closes. Anything remaining to fill/spend would be held for opportunities that may come during the season.
Point is there are high quality players that will not be able to arrive until after their current season...regardless of when we learn about the deal