Besides my favorite players already: -Attakora -De Rosario -White -Barrett -Frei and my Top 5 players that I've warmed up to this year are: -Hscanovic -Cann -De Guzman -Labrocca -Gala
I would say a player who has really surprised me and won me over the most was Dan Gargan. I remember last year with the Islanders and nothing really impressed me and I don't really expect too much from a USL player coming into the MLS but so far anyway I thought he done a solid job when called upon. Not a star player by any means but great serviceable squad player to have when players get hurt or suspended.
Cann is the easy choice, but we needed someone to step into that CB role with no warmup after Garcia's bungles early...so its baptism by fire and he has passed since day 1. But the one i say i have warmed up to is Dan Gargan as well. A plugger and reliable body, not with great talent, but great work ethic and not many mistakes. Id say the same about Labrocca as well.
Cann has more than earned the respect of TFC fans, he's played CB better than any of his predecessors. I too have appreciated LaBrocca and Gargan as additions to the team. LaBrocca has been really effective in a quiet way. He doesn't make any of the big plays but has put in some key efforts that lead to them. Gargan is a good utility player, though every time someone passes him the ball he always seems surprised by it. Hscanovics and Saric in my opinion have potential to be strong players for us as well, but both still make too many gaffes to have fully earned it.
My choice is Saric. I think he's still learning the league and will only get better. Ya sure he's a bit reckless at times but I can take that for the positives he brings to the team. Honorable mention goes to Gargan, Lebrocca and Peterson. (yes I'm partial to midfielders)
Definitely Cann: I think's he has done really well. I only saw him a little bit in USL but I wasn't impressed, so he really stands out. Also LaBrocca, for reasons already mentioned by others. Does a lot of quietly effective work in both ends of the field. Wasn't sure what to expect of him when he came from the Rapids, but he has done well here. I like how Gargan hustles and plays within his capabilities/limitations and he has done well for the team, keeping the Russian on the bench in the process. I'm hoping Saric has a good run of form in July and August and proves to be a better player than I believe him to be. Despite all of Sanyang's glaring shortcomings in possession (clearly in evidence last match), it was Saric who got the hook in favour of JDG, and that wasn't the first time this has happened in the season. I was expecting much more from him in the passing side of the game, but he doesn't seem to be that kind of player. I understand that the Latvian LB is coming back from knee surgery (?), and if it was serious I can fully appreciate from a personal perspective that it takes awhile to truly get back into the swing of things. But if not, and he still can't beat out a slow, predominantly right footed CB for the starting LB position, that's a big red flag to me.
Saric had a knock. A minor heel injury apparently. I think that we all knew that Sanyang should have come off and I believe if he would have come off if Saric had been ok to continue.
I wasn't aware of that so thanks for the info. I know in an earlier match where I thought Sanyang was quite poor Saric got the hook as well, so maybe that was also an injury case. Regardless, it doesn't change my opinion of his performance thus far. I still would like for him to have a really good run of form and make the spot beside JDG his own. After watching what Preki expects of his d-mids, I now see why he traded for Harmse when he was Chivas.
I had to warm up to the whole team after the way things started and also dueto the fact the turnover was quite drastic. There are quite a few players that I was kind of wondering about initially, but I really have to say Cann has impressed me and Labrocca. Its nice to have a strong central defender that pretty much claims everything in the air and is quite strong in terms of his tackles. He is not the best passer or the fastest guy but i think TFC have been missing someone who can win balls in the air in the middle of defence. Labrocca too has impressed me with his creativity and ability to be patient and keep possession in the midfield. Definitely not going to wow you but he is steady and dependable in the middle of the park.
Cann. Of course, now that he has received my seal of approval, he'll be a pylon for the rest of the season. That's how mighty my gravity is.
After watching today's game vs Houston, I'd have to say Gargan. At the start of the year I thought he was a purely stop gap guy with limitations in the recovery speed department, but he makes up for it with positioning and anticipating the play to close down his opponent. Even before he scored. tonight I thought he graded out as TFC's best player. Wow to go, Dan!
Dollar for dollar (40k) Gargan is unquestionably our "second-best best-value" player, second only to Adrian Cann who continues to be a tower of strength and stability for our backline . . . Btw I thought your nick for Gargan was clever: Dan "Barneyrubble" Gargan. (After the Houston match we might have to change it to "Barneytrubble" Gargan.)
That's a long time ago...unfortunately, it was a derisive nickname. I remember how ol' Barney would be spinning his wheels without going anywhere, and when I watch Gargan sprint he looks like he's going fast yet isn't. He still can get beat in a 1 v 1 on shear pace but as I said he's really improved with his positioning and closing a guy down as he receives the ball. Also, doesn't get needless bookings let alone fouls, unlike the Russian. Much better defensively than the far more athletically gifted Wynne.