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Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Should they stay or should they go?

Who knew Nick Garcia was a balloon pilot?

To terribly paraphrase The Clash (the band not San Jose) "If they go we'll still have trouble - but if they stay it will be double". Anyone with even a passing interest in the local side knows Toronto FC is up Mo Creek without a paddle. As one astute supporter wrote on a team forum - "TFC: Rebuilding since 2008".
 
With the morbid 2010 season now officially out of the way, the long journey towards 2011 begins. ML$E should be hiring a new GM at this moment but apparently are still searching for consultants who will then begin the search. So expect your new GM… sometime in late March. Christ on a crossbar.

In the meantime, the player movement is left in the available hands of Jim Brennan and, likely next full-time GM, Earl Cochrane. The handful of players who have been hanging around BMO over the last few days doing media, have got tongues wagging about who will still be here next year so we thought we'd take a look at who should indeed stay... or go.
 
STAY!
STEFAN FREI:
The talented Swiss keeper is a no-brainer for 2011 depending of course if he wants to stay in Toronto before heading to greener European pastures
DWAYNE DE ROSARIO: The Scarborough superstar / charades aficionado still has a couple of productive MLS years left in those boots. Unless a really good trade offer comes along…
JULIAN DE GUZMAN: Hard to move since stock has plummeted but can still do better at TFC - if surrounded by actual midfield talent
NANA ATTAKORA: Should be re-signed immediately. Could be The Reds' Sol Campbell... without the Judas part
ADRIAN CANN: Lost concentration late in 2010 but a dependable Canadian defender at a very reasonable price. Plus - team needs a model for new kit
MAICON SANTOS: Showed flashes of raw talent in the last few matches of the season. Should only return as an inexpensive substitute forward despite two good names
DONEIL HENRY:
Promising Academy defender who will need to bulk up in off-season if he wants to handle MLS forwards
NICHOLAS LINDSAY: The Academy's bright spark looked good for his age in October. Not hard on a club that's never had a good winger
 
ON THE BUBBLE...
JON CONWAY:
The giant veteran has a tiny contract. Useful to have as a mentor for young keepers and as a TFC TV comedian
MILOS KOCIC: Decent young prospect to keep around unless a better youngster comes along. Should be loaned out again for experience
FUAD IBRAHIM: Only keep if he retains Generation Adidas status - otherwise... bye! Looks like a nervous baby giraffe most of the time
NICK LABROCCA:
A fairly versatile and inexpensive midfielder to hang on to for bench strength only. His lawyer / attorney looks are also handy during tax time or legal issues
CHAD BARRETT: Would have been in the "Stay" category if it wasn't for his hefty contract. Plays hard but TFC needs a better starter and 220K is too much for the bench
DAN GARGAN: Also closer to a “stay” but will not get better. Despite being promoted as TFC's Wendel Clark he should only stay as depth - won't improve but very cheap
AMADOU SANYANG: Possibly worth keeping as reserve depth only. Young enough to improve but his raw and often reckless play needs to improve over the winter
JACOB PETERSON: At the very bottom tip of the bubble. For most of the year looked very clueless up front or on the wing. Return from injury only saving grace and may improve
 
GO!
NICK GARCIA:
You off then? About time.
MISTA: Wow - what can be said about the biggest bust in the club's history? A very ill-informed buy at the hands of a desperate Director. At least he helped get rid of Mo Johnston
JOSEPH NANE: We don't care whose brother your agent is. Very few 4th round draft picks play in MLS - Nane Joseph Nane should not have been one of them
O'BRIAN WHITE: Every TFC supporter wanted the Malvern resident to be the answer to the team's scoring woes - he wasn't. Development patience is up for "Malvern-Montego Molasses"
TY HARDEN: It may be time for a second retirement. Will never fault a man for leaving sport to do charity work in Africa but the big blonde was just a body and showed little enthusiasm
MARTIN SARIC: We had a Martin Saric already - his name was Kevin Harmse. Little talent to go with his force. "So long Martin"... in Spanish and Croatian
GABE GALA: Much like the departed Mo Johnston, Gala has wasted the last four years. If his skills were as big as his reported ego he could stay. You'll always have Real Madrid
EMMANUEL GOMEZ: Tough call on the Gambian defender. Could still have a place if he bounces back from season long injury and improves but it would need to be a big bounce
RAIVIS HSCANOVICS: Shld hve nvr bn sgned by Trnto FC. Few vowels - less talent. The affable Latvian was in over his head since day one. Bck to Ltvja Raivis!
MAXIM USANOV: His punching antics are a bloggers dream but much like the end of Rocky IV, the hard-hitting (and little else) Russian is down for the count. If he dies... he dies

8 comments:

  1. Pretty much agree with all that except I wouldn't be sad to see Ibrahim and Sanyang go. I also like The Chad, but yeah his contract is pretty big. I think Julian should do better next season now that he's settled, knows what the league is like, and will have better players around him next season.

    Offseason should be very interesting. Hopefully we won't slap it together 2 weeks after the season's started. Go Reds!

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  2. This article is wrong, wrong, wrong. Barett is a starter and the best striker we have for sure. Peterson and Gargan should start too. MeRo and JDG have to go and Martin Saric should stay for sure. I would keep Harden and White too.

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  3. Peterson makes the bubble?! I fully agree with that depending on his price, but I had you guys down as official jake haterz. with a z.

    can't say i disagree with much there at all, I'd probably move gargan up to stay, and harden and gomez to bubble status.

    ReplyDelete
  4. @ Duncan...

    Well not haterz... just very down on. That's why we dropped him on the very bottom tip of the bubble! Maybe his bad injury tripped him up this year but I would ONLY keep him as very deep bench strength. Don't take his bubble placement as any endorsement for a starters role - no way. We need better. At 112K though - I 'd rather see his spot go to a young Canuck.

    Can't say we "hate" any Reds really. Well maybe Garcia... but that's all to do with his cozy relationship with Mo Johnston more than anything. I'm sure he'd be a perfectly good cab driver or airport shoe-shine man.

    Cheers Duncan - up the Darlo

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  5. Yo ManUMan from down the aisle here....

    with you almost all the way....I'd move Peterson up based on his season ending play tho and Ibby out, out, out....(can't ever see him staying on his feet for more than about 90 seconds)

    Also - as good as DeRo is - his feet are where balls go to die. Striker only please?

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  6. With you most of the way too...
    I am hoping for that big bounce back from Gomez. Raw, yes, but potential too.
    I am more of a fan of Ty Harden than you lot. Harden annoying Lenhart (pre-Conway collision) was more fun to watch than Lenhart annoying Attakora.
    Peterson might have peaked at the right time to attract expansion draft attention from either Van WC or Portland, hoping OBW finds a way west too...

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  7. May I be the first on your blog to mention JURGEN KLINSMANN!!!!!!

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  8. Accurate and 100% in agreement. Must be why I enjoy reading your Blog.

    Simple intellectual analysis not peppered with emotional overtones.

    Move/trade acquire allocation $ from any of the bubble or lower and I will be happy for next season.

    ReplyDelete