Toronto FC Discussion Thread

[Maex]

Torsten Frings played his farewell game in Bremen today in a match featuring Bremen All-Stars vs Frings' Friends, which included F-1 legend Michael Schumacher. A fun affair by all accounts and one of the gifts he got was a jersey made up of all his clubs' jerseys, including TFC.

Scroll down on the the link above for pics. Click on "nächstes Bild" in bottom right corner of slideshow. I'm too lazy to translate or upload and link separate pics.

He scored three goals himself and the fans went nuts for him. At the end of the game he was led off the pitch by his daughters.

By far my most favourite FC player ever.

You never posted a link?

http://bilder.t-online.de/b/65/35/65/72 ... seiner.jpg

[LLJ]

David Miller unleashed:

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/tor ... e14249983/

Dear Sirs:

TFC Management Changes

I am writing because I believe that the recent management changes at TFC, and your president’s comments on football/artificial turf, have seriously jeopardized the future of this club. From the moment Coach Cummins was allowed to leave, the team has jumped each year from one playing vision to its opposite, thereby preventing on field progress. At the same time, the experience of the supporters has declined – together with their passion. This is amply demonstrated by the fact that it is now necessary to have someone sing the national anthem, when previously supporters sang O Canada themselves, unaided.

Since the failed hiring of Preki as its coach, the club has desperately needed stability. Hiring an experienced and high level President/GM, only to fire him a few months later, is exactly the opposite of what is needed. It was either wrong to hire Mr. Payne, to fire him, or both. Similarly, either pursuing a skilled young player like Urruti for two years was wrong, trading him three weeks after acquisition was wrong – or both.

Here is my advice:
•Stabilize the management. Change simply has to stop – this is the last chance to get it right.
•Stabilize the team. Today, there are at least signs of passion and hard work on the pitch. Build on that with selective change. Don’t start over.
•Stabilize the experience. End the speculation about the Argonauts CFL team coming to BMO. Mr. Leiweke’s suggestion that they might, and the necessary implication that they would play on artificial turf, was the wrong thing to say, at this time in particular. You risk losing the most committed supporters of TFC if the venue is changed to accommodate Canadian football, particularly if turf returns.

As you know, I have been an ardent supporter of TFC since you and MLSE first had the vision to bring Major League Soccer to Toronto. I have supported the team through thick and thin, defended management, was one of the first season ticket holders, and, in my former capacity, was instrumental in building the stadium and supporting its conversion to grass.

I am so frustrated with the latest management missteps that I am returning the remainder of my season tickets to you: it is the only way I can emphasize how serious the situation is for those of us who support TFC. Please donate them to an appropriate cause.

There once was magic at BMO Field. The latest reshuffle has made the possibility of that magic returning almost certainly disappear.

David Miller

[Geddy]

Have to agree with Miller. MLSE has been doing everything in their power to ruin this team.

[LittleOzzy]

Sadly they are the worst run team in sports right now.

All that promise on day one, and again we are starting over. Fans have been abused every season.

[postup]

Torsten Frings played his farewell game in Bremen today in a match featuring Bremen All-Stars vs Frings' Friends, which included F-1 legend Michael Schumacher. A fun affair by all accounts and one of the gifts he got was a jersey made up of all his clubs' jerseys, including TFC.

Scroll down on the the link above for pics. Click on "nächstes Bild" in bottom right corner of slideshow. I'm too lazy to translate or upload and link separate pics.

He scored three goals himself and the fans went nuts for him. At the end of the game he was led off the pitch by his daughters.

By far my most favourite FC player ever.

You never posted a link?

Ooops, sorry: http://www.kicker.de/news/fussball/bund ... archresult

Thanks, Maex, for picking up the slack.

[G R E Y]

Any insight on the new guy?

http://www.goal.com/en-us/news/1110/major-league-soccer/2013/09/20/4276531/toronto-fc-hires-first-time-gm-bezbatchenko

Toronto FC hires first-time GM Bezbatchenko

The 31-year-old joins Toronto FC from Major League Soccer's offices, where he worked as the senior director of player relations and competition.
Toronto FC has turned to the MLS league office for the latest change in its general manager chair.

TFC named Tim Bezbatchenko as its new general manager Friday, bringing in the 31-year-old from MLS headquarters, where he worked as the senior director of player relations and competition.

For Bezbatchenko, who played two seasons in the United Soccer Leagues, the general manager position is his first, but Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment president and chief executive officer Tim Leiweke feels the man's knowledge of the league's complicated salary cap and roster structure will make him an asset.

I don't follow TFC regularly as there's been enough poor management and play to keep up with in bball, but what's with TO sports teams and seven year stretches of mediocrity? (though from what I gather, TFC has managed to surpass even its bball cousins for lowest of the low, now looking up to see the bottom?)

Bezbatchenko sounds smart and eager, and seems to have been plucked from the league offices (looks to be a trend of Leiweke's). Everybody's saying all the right things, but we'll see how much they can bridge the gap between words and actions. I wish them the best. TFC fans and Toronto deserve it.

Here's another article about it from Yahoo! Sports via CP:

New GM Tim Bezbatchenko brings brain, knowledge of MLS to Toronto FC

TORONTO - Toronto FC now has brainiac GM Tim Bezbatchenko to go along with up-and-coming manager Ryan Nelsen.

The underachieving MLS team has a $20-million training centre that is the envy of the league, a fan base that has stayed remarkably loyal considering the dreck put in front of it, and an owner willing to spend more than US$25 million on two marquee designated players when the transfer window re-opens in January.

There is salary cap space and allocation money to spend, not to mention some talent available to move.

"I do not think the dark days are over yet but I think there is a light at the end of the tunnel and we control our own destiny," said Tim Leiweke, president and CEO of Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment.

"And now we have to do the heavy lifting to get there by January so we could look everyone in the eye and tell them this is a different era here in this organization. It's not about flash, it's not about spin. It's about hard work, tough decisions, spending some money and making the right decisions. I think we'll know that in January."

http://ca.sports.yahoo.com/news/toronto-fc-names-tim-bezbatchenko-general-manager-140327851--sow.html

[overdose]

MLSE looking at roof for BMO Field, shoots down talk of artificial turf

Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment is looking at roof options for Toronto FC at BMO Field at a cost of $100 million-plus.

“I’ve been to many of the games this year. It’s almost like there’s a direct correlation between rain and a TFC game,” Tim Leiweke, MLSE president and CEO, told a breakfast question-and-answer session with Toronto FC supporters Saturday.“I’ve never seen anything like it. Are we cursed or what? It’s just the most incredible thing I’ve ever seen. We got to get you a roof. The owners know it. (MLSE chairman) Larry Tanenbaum is actually involved now day-to-day on the design of the roof.

“I spent three hours with Larry and contractors and engineers the other day looking at different kinds of roofs. We have an October board meeting with Bell, Rogers and Mr. Tanenbaum and we’re bringing the roof to them in October.”

The city of Toronto owns the stadium, which cost $62 million to build, but Leiweke says MLSE has promised to pay for all the renovations.

Leiweke says a key issue is how to build a roof without having to have the MLS team move out during construction for a year.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/s ... e14588713/

[LittleOzzy]

Leiweke promises TFC will make playoffs

Toronto FC will end its seven-year post-season drought and make the Major League Soccer playoffs next season, MLSE CEO Tim Leiweke promised Tuesday.

The underachieving franchise finished 17th in the 19-team league with a 6-17-11 record this season.

“Our soccer team is absolutely in complete disarray,” said Leiweke, drawing laughs during an Empire Club luncheon speech about the future of MLSE teams and plans to improve them.

But the Maple Leafs Sports and Entertainment boss said change is coming.

“The team we turn the quickest will be TFC and we’ll turn them next year,” he said.

“Mark it down, write it down, film it …. We’re going to turn TFC around and we’re going to make the playoffs next year. We know where we’re headed, we know how to get there. We’ve been given the resources of this ownership group and we will get to the right place.”

http://www.sportsnet.ca/soccer/leiweke- ... -playoffs/

I hope he's right, but it's hard to believe him.

[5DOM]

http://www.gianlucadimarzio.com/calciom ... e-details/

MLS is in Gilardino’s future. It’a s possible scenario we mentioned a few days ago. His agent was in the United States, he spoke to the directors for the Toronto club and watched a league match. They offered 7 million over 3 years before taxes to the current Genoa striker, with Jermain Defoe as the alternative for Toronto’s president Tim Leiweke. This would be a life choice for Gilardino, Toronto is trying.

[5DOM]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/DavidAmoyal/status/395331615511285760[/tweet]

[MaliBrah]

wow defoe would score a bunch in the MLS , would be great to have him here

[kdawg32086]

Would be a major coup for Toronto and MLS if they could land any of those guys. It's about time they're after an Italian, with all the guys Montreal has picked up.

[LittleOzzy]

Would be a major coup for Toronto and MLS if they could land any of those guys. It's about time they're after an Italian, with all the guys Montreal has picked up.

Last time an Italian was rumoured to join TFC he chose Montreal anyway.

I'm at the point I don't get too excited anymore until pen hits paper.

[kdawg32086]

Would be a major coup for Toronto and MLS if they could land any of those guys. It's about time they're after an Italian, with all the guys Montreal has picked up.

Last time an Italian was rumoured to join TFC he chose Montreal anyway.

I'm at the point I don't get too excited anymore until pen hits paper.

Well, if it helps at all, I'm rooting for you guys to land this one.

[LittleOzzy]

TFC now likely considering Asmir Begovic as next DP striker.

They could use him up front.

[LittleOzzy]

Drake, yes that Drake is helping with the signing of our next DP.

I wonder who he has been talking to.

[MaliBrah]

Drake, yes that Drake is helping with the signing of our next DP.

I wonder who he has been talking to.

thought his job was with the raptors , now he's a full out rep for everything under the MLSE umbrella? ahah

[LittleOzzy]

Drake, yes that Drake is helping with the signing of our next DP.

I wonder who he has been talking to.

thought his job was with the raptors , now he's a full out rep for everything under the MLSE umbrella? ahah

Sounds like it. Has been on the phone to several European players in hopes they will make the move to Toronto FC.

[LittleOzzy]

Gilardino to Toronto FC?

Weird. Won't believe it though until he signs on the dotted line.

[kdawg32086]

Drake, yes that Drake is helping with the signing of our next DP.

I wonder who he has been talking to.

thought his job was with the raptors , now he's a full out rep for everything under the MLSE umbrella? ahah

Sounds like it. Has been on the phone to several European players in hopes they will make the move to Toronto FC.

I can only imagine how that conversation would go...

Drake: Yo Dawg, you should come play for Toronto!

Player: Why?

Drake: Because we... STARTED FROM THE BOTTOM NOW WE HERE, STARTED FROM THE BOTTOM NOW MY WHOLE (censored) TEAM HERE. STARTED FROM THE BOTTOM NOW WE HERE, STARTED FROM THE BOTTOM NOW THE WHOLE TEAM HERE (censored).

Player: ...