Toronto FC Discussion Thread

[miruss2001]

Whoa now. If spending money translated immediately to success, the Nets would be 10 games over 500 by now.

Moving in the right direction for sure, but it's easy to see stars when lying in the gutter (stolen from Wylde)

[Dr Positivity]

The Bradley signing seems huge. The guy is 26 and they got him from Europe?

Rogers is using TFC as a springboard like the MLS used Beckham. It's not just about putting TFC on the map for Canadian ratings, but getting the audience into the entire MLS league. The upside of MLS for ratings is huge with the growing number of Canadian teams.

[LittleOzzy]

Toronto Signs Dwayne De Rosario

Toronto FC announced Thursday that the club has signed midfielder Dwayne De Rosario following his selection in Stage Two of the MLS Re-Entry draft process last month. As per team and league policies, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

“Dwayne’s resume speaks for itself. The addition of an MLS veteran with regular season and MLS Cup MVP honours brings a significant piece to the team we are building here at Toronto FC. Dwayne’s impact will add considerable skill and depth to our squad and we look forward to having him serve as a mentor to our younger players,” said Toronto FC General Manager Tim Bezbatchenko. “Dwayne has had a tremendous MLS and National Team career. He has very strong ties to the team and the city and it is only fitting that this is how his story should unfold.”

De Rosario, 35, completed this past season with D.C. United, where he appeared in 24 matches, scoring three goals and adding two assists. While with D.C., the Scarborough native netted 23 goals to go along with 21 assists in 68 MLS contests and was named the 2011 MLS MVP and MLS Golden Boot recipient on the strength of his 13-goal, 12-assist season.

http://www.torontofc.ca/news/2014/01/to ... de-rosario

Jordan Hamilton Joins First Team

Toronto FC announced Thursday that the club has signed KIA Toronto FC Academy forward Jordan Hamilton as a Homegrown Player. He becomes the ninth player in club history to sign for the first team. As per team and league policy terms of the deal were not disclosed.

“Jordan has progressed year after year in our Academy and deserved this opportunity,” said Toronto General Manager Tim Bezbatchenko. “We are pleased to bring him up to the First Team and complement our Academy staff for their contributions to Jordan’s development as a footballer.”

Hamilton, 17, appeared in ten matches, scoring nine goals for the KIA Toronto FC Senior Academy Team in the OSL Elite Men’s League this past season. Hamilton originally joined the KIA Toronto FC Junior Academy Team in 2011 at the age of 15. During the 2012 season, Hamilton and the Junior Academy Team were finalists in the 2012 Generation Adidas Cup in Seattle; Hamilton scored three goals during the tournament.

http://www.torontofc.ca/news/2014/01/jo ... first-team

Toronto FC to partner with Wilmington Hammerheads of USL Pro

Thanks to Duane Rollins over at Canadian Soccer News, Toronto FC fans may have gotten their first idea of where the likes of Manny Aparicio, Jordan Hamilton, Quillan Roberts, and Emery Welshman will be playing this year. According to a report by Rollins, TFC are set to announce a partnership with the Wilmington Hammerheads of USL Pro as part of the growing relationship between that league and MLS.

The reported partnership would open the door for up to four TFC players to go on loan to the USL club for the duration of the 2014 season. Such a move would allow the four young Canadians to actually have the chance to get meaningful minutes that will be crucial in continuing their development.

If the announcement of such a partnership is on the horizon for Toronto FC it would explain the reasoning behind the signing of Jordan Hamilton to a home grown deal on Thursday. The 17-year-old forward was unlikely to get any minutes with the first team in 2014 so having the ability to send him out on loan to get that playing time is a huge plus. Signing him now also ensures that TFC did not lose him to another club as the forward was drawing interest following his impressive showing at the U17 World Cup last fall.

http://www.wakingthered.com/2014/1/9/52 ... of-usl-pro

[dat90zKiD]

in before Blue Jays 2013 season.

[LittleOzzy]

The Bradley signing seems huge. The guy is 26 and they got him from Europe?

Rogers is using TFC as a springboard like the MLS used Beckham. It's not just about putting TFC on the map for Canadian ratings, but getting the audience into the entire MLS league. The upside of MLS for ratings is huge with the growing number of Canadian teams.

It's true, they are making a large investment in TFC is hopes that other teams around the league will do the same resulting in better ratings all around for their coverage.

Other then baseball, the summer is pretty wide open and I think both Rogers and Bell are looking to MLS to fill the void.

[5DOM]

$10M Bradley purchase confirmed by Roma: http://www.asroma.it/en/news/corporate_michael_bradley/

[dagger]

Roma has announced the transfer of Bradley to the MLS. So that part is official. I wonder if the way the release is worded suggests the league is awarding Bradley to Toronto FC, as opposed to TFC using a DP slot. Garber has some loopholes at his disposal.

[ForeverTFC]

Roma has announced the transfer of Bradley to the MLS. So that part is official. I wonder if the way the release is worded suggests the league is awarding Bradley to Toronto FC, as opposed to TFC using a DP slot. Garber has some loopholes at his disposal.

He will be a DP as if he was not, he'd have to go through re-entry and the first team in line would have dibs on him. If he is a DP, he gets to sing anywhere. With the MLS, the contract is with the league, not the team. That's why the release is worded like that. League owns all contracts.

[ForeverTFC]

Horrible, awful terrible career move by Michael Bradley if he does end up going to Toronto.

It's starting to sound like 6 years, 1 million per with a 10 million dollar transfer.

He's going to be with TFC for a very long time.

Eh, contracts don't mean much in soccer. Definitely a career killing move though, wouldn't be surprised if Klinsman starts subbing him more moving forward.

Please, for who exactly? Bradley is your best mid and will be for the next few years.

I love this move so much more because it pisses off the Americans.

[ForeverTFC]

Horrible, awful terrible career move by Michael Bradley if he does end up going to Toronto.

It's starting to sound like 6 years, 1 million per with a 10 million dollar transfer.

He's going to be with TFC for a very long time.

I thought it's 6.5 mill a year. That line has changed?

[and1GS]

It's starting to sound like 6 years, 1 million per with a 10 million dollar transfer.

He's going to be with TFC for a very long time.

Eh, contracts don't mean much in soccer. Definitely a career killing move though, wouldn't be surprised if Klinsman starts subbing him more moving forward.

Please, for who exactly? Bradley is your best mid and will be for the next few years.

I love this move so much more because it pisses off the Americans.

lol, based off your username there's no point debating with you.

Objectively speaking, playing on a top team in Italy provides a higher level of play than a team in a second-tier league.

And it doesn't really piss me off, it's just sad to see Bradley cap his development when he was improving so rapidly. Thankfully, CM is probably our deepest position.

[Boognish]

I'm pissed

[LittleOzzy]

Horrible, awful terrible career move by Michael Bradley if he does end up going to Toronto.

It's starting to sound like 6 years, 1 million per with a 10 million dollar transfer.

He's going to be with TFC for a very long time.

I thought it's 6.5 mill a year. That line has changed?

Maybe I just read it wrong and it's 6 mill per year for 6 years.

Either way, I'm happy.

[LittleOzzy]

I'm pissed

Why? You'll get to see him play more often now, even in person.

[Boognish]

Why? You'll get to see him play more often now, even in person.

He's a contributing squad member on the second placed team in Serie A, I'd rather he continue to play at the highest level. Not what you'd expect him to do in his prime.

[ForeverTFC]

Eh, contracts don't mean much in soccer. Definitely a career killing move though, wouldn't be surprised if Klinsman starts subbing him more moving forward.

Please, for who exactly? Bradley is your best mid and will be for the next few years.

I love this move so much more because it pisses off the Americans.

lol, based off your username there's no point debating with you.

Objectively speaking, playing on a top team in Italy provides a higher level of play than a team in a second-tier league.

And it doesn't really piss me off, it's just sad to see Bradley cap his development when he was improving so rapidly. Thankfully, CM is probably our deepest position.

Terrible logic.

Bradley was not going to feature in Roma barring injury. He was the 5th central mid player on the depth chart. You may be of the thought that training for Roma is better than featuring for 90 minutes, and that's a totally different argument.

Now there was interest in him from Bologna and Verona. Verona is 5th so far and a good team, but Bologna is in relegation zone. Top MLS sides can compete (and I'd wager more often than not beat) the bottom third of the EPL, Serie A, La Liga and so on.

The MLS is not some "second tier league". Soccer is not so cut and dry. Ajax for example produces some of the best players in the world, and it has nothing to do with them playing a "top league". I am not putting Ajax down to the caliber of MLS teams, I am just showcasing that improvement can be made outside top flight football.

I'd like to see who you'd replace Bradley with this year on the USMNT, I really do. He has been in Europe for 10 years and developed his game as the best midfielder with a US citizenship. Just because he'd rather make a decision for himself or his family does not allow you to hope for him to be subbed.

It's this kind of attitude that does not allow the MLS to grow.

I'll close this by letting you know that I grew up idolizing Batistuta and Toldo when they played for Fiorentina. I am a fan of Juventus, and a serious backer of the Serie A. But unlike the terrible crowd that enjoys demeaning the MLS, I love the sport too much to not support and celebrate growth in the country that I live in.

tl;dr - Get a clue.

[ForeverTFC]

Why? You'll get to see him play more often now, even in person.

He's a contributing squad member on the second placed team in Serie A, I'd rather he continue to play at the highest level. Not what you'd expect him to do in his prime.

They just made a transfer that knocked him down to 5th on the depth chart. He wasn't going to feature much the rest of the way.

[and1GS]

I don't really care if MLS grows, if it does, cool, but I don't think we should start having marquee American players leave Europe to help 'build' a second-tier league. I also don't 'hope he gets subbed.' It's just kinda the mindset Jurgen has with guys that leave Europe to come back to MLS.

Yes, he was struggling, so he can either run home or get better and make it work with Roma or another euro side. I'm of the train of thought where I believe that Donovan could have been much better had he gone abroad longer (when he came back from that Everton stint he noticeably stepped his game up). But hey, these guys want to come home and be with their families yadda yadda. I don't really care about that, I'm a sports fan that wants to see his teams compete at the highest level. MLS is not the highest level.

As for the Ajax remark, I think you hit the nail on the head. Guys use clubs like Ajax and leagues like the MLS to spur their development at a younger age. Then when they're ready to take the next step, they leave and rarely look back. Ajax IS in a second-tier league, that's not debatable. When compared against other top 4 European teams, they're still a second-tier club. But their youth development is fantastic, so that's cool.

[Boognish]

They just made a transfer that knocked him down to 5th on the depth chart. He wasn't going to feature much the rest of the way.

Ah ok. I've only seen him play for Roma a handful of times, but he started 24 times for them last year and had a few starts this season. I wasn't aware that he's that far down the depth chart, but I'll defer to you - I barely watch Serie A.

I'd still prefer the best Americans play abroad at the highest level. Even if the MLS can compete with the bottom third of European leagues, MLS players don't get to play against the top two thirds of the top leagues.

[kakaman]

http://www.asroma.it/pdf/corporate/oper ... radley.pdf

It's official!

Dat OVO swag, you know Drizzy made a personal call to Bradley.









The league ain't ready for dis ****!