Toronto FC Discussion Thread

[youngtea]

It's not a far reach at all, considering TFC has be linked to Eto'o in the past. This from just last year.



http://www.si.com/soccer/planet-futbol/ ... o-chelsea#

I don't get the MLS obsession of signing washed up players to big contracts. If anything it's bringing down the entire talent of the MLS down. Did any big signing help the MLS in the long term?

Each team is only allowed three, so it doesn't really bring down the entire talent level. Plus is helps with ticket sales, and the development of the younger players. Always a great learning tool to play beside a world class player.

The only Designated Player that truly helped the league as a whole though was Beckham. He put MLS into a higher level all over the world.

I think you missed my point. I don't think the MLS long term gains any advantage by buying players. Their youth development systems and scouting systems are piss poor. I play with some of their 18 year old kids in a league and they aren't anything special. It just seems like wasted money in the overall goal of improving the quality of the game in MLS. You can't spend money in MLS to compete with other big leagues to sign players when the fan base is so small and the quality overall is poor.

[LittleOzzy]

Robin Fraser to leave New York Red Bulls staff to become assistant coach at Toronto FC

The New York Red Bulls, who recently named a new sporting director, may soon be in the market for a right-hand man for head coach Mike Petke.

According to a report on Tuesday from BigAppleSoccer.com, assistant coach Robin Fraser is leaving the Red Bulls to take an assistant job with Toronto FC.

No official word thus far from either MLS club on the Tuesday reports.

Fraser, 48, spent the last two years with New York, helping Petke lead the club to its first major trophy -- the 2013 Supporters’ Shield -- and a run to the 2014 Eastern Conference Championship series. The longtime MLS defender served as Chivas USA head coach in 2011 and 2012 and was an assistant at Real Salt Lake from 2007-2010.

http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2 ... t-coach-to

Always good when TFC signs another coach with MLS experience. It's been very lacking with our staff in the past.

[Brew666]

I think you missed my point. I don't think the MLS long term gains any advantage by buying players...It just seems like wasted money in the overall goal of improving the quality of the game in MLS.

My best guess is it's all about brand recognition and the hopes of gaining new fans. Put some familiar faces in MLS jerseys and get some media attention. BPL does well enough in north america and I'm sure some people will tune in to a MLS if game if they recognize some names

[LittleOzzy]

I think you missed my point. I don't think the MLS long term gains any advantage by buying players...It just seems like wasted money in the overall goal of improving the quality of the game in MLS.

My best guess is it's all about brand recognition and the hopes of gaining new fans. Put some familiar faces in MLS jerseys and get some media attention. BPL does well enough in north america and I'm sure some people will tune in to a MLS if game if they recognize some names

Well said.

Ticket sales in Toronto had a mega boost as soon as Defoe signed. That's what it's all about.

[youngtea]

I think you missed my point. I don't think the MLS long term gains any advantage by buying players...It just seems like wasted money in the overall goal of improving the quality of the game in MLS.

My best guess is it's all about brand recognition and the hopes of gaining new fans. Put some familiar faces in MLS jerseys and get some media attention. BPL does well enough in north america and I'm sure some people will tune in to a MLS if game if they recognize some names

Well said.

Ticket sales in Toronto had a mega boost as soon as Defoe signed. That's what it's all about.

Unfortunately as a football fan in Toronto I can't watch the MLS. I've tried, but the quality is so poor compared to other leagues and it hasn't improved much from a few years ago. If it continues like this I can't imagine the MLS working long term.

[LittleOzzy]

My best guess is it's all about brand recognition and the hopes of gaining new fans. Put some familiar faces in MLS jerseys and get some media attention. BPL does well enough in north america and I'm sure some people will tune in to a MLS if game if they recognize some names

Well said.

Ticket sales in Toronto had a mega boost as soon as Defoe signed. That's what it's all about.

Unfortunately as a football fan in Toronto I can't watch the MLS. I've tried, but the quality is so poor compared to other leagues and it hasn't improved much from a few years ago. If it continues like this I can't imagine the MLS working long term.

That's fine to think that, not every league will be for every person. I know it's not the best league in the whole world, but I believe in supporting local soccer and the local team.

I don't agree though that the league isn't getting better. MLS is going into their 20th season and it's better now than ever, and It's definitely not going anywhere. Cities all over North America are trying to actively gain an MLS team. If it was as terrible as you make it out to be, MLS wouldn't have lasted 20 years already.

[FluLikeSymptoms]

Yeah, it's not really good enough for me. If I watch EPL on Saturday from 745 until 230 I have little use for a 4pm TFC game. I'm pretty much soccered-out anyway and feel the need to do something, but that drop in quality is STEEP. Steep from a Burnley v Leicester game. I want to like it but there is zero magic. Muggle league soccer.

[LittleOzzy]

Yeah, it's not really good enough for me. If I watch EPL on Saturday from 745 until 230 I have little use for a 4pm TFC game. I'm pretty much soccered-out anyway and feel the need to do something, but that drop in quality is STEEP. Steep from a Burnley v Leicester game. I want to like it but there is zero magic. Muggle league soccer.

Go see a game live, you'll see the magic the league and it's fans bring.

Seriously, sit near the supporters section and enjoy local soccer. It's the best.

I love the EPL, but nothing beats live soccer surrounded by supporters.

[FluLikeSymptoms]

I've been to games but not for a couple years. You're right, the atmosphere was great. I don't mean to crap on MLS but it's got to be the only soccer on for me to spend the time watching on TV and even then it can be rough.

I'm interested and want TFC to be good, I always check in, but they and the league are really up against it. The league will always be about catching guys on their way up or down and a deep-ish pool of NA talent on the way up could be at least a generation away.

[youngtea]

Well said.

Ticket sales in Toronto had a mega boost as soon as Defoe signed. That's what it's all about.

Unfortunately as a football fan in Toronto I can't watch the MLS. I've tried, but the quality is so poor compared to other leagues and it hasn't improved much from a few years ago. If it continues like this I can't imagine the MLS working long term.

That's fine to think that, not every league will be for every person. I know it's not the best league in the whole world, but I believe in supporting local soccer and the local team.

I don't agree though that the league isn't getting better. MLS is going into their 20th season and it's better now than ever, and It's definitely not going anywhere. Cities all over North America are trying to actively gain an MLS team. If it was as terrible as you make it out to be, MLS wouldn't have lasted 20 years already.

I personally have watched live soccer in Spain, Italy, Costa Rican and Iran and they are far better in terms of talent. My point is that their scouting, youth and development programs far surpass anything compared to MLS. If they spent more on scouting and development and less on signing washed up players we would see MLS grow into a respectable league. MLS is treated like a north American sport where you try to outpay your opponent.

[youngtea]

I've been to games but not for a couple years. You're right, the atmosphere was great. I don't mean to crap on MLS but it's got to be the only soccer on for me to spend the time watching on TV and even then it can be rough.

I'm interested and want TFC to be good, I always check in, but they and the league are really up against it. The league will always be about catching guys on their way up or down and a deep-ish pool of NA talent on the way up could be at least a generation away.

The Japanese league and Australian league are better models for MLS to follow. Better talent and lots of player development.

[LittleOzzy]

Unfortunately as a football fan in Toronto I can't watch the MLS. I've tried, but the quality is so poor compared to other leagues and it hasn't improved much from a few years ago. If it continues like this I can't imagine the MLS working long term.

That's fine to think that, not every league will be for every person. I know it's not the best league in the whole world, but I believe in supporting local soccer and the local team.

I don't agree though that the league isn't getting better. MLS is going into their 20th season and it's better now than ever, and It's definitely not going anywhere. Cities all over North America are trying to actively gain an MLS team. If it was as terrible as you make it out to be, MLS wouldn't have lasted 20 years already.

I personally have watched live soccer in Spain, Italy, Costa Rican and Iran and they are far better in terms of talent. My point is that their scouting, youth and development programs far surpass anything compared to MLS. If they spent more on scouting and development and less on signing washed up players we would see MLS grow into a respectable league. MLS is treated like a north American sport where you try to outpay your opponent.

It takes years and years to build a proper MLS development system, but most teams are on the right track.

This will be the first year where most MLS teams have a proper b team playing in USLpro, while most also have an academy with under 21, 17 and 15 teams.

You can't expect a major increase in home grown players right away, development takes time, but at least MLS is on the right track.

[LittleOzzy]

I've been to games but not for a couple years. You're right, the atmosphere was great. I don't mean to crap on MLS but it's got to be the only soccer on for me to spend the time watching on TV and even then it can be rough.

I'm interested and want TFC to be good, I always check in, but they and the league are really up against it. The league will always be about catching guys on their way up or down and a deep-ish pool of NA talent on the way up could be at least a generation away.

The Japanese league and Australian league are better models for MLS to follow. Better talent and lots of player development.

The Australian league is basically the MLS system already? They too have marquee players that are normally former European/South American players looking for an extended holiday in Australia. I don't see the difference in what they are doing and what MLS is doing.

[youngtea]

I've been to games but not for a couple years. You're right, the atmosphere was great. I don't mean to crap on MLS but it's got to be the only soccer on for me to spend the time watching on TV and even then it can be rough.

I'm interested and want TFC to be good, I always check in, but they and the league are really up against it. The league will always be about catching guys on their way up or down and a deep-ish pool of NA talent on the way up could be at least a generation away.

The Japanese league and Australian league are better models for MLS to follow. Better talent and lots of player development.

The Australian league is basically the MLS system already? They too have marquee players that are normally former European/South American players looking for an extended holiday in Australia. I don't see the difference in what they are doing and what MLS is doing.

The big difference is Australian league has 1 Marquee player while MLS has 3. If I'm not mistaken MLS minimum salary is 36,000 while A-League is around 60,000. Not the best example, but Australia is doing better will their scouting and long term development of players.

Look at Costa Rica and Japan for better examples. They develop local talent from a young age and don't buy expensive players just for show.

[LittleOzzy]

The Japanese league and Australian league are better models for MLS to follow. Better talent and lots of player development.

The Australian league is basically the MLS system already? They too have marquee players that are normally former European/South American players looking for an extended holiday in Australia. I don't see the difference in what they are doing and what MLS is doing.

The big difference is Australian league has 1 Marquee player while MLS has 3. If I'm not mistaken MLS minimum salary is 36,000 while A-League is around 60,000. Not the best example, but Australia is doing better will their scouting and long term development of players.

Look at Costa Rica and Japan for better examples. They develop local talent from a young age and don't buy expensive players just for show.

With the exchange rate, that's roughly a 10,000 dollar difference. Plus the MLS Minimum Salary should be going up this season or next with the new CBA Agreement. Their minimum salary will likely be equal after the next CBA.

MLS is growing slowly, to avoid the mistakes in the past, you can't fault them for that.

Plus to tie this back to Toronto FC when it comes to MLS development success stories, Doneil Henry a TFC player that started with our academy just signed with West Ham United. He played two seasons with the academy, four with the senior club and now is joining a top team in England.

Can't get much better of a success story when it comes to MLS development.

[youngtea]

The Australian league is basically the MLS system already? They too have marquee players that are normally former European/South American players looking for an extended holiday in Australia. I don't see the difference in what they are doing and what MLS is doing.

The big difference is Australian league has 1 Marquee player while MLS has 3. If I'm not mistaken MLS minimum salary is 36,000 while A-League is around 60,000. Not the best example, but Australia is doing better will their scouting and long term development of players.

Look at Costa Rica and Japan for better examples. They develop local talent from a young age and don't buy expensive players just for show.

With the exchange rate, that's roughly a 10,000 dollar difference. Plus the MLS Minimum Salary should be going up this season or next with the new CBA Agreement. Their minimum salary will likely be equal after the next CBA.

MLS is growing slowly, to avoid the mistakes in the past, you can't fault them for that.

Plus to tie this back to Toronto FC when it comes to MLS development success stories, Doneil Henry a TFC player that started with our academy just signed with West Ham United. He played two seasons with the academy, four with the senior club and now is joining a top team in England.

Can't get much better of a success story when it comes to MLS development.

Australian dollar to Canadian dollar is 0.95. So it's about $20,000 difference.

Anyways I've seen lots of other leagues and with the amount of money MLS has they can increase the quality with better signings. I was most impressed with Costa Rican level.

[LittleOzzy]

The big difference is Australian league has 1 Marquee player while MLS has 3. If I'm not mistaken MLS minimum salary is 36,000 while A-League is around 60,000. Not the best example, but Australia is doing better will their scouting and long term development of players.

Look at Costa Rica and Japan for better examples. They develop local talent from a young age and don't buy expensive players just for show.

With the exchange rate, that's roughly a 10,000 dollar difference. Plus the MLS Minimum Salary should be going up this season or next with the new CBA Agreement. Their minimum salary will likely be equal after the next CBA.

MLS is growing slowly, to avoid the mistakes in the past, you can't fault them for that.

Plus to tie this back to Toronto FC when it comes to MLS development success stories, Doneil Henry a TFC player that started with our academy just signed with West Ham United. He played two seasons with the academy, four with the senior club and now is joining a top team in England.

Can't get much better of a success story when it comes to MLS development.

Australian dollar to Canadian dollar is 0.95. So it's about $20,000 difference.

Anyways I've seen lots of other leagues and with the amount of money MLS has they can increase the quality with better signings. I was most impressed with Costa Rican level.

MLS players are paid in US dollars.

[Shaazzam]

And australia is **** expensive.

[FluLikeSymptoms]

No UEFA CL means that we're not getting great players in their prime to come over, or at least not enough. So it's pretty much the CFL, it'll never be a top league. What I'd like is for the level of MLS competition and managing to get to the point where some of the exciting kids from the big clubs can come over on loan spells and brighten things up a bit with some speed and flair. Just give me a bit of magic and more foreign players until we get this continent in order.

[LittleOzzy]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/KurtLarSUN/status/552901343250505728[/tweet]

Schedule is out. Lots of travel to start the season which may really hurt.