That's pretty reasonable. We have never signed a teenager like this before at that age and that price tag.
It's unlikely he would be a big difference maker in MLS though at least for a little bit. One for the future. I'd be curious to know how TFC (and MLS) manage to sign these type of players without it preventing us from signing a bigger player. When you look at the core age of Pozuelo, Altidore, Bradley, Mavinga, Gonzo etc we are in "win now' mode, so this is a curve ball for me.
None the less this type of player excites me.
This doesn't feel right. I don't believe SKC, Columbus, and Vancouver will significantly spend more than us on their offseason DP signing.
This offseason, we've been linked with Bruma, Giroud, and Balotelli. Each would command a large salary/transfer fee. (Fingers crossed we sign Bruma)
Now, we are looking at Pellistri, who turned 18 last week. Don't get me wrong, I am sure he's a fine player, but at $4.5mm transfer and what? a $500,000 - $800,000 salary? Something doesn't feel right. Perhaps they've been pursuing options to present to the MLSE board? Both high-end middle career/older players and children from South America.
Hopefully, the CBA allows more financial freedom to teams going forward.
Well the Gals had 2 DPs close to signing as of last night, although one (Martin Benitez) seems to have fallen through today. If they pulled them both off then they'd have 5 DPs. Pretty sure they'll buy Alessandrini out but still that's 4. Something is going on with the CBA.
Yes I think so. We can guess the details but I’m thinking something around allowing MLS teams to capitalize on player transactional profiting ie: they allow teams to buy 1(?) young player(S) aged 16-25(?) grow them, develop them and sell them ie: Almirón without the transfer fee for that player counting against the cap. Seems like the next logical step in MLS evolution. Pretty important to make money and how awesome would it be for a team like TFC or Galaxy to sign a young player and loan them to a team like Columbus? Columbus is more competitive, TFC could get richer, it’s a win-win. I’m just speculating but MLS teams need to be able to spend more money on younger players
“Years have gone by and I’ve finally learned to accept myself for who I am: a beggar for good football.
I go about the world, hand outstretched, and in the stadiums I plead: ‘A pretty move, for the love of God.’
And when good football happens, I give thanks for the miracle and I don’t give a damn which team or country performs it.”
-Eduardo Galeano
The DP fight is between owners who want to spend and the old guard - the old guard won the last round and might still - there are a lot of cheapskate billionaires coming into this league who don't mind spending on one or two players but don't want to spend on other stuff (Orlando & Minnesota are 2 examples).
To me the “problem” with the salary structure right now is depth (or the lack of it). I put quotations in there because it still feels like we’ve come a long way from the old days.
We need more mid range guys on decent money, not more millionaires or higher paid millionaires.
I really appreciate that Nicolas wanted to be here. This tweet popped up today and says something about why I instinctively side with the player. It is more than a game.
https://twitter.com/futbolbible/stat...736407043?s=21
"There are some people who might have better technique than me, and some may be fitter than me, but the main thing is tactics. With most players, tactics are missing. You can divide tactics into insight, trust, and daring." - Johan Cruyff
Yep Ensco...I don’t blame anyone for this mess - other than MLs’ ridiculous convoluted salary rules. If Benezet loves Toronto that much...I’d still sign him. It might take the CBA deal being resolved - but I wouldn’t bet against him playing for us next year. We were likely unsure that Bradley would go for a TAM deal..
Something like that happened in the last couple years with Orlando. Someone's contract was extended by accident (most likely Will Johnson).
https://twitter.com/cboehm/status/10...019584?lang=en
If I remember correctly, it was when Jozy came over. Media said Bradley had to re-do his contract to make the Jozy deal work. I can only assume that was when another year was tacked on (since I believe in soccer contracts can only be 5 years max, but I could be mistaken).
You’ve got to let this play out. There is nothing to be concerned about here.
Saw that .... I had a long post about why I thought Mavinga wouldn't be back but his option has been picked up. He's got to learn to keep his mouth shut. He far too often comes across as a thinly skinned pre-madonna ... he pulled the same crocadile tears charade when VDW was cut. Just not looking forward to all his whiny tweets this season. As long as he focusses on the pitch we will have to live with his off-pitch drama.
I imagine players tend to stick up for fellow players more than agents and FO figures. Though he also seems to be implying that Benezet should stop having twitter arguments with fans, which I personally disagree with because it's making the off-season way more bearable
Chris is a rebel and birds of a feather flock together - he also had GvW back as well, and we all know where that guy is now.
Players are going to stick up for each other, some more than others. I'm not concerned about this.
Chris knows this is probably the best place he could be in. His next move, if he so chooses to make it, will be at around 29 years of age - if he plays his cards right and shows some stuff - he could end up back there on a half decent - lower mid to lower table team. If that's what he wants.
Last edited by jabbronies; 12-31-2019 at 11:01 AM.
All this aside I’d like to see the club linked with a few more players.
Namely a LB who could (eventually) replace Morrow and maybe something in midfield (in case our prospects don’t work out).
Also wonder if trading Bono makes sense. Clearly he’d like to be starting and his value isn’t going to get any higher playing behind Westberg. Grooming someone who would be ready in 2-3 years once Westberg slows down might make sense.
^I believe Bono is untradeable given his contract and form. He makes almost $400K.
The GK market is awash with Westberg type players at $100-150K.
"There are some people who might have better technique than me, and some may be fitter than me, but the main thing is tactics. With most players, tactics are missing. You can divide tactics into insight, trust, and daring." - Johan Cruyff
I wish people would actually read what Mavinga said to Benezet, before commenting based on their preconceived notions. Chris actually also tells Benezet to chill, and not get into Twitter debates with others.
Twitter/Google translate isn't too bad: "Let people speak you said what you had to say we know the truth time will do things in your favor you never cheated"
Not sure if "cheated" is a great translation, or that might not have been too clear in the original French.
... or for the right offer you trade Westberg if he's more marketable with his salary. Probably an unpopular opinion but Bono was a younger inexperienced goalie that made some great saves on our way to the MLS Cup in 2017. Young and relatively inexperienced = mistake prone. I wouldn't be against playing him. He made mistakes last year but to me Bono/Westberg = interchangeable parts. Take the best offer you can get if you need to clear a little cap space. Neither is head and shoulders better than the other. Westberg had a few clunkers last season too. In saying that, having two comparable goalies isn't the worst thing in the world. If you got rid of Bono and Westberg came up lame I'm sure a few people would be on here complaining about Manning/Curtis getting rid of Bono.
The Bono decision is for 2021 (or whenever his club option is). He's respected in the locker room, learning from Westberg and better then most sub keepers - not nearly as good as Westberg is & untradeable at his contract level.