Toronto FC: Could they be the next MLS Bloody Big Deal?

Toronto FC was formed in October 2005. Since then, despite showing a lot of promise in the Canadian Championship and winning it four times, TFC has shown little in the CONCACAF Champions League (getting into the group stages twice and semifinals once) and even less in MLS (never qualified for the playoffs).

By the end of the 2013 season, fans were becoming restless, not only by the lack of trophies but also lack of quality in the team which produced mediocre football and less and less fans were showing up to the games. Management knew that if they wanted to reach their goal of making Football (Soccer) a big sport in Canada, together with Hockey, Baseball and Basketball, change was required. That’s when they bring in Mr. Tim Leiweke whose main job is to give TFC a lift and capacity to compete in all the competitions they enter. To everyone’s relief, he didn’t waste time to get things going.

It’s a bloody big deal. Those were the words on all the Toronto FC fans’ lips on January 13 2014. 11 a.m ET and TFC was about to make one of the most anticipated unveiling of players in its short history. Speculations have been raging about TFC making a few high profile signings during this off season but to all the fans, one signing in particular was the center of attention. Jermain Colin Defoe.

There are not a lot of Football fans who do not know Jermain Defoe. He started his career at West Ham United and had two (2) spells at the heart of Tottenham Hotspur’s attack since 2004, with a move to Portsmouth during the 2008-2009 season sandwiched in between. Over the course of his career, he has shown that he has the capacity of taking his chances at goal. He is currently the highest goalscorer in European competitions for Spurs and also holds the EPL record for most goals scored when coming on as a substitute. Defoe is exactly the kind of player that TFC needed, someone with a proven scoring record and also, due to his experience at European and International level, has the ability to nurture the upcoming young players.

Now, as we all know, one man can make a team better but that’s not enough. That’s why on that exciting January 13th, TFC also presented Michael Sheehan Bradley to the Toronto FC family. He has played at several clubs in Europe, most recently at Aston Villa, Chievo and Roma. Bradley made his first international appearance for the US in 2007 and has since been a vital element. He is a high energy kind of midfielder who is also capable of looking for the killer pass and put in a few goals of his own. At only 26 years old, he is in his prime years and is also a player for the future.
With these two major signings, TFC seems to be heading the right way and hopefully will be firing on all fronts once the 2014 season starts. Only hiccup is that they are still to prove that they have enough quality at the back but as the saying goes ‘the best defense is a good offense’.

Jade.

Let us know your thoughts.

Looking to the Window

In preparation for our upcoming article about players we would like to see come to the Premier League, and in anticipation of the January transfer window we have decided to look at where certain clubs could look to strengthen their team.

Starting at the top Arsenal: Arsenal have had a great start to their season, but you have to think that a few injuries to the likes of Giroud or Ozil and their season would falter. Their number one priority should be finding another striker as lets face it Bendtner isn’t fooling anyone.

Liverpool: Liverpool should look to 2 things in the coming few months. 1) Working out how to fit Sturridge, Suarez, Coutinho & Aspas into the same team & 2) getting a hard grafting holding midfielder. Nuri Sahin didn’t fit in under Rodgers and it’s a shame as he would have fit the bill

.Manchester United: The era of Moyes hasn’t started brilliantly but there are sparks there. It’s obvious that United need to look at their midfield as it hasn’t been of the quality that is expected.  United will probably go back in for Herrera but we think they should be looking at wide players as Valencia, Nani & Young have been underwhelming this season. Also the left back position may become a problem in the next 6 months if Evra were to leave.

Tottenham Hotspur: We can’t see a lot of players coming in to The Lane in January and with their spend in the summer money may be tighter, Maybe another forward to back up Soldado as we can’t see Defoe being in Lillywhite come the end of the window.

Swansea: Swansea have stuttered and stumbled through the early season, the likes of Bony & Shelvey who started the season well have faded away and Michu has not been too influential either. Saying that there are positives and sat in 13th, 4 places above Cardiff if the season was to end now Swans fans would be happy.

Stoke City: Stoke have been playing some downright attractive football so far this season and their lowly league position doesn’t reflect it. The problem with Stoke is they lack a genuine goal scorer someone who could guarantee them 15 goals, if they find him expect them to finish mid table.

Fulham, Crystal Palace & Sunderland: The current bottom 3 are realistically in need of at least 5 new players each. Fulham are the shock team to be down their as they have the likes of Reither, Berbatov & Rodallega all of who are capable of winning games and are simply not turning up. Everyone knew it was going to be hard for Palace and we think they are as good as down all  ready but if they can plug the hole in their back line then might be able to grind out a few hard results, also a creative midfielder wouldn’t go amiss. With Sunderland it’s hard to work out their weakness, the talent is there but for whatever reason it’s not performing.

We asked some of the team to suggest a few players that could move in January. Here is what we got.

Ross: Defoe to Stoke on Loan

Adam Del Boy: Konoplyanka or Yarmolenko to Liverpool, Benteke to Liverpool / Arsenal/ Spurs

Ryan DF: Muriel & Morata to Arsenal,   Cabaye to Manchester United,

Elijah:  Hummells and/or Gundogan to United

Annelies: Thomas Meunier to anyone in the Premiership.

Ry Howe: Giovanni Dos Santos to Swansea, Defoe to West Ham, Draxler or Xherdan Shaqiri to United.

Let us know your thoughts.

 

Ry.