The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly – Toronto FC 0–0 Chicago Fire
Last night sucked. That’s not really a hot take, right? Because boy oh boy, I dished out some of those from my seat at BMO.
— Allan (@offsidetwice) June 1, 2023
Listen. I think it was a HUGE MISTAKE to start Berna. Not because I “hate him” (though I’m admittedly getting closer with every new wrinkle on vaping and battling with MB4) but because how do you reconcile changing any part of the team that won on Saturday? That squad did things. We made (unnecessary) changes and saw more of the same listless, rudderless mess we’ve seen all season(s). If no one is bigger than the badge and our record is 14 wins from 55 games played (!!!!!), it seemed to me a no-brainer to start the exact same starting XI as both a reward and an attempt to maybe win twice at home for the first time in years.
But, honestly, what the hell do I know? I’m just a boy, standing in 30-degree weather with the sun beating down, asking his soccer club to start playing soccer.
THE GOOD
509 Streetcar was HUMMING both ways… The Kids: I know we all miss the Shaffelgods and Part-Time Models, but maybe, just maybe, Bob kept the diamonds (but should lose the Diomande)? Yeah, they are excelling (or at least making impressions) in other places around the league, but those other teams are playing styles that better serve their skill sets. Those players we have left seem to be pretty good at Bradley-ball… Chance Creation: While I’m remiss to use the word “elite” to describe any facet of this current team, I cannot find a better descriptor…
If the keeper didn't put 25 stitches in his own head to stop that ball you'd be loving TFC's performance.
— Run don't walk from Blob Bradley (@RoterTodFooty) June 1, 2023
You know what? He’s right! This is a game of inches and for what feels like an eternity, TFC has teetered on the knife edge between modest success and failure. By definition: Mid.
THE BAD
Nobody expected TFC’s ceiling to be Mid. Nobody imagined fighting for 1-0 victories with the Chicago Fire. Ok, maybe some of you did, but I sure AF didn’t… Can this team play with two Ferraris? I KNOW IT’S A SMALL SAMPLE SIZE. FFS, Our Preferred Starting Line-up has played together what, 10 games in 2 years???!!!! We are Small Sample Size FC… I really, REALLY, want to understand what Bob’s doing, but I really, REALLY don’t get starting Berna last night, unless he has a “he’s fit, he plays” clause in his contract… Kei Kamara almost Kei Kamara’ed us again… Feels like another “two steps forward, 18 steps back” and it’s becoming habitual at Tee Eff Cee.
THE UGLY
Something has to change, and I honestly don’t know what, how much, etc. Did I prefer the Lorenzo on Saturday to the one last night? F yes! How do we ensure we see that Lorenzo on the regular? Should we be bending this far backward to service any player, especially ones that have been inconsistent and disappointing? End of the day, do we trust ANYONE at TFC, from the top down?… This team is a mess of ego and hubris… Looking at our stats over the last two seasons is an exercise in pain… A double Whiskey and Ginger is the better part of 25 dollars… They need to do a Loonie Dog Night at BMO yesterday… Was that Richie’s last game in a TFC shirt??
🇨🇦Richie Laryea earns Man of The Match honours in his last match for Toronto FC at BMO Field before his loan deal from Nottingham Forest expires #TFCLive #NHFC pic.twitter.com/OTefWsFyeb
— Daniel Ayik (@ayik_daniel) June 1, 2023
I’m not sure which category it falls under but Kosi Thompson with the shortest shorts in TFC history deserves a mention. I kinda like it but also hate it.
Agree. It’s so bad it’s good or so good it’s bad. It’s twisting my melon, man.
I loved it. We had 20 years of big baggy shorts that have gone back to a more sensible size.
It’s time to go the other way, and I’m here for it. Kosi lead the way!
Edit.:
I’ve since learned the 509 streetcar was, in fact, the furthest thing from “humming both ways” and was, in fact, a total clusterfck… again.
Guess we got really lucky on the way down. Pays to go early, kiddos.
Sure it’s a game of inches and we had a couple of sitters but this is a bad bad Chicago team, if we can’t beat them at home who can we beat…the 2nd half was once again a sorry excuse for pro soccer. As for the Italians the 4 3 3 just won’t work for them unless there is a a quality number 9 I don’t hate berna I hate the position the club has put them in. This isn’t good enough on many levels off to Minnesota Saturday who is ok but on the road, why does this feel like a otherloss or perhaps zero zero…oh wait it’s because the same 4 3 3 will be trotted out by our ego maniac Gaffer. Another bad week for toronto sports zero zero vs Chicago maples leafs picked out the worst GM possible and whatever the hell anothny bass was doing prior to another jays loos.
You want to know what’s ugly? Bob Bradley’s attempt to build a soccer team. He very simply has know idea what he is doing, he has zero skill in assessing player talent , brings in Petretta makes him the highest paid left back in the league then sits him all game in favour of Franklin a TFC 2 waste, brings in Sapong and benches him in favour of Kerr. Why the F is Kerr all of sudden good? Because he scored an uncontested header from 6 yards away against DC, KERR IS A TFC 2 HACK, did absolutely zero last night what took Bob so long to sub him off? Bob has got rid off over 20 players since he has been here and last night we start the game with JMR, Mabika, Franklin, Thompson, Kerr and that low energy giveaway machine MAK. What do we have in players that are still injured? A slow fresh off surgery Mike Bradley, Oso who has looked like trash for the last 8 months, Victor V ? Is he even in Canada, Ayo FFS, Diomonde? Bob is out of his depth here, Bob please just quit you are no good! If we end up losing Fede because of all the crap with the Bradleys, this team is headed for another few years of stuff that we saw when this club was an expansion team.
Jack, you are not wrong. I’ll go one further.
Why does Kerr get the start when Kerr’s success last game was based on the free and loose Lorenzo we almost certainly weren’t going to see if Fede also starts? Why “reward” Kerr whilst also kinda setting him up to fail? In this case wouldn’t CJ, the closet thing we have to a number 9, be more ideal as, at least on paper, that attack is once again balanced and most benefits that player profile?
Like I’ll raise my hand that in terms of proper capital “A” analysis I’m often fumbling in the dark, but I Am BEFUDDLED by what I’m seeing play out on the pitch. I don’t presume to know a tenth of a tenth about the game as Bob Bradley, and yet I’m often scratching my head. It’s legit maddening.
I’ll be the first person to eat crow when the master plan comes to fruition and we win league’s cup, btw.
Preach Brother!
Everything you said here is 110% truth!
It’s really weird that Bob doesn’t try something different with Fede and Insigne.
Putting one of them in midfield. Changing the formation to 2 up top so they don’t have to deal with a lead-footed striker in between them. Even having them switch wings since they both want to cut to the middle on their overwhelmingly dominant feet. Why not have the opposite where they can cut outside and focus more on delivering crosses with their strong feet? Isn’t Sapong supposed to be a target man? Vanney or Herdman would be trying all this in a single match, lol!
I was watching an MLS show where someone who was coached by Bradley said that he is extremely meticulous in preparation for each opponent and a great motivator.
That may be, but he has proven himself to be an awful judge of how to put players in positions to succeed and has no concept of in-game management. He refuses to try to change how the team plays and instead keeps rotating out pieces unsuccessfully. At some point you have to stop blaming the players. We have gone through too many with him, including guys that he coached before.
The only possible explanation is that his ego/pride/confidence is so strong that he *knows* without a shadow of a doubt that his system and methods work. It *must* be the players’ fault.
It is SOOO painful to watch it play out in slow motion in match after match.
Mr burns and barretts agent you guys pretty much summed it up. The only thing I may (not sure though)give bob the benefit of the doubt is franklin playing ahead of petretta because of injury? Out of all the kids franklin has shown the most improvement he still loses the ball an awful alot and his touch isn’t MLS level but he works hard and for our full backs they are asked alot. But yeah I think fede and insigne are mad because the ego maniac is not putting his better players in the best positions to succeed (thats why fede is losing his mind rightfully so) RJ your statement of Bob’s “ego/pride/confidence” is why I knew from day 1 BB can only go one way which is disastrous he rather lose/tie than change..I’m already looking forward to when the Italians will call him out again.
It’s legit madness inducing. I keep telling myself that a defined 4-3-3 is the apogee of a certain tree of tactics and in many ways a strict adherence to and inflexible nature is a necessary sacrifice. But maaaan, the collective patience. It wears thin.
I don’t understand why you keep hitting on FB. The one that should be fired, besides, of course, BM and BB, is Insignificant. Whenever he gets the ball, I can predict what he will do. He will deke onto his right foot, because his left foot is useless, at 8 million USD useless. Yet he has to control the match. He takes direct free kicks (he’s never come close to scoring on one, unlike Giavinco). Why? Why? Why? But if you don’t just want to blame LI, then send them both packing and start again. Surely there’s some EPL castoffs that would be much cheaper.
JPN, love this.
“Send him back to Italy. Thanks for that Olimpico but I prefer this team without him.”
I commented a few times that TFC are better off without Fede, that Fede is a big part of the problem, and that he should have earned his way back into the starting line-up, so I am right there with you JPN (but when I comment I get accused of trolling.)
When TFC goes from a high energy, purposeful and productive performance on Saturday to a regressive performance on WED and the only significant difference is having Fede in the lineup, the evidence that Fede is the black sheep on the team is obvious. Aside from Laryea (who is playing to get a permanent move to TFC or elsewhere from Nott Forest), no other player in the TFC lineup appears to be willing to work with Fede in the lineup. Fede’s off field unprofessional behaviour has cost him good working relationships with his teammates. We have all had the displeasure of working with someone who behaves poorly and it is human nature to not give that person the same output as we would for someone behaving professionally.
Fede has a lot of work to do in order to regain the trust of his fellow teammates. Until then, expect listless performances (unlike the DCU game) to continue if Fede is in the lineup. If Bob insist on starting him, give Fede 60 minutes so that TFC have at least 30 minutes to play without the guy who thinks he is above the club and the team rules.
TL you must be Bob’s wife, always defending him.
Anyways, Fede is not the issue; TFC need a change of some sort to get motivated and work harder as a team. If you use the same formation game after game just to draw or lose maybe try something new next time? This is not rocket science but most people in NA do not understand football. That is why you have previous European Championship winning players not gelling with guys who barely can make a pass
You are right. TL is either a friend/family of the Bradley’s or his other son who is shocking to say the least.
Personally, I think it’s nice to have Mrs. Bradley join us here on WTR.
It’s enlightening to get the family’s perspective on what’s happening.
I’m sure TL can take it, as can I. Whilst I don’t think Fede is the antichrist, I do think we’ve maybe been charmed by a bit of a charlatan, I use “we” on purpose. Certainly, to my eyes he doesn’t come out squeaky clean in VapeGate. I don’t like to presume a stranger’s character based on limited information, despite the compulsion to that is part and parcel with any kind of fandom/celebrity.
So to me, it’s a simple calculation. He went after MB4. MB4 is my TFC. I’m team MB4 until proven otherwise.
I’m trying to not let my personal emotional baggage impugn my watching this team, but it’s naturally not nearly as easy as it sounds and in some ways – the proof is in the pudding – the team regressed from weds to sat and allowing for variables like fixture congestion and quality of opponent there’s still the Berna factor. As I said, comically small sample size. We’re all idiots to even try with this team at this point but that’s kinda the point.
Still hoping we all kumbaya out of this mess, arm in arm. Anyway, this is long winded way to get to let’s not call each other names and or be even slightly misogynistic. We’re so much better than that.
Sorry boss. I’ll keep it professional going forward on and off this board. No more name-calling, No more thinly-veiled shots at WTR writers for their lack of lexical flexibility and imagination, and definitely No more vaping in prediction league threads!
I fully recognize that despite my Designated Poster status, I am NOT above the team!
Love it. And thanks:)
Sorry dude, but with this ridiculous post you have proven that:
A. You have a poisonous personal agenda against Fede (you maybe a shill for someone like BB, or who knows who…) or
B. Your football (soccer) intelligence is worst that TFC’s position in the standings, lol.
Fire Bob & Fire Manning
Yes and Yes!
Not a single time have I supported Bob. I don’t think he should be the coach/sporting director but I have accepted the fact that he is not going anywhere anytime soon. In fact, my criticism of Fede starting after being left out on Saturday is a criticism of Bob’s decision making.
The reality remains that we have all witnessed TFC perform with energy, enthusiasm, and purpose without Fede in the lineup. Then, with Fede in the lineup, TFC are a shadow of themselves. Many on here were excited to see what TFC would do with Fede in the lineup after Saturday’s performance.
Does any really think that the players who played Sat, played so well because they wanted to get rid of Bob or did TFC play so well because they wanted to show the unprofessional behaving Fede that he is not bigger than TFC?
I think you’re reaching. We can’t know this. Stats never tell the full story but oh my goodness neither do hunches. Let’s wait and see. We can agree that last night was dogshit, though.
Um u think fede became a bad team mate over night everyone seen how he was a big part of the squad last year and I may say was well liked when he came but this he just enough ofb
Bob. It’s the fraud coach and sporting director. You wanna talk unprofessional playing 4 3 3 over and over and over again knowing it doesn’t work and putting his players I’m impossible situations. Fede is just upset because he wants to win and I feel bad for MB 4 but he wasn’t wrong he is coaches son (what a shocking hire from day 1) as for Kaye he’s garbage I saw him on our canadian roster and cringed. Who cares what Kaye thinks only bob the fraud thinks he’s good. As for playing with purpose we must be watching different games because the common theme outside of that one game vs dc is we have no purpose,again the reason being the alignment and philosophy bob is pushing on our players. And the idea bob isn’t going anywhere so stuber, Hendrickson and Neville have been fired so far this year and we can’t fire our moron are we that sorry of an organization. Now if that is the case I encourage the Italians to call out bob every game make MLSE understand (I know they are completely clueless about this sport the board is embrassing on many levels) and keep booing bob louder and louder every single game. If that doesn’t work the season will be a failure again no high quality player will ever want to come here again and next year attendance maybe heading towards argos.
I don’t think we were any better on Saturday. We just had a couple find the back of the net instead of being fired right at the keeper. In fact I think we generated more offense in the 1st half against Chicago than we had in the entire game against DC. The stats bear it out.
Chicago game:
57-43 possession, 19-4 shots, 7-1 on target, 7-4 corners
DC game:
41-59 possession, 11-19 shots, 4-5 on target, 3-6 corners
Don’t be confused by the result on Saturday. Although it was a relief to finally score again, we are a bad team right now whether Fede is on the pitch or not.
Fair point but I counter that Lorenzo made me feel things on Saturday and was anonymous on Weds. and somehow this makes one game better. Watching Insigne even approach his potential was scintillating.
Fire Bradley already.
I’m not one to defend Bradley, obviously, so let me just point out what has happened since Kid Vape pulled back the curtain on dysfunction.
TFC won with Insigne being inspired and youth responding in kind. Bradley started well performing Kobe and Aime over veterans. Bob made late game subs, of theoretical attackers, to try and win a game. Hell hasn’t frozen over but Bob did change perspective and I see that as positive. Not because I want him around, because I know they aren’t replacing him.
And I’m at the opposite end from Jeff with the interpersonal conflict of MB and Fede. I appreciate all Michael has done as a player but Fede spoke the truth about the locker room dynamics. Michael has been the leader through the last 3 years of misery and if the locker room is as bad as the Athletic says, it’s on Michael and Bob.
I don’t believe Bob has them believing in themselves but this madhouse is narrowing focus and Bob might not be able to stop an inspired Insigne, healthy Oso, confirmed Laryea.
“Michael has been the leader through the last 3 years of misery and if the locker room is as bad as the Athletic says, it’s on Michael and Bob.”
Great point!
The obsession on the fact that TFC won one game when Fede was not playing as proof that the team plays better without him is… misdirected, to be elegant.
When Insigne missed 6 weeks after the first game, we expected the team to win without him, right? The expectations proved to be false as the team proved to be terrible, right? Let do some math analysis: (Loss + Draw + Draw + Draw) x (Win square False Hopes vs Miami) x (Draw + Draw + Draw + Draw + Loss) x (Win square False Hopes vs NYC) x (Loss + Loss + Loss + Draw + Loss) x (Win times Infinite False Hopes vs. DC) = the team plays better without Bernardeschi. Actually, following the trend, the wins are the exception and it was expected that the win against DC will be followed by a Draw or a Loss.
I got an email today from TFC inviting me to watch TFC II for free for the rest of the season. I thought I was already doing that, at BMO, for the last two seasons!!! Except it wasn’t for free!!!
LA Galaxy got rid of their president a few days ago, Miami just got rid of Neville. Yet here we languish.
Well done JPN! Well done!
Holy. Shit. Man.
I think you meant…holy…shit…man…
Indeed. You legend. Guest anytime. You still have my email?
I do. I do. Thank you, kind Sir. Also, thank you for keeping this ship afloat! The community owes you, and the rest of the gang, a big debt of gratitude!
Scootch me an email my man. (Sorry – trying to figure out if we can instigate a p2p DM feature is on my to-do list, but not at the top). A few things to discuss and I’ve misplaced yours.
Also it’s a PLEASURE to see you.
It is understandable why so many here can’t see Fede as part of the problem with TFC and why the team performed much better without Fede available to play. But let’s try a perspective taking approach to this.
View this, not from the point of view of a fan/supporter, but through the lense of a professional athlete. In a pro sports environment, there are certain things that you do not do as pro athlete and Fede crossed the line on a few of them. Perhaps, the North American sports environment is partially to blame and Fede was caught off-guard at how different things are here than in Europe (Italy).
Bottom line is that Fede behaved unprofessionally and the other pro athletes around him are having none of it. You and I might not like MB4 or his current level of play, but think about all the players in that TFC locker room. Many of them LOVE MB4 for so many reasons and Fede went after him. Fede crossed the line. And if you’re a player in the TFC locker room, you want Fede to know you cannot do that. Notice how not a single player greeted Fede as he was subbed out of Wed’s game, while other players who were subbed out got high fives and such. Again, this has to be viewed through the eyes of a guy like Sean Johnson, Matt Hedges, JMR, etc. Whatever Fede accomplished and did for TFC last season has no influence on the players who are there now. Many of them were not even with TFC last season.
Perhaps a few of my posts casted Fede as THE problem, wherein the reality is, there are many issues/problems at TFC presently. But the point remains, that Fede is part of the problem and that TFC (or perhaps better yet, Insigne) played with so much more emotion without Fede and then TFC were so emotionless with him playing. The stats and data from Sat to Wed may be close but the emotional investment from the players on Sat was not there on Wed.
From the professional footballers perspective, when you behave unprofessionally like Fede did, it cuts into the team spirit. The blame for that lies squarely on Fede.
I have seen teams that created a strong core of players that started dictating terms. It was seen as a strength initially and later, when the wheels started to squeak and the wagon stopped moving aka winning, changes were made to the roster protecting said core. Time proved the core was the issue and the aleged disruptive black sheeps were not. I guess we will see. I also believe there is too much emphasis on the vaping.
Yes, it’s not science here. Variables make everything hard to read in real time and certainly from outside.
So I focus on what is happening. Is Bob winning since he arrived? If not, are the players engaged, positive, united.
Every marker shows failure, losses mount, you can’t change the whole roster. So you focus on who assembled it and who manages its daily activity.
It’s not Fede as the problem, more a symptom. He might be too individual for a team without a strong identity but he’s not destroying it alone.
Forsure there is way too much made of this vaping thing that’s the least of our worries.
The only two who love MB4 in that locker room are his dad and Marc Anthony please don’t tell us that anyone else loves MB4, he is the reason this team has gone down the drain ! He will run to his dad when he doesn’t like a fellow player and Daddy will get rid of that player, Fede said what needed to be said, the coach has no idea what he is doing.
MB was great for us when he got here, last two years he should of been more of depth player but we brought in his daddy so that wasn’t happening (those 90 minutes game in game out probably what led to his injury at his age). If we get rid of the Italians before the Bradley’s we are a sorry organization end of story.