@ENBSports (Aaron Nielsen): Toronto

Showing posts with label Toronto. Show all posts

Tuesday, April 8, 2014

RNO: What can Canadian clubs expect from 2014 USL partnership?



Posted by Aaron Nielsen, March 24, 2014

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USL Pro began their 2014 season this weekend and this is the second year of a direct relationships between MLS clubs and USL Pro clubs in loaning out players as well as USL Pro clubs playing games against MLS reserve teams. The “Pro-Alliance” included four teams last season and as I wrote in my 2013 USL Pro review, it benefited both leagues. This was most significantly seen between Orlando City and Sporting KC’s relationship where the play of loaned out player Dom Dywer lead to both clubs winning their respective championships and arguably the fast tracking of Orlando as a future MLS club.   

This season includes eleven clubs taking advantage of this alliance and LA Galaxy actually entering a direct reserve club, LA Galaxy II, into the league. I will be writing a complete preview for the league, as well as a preview for the 2014 NASL season, although in this article I will be previewing the relationship of the two Canadian MLS clubs and their respective relationship to their USL pro affiliate.

The Vancouver Whitecaps will have an alliance with the Charleston Battery, while Toronto FC will have a relationship with the Wilmington Hammerheads. Montreal Impact have chosen not to take part, so one might assume there could be a potential future relationship between them and new NASL side the Ottawa Fury.   

Ever since the Vancouver Whitecaps joined MLS they have taken advantage of loaning players to both NASL and USL Pro clubs. Vancouver has had a relationship with FC Edmonton in the NASL through loaning out players including Carlyle Mitchell and Corey Hertzog in 2013. Vancouver also had a relationship with Charleston loaning three players to them last season (Bryce Alderson, Ben Fisk, and Emmanuel Adjetsey), so it wasn’t a surprise that they made this relationship official.   

Due to a number of draft picks and a strong academy, the Whitecaps had a number of options on who they could loan out to the Battery and at the start of the season Vancouver is providing Charleston with eight players.    
Canadian national team youth defender Jackson Farmer is joined by other academy players such as Ghanaian midfielder Aminu Abdallah, Honduran midfielder Marlon Ramirez, and American forward Adam Mena. As well, there are three 2014 draft picks, including first round draft pick midfielder Andre Lewis, a player I regard highly in striker Mamadou Diouf, defensive midfielder Michael Kafari and finally former first pick overall Omar Salgado.

Historically, the Charleston Battery have been one of the stronger clubs in USL Pro, winning the league three times with A-league titles in 1996, 2003 and recently the USL Pro Championship in 2012 and have also made the quarters of the US Open Cup. Charleston also seems to be one of the best options for a partnership as they been in the league over 20 years, have consistency in management with coach Michael Anheauser being in charge since 2004 and have graduated a number of MLS players including Osvaldo Alonso and Lamar Neagle.    

The Whitecaps players will have an impact, however, Charleston already had a strong side going into the season, including forward Dane Kelly who I had in my list of players overlooked this offseason by MLS, as well as veteran defenders Colin Falvey and John Wilson, and midfielders Jarad van Schaik and Amadou Sanyang.    

I expect Andre Lewis to be in the starting eleven with either Mamadou Diouf or Omar Salgado joining Dane Kelly up front and if successful in USL Pro they can also be part of the Whitecaps first team as the 2014 season progresses. The other Whitecaps loanees will be playing for positions and providing depth, although since none of them have played a pro game the experience should give them lessons in terms of what is expected from them.   

Meanwhile, Toronto FC has sent three players on loan so far to the Hammerheads: Canadian homegrown academy player Manuel Aparicio (midfielder) and keeper Qullian Roberts, as well as recent draftee American Daniel Lovitz.    

Wilmington doesn’t have the same depth or expectations going into this season, as well as historically, as Charleston. The Hammerheads still have a long history as a professional soccer club going back to 1996 and winning USL Pro Select League in 2003, while English head coach David Irving has been in charge of the team since 1998, making him one of the most experienced coaches in American soccer.    

Wilmington should be in the playoff hunt this upcoming USL Pro season led by veteran midfielder Paul Nicholson. All three Toronto FC loanees should get playing time, but none are a certain starter with Roberts going against incumbent keeper Phil Tuttle in net who played 14 games last season. Aparicio and Lovitz will be up against a number of midfielders who were with the Hammerheads last season for playing time.    

Two interesting stories for me going into the 2014 season is Wilmington also signed Sunny Jane who was a regarded as a prospect this past college season as a winger with NCAA cup finalists University of Maryland, and was expected to be drafted ahead of Lovitz. The two play best in a similar position so it will be interesting how they will perform and who will get more minutes.   

Another story is looking at the Hammerheads squad, their weakest position by far is their forward options with only former Vancouver Whitecaps player Cody Arnoux being a viable player, so it surprised me that Toronto FC waived Emery Welshman while still under contract. It seems to me the smarter option would have been to loan him to Wilmington and allow him to prove he is capable he can play at the pro level.   

As a fan of soccer in North America and having a desire for it to succeed and develop I like this new partnership and as I wrote about prior, I eventually see USL Pro becoming a minor league system for the MLS similar to AHL in Hockey or the D-League in Basketball.    

I think going into this season Vancouver is more prepared, however, past players they have sent to Charleston have gotten lost and it’s the players they have sent to Edmonton that have got future opportunities with the MLS club, so it will be interesting to see how this develops especially with some of their key prospects joining the Battery.    

With Toronto I was expecting a stronger relationship and seeing them try to develop a player like Welshman instead of just cutting him, or allowing players such like Kyle Becker, Nick Hagglund, or when healthy Jordan Hamilton, to allow them serious playing time and to develop opposed to just sitting on the first team bench or press box.

I will say overall this relationship is a good sign that I will be watching closely that might even include a future road trip later on this summer.

Friday, March 14, 2014

2014 MLB: Toronto Blue Jays Projected Statistics

TORONTO BLUE JAYS (Stats Projection: 5th AE 81-81 +1 RD)

Player	Age	Pos	.Avg	Gp	Ab	Rn	Ht	Hr	Bi	Sb
REYES, Jose	30	SS	0.295	134	512	94	151	14	55	28
BAUTISTA, Jose	32	RF	0.258	118	427	75	110	26	69	6
ENCARNACION, Edwin	30	DH	0.268	142	518	83	139	32	94	7
LIND, Adam	29	1B	0.281	143	487	66	137	23	72	1
RASMUS, Colby	26	CF	0.266	118	414	59	110	20	61	2
CABRERA, Melky	28	LF	0.270	134	492	71	133	8	63	5
LAWRIE, Brett	23	3B	0.270	144	564	82	152	14	66	15
NAVARRO, Dioner	29	C	0.239	122	394	46	94	14	51	0
GOINS, Ryan	25	2B	0.235	124	374	34	88	6	24	3

IZTURIS, Maicer	32	IF	0.254	94	244	31	62	1	22	3
GOSE, Anthony	22	OF	0.241	77	212	31	51	3	17	11
KRATZ, Erik	33	C	0.216	68	199	20	43	10	27	0
GETZ, Chris	29	IF	0.247	78	166	16	41	0	12	8
SIERRA, Moises	24	OF	0.284	65	134	18	38	3	14	1

Pitcher	Age	Wn	Ls	Era	Gp	Sv	Ip	Ht	Bb	So
BUEHRLE, Mark	34	13	10	4.04	33	0	205	222	50	132
DICKEY, RA	38	12	11	4.16	34	0	199	189	63	152
HAPP, JA	30	6	10	4.35	28	0	151	150	71	133
MORROW, Brandon	28	9	9	4.16	31	0	134	114	56	122
ROGERS, Esmil	27	6	11	5.01	28	0	124	140	43	92
JANSSEN, Casey	31	4	2	3.10	56	25	61	52	15	52
DELABAR, Steve	29	5	5	3.41	55	1	58	48	28	82
SANTOS, Sergio	29	2	2	2.77	55	3	52	34	14	51
CECIL, Brett	26	3	5	3.77	60	1	94	95	33	78
REDMOND, Todd	28	4	3	4.44	17	0	77	71	24	75
LOUP, Aaron	25	4	6	2.51	64	2	68	64	12	51

Friday, March 7, 2014

2014 MLS: Toronto FC Depth Chart, Key Players & Projected Statistics

TORONTO FC (Stat Projections: 1st EAST 52-39 +13)

Article: RNO - An Anlytical Preview of Toronto FC

Pos	Players Name	Role	Age	Price	Gp	Min	Gl	As	Sot	Yc	Rc	Pts	Value
	Projected XI (4-4-2)
GK	JULIO CESAR	GK	34	$6.0	16	1440	0	0	0	0	0	89	14.8
DF	ORR, Bradley	RB	31	$6.5	26	2230	0	2	3	3	0	121	18.6
DF	CALDWELL, Steve	CB	33	$7.0	31	2741	2	0	5	4	0	158	22.6
DF	HENRY, Doneil	CB	21	$6.5	19	1585	1	0	2	4	1	88	13.4
DF	MORROW, Justin	LB	26	$7.0	28	2444	1	3	4	3	0	146	20.9
MF	BRADLEY, Michael	DM	26	$10.0	27	2410	5	7	14	6	0	167	16.7
MF	OSORIO, Jonathan	RM	21	$7.0	27	1911	3	5	11	3	0	114	16,2
MF	JACKSON	LM	25	$7.5	27	2235	3	6	16	5	1	131	17.5
MF	DE ROSARIO, Dwayne	AM	35	$8.5	24	1788	5	6	22	3	0	134	15.8
FW	DEFOE, Jermaine	FW	31	$10.5	28	2242	18	4	42	1	0	221	21.0
FW	GILBERTO	FW	24	$8.5	26	2120	11	2	34	5	1	155	18.2
	Other Players
GK	BENDIK, Joe		24	$5.0	14	1260	0	0	0	1	0	71	14.2
GK	KONOPKA, Chris		28	$4.0	4	360	0	0	0	0	0	14	3.5
DF	AGBOSSOUMONDE, G		21	$6.0	19	1454	0	0	2	3	1	68	11.3
DF	MORGAN, Ashtone		22	$5.5	16	985	0	2	2	2	0	53	9.6
DF	HAGGLUND, Nick		21	$4.5	8	496	0	0	1	1	0	20	4.4
DF	BLOOM, Mark		25	$6.0	3	225	0	0	0	0	0	8	1.3
DF	RICHTER, Ryan		24	$5.5	3	210	0	0	0	0	0	7	1.3
MF	HALL, Jeremy		25	$6.5	19	1544	0	1	1	4	0	64	9.8
MF	REY, Alvaro		24	$6.5	25	1333	2	2	10	3	0	74	11.3
MF	BEKKER, Kyle		23	$5.5	11	424	0	1	2	2	0	22	4.0
FW	DIKE, Bright		26	$7.5	6	212	1	0	2	1	0	22	2.8
FW	WIEDEMAN, Andrew		24	$6.0	13	467	0	0	3	0	0	24	4.0
M	NELSEN, Ryan

Price is the value given by MLSSoccer Fantasy Game

KEY PLAYERS

Thursday, May 9, 2013

Tal Ben Haim joins Toronto FC on loan

Tuesday, May 7, 2013

Career Statistics for Toronto FC New Signings - Laba, Caldwell, Brockie

MATIAS LABA

STEVEN CALDWELL

JEREMY BROCKIE

Saturday, March 2, 2013

2013 MLS: Toronto FC Depth Chart & Projected Statistics

TORONTO FC (Stat Projections: 16th 40-53 -13)
Article: RNO - An Anlytical Preview of Toronto FC

Pos.	Players Name	Role	Age	Price	Gp	Min	Gl	As	Sht	Yc	Rc	Pts	Value
	Projected XI (4-2-3-1)
GK	FREI, Stefan	GK	26	$5.0	24	2160	37*	0	83*	0	0	109	21.8
DF	ECKERSLEY, Richard	RB	23	$5.0	28	2420	0	1	0	4	0	90	18.0
DF	CALIFF, Danny	CB	32	$5.0	21	1810	0	0	2	4	1	47	9.4
DF	O'DEA, Darren	CB	26	$5.0	30	2615	2	0	5	8	1	89	17.8
DF	MORGAN, Ashtone	LB	21	$5.0	30	2540	1	5	5	6	0	112	22.4
MF	CESAR, Julio	DM	34	$6.5	26	2380	1	1	5	6	0	91	14.0
MF	RUSSELL, Darel	DM	32	$6.5	22	1612	2	2	10	5	1	76	11.7
MF	LAMBE, Reggie	RM	21	$6.5	20	1564	2	2	11	2	0	79	12.2
MF	SILVA, Luis	CM	24	$7.5	28	2145	4	6	14	2	0	125	16.7
MF	BEKKER, Kyle	LM	22	$5.5	24	2000	3	5	13	5	1	103	18.7
FW	EARNSHAW, Rob	ST	31	$8.5	22	1214	8	1	29	1	0	96	11.3
	Other Players
GK	BENDIK, Joe		24	$4.5	9	810	14*	0	33*	0	0	65	14.4
GK	ROBERTS, Qullian		19	$4.0	1	90	2*	0	2*	0	0	2	0.5
DF	HALL, Jeremy		24	$5.0	16	1414	0	0	1	1	0	47	9.4
DF	AGBOSSOUMONDE, G		20	$5.0	15	1305	1	0	2	3	1	48	9.6
DF	HENRY, Doneil		19	$4.5	12	625	0	0	1	2	0	36	8.0
DF	EMORY, Logan		25	$5.0	7	315	0	0	0	1	0	20	4.0
MF	DUNFIELD, Terry		30	$6.0	18	1280	2	0	4	4	0	57	9.5
MF	EPHRAIM, Hogan		23	$6.5	16	1140	1	2	8	2	1	55	8.5
MF	STINSON, Matthew		20	$6.0	3	45	0	0	0	0	0	5	0.8
FW	KOEVERMANS, Danny		34	$9.0	16	1260	7	1	21	1	0	82	9.1
FW	BRAUN, Justin		25	$7.0	17	975	3	1	8	2	0	51	7.3
FW	WELSHMAN, Emery		22	$5.5	15	615	1	2	8	1	0	38	6.9
FW	BENNETT, Ashton		24	$6.0	13	311	1	1	4	0	0	27	4.5
FW	WIEDEMAN, Andrew		23	$6.0	6	285	0	0	2	0	0	11	1.8
FW	MORGAN, Tyler		22	$5.5	8	211	1	0	3	2	0	16	2.9