Comments on: Game Grades: Toronto FC vs FC Dallas

By: Skeeter

Skeeter — Tue, 11 Sep 2007 19:30:32 +0000

I don’t think that Hank was calling out anyone. He was just pointing out that SM has called these people out by benching them when their performances have not been up to standards, regardless of the reasons why. I guarantee that if Goodson comes back from the concussion and is not playing at the level that he is capable of, then SM will sit him as well. SM sent a consistent message to the team all season long. No one is assured a spot in the first 11.

By: whatup dog?

whatup dog? — Tue, 11 Sep 2007 19:18:04 +0000

Is it just me or has Alvarez gone downhill since he was on tat Mexican show Republic Deportiva? I think he needs to check his ego at the door and get back to playing week in and weekout.

By: Doug

Doug — Tue, 11 Sep 2007 17:49:55 +0000

No offense Hank, but I’m starting to get tired of listening to you. I guess you’re still bitter that Clarence “own-goal” Goodson lost his job last year. I remember thinking Dario was crazy to be so supportive of Badson during that time. Now, Clarence is finally playing the way that he should when he’s not injured and in one breath you’re calling for Clarence to be captain and in another you’re calling out people like Ruiz, Gbandi, Sala and Nunez? Ramon isn’t on the team anymore, and Sala and Ruiz have both been dealing with knee injuries. I guess the only person who’s allowed to be hurt is Badson.

By: Skeeter

Skeeter — Tue, 11 Sep 2007 17:24:14 +0000

I think Ricardinho has been very good in the last two matches. I agree that he still needs some time to gel with the team and get a better handle on the league, but I hope that he is given that opportunity in the line-up. I think the potential for him to contribute, THIS YEAR, is huge.

Wags is a quality role player, but he has played that role and SM has sent the message. Time to get Gbandi back on the field.

I would be a huge Abe fan if he didn’t run like his shoe laces are tied together. It’s just hard to get past his lack of pace.

By: Jason S.

Jason S. — Tue, 11 Sep 2007 17:20:36 +0000

^^^ I doubt that very seriously. He stayed in the game after he got an concussion and finished up the half. It wasn’t until (according to the blog) that he started puking at halftime that the decided to take him out for the second half.

By: NUTTER64

NUTTER64 — Tue, 11 Sep 2007 17:13:24 +0000

“You’re a Goodson fan, so think of it this way: Was Clarence showing a lack of heart when he got hypothermia in NY, went out of with a leg cramp in Houston or left the game in Seattle with a concussion?”

Steve M. thinks so !!!!!!

By: hank

hank — Tue, 11 Sep 2007 16:08:09 +0000

I probably Wasn’t clear on that either.

By: hank

hank — Tue, 11 Sep 2007 16:07:25 +0000

Jason,

My point was that Steve requires a certain level of performance and if someone isn’t getting it done for whatever reason they get replaced. I probably was clear on that.

By: Jason S.

Jason S. — Tue, 11 Sep 2007 15:53:36 +0000

Hank, I don’t think Sala has given a half-hearted effort since he has been in Hoops. He had an injury that requires 4-6 weeks to heal. (see Beckham, David) The first week he was back training he started, so you’re wrong to lump him in with Ruiz and Nunez. Being physically unable to perform and not caring are two different things. You’re a Goodson fan, so think of it this way: Was Clarence showing a lack of heart when he got hypothermia in NY, went out of with a leg cramp in Houston or left the game in Seattle with a concussion?

By: Nathan

Nathan — Tue, 11 Sep 2007 15:16:29 +0000

Totally agree with Peter on the point that the only reason we won this game was because Toronto were crap. Any half decent team would have capitalized on our mistakes and put 3 or 4 past us. That’s essentially what happened with DC United.. and it could happen again next weekend if we don’t get our act together.

Agree with Hank that the lowest grade must go to Arturo, that’s the worst I’ve seen him play in a while.

I think Serioux started well, but looked tired towards the last 20mins and he appeared to be struggling. I thought Yi was going to replace him when he came on, as we could have done with a speed injection on the back line towards the end.

Ricardinho and Denilson both show excellent individual skill, but neither of them really gel with the team. The big difference is that Denilson reads the game a whole lot better and I think it’s a short term problem, whereas Ricardinho seems very lost at times. That will take longer to remedy. He needs a lot of direction, but has all the technical abilities.

I actually thought that Wagenfuhr did better than Moore at pushing forward and he put in couple of decent crosses. Moore is much more solid defensively though.

Abe has really grown on me. He doesn’t readily give up possesion (like many others on our team) and reads the game very well. The only thing he really lacks is speed.