For as much change as TFC had made in this off-season, it would have been all for naught if they had started the season with Alex Bono and Quillan Roberts as the keeping options. Nothing against the kids, but they are kids. Bono is known as a “training pitch hero…” at the moment (out of politeness I won’t write the second part of the rhyme) and Q is still prone to the odd adventure in between mind blowing saves (as one keeper coach told me, you ideally don’t want a young keeper making athletic saves as that means he had to make the save athletic).
In the end it doesn’t matter as @TFCKeeperYet got to Tweet “yes” today after the news that TFC had acquired Clint Irwin from the Colorado Rapids in exchange for Super Magic Beans* and two lottery tickets**
* Targeted allocation money
** Draft picks that are more than likely without value
It’s a nice piece of business on paper. Putting aside that “on paper” is the worst turn of phrase in the TFC fan’s vocabulary, it’s impossible to be all that upset about the Reds getting a guy that has been a MLS all-star (in his home stadium, so grain of salt) and more or less an above average MLS keeper since 2013.
Also a keeper that played behind TFC’s free agent signing Drew Moor last year on one of the best defensive teams in MLS.
If you like stats, Irwin was the second best performer according to the advanced stats blog American Soccer Analysis last year, trailing just Bill Hamid. (Giant caveat here about how even soccer stats people can’t agree on what’s a good keeper stat).
The thing about being back-to-back-to-back off-season champions is that no fan really cares by the time you get to the third “to back.” So, we will leave it to you to decide whether you’re excited by Toronto’s moves so far.
Here’s the thing though: It’s hard not to like the type of moves they are making. Stuff happens. It might not work out, but it will be difficult to argue the Reds didn’t do what pretty much everyone wanted them to do if it all ends in tears again.
The club has gone after proven MLS talent to improve the areas that needed to be upgraded. Will Johnson aside, the signings have not been ones that are at all marketing driven (and suggesting Johnson is marketing driven assumes that anyone other than the nuts*** in (mostly) the southend are even aware he’s a Canadian international).
***my friends
Yes, it finally appears that TFC is prioritizing the steak over the sizzle. Actually, if it all comes together Reds fans might finally have both.