Ronnie O'Brien

Well, Ronnie was expected to be used as a sub but wasn't last weekend for the home opener (TFC lost 1-0 but the fans rocked the house and are getting rave reviews across the whole league). Now expectations are that he could come in for the next game, home with Chicago on May 12. He is currently saying he is 65 to 70 percent healthy, and is doing well in all respects except kicking the ball, which I think is essential. ;) Still has to wear a knee brace but is hoping to not have to use it in game action.

O'Brien played today for Toronto against Chicago for 77 mins and was excellent. Great pace. Never wasted a pass. Looked the best player on the park. The Toronto crowd are brilliant. Great craic and real football fans.

Had been wondering if anyone would get to posting before me... he did look awesome today. I'd say he is healthy again. Loved seeing the crowd celebrate the first goal.

A bit off topic but the crowd was indeed tremendous, cheering all the way. Frisbees and confetti all over the pitch, right before injury time started there was a bit of a scuffle over a ball that was going out near the corner flag, Toronto won the goal kick and as the offending Chicago player trotted back towards his half of the field someone hit him in the back with a paper frisbee and the crowd let out a massive cheer.

O'Brien looked brilliant, better than anything we currently have available in center midfield but granted he was playing against crap opposition. I can't wait to see this guy in mid season form.

Given these reports, perhaps Stan will have the sense to give him a game in the friendlies.

Partner him with Garvan !!!!!

Great performance by him today alright, and he was a huge boost for a team struggling to get goals.

For those talking about him playing in the middle, he is a right sided winger who likes to drift into the middle and shoot, not a central midfielder.

He could probably be used in the creative role, but we've got Keane/Ireland/A.Reid for that spot.

I'd like to see him played on the right side of midfield at some stage, but I doubt it'll happen.

If I were to compare him to somebody you all know, it's probably Joe Cole at Chelsea.

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Originally Posted by Colbert Report

Frisbees and confetti all over the pitch

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Actually, they were souvenir seat cushions.

I have the Toronto game downloading, I have to have a look at him. :)

Mate of mine is living over in Toronto at the moment, said Ronnie was their best player. Somehow he manages to mention Juventus in almost every interview he's done! But Toronto FC are a poor team, and will finish close to the bottom of the table in their debut season.

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Originally Posted by eirebhoy

I have the Toronto game downloading, I have to have a look at him. :)

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Hope you're getting the Fox Soccer Channel coverage. The picture quality on CBC was godawful. FSC was much clearer. And that's not just someone watching from 5 hours away from Toronto in another country talking, I have heard Toronto natives say the transmission wasn't too good either.

Having Ronnie back seemed to light a fire under everyone else. He was credited with 3 shots on goal, no assists, but everyone else seemed to gel as a team more than any other game so far for them.

I think I'll wait for Eirebhoy's report. But if I was pushed to watch tv coverage, is it one of the Sky channels.?

Just watched the match. I was impressed with him but I was expecting more after reading the last few comments on this thread.

The first we saw of him he got the ball, faced one way, turned the other and blasted an excellent 30 yard shot which was saved. He also takes most of their set pieces. He didn't get enough of the ball really for the rest of the first half. When he did get it his head was always up looking for the quick pass, seems an intelligent player.

For the first 20 minutes of the 2nd half he was excellent. He showed that he has 2 good feet with a left foot shot from a similar distance to his shot in the first half. A couple of minutes later and he easily beat 2 players and sent in a poor low ball but it resulted in a goal. A bit like Kilbane's poor cross on Sunday. ;)

I liked the way he drifted into the middle once or twice to pick up the ball and lay it off to someone else. He was nearly put through on goal after a one two with the striker Buddle and he had a couple of good touches before he was taken off on 77 minutes.

Other than the 20 minutes after half time he wasn't involved all that much. I've pretty much mentioned most of his involvement. He certainly wasn't Toronto's most effective player imo. He definitely looks a good player though and good enough for us.

Did toronto win?

Would he have been more impressive than, say, Wes Hoolahan seems to have been recently? Are they both playing in a similar standard of league?

Different positions I think (right vs left sided) but worth asking. Similarly, Roy O'Donovan.

It's tough to judge the standard on one game. A few ex-England were playing. Carl Robinson had a decent game in the holding role. Danny Dichio scored a poachers goal and was sent off for a fight just before half time but he had a really tough battle with the centre half and rarely won anything. Welsh (ex-Sunderland) on the left wing gave the Chicago defence a tough time with his pace but wasn't very effective.

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Originally Posted by lionelhutz

Did toronto win?

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Yes, 3-1. :D They play Houston Wednesday.

Set up the only goal in 0-1 win over Houston. Didn't get credit for an assist far as I've been able to tell. He also knocked away a shot that would've gone in for Houston.

Had a yellow card in 2-1 loss to DC United today.

Looked good in 2-2 draw with Columbus, but didn't figure in the scoring.

For whatever reason he wasn't included in the touring party (obviously not down to injury whatever was said at the time) so it seems to me that ROB's best chance of winning an Ireland cap has gone with this tour. Time to put the Man of the Century's bid for a full international cap to bed now, no? Unless, that is, he takes out American citizenship and plays for the land of the free instead...

:ball: PP