This past off-season did not lack for story lines when it came to TFC. A bloody big deal and all that.
There was so much action that by the time the season started the decision to re-sign Dwayne DeRosario had almost been forgotten. It was a decision that was not without controversy when it took place and even among those that supported the return there was an admission that there was a degree of risk involved.
DeRo is not a young man in soccer terms. There was always a chance he could be physically done.
The early returns have been inconclusive to the eyes. He's had plenty of playing time and has had some chances, but he has yet to score a goal back in the red.
So, we decided to look deeper at his play so far. What are DeRo's advanced stats so far this year and how do they compare to other starting forwards in MLS.
Find out below the jump.
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So far DeRo has generated 1.8 shots (per 90 minutes played. All figures are per 90 min), 0.3 key passes and been fouled 1.3 times.
Additionally he's been dispossessed 1.5 times and has turned the ball over 1.8 times.
In isolation the numbers look low, but are they? Let's look:
First we ranked the 39 regular forwards that have played thus far in 2014 in the category of shots plus key passes. Since goals are so rare S+KP is used as a measure of offensive output.
1. DI Vaio (Mtr) 11.5
2. Keane (LAG) 7
3. Henry (NYRB) 6
4. Gilberto (TFC) 5.7
4. Plata (RSL) 5.7
4. Dempsey (Sea) 5.7
7. Brown (Col) 4.8
8. Wondolowski (SJ) 4.6
9. Dwyer (SKC) 4.4
9. Defoe (TFC) 4.4
11. Fernandes (Phi) 4.2
11. Amarikwa (Chi) 4.2
11. Torres (CUSA) 4.2
14. Magee (Chi) 4.0
14. Lenhart (SJ) 4.0
16. Bruin (Hou) 3.8
17. Bunbury (NER) 3.6
18. McInerney (Mtr) 3.5
19. Saborio (RSL) 3.4
19. Mattocks (Van) 3.4
21. Neagle (Sea) 3.2
21. Cooper (Sea) 3.2
23. Wenger (Phi) 3.1
24. Espinola (DCU) 3.0
24. Urruti (PDX) 3.0
26. Zizzo (SKC) 2.8
26. Johnson (DCU) 2.8
26. Miller (Van) 2.8
29. Wright-Phillips (NYRB) 2.6
30. Friend (LAG) 2.5
30. Cummings (Hou) 2.5
32. Le Toux (Phi) 2.4
33. Fernandez (PDX) 2.3
34. Castillo (Dal) 2.2
34. Perez (Dal) 2.2
36. DeRo (TFC) 2.1
36. Arrieta (CBS) 2.1
38. Bundle (Col) 2.0
39. Barrera (CUSA) 1.4
So, not the most promising start to the return. Although Gilberto's numbers should give TFC fans some hope that the goals from him will come soon enough.
Speaking of goals, there is little doubt that finishing is a huge part of a forward's play. As stated, it's too simplistic to gain too much out of just looking at the leading scorers, but you do need to factor it it if looking to place a full value on an offensive player.
To try and balance that CSN created a formula we're calling Offensive Impact. It not only takes goals into consideration, but also looks at how often a player has a negative impact on the attack by giving the ball away.
The formula for OI is (Goals x 2) + (S+KP) + fouls suffered - turn-overs.
How does DeRo stack up in OI?
1. Dempsey 14.4
2. Torres 10.6
3. Di Vaio 10.5
4. Keane 9.9
5. Plata 8.4
6. Defoe 8.1
7. Saborio 8.0
8. Henry 7.4
9. Bruin 7.3
9. Magee 7.3
11. Cooper 7.2
12. Gilberto 6.0
12. Urruti 6.0
12. Lenhart 6.0
15. Wondo 5.6
16. Perez 5.4
17. Miller 5.2
18. Cummings 5.0
19. Dwyer 4.8
20. Fernandes 4.7
21. Mattocks 4.0
21. Friend 4.0
23. Brown 3.8
24. Amarikwa 3.6
24. Fernandez 3.6
26. McInerney 3.5
27. Arrieta 3.1
28. Wright-Phillips 2.8
28. Castillo 2.8
30. Neagle 2.6
31. Le Toux 2.2
32. Wenger 1.9
33. Zizzo 1
33. Johnson 1
35. Bunbury 0.4
36. DeRo 0.1
37. Espinola -0.5
38. Barrera -0.8
39. Buddle -2.0
So, it gets worse.
Early days -- a couple goals can swing these numbers a great deal -- but the DeRo return, statistically speaking, has not lived up to the hope of many.