April 19, 2007 Toronto FC makeover still going (from Globe and Mail)
POSTED ON: 19/04/07
Toronto FC makeover still going
LARRY MILLSON
Globe and Mail Update
TORONTO — Toronto FC has added another defender, 24-year-old left back Kevin Goldthwaite, from the Houston Dynamo for midfielder Richard Mulrooney.
Houston also sent Toronto their first-round draft pick for 2008 in the deal.
In another move on Thursday, Toronto FC sent striker Conor Casey to his home-town Colorado Rapids for the rights to striker Riley O'Neill of Campbell River, B.C., and undisclosed allocations.
O'Neill, 21, was taken 36th overall by the Rapids in the league's supplemental draft in January. He's currently on trial with St. Pauli in Germany.
Casey, a former U.S. national team striker, joined the MLS expansion squad in late February from German club Mainz.
Earlier in the week, Toronto FC acquired right back Marvell Wynne, 20, from the New York Red Bulls and signed striker Danny Dichio, 32, from the English team Preston North End.
Goldthwaite, Dichio and Wynne worked out with the team Thursday at BMO Field. It is not certain whether Dichio will be able to play in Toronto FC's next game in Kansas City against the Wizards next Wednesday as he works on his visa.
Wynne, son of the former major-league baseball player with the same name, turns 21 next month and was benched in the Red Bulls' last game for the first time since he took over as the starting right back last July in his rookie season.
Wynne, who attended UCLA, will be reunited with Mo Johnston, Toronto FC's head coach, who was with New York when he traded up to make Wynne the first player taken in the 2006 Major Leagie Soccer draft.
"He makes up for his mistakes with quickness," Johnston said.
Johnston said these were deals he has been trying to make for some time.
Obtaining Houston's first-round pick also compensates for the second-round pick and partial allocation that Toronto sent to the Red Bulls for Wynne.
Goldthwaite, 24, begins his third season in MLS after joining the league in 2005 with the San Jose Earthquakes. That season he made three late-season appearances for the Quakes registering his first assist. In 2006, he played in 20 games, starting eight.
.
.