April 20, 2007 Toronto FC roster (from Globe and Mail)
POSTED ON: 20/04/07
Johnston's roster getting healthy
LARRY MILLSON
From Saturday's Globe and Mail
TORONTO — Toronto FC head coach Mo Johnston is much happier about the way the team looks now, not only with his recent acquisitions but the gradual return from injury of key players.
First-round draft pick Maurice Edu, who has yet to play, is a possibility for Wednesday's game in Kansas City against the Wizards.
Midfielder Ronnie O'Brien is coming along from a knee injury. Forward Alecko Eskandarian has a muscle injury in his side that is not considered serious. That's a smaller injury list than the expansion Major League Soccer team has had all spring.
Left back Kevin Goldthwaite is another reason Johnston is happier. He is one of three players added to the team this week, along with right back Marvell Wynne and striker Danny Dichio.
Goldthwaite, 24, and a first-round draft pick were obtained from last year's MLS champion Houston Dynamo for midfielder Richard Mulrooney. It could be considered a step down, but Goldthwaite is not looking at it that way.
He said Friday after practice at BMO Field that he looks at it as an opportunity to get more playing time than was available with Houston. He understood the situation because of the player he was behind, Wade Barrett, is an important player to the Dynamo.
Goldthwaite, who played in 20 games and started eight last year for Houston, has impressed when he has had the chance to play. He also offers versatility. He can help the offence on set pieces and has the ability to send effective crosses.
With the addition of Goldthwaite and Wynne, 20, Toronto FC has added needed strength in the back.
Goldthwaite, who attended the University of Notre Dame, said that he heard about the possibility of a trade a while ago. It fizzled, only to be rekindled this week
"He's very comfortable on the ball, he's a good soccer player," Johnston said. "He's 6 foot 1, he's athletic, a good passer."
Toronto FC has yet to score a goal in losing its first two games and Johnson wishes that he had the players he has now in January or February so that that they could have become used to working together. He had been trying to obtain Wynne and Goldthwaite for a while, he said. When Johnston was with the New York Red Bulls, he made Wynne the first draft pick overall in 2006.
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