January 10, 2011 MLS--Winter In Florida (from TorontoFC.ca)

Winter In Florida
Luke Wileman
TorontoFC.ca
January 10, 2011

Toronto FC’s new Head Coach and Technical Director Aron Winter will arrive in Florida later today along with Assistant Coach Bob de Klerk. The duo returned home to the Netherlands following Thursday’s announcement, and will now join the rest of the team’s technical staff at the MLS Combine in Fort Lauderdale as preparations continue for the MLS SuperDraft which takes place in Baltimore on Thursday at 12:00 p.m. ET. (first round live on GOLTV Canada).

Toronto’s new Director of Player Development Paul Mariner has been in Florida since Friday along with Nick Dasovic, Jim Brennan, Danny Dichio, Jason Bent and Tim Regan. The MLS Combine kicked off on Saturday and the Reds’ staff were there to check out the players available in the Draft. “It gives us a chance to see the players and form an opinion on them,” said Mariner.

“If you do a straw poll, most of the coaches will come up with the same top 20 players, so it is a question of who you prioritize. Sometimes in the SuperDraft is a lottery. I have every confidence that we can get something out of the Draft.”

Mariner and the rest of the TFC technical staff will meet with Winter and de Klerk to assess the club’s position heading into Thursday’s Draft. The Reds first pick is in the second round, 26th overall.

“Initially I am here to support Aron and Bob,” explained Mariner. “It is obviously very strange for them, but we hope to make it as smooth as possible. We have got a good turnout of staff here. Everybody has got their own opinions and we will formulate those and present our thoughts to Aron when he arrives. We are here to help him as much as we possibly can. All of the lads here will give their honest opinion and will have their say, and then we will make some decisions.”

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