January 21, 2011 MLS--Calm Before The Storm? (from TorontoFC.ca)

Calm Before The Storm?
Asif Hossain
TorontoFC.ca
January 21, 2011

Player Signings

This will be difficult, but it’s probably best to spend this weekend relaxing, watching some live Bundesliga and La Liga on GOL TV Canada and not worrying about which players Toronto FC will sign.

Paul Mariner, Aron Winter and Bob de Klerk These days are similar to the calm emanating from BMO Field ahead of the management team announcement. Rumours were rife in December that Toronto didn’t know who it wanted to appoint, there were accusations in media and social networks that TFC wasn’t doing anything to address the coach/technical director situation, etc.

All of that turned out to be false. Consultant SoccerSolutions, led by Jurgen Klinsmann, were interviewing candidates that weren’t revealed until much later in the process and since then, fans seem generally happy with the direction the team has taken with introductions of Aron Winter, Paul Mariner and Bob de Klerk.

Toronto has gone through massive personnel changes in virtually every area of operations. Most subtractions have been made and new player additions are a matter of time. The best hint came from Mariner in Baltimore, when he said that the club will be evaluating European-based players in Turkey and South American ones in Orlando. Logistically, this makes sense. The players have yet to be revealed and that too is sensible.

Toronto will be adding players. The difference this offseason from the previous three is that TFC is moving quickly but quietly. If the management team announcement is an example to live by, people are working, they are just not boasting about it. There is no point in offering vague notions and platitudes to appease restless masses if things don't work out as planned. 

TFC supporters have a few more days to relax. Starting next week with players reporting to BMO Field and everyone meeting the media ahead of their flight to Turkey, there will be plenty to digest at TorontoFC.ca.

Homegrown Players

Toronto has them. Vancouver does too. Montreal will when they join MLS.

So its baffling that this article on MLSsoccer.com charged Canadian clubs with not being responsive to Canadian talent.

Yes, one particular Canadian player didn’t get selected by either Toronto or Vancouver in the SuperDraft, but that doesn’t mean the two teams are insensitive to local players.

In Toronto’s case, the club wouldn’t be scouring the GTA to secure a new permanent Academy home and training facilities if it wasn’t serious about homegrown players. Nor would TFC celebrate the likes of Doneil Henry, Nicholas Lindsay, Ashtone Morgan and Keven Aleman, while keeping an eye on Matt Stinson's progress at Winthrop University, if it didn't feel an obligation to homegrown talent.

In the meantime, players will not be evaluated at the SuperDraft only by the look of their passport.  

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