Toronto FC Discussion Thread

[sideshow]

We have ours (#4), plus San Jose's (#2) from the Ronnie O'Brien Trade and Chicago's (#13 i think) from the McBride trade.

There is a Canadian striker that is rated very highly, so that might be the target with the top picks.

[NeverGoingToWin]

We have ours (#4), plus San Jose's (#2) from the Ronnie O'Brien Trade and Chicago's (#13 i think) from the McBride trade.

There is a Canadian striker that is rated very highly, so that might be the target with the top picks.

Thanks.

http://www.uconnhuskies.com/sports/MSoccer/2008/Bios/White.html

[LittleOzzy]

Toronto FC's pursuit of a designated player will either be rubber-stamped or rejected by the team's board of directors, according to team general manager Mo Johnston.

Johnston said Toronto's proposal to sign a designated player is scheduled to be voted on by the board of the directors of Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment Ltd., the Major League Soccer club's owners.

"Everything goes to the board on the tenth of November. We're looking forward to it, we think the idea will get passed and hopefully we'll have a DP in January or February," Johnston said.

Under league bylaws, teams are granted one designated player roster spot that they can use to sign a marquee star, with only $400,000 of his contract counting against the $2.1 US million salary cap. Teams can also trade for a second DP slot.

The Los Angeles Galaxy famously made use of the DP rule to sign English superstar David Beckham in January 2007.

Johnston said MLSE, which also owns the Toronto Maple Leafs and Toronto Raptors, must first approve his proposal to spend the money on such a player.

http://www.cbc.ca/sports/soccer/story/2 ... fc-dp.html

If for some odd reason this gets voted down I will not be a happy man. Bringing in a designated player is exactly what this team needs to get to the next step.

[LittleOzzy]

I hope we hear something from the board of directors meeting tomorrow.

[NeverGoingToWin]

I hope we hear something from the board of directors meeting tomorrow.

http://www.thestar.com/Sports/Soccer/article/534390

[NeverGoingToWin]

http://mlsdraftsite.com/

#2 O'Brian White
#5 Mike Grella
#13 Akeem Priestley

[LittleOzzy]

When will the expansion teams be announced?

I'm guessing they'll wait until the start of next season.

[NeverGoingToWin]

http://www.sportsnet.ca/soccer/blogs/2008/11/13/dobson_tough_calls/

They've said it will be late this year or early next. I'm hearing it could be much sooner. Maybe even around the MLS Cup final on November 23rd at The Home Depot Centre.

[NeverGoingToWin]

http://www.sportsnet.ca/soccer/2008/11/19/johnson_mls_top_goal/

Canadian Will Johnson has won goal of the year honours in Major League Soccer.

The Real Salt Lake midfielder's flick and volley, which struck the inside of the near post and beat FC Dallas goalkeeper Dario Sala, was named the 2008 Sierra Mist Goal of the Year in online fan voting.

[url]
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n-iJOgcqMNk[/url]

[LittleOzzy]

It would be awesome to know by the end of the month, I just don't see that happening.

They have to collect and go over a lot of information and it's not a decision that should be rushed.

I'm still thinking it will be Miami and Portland that gets in, but I hope I am wrong.

[NeverGoingToWin]

Montreal withdrew its bid for a Major League Soccer expansion team, commissioner Don Garber said Friday in his state-of-the-league address.

"They're out for the next round of expansion," Garber said. "I don't think it's gone forever but it's gone for now."

http://www.tsn.ca/soccer/story/?id=256800&lid=sublink014&lpos=headlines_main

[DIEHARD_005]

Montreal withdrew its bid for a Major League Soccer expansion team, commissioner Don Garber said Friday in his state-of-the-league address.

"They're out for the next round of expansion," Garber said. "I don't think it's gone forever but it's gone for now."

http://www.tsn.ca/soccer/story/?id=256800&lid=sublink014&lpos=headlines_main

I thought MTL would be a given for an MLS franchise because of their success in the CONCACAF champs league. I hope Van City gets a franchise because of Ottawa does then MTL likely won't because of the distance between the two cities...and I'd rather see MTL have a team in MLS rather than Ottawa.

[LittleOzzy]

With the way the economy is I could see more than just Montreal dropping out. Building new stadiums, franchise rights and so on down the line is big bucks, and most people just don't have the cash at the moment.

I think with Montreal dropping out too that Canada has no chance of adding a team this go around. Montreal had the best shot at it and with them out it's clear Toronto will stay the only Canadian team for awhile.

[NeverGoingToWin]

I agree that based on what the commissioner had to say it will be a huge upset if Vancouver or Ottawa get an expansion team. Here is an article that sheds a little light on the Montreal situation.

http://www.sportsnet.ca/soccer/blogs/2008/11/24/dobson_mls_expansion/

[LittleOzzy]

Toronto FC loses Smith in MLS expansion draft

Toronto FC midfielder/forward Jarrod Smith is on the move again after being selected fourth in Major League Soccer's expansion draft for Seattle Sounders FC on Wednesday.

The 24-year-old joined Toronto FC last March on a developmental contract and was promoted to the senior roster in June after an impressive start.

Selected first overall by Toronto in the 2007 MLS supplemental draft, Smith spent the 2007 season in his native New Zealand for Hawke's Bay United.

"You have to deal with the expansion draft and prepare to lose a player," said Toronto director of soccer Mo Johnston. "We are sad to see Jarrod go, and we wish him all the best for his future in Seattle."

Smith started six of 20 games this past season with Toronto, scoring his only goal in his MLS debut, a 3-2 win over the hometown Los Angeles Galaxy on April 13.

http://www.cbc.ca/sports/soccer/story/2 ... draft.html

Not a huge loss, but it's news.

[NeverGoingToWin]

This is the 2nd year in a row that we have lost a player in the expansion draft. He had a lot of speed but did not to much for the team.

[LittleOzzy]

This is the 2nd year in a row that we have lost a player in the expansion draft. He had a lot of speed but did not to much for the team.

We'll probably lose another next season to Philadelphia. With so few teams and teams only being allowed to pick one player from each team the odds of losing another is high.

I'm just glad it was only Smith, I liked him but we had a lot better players that ended up on our unprotected list that could of been picked up.

[NeverGoingToWin]

http://www.sportsnet.ca/soccer/blogs/2008/11/28/dobson_tfc_white/

O'Brian White is a Scarborough native and last year's MAC Hermann award winner as the top collegiate soccer player in the United States. But there is startling newsthat he tore his ACL in a recent game and had surgery last week. He'll be out of action for an estimated six months.

The University of Connecticut star had been coveted by Toronto FC and many other MLS teams as a first round pick, and probably one of the top five in the upcoming college draft.

The injury to White is a huge disappointment to the Reds and supporters as well. Both had been licking its chops at the prospect of having a local player as a top draft pick. But now, according to Toronto Director of Soccer Mo Johnston, the club's brain trust will have to adjust their draft philosophy.

[LittleOzzy]

Dichio agrees new contract

In front of hundreds of Toronto FC supporters at 'The Kit Party' Thursday night, Danny Dichio announced that he is staying with the team next season after agreeing a 1 year extension to his contract. The 34-year-old striker scored 5 goals in 2008 despite being troubled by injury.

"I'm overjoyed with the new deal because it has been going on for a while," said Dichio. "We agreed in principle to the terms and I'm really happy because I wanted to get it sorted before I go back to England. I'm happy here and my family is happy here so I want to be here for a very long time."

http://web.mlsnet.com/news/team_news.js ... &team=t280

Toronto FC unveils 2009 uniforms

Toronto FC players Jim Brennan, Danny Dichio, Todd Dunivant, Rohan Ricketts, Chad Barrett and Greg Sutton joined hundreds of team supporters Thursday night to unveil the team's new 2009 home and away uniforms.

It is the first time the team has changed its uniform since its inception. The new home jersey is red with grey trim and has a distinctly Canadian flavour with an embossed maple leaf featured in the centre and an embroidered Canadian flag patch on the left sleeve. A major new element of the new home jersey is the addition of a collar. The phrase 'ALL FOR ONE' is printed on the back of the collar to symbolize the unique relationship between the team and its supporters.

The new away jersey is grey, without a collar, and also includes an embossed maple leaf.

http://web.mlsnet.com/news/team_news.js ... &team=t280

I can't stand when teams change their uniform every few seasons. I hope TFC finds one they like and stick with it for years to come. If you want to build tradition that's a great way to start. I think having people in the stands with outdated uniforms already looks horrible for the team.

[NeverGoingToWin]

http://www.sportsnet.ca/soccer/blogs/2008/12/05/dobson_tfc_jersey/

The article says that the MLS has a rule that teams MUST change their kits every 2 years.