Toronto FC Discussion Thread

[LittleOzzy]

Whitecaps' Martin Nash to retire

Vancouver Whitecaps midfielder Martin Nash is walking away from the game before getting the chance to play in Major League Soccer.

Nash will announce his retirement at a Wednesday afternoon press conference, calling it quits after 16 years as a player, reports the Vancouver Province.

Nash, the younger brother of NBA superstar Steve Nash, has been a stalwart with the Whitecaps since joining the club in 2004.

He helped the team win a pair of USL-1 championships, in 2006 and 2008, and expressed an interest in remaining with the Whitecaps next year as it makes the jump from North American soccer's second tier to its top division, MLS.

It's expected that Martin Nash, who turns 35 in December, will continue to have a role with the club.

Aside from being a star player for the Whitecaps, Nash was a standout for Canada, scoring two goals in 38 appearances for his country.

Nash was a member of the Canadian team that won the 2000 CONCACAF Gold Cup and renowned for his sublime passing skills.

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

I was really expecting him to play one season in MLS. That would of been a proper send off for him.

[Kaizen]

http://www.thestar.com/sports/soccer/ml ... toronto-fc

[LittleOzzy]

TFC mum on De Rosario’s contract status

It’s shaping up to be one the most important off-seasons ever for Toronto FC.

Having fired general manager Mo Johnston and coach Preki, club management must find full-time replacements for those key positions, as well as make critical roster decisions to ensure the team has a shot at securing its first-ever playoff berth next year.

On top of that, one of the more interesting problems that might have to be addressed in the coming months by Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment, the club’s owner, is whether to give captain Dwayne De Rosario a raise.

De Rosario, 32, is midway through a four-year contract that paid him $443,750 US this season, the third-highest wage on the team behind fellow Canadian Julian de Guzman ($1,717,546 US) and Spanish forward Mista ($987,3370 US).

Last month De Rosario publicly stated he wasn’t happy with his salary, and went so far as to celebrate a goal he scored in a game against San Jose by mockingly signing a cheque. He was sending a clear message to team management that he wanted to renegotiate his contract.

Tom Anselmi, chief operating officer of MLSE, responded by saying he had already told De Rosario’s agent they would talk after the season ended.

Now that TFC’s season is over, does management plan to talk with De Rosario about a new contract? Anselmi said that’s up to interim GM Earl Cochrane to decide, but the MLSE executive made it sound as though renegotiations aren’t imminent.

“If Dwayne and his agent want to talk us, we’re always open to talk. Dwayne is our captain and he’s an important player here and he’s a Torontonian, but he’s also under contract,” Anselmi told CBCSports.ca on Tuesday.

http://sports.yahoo.com/mls/news?slug=c ... 2000395040

[Kaizen]

I have hated DERO since he joined the team. He is always complaining about something. I really hope we cut or trade him.

1) Grass versus artificial turf (Questioning why Real Madrid gets grass and wanting all Canada games in Montreal - A joke considering 90% of the stadium were Honduras fans in World Cup qualifying.)
2) Coaches - Rumour that he keeps getting coaches fired.
3) Canadian versus American players - One of the leaders of the tension between Canadian and American players last year.
4) Salary - He complains about his salary after signing a 4 year deal last year. Ridiculous. He had the nerve to do it when we are in a fight for a playoff spot too.
5) Goal celebration - Has to do his dumb dance before his teammates can celebrate with him.
6) Leadership - He is the captain of a team that keeps missing the playoffs and collapsing down the stretch.

I am sure there are more reasons as well. I am surprised anybody actually likes this guy.

[Kaizen]

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/s ... le1778410/

It appears that Juergen Klinsmann has been given the job of fixing the myriad problems of Toronto FC.

Sources close to the MLS club have confirmed that owners Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment are in the final stages of negotiating a consulting role for Klinsmann and his California-based company Soccer Solutions. An announcement is expected early next week.

[LittleOzzy]

OBW drafted by Vancouver then shipped to Seattle.

Sad to see him go, as I think he could still turn into a good striker. He was just too inconsistent in Toronto.

[Kaizen]

I completely disagree. He is way too slow to amount to anything. He decided to play for Jamaica too.

[Kaizen]

http://www.sportsnet.ca/soccer/2010/11/ ... aps_trade/

Toronto FC has acquired midfielder Nathan Sturgis from Vancouver Whitecaps FC in exchange for their first-round selection (eighth overall) in the 2011 MLS SuperDraft, the teams announced on Thursday.

Seattle fans say it was a terrible trade. We suck at drafting so we would have drafted a bad player anyways.

I went to Bigsoccer and now everybody is saying it was a terrible trade. What is with MLSE owned teams and feeling the need to make so many trades? Their track record is absolutely terrible and they should go 1 full year without making a trade.

[Bankai]

Bye O'Brian White, he was the player that wasent protected on TFC for the expansion draft.

[LittleOzzy]

TFC will play in Vancouver opening weekend.

Great way to start off the season.

[LittleOzzy]

Toronto FC names new coach

Thursday marked a new era in the history of the Toronto FC, with the Major League Soccer club undergoing a major managerial makeover.

TFC named former Dutch national team star Aron Winter as its new coach and technical director. In this dual role, Winter will oversee TFC's entire soccer operation and set the direction of the team.

Fellow Dutchman Bob de Klerk will act as Winter's first assistant coach.

Serving under Winter will be Englishman Paul Mariner, who was named director of player development. Mariner will be responsible for the team's scouting, player acquisition, player development and TFC's youth academy.

The Reds had been without a full-time coach and general manager since Preki and Mo Johnston were fired last September.

Earl Cochrane, in charge of TFC's youth academy since its launch in 2008, had served as the club's interim GM, while former assistant Nick Dasovic coached the Reds for the remainder of the MLS season.

Cochrane has been given a new title, director of team and player operations, while Stuart Neely takes over as director as the team's youth academy.

Dasovic and former captain Jim Brennan, who was Johnston's assistant GM, will remain with the club, as will coaches Danny Dichio, Mike Toshak and Jason Bent.

Winter, 43, enjoyed a successful playing career with stints at Dutch side Ajax Amsterdam and Italian clubs Lazio and Inter Milan.

http://www.cbc.ca/sports/story/2011/01/06/sp-tfc.html

[theSkinny]

Gah,,,,Nukin Futchmen!!!!

Sorry had to do it.. based on where I grew up ... really this can only be a good thing, right?

[Relentless88]

Kara Lang retired the other day. Sad news...only 24 years old.

[LittleOzzy]

Does Darlington Nagbe want to play in Vancouver?

A rumor emerging from the combine is that Darlington Nagbe doesn't want to be drafted by the Vancouver Whitecaps. The reason behind the rumor could be related to his family. If the rumor is true, the development will have a major impact on the draft and the Whitecaps.

The Whitecaps have the first overall pick in the draft. Vancouver coach Teitur Thordarson reacted with surprise when I asked him about the rumor.

"No, I haven't heard that," Thordarson said Sunday. "If that's the case, I would have to think about that."

Patrick McCabe, Nagbe's agent, said through an e-mail that Nagbe - the potential top pick - isn't talking to the media until Wednesday at the earliest. McCabe's e-mail didn't address the rumor about whether his client wants to go to Vancouver.

If Nagbe decides to go Steve Francis (the then-NBA Vancouver Grizzlies selected Francis in the 1999 NBA draft and then traded Francis to Houston after he said he did not want to play for the Grizzlies) on the Whitecaps, his move will place a tremendous amount of pressure on the Whitecaps between now and Thursday's SuperDraft.

"If (Nagbe's) opinion is very clear, then I would have to think about that," Thordarson said. "But I think Nagbe is a good player and no matter what, he will have a value for us."

Would the Whitecaps draft someone who doesn't want to be there and have a very unhappy player on their hands? Considering the Whitecaps previous dealings with youngsters Omar Salgado (international transfer certificate problems) and Cody Arnoux (draft eligibility issues) were shaky at best, the last thing the Whitecaps need is another player controversy. Particularly with their first-ever MLS pick.

What Thordarson seems to be implying about Nagbe's "value" is a possible trade. Who would the Whitecaps receive in return for giving up the top overall selection and first-ever franchise pick? Another angle to the rumor is the Whitecaps might trade the top pick for two top-10 first round picks, giving them three top picks in the first round (the Whitecaps also have the eighth pick). However, even that scenario seems like a high-stakes gamble. This is, after all, the Whitecaps' first-ever MLS draft pick, which is destined to go down in franchise history.

Imagine a headline that would read, "Whitecaps trade first-ever MLS pick." Yikes.

http://www.oregonlive.com/timbers/index ... on_na.html

Not good for Vancouver if the rumour is true. I hate players who have done nothing who think they already deserve the world.

[Kaizen]

They ended up reaching and grabbing Salgado at #1. Nagbe ended up going at #2 to Portland.

Chad Barrett has been traded to LA for future considerations.

[sideshow]

Media day today.

Trying to get excited for it. Curious about how the team is going to fill out the roster.

De Ro still sounds a little unhappy.

[Kaizen]

He is always unhappy. I can't stand that guy. I will never understand how the fans are on his side still. The guy flat out admitted that his salary is more important then the team making the playoffs. How is he getting a pass on that?

I wish I was not the only one at BMO Field who boos him which is what he deserves.

[Kaizen]

Is there anybody who reads this thread that agrees with me or at least understands where I am coming from?

[LittleOzzy]

He is always unhappy. I can't stand that guy. I will never understand how the fans are on his side still. The guy flat out admitted that his salary is more important then the team making the playoffs. How is he getting a pass on that?

I wish I was not the only one at BMO Field who boos him which is what he deserves.

I agree somewhat. I wish he would just shut up and play.

I understand he wants more money as he is getting older, but he should honour the contract he signed. If he becomes more of a distraction something needs to be done.

[LittleOzzy]

Preseason schedule as of January 20, 2011.

Tuesday, January 25, 2011 - PLAYERS REPORT TO CAMP
Thursday, January 27, 2011 - TRAVEL TO ANTALYA, TURKEY
Wednesday, February 2, 2011 - MATCH V. PARTIZAN BELGRADE
Sunday, February 6, 2011 - MATCH TBA
Thursday, February 10, 2011 - MATCH V. DINAMO ZAGREB
Saturday, February 12, 2011 - RETURN TO TORONTO
Monday, February 21, 2011 - TRAVEL TO ORLANDO, FLORIDA
Thursday, February 24, 2011 - MATCH (Disney Tournament) v. TBA
Saturday, February 26, 2011 - MATCH (Disney Tournament) v. TBA
Wednesday, March 2, 2011 - TRAVEL TO CHARLESTON, SC FROM ORLANDO
Saturday, March 5, 2011 - MATCH (2011 Carolina Challenge Cup) V. CHICAGO FIRE, 5:00 P.M., CHARLESTON, SC
Wednesday, March 9, 2011 - MATCH (2011 Carolina Challenge Cup) V. CHARLESTON BATTERY, 7:15 P.M., CHARLESTON, SC
Saturday, March 12, 2011 - MATCH (2011 Carolina Challenge Cup) V. D.C. UNITED, 5:00 P.M., CHARLESTON, SC
Sunday, March 13, 2011 - RETURN TO TORONTO