As the initial buzz of the announcements of Aron Winter, Bob de Klerk and Paul Mariner dies down, and as the warm and fuzzy thoughts about TFC’s future filled with homegrown academy players playing dazzling total football fade into the vague far off future where they belong, thoughts turn to the short term and the first real measurable test of the new management team. That would be building a team that can compete in the short term, and if not win an MLS Cup in the next 2 or 3 years, at least do well enough to keep the supporters interested until the academy starts bearing fruit.
After Earl Cochrane got rid of the worst of last year’s squad, with only Nathan Sturgis coming in, TFC is currently sitting at a squad of 16 players, three of which are goalies, and one of whom, 18 year old winger Nicholas Lindsay, it was reported today will be out for the season due to a knee injury sustained by slipping on ice*. Add in the fact that some of those 16 are out of contract, including 2010 MVP Adrian Cann, and his defensive partner Nana Attakora who, according to a Gerry Dobson tweet has so far declined to sign the new contract offered him. Also add in that Dwayne De Rosario has made his unhappiness very public and may not be back, and the size of the job is clear. The number of definite starting quality players who we can confidently say will be with the team next year sits at 2, Stefan Frei and Julian De Guzman. Now obviously no MLS team is going to be full of stars, and some of what remains of the squad are definitely capable MLS level starters, people such as Sturgis, Nick LaBrocca, Chad Barrett or Maicon Santos, but there is definitely a need for quality as well as quantity when it comes to filling out the squad.
Barring a trade to get a higher pick, this week’s upcoming superdraft is unlikely to help with players who can make an impact right away, as we gave up our first round pick for Sturgis, so won’t be picking until 26th overall, here’s a good list of players who might be available at that time. No, it’s going to be players brought in from outside MLS who’ll make the difference.
Before the interim GM tag was taken away from Earl Cochrane, he suggested in interviews that he had been busy identifying players and making initial enquiries, lining up a lot of players just waiting for confirmation from the new regime and for the transfer window to open. Dutch U-17 international Bas Ent has long been rumoured to be coming in from the USL team Dayton Dutch Lions, and reports from the last week are saying that Canadian striker Andrew Ornoch is also about to sign.
Ornoch is a Toronto raised Canadian international who has spent the last few years in Europe. He’s been varyingly described as a physical Danny Dichioesque striker and as an attacking midfielder/forward in the mould of Will Johnson. Initial guesses suggest he’ll be getting somewhere below $100,000, so whatever his exact style and role will be, he should be a good addition. Though he didn’t get much first team action while in Holland, his time there should help him be a step ahead of the MLS lifers when it comes to quickly picking up the intricacies of our new system. Throw in the fact that he seems to be very eager to play for his hometown team and it seems like a great piece of business, though hopefully he’ll be competing with Chad Barrett and Maicon Santos for the title of our second best striker behind some as yet unknown big name to be unveiled soon.
Acquiring that striker, as well as the quality wingers, full backs and everything else TFC needs is hopefully where Paul Mariner can prove his worth, helping Winter navigate the salary cap with all it’s rules and exceptions to build a competitive squad, or at the very least a full squad before the season starts. While supporters so far seem admirably willing to give TFC some time, the first 4 wasted years mean there's a lot less goodwill banked than might usually be the case, thoughts of the future will only keep bums in seats in the present for so long.
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