2012 pre-season looking good.

Toronto FC continued it's preparations for the 2012 season with the first game of the Carolina Challenge Cup in Charleston on Saturday against the Chicago Fire.

With some of the very few officially signed players missing through injury (Julian De Guzman still, and now also Dwayne De Rosario with what was described as a tweak) or through contract disputes (Adrian Cann), the game provided plenty of opportuntities for those looking to impress enough to nail down a position in the squad or the starting line up just over 12 months from now.

Mikael Yourassowsky joined Nana Attakora in central defence, with Dan Gargan at right back and academy player Ashtone Morgan at left back.  Another academy kid Oscar Cordon joined Jacob Peterson and Nick Labrocca in midfield with Joao Plata and Javier Martina playing upfront with Maicon Santos.  Plenty of substitutions meant appearances for a few other new signees, trialists and academy players, including Andrew Ornoch, previously rejected but back for a second try, and Nathan Sturgis, trying to work his way out of the coach's doghouse after not impressing in Turkey.

So how did it all look, well not great frankly, but that's ok, we've got over a year to be working on things.  Sloppy defending led to Chicago scoring after 6 minutes, but aside from that Yourassowsky looked alright in the middle, making a couple of really good tackles in the second half.  Attakora looked comfortable bringing the ball out of defence, and in general, the team was passing the ball about and keeping possession nicely, though they definitely lacked a cutting edge. 

Chicago allowed that to happen really, happily letting Toronto pass it around in their own half while blocking things up in midfield in front of their defence.  That tendency was increased after Chicago had a player sent off after 35 minutes, but even then, TFC, curiously still playing in practice jerseys rather than the official new kit, created very few chances against the ten men.  It's obviously very early, and though we didn't look great, there were a few moments here and there yesterday where you could see the potential of what Aron Winter's trying to do and what it could all become with an improved squad, even adding De Guzman and De Rosario back into the line-up should make a big difference. 

Fortunately there's plenty of time to give the current trialists a fair go and see which of them has what it takes to make the starting lineup for First Kick a year or so from now.  Those who don't make the grade can be replaced between now and then, maybe in July when the European transfer window opens.  Also the 40 odd practice games we'll have in 2011 will give plenty of opportunities to blood the youngsters from the academy, giving them valuable experience for when it counts.  All in all, pre-season's off to a good start and the future is certainly bright.

What's that?  How's the squad looking for the 2011 season?  Oh, believe me, you really don't want to ask that question.

Ornoch-knock-knocking on heaven's door

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 26^th 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.

*edit:  It was later revealed that Lindsay's knee was actually injured in a snowmobiling accident, which is more than likely a forbidden activity in his contract.