Pulling De Wool Over De Eyes?

There was the temptation to sub-title this article as "Breaking News" but it really is not. For as long as the "Julian De Guzman to Toronto FC" rumours have been out there - the possibly subversive truth behind them has always existed in equal measure. When the first rumour appeared on The Yorkies' "The Word" a while back, the possibility of a mutual "using" of each other between TFC and the De Guzman camp was explored. It is increasingly difficult to dismiss the possibility.

Mo Johnston has officially quashed the possible signing to the press by announcing that De Guzman "wanted to stay in Europe". Mo Johnston - you are the king of the obvious. "It was about playing against Real Madrid and Barcelona,” (a minor MLS shot?) said the always forthright Scot about the player's choice; "we did everything we could do as a club to bring him home". Part of that "everything" was hosting De Guzman to a game at BMO and producing a professional, glossy magazine trumping the club and the player's potential role in it. Wow, TFC's big recruiting program is watching the New York Red Bulls and making a booklet that a graphic designer and an afternoon at Kinko's could produce. Big time stuff MLSE...big time.

De Guzman's North American agents claim the process with TFC was first class but "time ran out" on TFC's offer as the player awaited contract offers from Europe (Of course, because TFC is signing so many players). The agents claim that "TFC is his first choice in MLS" - well, thanks - that's like being the tallest midget. It is the obvious patronizing of TFC and MLS from De Guzman's reps that makes anyone with half a football brain wonder what the whole dog and pony show was all about.

It is fair to entertain the thought that TFC/ MLSE knew from the very beginning that there was no way that a European based, DP-worthy player in his mid 20's would come to Toronto at this stage of his career. It is also fair to believe that De Guzman's camp also knew from the beginning that TFC was only a last resort. The attention and the story were perfect for both parties. TFC could fool it's less thoughtful supporters into thinking they were "really" trying to sign a big name player while De Guzman's camp raised his profile and price with potential suitors in Europe. Everyone is a winner - except for the supporters as usual. Mo Johnston claimed he has "no doubt he'll sign here one day" - so...when he is 32 or so? Very little solace.

So Julian De Guzman will no doubt sign for a European club very soon (hopefully Getafe and their Burger King kits!), and TFC's extensive DP "search" will continue. The second most fruitless hunt since OJ searched for the "real killers". Mo meanwhile, claims he will only sign a DP who is 28-29 years old and that he should be Canadian. That is a very, very short list. Make your own conclusions. One last very telling thought about this drama: Why would TFC have a deadline to sign De Guzman if they aren't in the hunt for another DP? Would they not just wait it out, or were they afraid that De Guzman might get desperate and call their wealthy bluff?