de Guzman de gone to FC de Allas

No need to hitchhike Jules - you've got a Lambo!



Much maligned by some, to be missed by others, TFC's first-ever Designated Player and Scarborough native Julian de Guzman has been traded to FC Dallas. In a move that is quite obviously a salary dump, The Reds receive Andrew Wiederman in return. Wiederman is a 22-year old midfielder/winger with Generation Adidas status who has yet to see significant playing time in MLS.
　
The long-term litmus test on today's deal will of course be what Toronto FC does with what Paul Mariner claims "gives us increased flexibility to address areas where we have more pressing needs and opens up a designated player spot for our club," The pressure will be on Mariner and Co. to make a series of moves that indeed plugs the gaping holes on TFC while addressing the lust in many circles to add a marquee name. While dumping de Guzman will satisfy some fans who never held any affection for the player, that goodwill will wear off in a hurry if the club falls into its usual state of inaction.
　
A BRIEF TIMELINE OF THE DE GUZMAN DEAL RUMOURS:
July 12, 2012
8PM: First rumours of Julian de Guzman departing Toronto
8:30PM: Texas Lamborghini dealers get odd text messages
9PM: FC Dallas emerge as destination for de Guzman
9:30PM: Wrexham upset that rumours of them getting Wales' second de Guzman in a week would not come true
10PM: Whispers that Canadian international defender Kevin McKenna may be on his way to TFC
10:30PM: Whispers that TFC may be receiving Tony Tchani, Danleigh Borman and Andy Iro in return for de Guzman
July 13, 2012
1AM: Rick Titus unable to sleep with sudden TFC job openings. Stares at beeper for an hour
2AM: de Guzman's agent confirms that trade to Dallas is for realsies
4AM: With a DP slot open - TFC consider Messi.
4:02AM: CORRECTION: "TFC considered messy"
6AM: Earlier Kevin McKenna to TFC rumour actually "Paul Mariner to send Jim Brennan out to get McDonald's." Mariner loves him some Hot Cakes & Sausage. FACT.
7AM: Still not a peep from Rick Titus' beeper
9AM: Rangers dropped to Scottish Third Division. Why has TFC not sent a rescue helicopter for Maurice Edu yet?
10AM: Official trade confirmations coming in (here)... And scene....
10:45AM: Rick Titus unhappy. Hot Cakes & Sausage finished.

LETTERS FROM CAMP: All quiet on the southern front

Eddie Johnson's a thing... right?



FLORIDULL
There's a strange feeling amongst TFC supporters that training camp is quiet... too quiet. So unaccustomed are we to a drama-free lead up to the season that some are getting worried. Why no more trialists? Why not enough friendlies? Why is no one threatening to leave the team? You can't blame Toronto fans - it's just all so new.
　
To fill the void (a little) TFC will play a scrimmage today against University of South Florida (Up The Bulls) in preparation for their upcoming participation in the Mickey Mouse Cup next week. Sadly no footage will be made available as Florida has somehow become more rural to TFC TV than Turkey was last year.
　
What's that you say? You still need more crumbs? Well you can always hold your breath for the Eddie Johnson MLS allocation process. One "lucky" team will get their hands on the American striker who didn't have the best European sojourn after ditching MLS. TFC has the fourth highest shot at landing Johnson and despite seemingly needing some Koevermans cover, don't appear to be interested.
　
Still bored? Come on - we're trying! For those of you out there who still harbour negative views or at worst apathy towards Julian de Guzman, the Toronto Sun's Kurt Larson catches up with the Scarborough native to find out where he's at. The sometimes unfairly maligned midfielder has some interesting thoughts about his time with TFC, the future of his contract and the tactical naivety of Preki.
　
APPLY WITHIN
Most TFC fans have heard about the club's "TFC Dream Job" competition by now. The Yorkies are of course endorsing applicant Maurice J. but couldn't help wonder what specific Twitter hashtags the club may have used if this competition had been available in the first four years of the club's existence...
　
#CarlosRuizLocator
#ButtyStacker
#BitchyWrangler
#RetweetWithRicketts
#CollinSamuelBuffetCleanUp
#DichioShaver
#JimmyBarista
#FirstWavePhoneOperator
#KevinHarmseRedCardCollector
#GabeGalaEgoMaintenace
#BarretBallCollection / #TopRowOnly
#TitusBiographer
#GerbaGirdler
#ImaginaryChequeCashier
#JPetersonNRAGodBlessAmericaFreedomFriesPickUpTruckAssociate
#HscnvcsVwlFndr
#TakeAPunchFromMaxim
#MaiconSantosMikeSandersTransformer
#FiveYearPlanner

Yorkies Cards 2011 - Pack 1

Man, did I love buying hockey cards as a kid. I'd take my 35 cents, run over to the corner store, and open those bad boys up. After stupid things like inflation and market saturation, my beautiful card collection's value sunk like a stone. I still have them (if interested, inquire within) but some of the cards are, effectively worthless. Pretty, but worthless.

Fast forward a decade and a half, and I'm a graphic designer now (enter cheap shots here). I suggested to the lads on this site last winter, "hey, how cool would it be to have a set of Yorkies soccer cards?" and they were all like "hell yeah!" but I didn't do them. This off season, the idea reared its head again however this time, I could picture them.

So without further ado, I present to you the very first pack of the Yorkies Set 2011. A set of 54 cards with some of your favourite players, and for especially us TFC supporters, some players you just cannot stand.

Over the course of the month and some change, we will be releasing 9 packs in all of 6 cards each.

 

Pack 1 includes such luminaries as Jamison Olave, deGoo and David Beckham. Enjoy.

Download Pack 1 [PDF]

AFTER 90: Solid Reds rid monkeys from backs

Trillium Cup... now with Trillium Saucer



IN THE TUNNEL:
Half empty stadium? Check. Dirtiest looking cheerleaders east of the Mississippi? Check. Children's playground outside the ground? Check. Simmering racial undertones in the stands? Check. With all that in order, it's all systems go for the return leg of The Trillium Cup - MLS' weakest manufactured derby ever. Of course, the Toronto invasion of 2008 did add some meat to "The New Soft" derby (opposite of The Old Firm if you're wondering) but when TFC's true rival Montreal joins MLS next season for "The 401 Derby", this fixture will be just another Eastern Conference tussle. That being said, wouldn't it be a nice way to put this marketed "rivalry" to bed once and for all with TFC's first EVER win against Columbus? Now let's go think of reasons to hate Central Ohio...
　
ON THE PITCH:
1' - Columbus mascot "Crew Cat" coughs up a furball and sprays towards visiting TFC fans. Game on. Kick-off...
8' - Always enlightened Crew supporters chant "USA! USA!" during TFC corner kick. They truly won the War on Terror - Canadian evil-doers have been subdued.
9' - Bit of the old back and forth as Ryan Johnson hits the Crew crossbar with Crew forcing Stefan Frei into a leaping save on the counter-attack
15' - Reds managing some decent possession play but no finish yet
21' - GOAL: Mee-oow! Nick Soolsma's cat "Suarez" purring happily as his owner puts TFC ahead by pouncing (I know) on a rebound
COLUMBUS 0 - TORONTO 1
25' - Milos Kocic is a fine backup keeper but there is something more solid to The Reds' backline when Stefan Frei is between the posts. The Goalblerone.
30' - Crowd has fallen quiet. Must be writing down vaguely racist Canadian slurs
36' - Joao Plata forces Will Hesmer to save a sharp free kick. Plata playing like he's 5 Foot 5 right now!
37' - YELLOW CARD: Ty Harden just being Ty Harden
42' - GOAL: Possibly the best half of football TFC has played in 2011 as Plata drifts a great cross to Ryan Johnson's head who drifts it gently over an unexpecting Hesmer
COLUMBUS 0 - TORONTO 2
45' - Columbus fans boo either their club's first half performance... or foreigners
　
HALFTIME: COLUMBUS 0 - TORONTO 2
　
46' - Almost a dream start to the 2nd Half as Eric Avila hits the ball sweetly from a distance only for it to clang off of the Crew crossbar
47' - Due to Avila being American, Crew fans having trouble coming up with xenophobic insults to throw at him
55' - Frei back in form with good save against Andres Mendoza's attempt on goal
59' - So hard to really dislike a human boy named Dilly Duka
62' - An almighty collision as Frei and Emilio Renteria both challenge on a cross and neither of them look better for it. Both men coming off with Frei looking heavily damaged...
SUB: Milos Kocic in for Stefan Frei
67' - GOAL: Fresh off the bench, Crew's Tom Heinemann roofs the ball past a deserted Kocic and the game just got very hairy for TFC
COLUMBUS 1 - TORONTO 2
72' - Newly shaven-headed Julian de Guzman defending with gusto
78' - Kocic saves the lead as Crew nearly tie the game on close-range free kick
79' - SUB: Goalscorer Soolsma makes way for young Matt Stinson
81' - YELLOW CARD: Eric Avila get a MLS Mystery Card
82' - GOAL: Out of nothing an aggressive de Guzman blasts a 25-yard shot past Hesmer after tackling the ball away from Columbus single-handedly
COLUMBUS 1 - TORONTO 3
84' - A foreigner possibly puts the game away for TFC. Columbus fans can't contain their fury
86' - SUB: Danny Koevermans in for a limping Ryan Johnson
87' - GOAL: Andres Mendoza with a long range shot that rises over Kocic. Game has just taken another turn. A woolly affair
COLUMBUS 2 - TORONTO 3
89' - A whopping 6 minutes of extra time. Squeaky bum time!
90'+ - GOAL: de Guzman feeds a streaking Danny Koevermans who rounds a charging Hesmer and curls the ball into the empty goal. Plan the parade... the Trillium Cup is ours!
COLUMBUS 2 - TORONTO 4
90'+ - The longest extra time ever comes to an end. Bloody foreigners.
　
FULL TIME: COLUMBUS 2 - TORONTO 4
　
IN THE BATHS:
It took one of Toronto FC's most solid away performances ever to get a couple of monkeys off their back. Tonight's win was the club's first road victory of 2011 and happened to come against their "rival" Columbus Crew - a club they had failed to beat in five seasons. The Reds dominated in the first half but it was the second half where they showed strong character and some steely nerves. After Stefan Frei was injured and Crew quickly cut the lead to 2-1, many TFC observers awaited the classic Reds' collapse. On this night however, TFC kept their backs up and even managed to resist the temptation to fall into a defensive shell on their way to a win they can be proud of over one of the league's better teams. Little chance to celebrate their first Trillium Cup before heading to Mexico City for their CCL match against PUMAS - but tonight's result is more about hope for 2012 rather than any manufactured trophy.
　
PLAYER RATINGS: Stefan Frei 7 (Milos Kocic 6 )/ Richard Eckersley 6.5 / Ty Harden 6 / Andy Iro 6 / Ashtone Morgan 6 / Julian de Guzman 8 / Torsten Frings 7 / Eric Avila 6 / Nick Soolsma 6.5 (Matt Stinson 6 ) / Ryan Johnson 6.5 (Danny Koevermans 7 ) / Joao Plata 7
　
THE YORKIES' TFC MAN OF THE MATCH: Julian de Guzman
TALKING POINT: What should "The 401 Derby" trophy look like? Discuss.

Letters from Camp: It's not Cann, it's a Dicoy

Left: decoy; Right: Dicoy

OHH! DICOY-OH!
In a further sign that Aron Winter's hardline stance against Adrian Cann's holdout won't likely waver, TFC has invited a new trialist into camp. 24-year-old Jamaican centreback Dicoy Williams joined The Reds at their South Carolina camp with the hopes of landing a contract. The 6 foot 2 defender has proven a quick marker with good leaping ability during his career at Jamaican club Harbour View and in his 6 Caps with The Reggae Boyz. A point in his favour is his ability to also play on both the right and left wings making him a potentially valuable bench option if he can handle the physicality of MLS.
　
NOT READY de GO
It seems as if the hopes that Julian de Guzman would be ready to start the new season against Vancouver may have been a touch ambitious. Speaking to media yesterday, manager Aron Winter revealed that the DP's injury recovery has been a little slower than expected... “Julian is recovering well,” said the Dutchman “but he’s three to four weeks away from being ready to play.” That is slightly disappointing for fans who would like to see the new squad take shape but Winter's plans for the midfielder may give fans optimism that the hometown star can bounce back from a poor 2010 season - “In our system, he will be one of our key players,” Winter said. “He will get the ball at his feet and forward in attacking positions.”
　
"I LOVE... GOOOOOLD!"
No, Bob de Klerk isn't doing his Goldmember accent in an interview, just a bit of Team Canada news which will no doubt involve some Reds. The group stage of the 2011 CONCACAF Gold Cup was announced today and Canada was slotted into Group C along side arch-rivals USA, Van Halen's favourite team – Panama, and the former home of Milli Vanilli - Guadeloupe. The highlight of the round will be a cross-border showdown in Detroit, Michigan on June 7th between The Yanks and The Canucks - winner gets Windsor. Find the rest of the schedule here. Gold Cup 2011 - "Catch the Taste!"

Expansion waste lines

You gotta try the "Chicken Frei Rice"

Less than a day after Colorado lifted the MLS Cup Trophy in Toronto, the league's clubs were back to work. Yesterday evening, all clubs released their Protected List thus exposing the "unprotected" to the 2011 Expansion Draft. The full league unprotected list is a mixture of over-priced underachievers, unwanted internationals and players who just haven't developed quite fast enough. For new league entrants Vancouver and Portland, it's akin to arriving at a Chinese Buffet ten minutes before closing. There may be one or two decent crab legs left but it's mostly soggy noodles and dried out egg rolls.
　
Toronto FC's offerings are a pretty thin menu indeed. To keep the unnecessary yet appetizing analogy going - mostly the bottom of the Wonton Soup and the bland Jell-O desserts. Except that is, for two tasty morsels that may tempt the palate of the Whitecaps and/or Timbers. Grab your moist towelette as we take a stroll past TFC's hot plates and see what's on offer.
　
CHAD BARRETT - One of the two big names that TFC didn't protect. Portland could be tempted by the hometown boy but a contract that will near $300K in 2011 makes him a big gamble. Price may be the reason TFC hopes the overpaid The Chad is snagged.
DRAFTABILITY: 6/10
JULIAN DE GUZMAN - One of the biggest names in the draft. The DP hasn't performed solidly enough yet but his talent is indeed there. Surely TFC talked this move over with the star and his selection is unlikely unless Vancouver wants to make a massive splash.
DRAFTABILITY: 3/10
GABE GALA - It looks like the young Canadian's days are coming to an end in Toronto. By all accounts he had the tools to make something of himself but is weighed down by a massive ego and poor work ethic. Maybe Vancouver pads its Canadian quota?
DRAFTABILITY: 4/10
NICK GARCIA: Very little chance of Portland or Vancouver taking this piece of work on. Not unless they really want to up their "own-goal" stats or put a dodgy character in their locker room.
DRAFTABILITY: 1/10
RAIVIS HSCANOVICS: Despite the awesome headline "Raivis tkn in expnsn drft" it is very unlikely. Not up to scratch in MLS, which doesn't say much for the Latvian League.
DRAFTABILITY: 2/10
FUAD IBRAHIM: As soon as Ibrahim's Generation Adidas contract ran out, his time at TFC was likely going to follow. Still young but plays like a drunken baby giraffe. Recent inclusion in Team USA set-up may make him an attractive late prospect for Portland.
DRAFTABILITY: 4/10
MILOS KOCIC: Keepers are a rare commodity in expansion drafts and Kocic looks like he has the chops to be a current MLS back-up. Could be an intriguing and cheap # 2 for either club.
DRAFTABILITY: 7/10
MISTA: He came. He saw. He sulked. Can't imagine any clubs on either side of the Atlantic are too interested in a poor Sean Penn impersonator... and worse hitman.
DRAFTABILITY: 1/10
AMADOU SANYANG: Definitely a tempting project, especially with the return of the Reserve League. Likely a numbers game for TFC on this choice but a bit surprising that he was unprotected before the pricier Jacob Peterson.
DRAFTABILITY: 6/10
MARTIN SARIC: If Timbers or 'Caps are looking for that lucrative "Foreign Kevin Harmse" demographic then Saric is their man. One of TFC's infamous last-minute signings, the reckless Argentine-Croat isn't better than most available players in that position.
DRAFTABILITY: 2/10
MAXIM USANOV: What club doesn't want a hilarious Russian with a penchant for punching stuff? What's that? Good clubs? Oh... right. Much like Ivan Drago's unbeaten record, Usanov's MLS career looks likely to it hit the mat.
DRAFTABILTY: 3/10
O'BRIAN WHITE: The NCAA "can't miss" prospect has become the MLS "can't score" project. The increasingly slow (now) Jamaican International isn't likely attractive due to a hefty contract and a hefty mid-section. Likely back with TFC in 2011.
DRAFTABILITY: 4/10
　
Whatever Portland Timbers and Vancouver Whitecaps do decide to pick up with the MLS Expansion tongs, it’s likely that many of these TFC leftovers will still be on The Reds' books on Thursday. Whether they are still on the menu at BMO Field in 2011 depends on Earl Cochrane… oh – I mean the big-time GM that is surely on the way. Uh-huh. Why do we get the feeling a stale chicken ball will be what we’re left with in the front office?

Big, boring, burgundy beating

------------------------"Stay crappy, Mo Johnston"

The only other noise that could be heard through the continuous din of fog horns and high-pitched children's screams emanating from Dick's this afternoon, was the exasperated sighs of Toronto supporters. There can be little doubt left in any Reds' fans minds that this club isn't moving forward and "gelling" as has been shoved down our throats through MLSE promotions (i.e. GOLTV). In fact it is a very fair assessment to say that this version of TFC is the worst, and definitely least entertaining, since Year One.

Toronto FC under Preki not only have yet to score a goal from regular open-play but most shockingly have yet to find anything that remotely looks like an offensive strategy. The lone TFC goal in today's 3-1 loss to the "Burgundy Army" of Colorado was once again a Dwayne De Rosario converted penalty. Good for De Ro's account - awful for Toronto's prospects. Has anyone in the front office cared to ponder what happens if TFC's "One Man Gang" gets injured? It does happen in football occasionally you know.

Colorado opened the scoring today in a first half which was incredibly shoddy on both sides but hardly saw TFC anywhere near Rapids' goal. The goal was result of a Conor Casey penalty after the usual "high-quality" MLS referee called a handball on Adrian Cann - which was clearly a faceball and nowhere near the Thornhill giant's hands. Despite gaining some momentum after tying the game through De Ro's penalty not long after, TFC came out flat in the second half and their lack of quality showed.

A clumsy tackle by the highly overrated and vastly under-talented Martin Saric led to a free kick which Rapids' Jeff Larentowicz powered through the Toronto wall and passed a bewildered Stefan Frei. The keeper's bewilderment likely came from the fact that TFC's DP, and voted "Least Wanting To Be Here", Julian de Guzman, jumped out of the way of the shot's path creating a gaping whole for the ball to curl into the net. A player of JDG's quality should know better, although that genuine quality has yet to show in Toronto. A further messy tackle by Russian rightback Maksim Usanov gave Rapids their second penalty late in the second half and Conor Casey iced the cake with their 3rd.

The result is one that wasn't entirely unexpected but that in itself is quite sad. The fact that in this club's fourth year fans can't expect TFC to compete on the road against a mediocre club in front of the most tepid support in the league is so unfair to 21,000 BMO Field customers and many more on TV and radio. As a cherry on top - wasn't it just great to see Marvell Wynne looking comfortable and explosive in a centreback role? That Wynne was never even experimented in that position in three years, when TFC had a gaping whole there, is a glaring example of the total lack of football knowledge in charge of this club. But like road losses, I guess that is just another reality we've all had to just accept.

With De Guzman comes De Questions...

For once there is a Toronto FC story that has no negative spin attached to it nor the nagging suspicion that there must be something evil lurking behind it. The Designated Player signing of Canada's most talented national team member, Julian De Guzman, is truly great news for the team and supporters alike in a year where good times have been rare. The only negatives being directed towards the signing have been from elements of support who would have liked to see TFC sign an aged star from Europe a la Luis Figo or Christian Vieri. Frankly, these views are entirely ignorant and show a lack of knowledge about football and usually come from casual "soccer" fans who only watch the World Cup or might watch The Reds for one half when they play against Beckham. However, despite all of the positives, a major signing does not come without repercussions and De Guzman's arrival will indeed create some questions that will need to be addressed in the near future.

WHO COULD BE ON THE WAY OUT?
The other shoe has to fall in the wages department. While it is true that only a share of De Guzman's salary goes against the cap, it is still Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment signing the cheques and they will want to trim some fat. With four midfielders making a healthy MLS wage, one of the two veterans Carl Robinson or Amado Guevara seem to be endangered species. With the emergence of Sam Cronin as a useful, and much cheaper, holding midfielder, the hard-working Welshman Robinson could be headed out of town. There would be a lot of steel if TFC played both Robinson and De Guzman together but Robbo's age and large wage seems to work against him.

WHERE DOES DE GUZMAN PLAY?
This question could directly influence or be the result of the above question. If one of the other pricey midfield pieces is moved out then De Guzman will fall into that spot. The Canadian national midfielder has terrific versatility and can play anywhere in the middle of the park. In his years with Deportivo La Coruna, De Guzman was the stalwart holding midfielder responsible for shunting the attacks of such juggernauts as Barcelona and Real Madrid while with the national team he has been an effective attacking midfielder capable of spraying pinpoint passes and getting open in channels. His positioning will likely be a product of someone else's departure but it would be a very strong midfield if all the pieces were kept for at least one more season.

CAN DE GUZMAN LEAD TFC TO THE 2009 PLAYOFFS?
De Guzman alone does not possess the skills to single-handedly transform TFC, but few players in the world do. Toronto is in a logjam of other very capable squads vying for the last playoff spot and The Reds have been inconsistent to say the least. De Guzman will be a great presence in the middle but five games is a short time to integrate into a new system, mesh with teammates' styles and take on the leadership role that his stature demands. His familiarity with Dwayne De Rosario and the other Canadian nationals will accelerate the process but he alone can't solve the often porous defence and the unreliable strikers. Making the playoffs will have more to do with a combined team effort as opposed to De Guzman doing it alone.

HOW DOES A DP CHANGE THE DRESSING ROOM?
For the first time in the club's history, one of the players on the squad is making a lot more money than anyone else. Other DP situations in MLS haven't seemed to be an issue with the rank and file but who knows what happens behind closed doors? It can’t be the easiest situation for De Rosario who arrived in the off-season as the all-conquering hometown boy making good, only to be trumped in the same season as the big star. The truth is De Ro will score more goals than De Guzman which will cement his stardom amongst the supporters but hopefully the chasm between their wages, and the wages of other veterans on the team, won’t make the green-eyed monster raise its ugly head.

WHAT DOES THIS SIGNING HERALD FOR THE OFF-SEASON?
Anyone who watches TFC faithfully realizes there are a few more holes to fill than just a star midfielder. As mentioned previously, there is a need for talent in the back four and the desperate need for a clinical finisher. It will be interesting to see if Mo Johnston rests on his laurels of this signing or if the sudden star power of TFC attracts a few more quality signings. Additional players arriving also depends on the appetite of the MLSE Board to spend further, but not adding to the puzzle would almost negate De Guzman’s worth.

DOES THIS START A CANADIAN MLS ARMS RACE?
With Vancouver set to join MLS and Montreal likely close behind, the pool for quality Canadian talent will shrink in a hurry. It will be very interesting to see if Whitecaps or Olympique du Montreal (we can hope, no?) will go out and immediately try to snap up other top Canucks. There are a couple more players out there worthy of big bucks but De Guzman may be the only one who could demand DP money. Toronto could very well try to corner the market on hosers before Vancouver starts signing.

No matter how you slice the De Guzman signing, it is good for TFC and good for Canadian football. Questions will always arise from such a massive shift in football culture so Toronto supporters can only enjoy the ride with De Gu and hope that one good step leads to another. Oh… and work on growing a Scarbo-Fro for next season.

BREAKING NEWS: De Guzman joins "Scarborough FC"

TFC (aka Scarborough FC) finally landed the international star that the team's fervent supporters have felt they deserved for a long time. The biggest surprise is that instead of splashing the cash on an aging European striker with two bad knees and former glories, the club went out and got a really good footballer. Instantly one of MLS's best midfielders, Julian De Guzman enters the league at the peak of his career at the age of 28. The local lad, better known in Spain than Scarborough has become the club's first Designated Player and pending league approval, could be on the pitch with his new team mates as early as tomorrow.

The new # 6 will bridge the gap between the defence and the offence so that opponents will no longer be able to shut down TFC's midfield by simply double-teaming Dwayne De Rosario. De Guzman's pedigree as a La Liga standout with Deportivo La Coruna can only help the young midfielders who will play around him while his stature on the national team can only improve the club's image in Canada. The signing is an inspired one as the casual "soccer" fan would have rather seen an international "big name" star as DP but with De Guzman, TFC has potential leadership and quality in the centre of the pitch for years to come.

We will not praise MLSE for paying the "big bucks" as De Guzman's contract, despite its MLS heavyweight status, is more in line with a Leafs' third-liner or Raptors' end of bench centre. However, as hard as it is to do on this site, credit has to be given to Mo Johnston and his team for landing true quality and not spending the money on the Robbie Fowler's of the world. Julian De Guzman will make a better TFC, but still far from a perfect one. Huge holes in the back, on the wings and especially up front need to be filled and his signing may actually make some issues arise that will need to be addressed in the near future. For today however, TFC supporters can dream once again and what better way than by seeing what the richest domestic footballer in Canadian history had to say… "I'm very excited. I have always imagined this moment happening and here it is," "It is a celebration for myself and my family and I think good things are going to happen for me being back home and being able to play with Toronto FC. It's a dream come true to be able to play for my hometown team."

BREAKING NEWS: Bald Of Confusion: DD, De GU & DP's

Does Mo Johnston take vacations to active volcanoes? The surly Scotsman sure does love watching a good blow-up doesn't he? News in TFC-world this afternoon is that a press conference has been called for tomorrow where any number of things may be possibly announced. The two most valid rumours swirling around involve striker/ bald messiah Danny Dichio and the other our favourite defensive midfielder/ afro enthusiast Julian De Guzman.

The Dichio rumour is that the team's original cult hero will announce his "voluntary" retirement from the game and subsequently begin his new role as a coach for the club. There has been an uncomfortable air around Dichio and his playing time for weeks now and this isn't necessarily surprising. It does seem that the forward has been gently nudged into an early announcement considering he was already planning to retire a month and a half from now. The timing of the announcement lends credence to the second half of this rumour and its necessary cap room involvement. The coaching job offer was a necessity for Mo Johnston in order to prevent mass riots at BMO Field if Dichio would have been released outright. Dichio could be a positive influence in TFC's coaching staff as long as he's not being groomed to be Toronto's version of Kevin Keegan.

The move to eliminate Dichio's salary is apparently to make room on this year's wage bill for the introduction of none other than Julian De Guzman. Reports have placed the Scarborough native and La Liga standout in Toronto and claim that a three year plus Designated Player contract has been signed and awaits MLS approval. If it goes through, De Gu will be suiting up for the remainder of this season and the three following ones. Reports are conflicting whether or not any concrete announcement about De Guzman will be part of Wednesday's conference. Whether the 28 year old realizes the club plays on spray-painted concrete is unknown.

The announcements have come out of the blue and in true TFC fashion, have occurred during some awful play on the pitch. What another DM, even one as talented as De Gu, does for a team who can't score is a question for another day. One thing that is safe to predict is that Dichio will not be the last of TFC's original core of veterans who are shown the door between now and next season.

THE WORD: Deja Gu all over again

He's baaaaack! Apparently. The buzz around Toronto's television media is that Julian De Guzman is once again in the Toronto FC picture. According to some sources a contract has been agreed to but the sticking point is how TFC makes room in the algebra-like MLS salary cap. Scarborough's own would demand DP money and The Reds would have some hard choices to make.

The timing of the news gives it more credibility but would also make Mo Johnston's job harder - something he doesn't seem to take a liking to. The pro and the con is that the European transfer window has closed. The pro side is De Guzman didn't receive an offer of his liking in UEFA-World, the con side is that it would be impossible to off-load an asset to Europe (i.e. Carl Robinson). If this has any truth, and we are still weary here, Mo would have to find an MLS deal to free up some big money fast or give some veterans their outright release.

De Guzman would no doubt be a great acquisition but it would be a signing with repercussions. It may mean the unceremonious dumping of the likes of Carl Robinson, Amado Guevara and/or Danny Dichio. There are also questions around the move such as - does a team who can't score need a DP defensive midfielder and what effect would it have anyways with six games left? But we are getting way, way ahead of ourselves. Reds' supporters have been down De Guzman Street already and left empty-handed and it could happen again. Unless of course a wee Scotsman realizes he needs a major signing (or rumour of) to piggy-back his own contract extension. Funny how these stories seem to pop up when the play on the pitch collpases... again. Just saying.

WORD FACTOR: 5 / 10

THE ROTTEN RANT: Islanders Display Sums Up The Season

To whom it may concern,

How could a club who has been preparing for the biggest game in it's history come out so flat? It's not as if Puerto Rico was tearing up the pitch. What happened to "BMO Field -The Fortress", "This Is Our House" etc. etc? The lack of effort and game plan was terrible and as the game wore on the crosses got worse, the corners near amateurish and the finishing was non-existent. God forbid I say it out loud in the stands, but for the first time since 2007 I was so bored I almost fell asleep standing up.

Where is this all going? I'm tired of hearing "TFC is building something special for the future". It's one step forward and two steps back with this club. This season's highlight was the big win in Montreal but honestly it should have never come to that. The long term affect of that game was that another lacklustre season has been sugarcoated by one match. MLSE has once again managed our expectations.

Finally, if you believe Julian De Guzman was ever coming here you should also wait for a fat man to enter your house in December, leave you a new TFC jersey under your evergreen while munching on your cookies.

Yours negatively,
Professor Dom Rotten


Dom Rotten is an expert in the field of negative thought and is Head of the Department of Negative Neurology at University of Stouffville. The Yorkies do not necessarily endorse all of Mr. Rotten's opinions but he will express them whether you want to hear them or not.

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?

THE WORD: De Guzman II: The Guzmanning

When this rumour first appeared in The Word a couple of weeks ago, it was assumed that it would disappear rather quickly. Here we are though, the Gold Cup is over for Canada and Julian De Guzman is still sans club.

TFC has been very vocal that a substantial DP offer is on the table if De Gu wants to come home. Director of Football Mo Johnston even joined the broadcast team during Saturday's match to push the point home. "I think it's down to him to decide if he wants to come in or not," was what manager Chris Cummins added about the rumours after the match.

De Guzman has been forthright about his desire to return to Europe, particularly Spain, but are the offers coming in? Names like Celtic, Portsmouth and Spurs had also been floating around but it all seems to be quiet. Will De Guzman really choose Spain if the only offers are from the likes of Valladolid and Xerex? Will the sudden spending power of MLSE tip the scales in favour of a life on turf? Either way, TFC is at least entertaining the thought of bringing in a player who could potentially be the best in MLS.

WORD FACTOR: 5 / 10

THE WORD: De Gu to De Ro! Is Julian De Guzman going to be TFC's DP?

The one and only buzz around TFC this week are the rumours circling around Julian De Guzman. Some stories have the deal as much as 90% completed while others seem to be taking it with a pinch of salt, especially supporters.

The story does seem to have some holes in it. Why would a 28 year-old in the prime of his career, a starter at Deportivo La Coruna in Spain's La Liga, suddenly drop down the equivalent of two divisions? Would he really make the jump to MLS for a big pay cheque? Does he miss Scarborough that much? Does he want to be called De Gu?

The whole story could be a very well orchestrated publicity campaign to up De Guzman's value in Europe. Meanwhile, MLSE could be happily joining in the game to show the supporters they are "trying" to sign a DP while knowing all along it won't happen. If De Guzman was 32, the story would seem plausible. With potential suitors in England, Spain and Scotland still sniffing about - it does not. Prove us wrong MLSE...please.

WORD FACTOR: 3 / 10