Putting the red in Red Bulls - Eckersley sent to New York for pick

Surely you're not that shocked Richard...

Ginga Ninja we'll miss you. Your salary... notsomuch.

TFC confirmed the inevitable today as they shipped one of the few long-serving (ish) Reds to New York Red Bulls in exchange for a 2017 4th Round Pick. Is there a rule in MLS that you have to get something back? Seriously, that is the proverbial bag of balls.

Dealing Eckersley - also TFC's reddest-serving Red - was of course not about getting anything in return but rather setting his hyper-inflated salary adrift. Through no fault of his own, Eckersley was signed to a naive permanent contract after becoming a fan-favourite during his original loan-spell. In MLS math, he was never worth what he was making and his deal has been hampering salary cap movement ever since.

That being said, Eckersley didn't make loud noises about moving from Toronto until the very end, and that was after an odd late-season freezing out under the guise of "injury". We can't help but feel a sensible new contract could have been negotiated but there was something more to it. Did he fall out of favour with Nelsen? Is he one last piece to be exorcised from "the old era"? Until we get to read Jim Brennan's shocking future tell-all book "Beyond the Soul Patch", we may never know.

Eckersley will be looked upon favourably by many TFC supporters but despite his protestations to the opposite, he was "just an ordinary" fullback on a more than ordinary contract. It seems as if Ryan Nelsen and Co. have turned the page on "old TFC" and have decided Ecks was a footnote best left in a bad chapter.



"That's what he said..." Reds offer a few final words on 2013 and beyond

"The end is nigh! Which is Kiwi for 'now'."

 

Like an Irish wake - but without the good times and whiskey - TFC held their annual "We Don't Need No Stinkin' Playoffs" press conference today. The jolly event is a yearly tradition where the few players who know they are coming back next season wax lyrical about how f*cking awesome TFC is while those who are being shot into the vacuum of space burn as many bridges as the mic can handle.

As with many controlled professional sports pressers, it is often as much about what is NOT said as what is actually mumbled to the ink-stained/digital-stained assembled wretches. Luckily for you, The Yorkies always keep a phalanx of psychoanalysts, mystics, shamen and Sasquatch on staff so that we can bring you what other outlets can't. So enjoy what was "actually said" (in boring layperson font) by TFC players and staff, as well as "what we heard" (in magical italics) through the power of a Ouija board bought from a toy store, a bucket of chicken bones (last night's KFC) and an Enigma record playing on loop. Set voodoo to stun...

 

RICHARD ECKERSLEY:

- "Fans have been fantastic... could be one of the best clubs to play for in MLS"

- "Summer football and SPF 90 just isn't easy"

- "It's clear I won't be here next season"

- "Why does FIFA ignore New Zealanders' systemic hatred for the English?"

JOE BENDIK:

- "I'm pretty sure I'll make more money next year"

- "Super Pickle is puttin' it on cruise control in 2014. Dill with it."

 

ANDREW WIEDEMAN:

- "If I'm here, I'm here. If I'm not, I'm not"

- "I'm a pretty, pretty man"

BOBBY CONVEY:

- "We have good young players but we've had way too much turnover here"

- "The turnover is a really underrated pastry"

- (On Ryan Nelsen) "He inherited players he wouldn't have signed"

- "How is Reggie Lambe a thing?"

- "If I'm not back that will be a surprise to me"

JONATHAN OSORIO

- "At the start of the season I was just a boy looking for playing time. Now I want to be among the best midfielders in MLS"

- "I wonder what TFC will get for me when they trade me to San Jose in January?"

 

MATIAS LABA
- "I expect to be 100% fit for next season..."

- "I will return to Argentina next week, grow a handlebar moustache, change my name and never return to this place. Adios"

MARK BLOOM

- "I hope to be back next season"

- "I am going to be the opening day starter next season"

 

ROBERT EARNSHAW

- "Must think of something good to say..."

- "TFC facilities are among the best in the world"

- "Have to try to sound hopeful..."

- "I see the light at the end of the tunnel here"

- "MLS is quicker, more technical than I thought it would be"

- "I was napping between April and October"

 

STEFAN FREI

- "I want to be part of a team where my services are needed and wanted"

- "I want to join any team that bites this one in the ass"

- "Love the city and the club. Always a special place for me"

- "Too bad the Canadian government has a lenient New Zealander immigration policy"

- "I didn't ask for a trade"

- "Shove a Toblerone where the sun don't shine Nelsen"

 

DANNY KOEVERMANS

- "2013 was a disaster for me"

- "I'm sure I smell waffles..."

- "I almost had a mental breakdown..."

- "McDonalds only sells Hot Cakes & Sausage until 10:30AM!"

- "I'm giving my career one last shot"

- "Never tell them that my 'calf injury' was from trying to eat an actual calf"

- "Poor communication from the coaching staff..."

- "There's the waffles!"

 

STEVEN CALDWELL

- "I love everything about the club. I'm proud to be captain."

- "I fully expect to be playing for Scunthorpe in a year"

- "We need 3-5 new guys"

- "We need 35 new guys"

 

RYAN NELSEN

- "I'll hold my hand up and try and talk to players. My door is open."

- "... after band meeting"

- "No major changes, just adding players who will make us stronger"

- "QPR reserves, USL-Pro and Swiss 3rd Division you are on notice"

- "No loan deals next year"

- "Why buy the cow when Justin Braun is free?"

- "btw Convey is going to be surprised"

- "I know what's right and I only have the team's interests in mind"

- "I'm very good at my job"

 

TIM BEZBATCHENKO

- "It is difficult to attract DP's, but not impossible"

- "Mista is available"

- "I want to decide on who is staying and who is going in two weeks’ time"

- "You'll be hearing from me on February 20th"

- "Nelsen is the right guy..."

- "... until June."



AFTER 90: Mini-Shining Lights

The red bulbs blind us all

VANCOUVER VS. TORONTO

BC PLACE

FIRST HALF:

KICK OFF - Not sure if this is any kind of omen for the season but the First Kick in Canada is not live on TV as curling is still on. So happy that TFC pandered their start times this year to TSN who obviously care greatly for football. Anyhoo... red threads are bound, shining lights are lit and Robert Earnshaw has been thrown into the line-up despite match fitness. Let the Payne begin!

2' - Speaking of our newly minted Welsh striker, he's making a bit of a nuisance of himself against the Whitecaps' defence early.

5' - Adult film superstar/GK Joe Cannon doing his dirty best to keep Earnshaw from opening his MLS account. Erotic stuff.

7' - Caps suffer early loss as their defensive leader Jay DeMerit is forced off through injury. Ah Field Turf, is there anyone you can't hurt?

19' - Reggie Lambe uses the dark arts to grab TFC a 35-yard free kick. Earnshaw places it a bit too high over Joe Cannon's reach. Also the name of a 1992 XXX video.

23' - Rookie Kyle Bekker showing good positioning but a bit timid on the ball. Looking for the extra pass too often so far.

27' - YELLOW CARD: Terry Dunfield for a hard tackle on Daigo Kobayashi - possibly for eating all the hot dogs.

35' - Great low cross from Hogan Ephraim but only Dunfield on the end of it. Goes out for corner where Vancouver fans throw granola and old lululemon pants at TFC.

40' - Still odd when sunshine breaks through BC Place. Briefly think there's a fire upstairs. You know... not the usual smoke from potheads.

44' - With their first half of Ryan Nelsen's reign coming to a close there has been a distinct lack of hoof in TFC's expected hoofball.

HALFTIME: VANCOUVER 0 - TORONTO 0

SECOND HALF:

48' - Vancouver much more aggressive in the early stages of the half. Reds' defence forced into multiple scrambles.

50' - Joe Bendik has to make a big low save as Whitecaps continue to press hard.

52' - No confirmation if TFC's locker room chat was actually a DVD entitled "The Best TFC Ex-Manager Halftime Talks"

58' - TFC looking like a shell of their first half selves. Shaky, disoriented and without shape. So yes, like the last six years.

59' - GOAL: Vancouver Whitecaps - Gershon Koffie blasts one past Bendik who was let down by the 10 in front of him. Reds toothless since the half.

VANCOUVER 1 - TORONTO 0

65' - Nigel Reo-Coker has been eating TFC's midfield alive since his introduction. Difference maker. Hyphenation-aficionado.

68' - Tonight's referee Juan Guzman should have never cut off those World Series-era jheri curls

70' - Promised cavalry better be pending as TFC's offense is still a rumour at best.

75' - SUB: Taylor Morgan in for Terry Dunfield

78' - Next time The Economist wants to name Vancouver as the "World's Most Livable City" I'm sending them a picture of BC Place's turf

85' - SUB: Emery Welshman helps Save The Wales as he relieves Robert Earnshaw. Welshman for Welsh man switch.

88' - Vancouver pressing hard for a second goal. Reds scrambling.

90'+ - Joe Cannon keeping TFC's long balls at bay. That one was free.

FULL TIME: VANCOUVER 1 - TORONTO 0

PLAYER RATINGS: Joe Bendik 6.5 / Richard Eckersley 6.5 / Danny Califf 6 / Darren O'Dea 6.5 / Ashtone Morgan 5.5 / Reggie Lambe 6 / Jeremy Hall 6 / Terry Dunfield 6.5 (Taylor Morgan N/A ) / Hogan Ephraim 5.5 / Kyle Bekker 6 / Robert Earnshaw 6 (Emery Welshman N/A)

THE YORKIES' TFC MAN OF THE MATCH:
Richard Eckersley

THE BATH:

Considering many pundits and supporters alike expected a blowout today, perhaps we should feel grateful that it ended 1-0. However, TFC supporters will feel a wee bit frustrated tonight as their first half play could have delivered a win in the season opener if not a guaranteed draw. Of course, a classic Jekyll & Hyde display was to rob the "New (Again) Reds" of a positive start.

Was it a case of a talent-superior Vancouver taking The Reds too lightly in the first half? Did the "real" TFC take longer than expected to emerge? Or, is there a glimmer of hope in our collective futures? The answer is probably somewhere in the middle and how TFC fares over the next few months will depend on which half performance they choose to harness more often. It was raw, it was frustrating and it was ultimately disappointing but we have seen worse. Going forward, TFC must build on the first half so we can revel in the positives over the same old second halves more often.

CHANTS ON GOAL: Dutch cats, fat cats and cats on tin roofs

Suarez Soolsma in da house!

Welcome to our newest regular feature "Chants on Goal" where we bring our Yorkies' flavour to TFC terrace songs and chants. We're not trying to reinvent the BMO Field choir-wheel but giving you a few of our ridiculous favourite "hits" for you to enjoy and, if you feel the musical urge, bring them to your corner of the stadium. While there may be an absence of "ole's" allez" "Reds" "rouges" "love" and/or "f*cks", we hope they may inspire your inner BMO-balladist!
　
Enjoy Nick Soolsma and his love for his pet cat Suarez? This feline fancy-tune may scratch that itch!

SOOLSMEOW MIX (to the "Meow Mix" theme song)
He likes chicken
He likes liver
Soolsma, Soolsma,
He delivers

meow, meow, meow, meow,
meow, meow, meow, meow,
meow, meow, meow, meow,
meow, meow, meow, meow,

(optional second verse for you go-getters!)

Cat named Suarez
He's our winger
Soolsma, Soolsma
He delivers

meow, meow, meow, meow,
meow, meow, meow, meow,
meow, meow, meow, meow,
meow, meow, meow, meow


　

Not feeling the love from the owners? No Beer! No Gear!

ROCK THE ML$E (to the tune of "Rock the Casbah")
Anselmi don't like us...
Don't stuff his cashbox!
Don't stuff his cashbox!

(repeat until everyone gets it)


　
　
Love everything from Salford including ginger defenders and Coronation Street? Put on your Deirdre glasses for this one..

ECKERNATION STREET (to the "Coronation Street" theme)
Oooooooh, Richard Eckersley
Plays right-back ginger-ly
Signed from Burnley
Richard Eckersley...



Got a song or a chant you tthink TFC supporters need to hear? Email it to us at theyorkies1812@gmail.com or send us the idea on Twitter @theyorkies1812 and we may feature it in a future "Chants on Goal"

AFTER 90: Tossed salad and scrambled eggs... they beat us again

"Next caller... schizophrenic football club..."



THE BUZZ:
On a day of big crowds in MLS, The Reds head to CenturyLink Field in Seattle (or whatever it's called this week) to face the Sounders and their famous fanbase. Tonight's matchup in North America's Sasquatch District may very well go to the team who can shake of their Champions League hangover the best. Will Sounders buck themselves up and rebound from their humiliation against Santos Laguna? Can TFC come down from their heady victory over Los Angeles and not think ahead to... er... Santos Laguna? Time to get ready, it's MLS First Kick for Sounders and Toronto FC as "SIXual Healing" starts here!
　
FIRST HALF:
17' - GOAL: Seattle - David Estrada
SEATTLE 1 - TORONTO 0
24' - SUB: Aaron Maund on for Torsten Frings
　
FIRST HALF HIGHLIGHT: Not seeing Ty Harden return for the second
FIRST HALF LOWLIGHT: Torsten Frings and possibly our season limping off the pitch
　
HALFTIME: SEATTLE 1 - TORONTO 0
　
SECOND HALF:
45' - SUB - Danny Koevermans for Ty Harden
51' - GOAL: Seattle - David Estrada
SEATTLE 2 - TORONTO 0
57' - SUB: Joao Plata on for Eric Avila
62' - GOAL: Toronto - Ryan Johnson
SEATTLE 2 - TORONTO 1
63'' - GOAL: Seattle - David Estrada
SEATTLE 3 - TORONTO 1
　
SECOND HALF HIGHLIGHT: Johnson's highlight reel screamer
SECOND HALF LOWLIGHT: Dunfield getting burned 50 seconds later to allow Estrada to cap his hat-trick
　
FULL TIME: SEATTLE 3 - TORONTO 1
　
PLAYER RATINGS: Milos Kocic 6 / Richard Eckersley 7 / Ty Harden 3.5 (Danny Koevermans 5.5) / Miguel Aceval 5.5 / Logan Emory 6 / Torsten Frings 6.5 (Aaron Maund 5.5) / Terry Dunfield 4.5 / Luis Silva 5.5 / Nick Soolsma 6 / Ryan Johnson 7 / Eric Avila 5 (Joao Plata 5.5)
　
THE YORKIES' TFC PLAYER OF THE MATCH: Richard Eckersley
　
THE MOOD:
It's likely too early to overreact but boy, didn't that feel like any of the last five seasons? The Reds seemed to be able to hold their own against Sounders and their engaged crowd but the calamitous opening goal that featured Ty Harden literally get spun around (knocking over Eckersley in the process), Terry Dunfield flap on the ground like an earthbound trout and the rest of the team watch like yokels while Milos Kocic was left exposed, sucked the mojo (not Mo Johnston) out of the team. Really, it was very, very downhill from there.
　
Of course, the real horror show tonight was watching Torsten Frings get injured and rapidly remove himself from the match. A man of his ilk and quality doesn't asked to be taken off for a little knock and the chances of a layoff for TFC's talisman seems likely. This of course highlights the danger of making Frings the "everyman". Through inability to address the terrible centreback situation, Frings has had to be everything to everyone and may have now broken down on a play where one of the world's best midfielders was the last man on defence. A painful loss, that may mean a painful season depending on medical test results.

Yorkies Cards 2011 - Pack 6

The unconventional cards, which are ultimately the final 9 cards of the 54-card set, were some of the first cards to be filled out. Doing the trophies were so much fun, even if the photos were weak. Oh well. At least I didn't do rare cards. Those would be really hard to pull off in a PDF. This pack includes the twitter-ific Brian Ching, "defender" Andy Iro and Defender Richard Eckersley. Only 3 packs left after these!

Download Pack 6 [PDF]

Reds get back with their Ecks

Ecks-iting news!



Well that was surprisingly fast! After hearing about the "99% certainty" of Richard Eckersley's return to Toronto FC since late November, it took less than a day after his "Ecks'ual release" from Burnley to finalize a permanent move to Toronto.
　
The Reds officially announced the deal just hours prior to their big media day event, no doubt steering the news of the day onto the English defender. The resigning of "The GingaNinja" was earmarked early as one of TFC's main off-season priorities along with the similar deal for Joao Plata. The 22-year old Eckersley quickly became a reliable defender on a rather unreliable TFC defence and kudos need to be given to Paul "The Artful" Mariner for managing to secure his permanent move to MLS without shelling out a transfer fee.
　
Of course, the backline makeover is far from done with many hoping to hear one or two new names added to the defensive line today but Eckersley's deal is a major piece of that puzzle. At his age and with a season of MLS experience already under his belt, it is arguable that this will be the most important move of this off-season.

Ecks'ual release

"Kiss me, I'm orange!"



We promised we wouldn't talk about this godforsaken story anymore until there was confirmation - but we are renowned liars... and desperate for some news. With that, there is movement afoot on the most protracted TFC transfer saga of the off-season, Richard Eckersley aka "The Ginger Affair".
　
Straight from the horse's mouth, if Burnley FC is a horse... which is arguable... and actually from the horse's website... Richard Eckersley, the Toronto FC fan favourite (and local superhero "The GingaNinja)" has had his contract cancelled by the English club. With 18 months left on his contract with The Clarets, Eckersley and the Championship side parted ways today by mutual consent.
　
This move of course allows Eckersley to negotiate a new contract with the club of his choice and we may be crazy but it's looking like TFC. Just a hunch. Unless some other club tries to Ginger-Block us! Keep your hands off our Ginge... looking at you Scunthorpe... filthy buggers. Anyhoo... it looks like we may have some official news about Eckersley's signing by The Reds in the very near future as SIXual Healing continues to shape up. When The Artful Mariner does end up "putting some Ginge around it", we will cover it here.

LETTERS FROM CAMP: "Pitching a tent for Training Camp 2012"



The counsellors are back with their "campy" Dutch accents and the campers are arriving one-by-one at the big campsite by the lake. The weather forecast is looking a lot calmer than it was one year ago - but anything can happen at camp. Especially if that new camp up the river, "Le Camp Impact du Fromage", challenges us to a winner-take-all canoe race! Shenanigans!
　
Yes, camp can be a crazy place and somewhere between medicals, s'mores, ACL injuries, waterslides and TyHardenning (it's a thing) - the news can slip through the cracks. So, for our readers who can't sit around the fire waiting for the latest tidbit about Camp TeeEffCee, our regular "Letters From Camp" feature will keep you up to date without having to use your flashlight. Now... where's my red Speedo - I wanna go TyHardenning!
　
WELCOME BACK, WINTER
Not too many Boom Booms or Vinnies, but still a few Horshacks left over, as The Reds made their way to BMO Field over the last couple of days. With the usual TFC secrecy act, supporters were only shown a selected few arrivals - a mixture of last season’s veterans looking a bit winter (not Winter) weary and excited draft picks. Of course supporters are a little more curious about who wasn't shown on camera as the quest to learn the names of invited trialists and potential signings grows needier on a daily basis.
　
SAY CHEESE! (BUT NOT SAPUTO BRAND CHEESE)
As mentioned above, there was little in the way of video from Monday and Tuesday's arrivals with the public domain's media being kept at arm's length. The club says that it wants to get its administrative duties in order first but it could also have to do with knowing exactly who will be at BMO Field for camp before releasing the press horde. Either way, the official Training Camp Media Day is scheduled for tomorrow where we will be treated to the finest clichés, inspirational quotes and Dutch humour that the salary cap allows.
　
HAPPY CAMPERS
It was interesting to read Paul Mariner's interview with MLSsoccer.com about the state of TFC camp this year as opposed to last year's. Framing the two camps as "night and day", The Director of Development/Fifth Beatle described the state of TFC 2011 as "an organizational nightmare". While far too classy a gent to say what we were all thinking - that four years under Mo Johnston's MLSE-approved "masterplan" left the club a disaster zone - it's not hard to imagine the mess that the management faced due to previous bungling. It was very amusing that the media boffins at TFC decided to run with the article as "a feel good piece" almost as if that "old club" had nothing to do with them. They have surely heard of irony, no? Maybe this was there way of saying sorry? They are so demure. Oh well - pencils and erasers and all that!
　
WHATS MISSING IN THE -EFENCE?
The "D"! Well done children! The glaring lack of depth in TFC's backline is the most obvious hole on Day One of "SIXual Healing". As of writing - the best starting back four The Reds could field is something like Stinson-Harden-Henry-Morgan. That giggling you hear is Bruce Arena. However, if mountains of blog articles (why thank you), Tweets on the Twitter Machine and media speculation have anything to say about it - help is on the way. Today, the reliable Kurt Larson writes that Richard Eckersley is OFFICIALLY (all caps makes it for realz) cutting ties with Burnley making a permanent switch to TFC open. This is the news all TFC supporters have anxiously awaited along with the very regularly rumoured (often by themselves) signings of South American defensive duo Miguel "Ace" Aceval of Chile and Ecuadorian Geovanny "The Spoon" Caiceda. His nickname not ours... obviously. If it all falls flat... TyHardenning!!!
　
#OCCUPYTICKETMASTER
We've been hearing lots of chirps and whispers from excited bean counters on Bay St. that the attendance for the big CCL match at SkyDome is already around 40K and headed for a sell-out. Will this actually translate into 45K bums avec 45K seats? Maybe not. A good chunk of those seats are in the hands of sponsors and various hangers-on in TFC's orbit and could end up going unused. Of course there is always the age old question of how many tickets are in the hands of scalpers but we likely won't know the result until that evening in March. Well... at least at the 30 minute mark when most Torontonians arrive for a football match.

Winter’s Draft affected by Chile conditions?

Now THAT'S a SuperDraft!



Wow that's a lot of punnage in one title. With reason though, as something is definitely going on behind the scenes which will help explain Toronto FC's two First Round draft picks at the MLS SuperDraft. (Don't you just hate those non-Super Drafts? So boring.) With their braintrust gathered in Kansas City, TFC did their best to confound those who do mock drafts.
　
With the 4th Pick overall, The Reds decided to go with consensus "best player available" in attacking midfielder Luis Silva. The 5-foot 11 Senior form UCSB upped his stock during the combines with an ability to find the open man, assisting on no less than 7 goals. Many NCAA experts predict the 23-year old to push for a starting role with TFC and at the very least make for very useful depth. Silva, a Los Angeles native, spent some time in the Chivas USA youth set-up and enjoys playing FIFA 08 - his new contract should help him at least get a used copy of FIFA 10.
　
POSSIBLE NICKNAMES: "The Silva Bullet", "Silva of Hope" (thanks to twitter's Darth Pingu for that one), "The Silva Fox" and an extra 20 points to the first broadcaster who announces a Luis Silva-Joao Plata goal combo as "The Silva-Plata"
　
After passing on their greatest need - defence - with the first pick, many TFC observers felt that the club must have known that they could pick up hulking defender Andrew Jean "The" Baptiste. If that was the plan, those wacky lumberjacks in Portland scuppered it by taking Baptiste with the 8th Pick.

With a giant Harden-sized hole remaining in the backline, The Reds seemingly took a gamble with the 12th Pick by taking Notre Dame defender Aaron Maund. The 6-foot 1 Senior was primarily a centreback in his NCAA career and flirted with Trinidad & Tobago's U-17 program. The 22-year old Massachusetts native was not predicted by many to go so high in the draft but with TFC's dearth in the back,  he may have a shot at a pro career more abundant than expected. Also, Maund attended a High School called The Roxbury Latin School which sounds like a salsa nightclub - so there's that.
　
POSSIBLE NICKNAMES: "Maundsta","The Long Maund of Rebound", "A-Maund Joy" plus an extra 20 points to the first broadcaster reading a TFC line-up who makes Iro - Maund sound like "Irie, mon"
　
So as the dust settled, Polaroids were taken and Sporting KC fans ended their xenophobic Canada chants, TFC walked off with these two young gents but a whole lot of questions. Firstly, the aforementioned hole in the defence wasn't really addressed; however, at press time (I have a card that says "PRESS" in my fedora ok? Jeez.) the TFC management team were making loud murmurs about two defenders who were about to be signed. Best guesses at their identities are Chilean Miguel Aceval and the return of Richard "GingaNinja" Eckersley which makes us think that this day may be long from over.
　
The second conundrum offered by these picks is that neither are Generation Adidas status which means that their potential salaries will count against TFC's salary cap - which is thought by most to be bursting at the seams. This off course would have only solution - the departure of some existing members of the club. Which makes us think this day is really long from over.
　
NOTES FROM THE SUPERDRAFT...
- L'impact du Montreal Impact chose defender Andrew Wenger with their 1st overall pick which immediately excited the French community who mistakenly thought Arsene Wenger had joined the club
- Whitecaps chose speedy forward Darren Mattocks who was blah, blah, blah - who cares - it's Vancouver
- New England Revolution chose Kelyn Rowe who won't have trouble with crowd phobias in front of the Revs' dozens of fans
- D.C. United's pick, Nick "Ponce" DeLeon, immediately drew the ire of Dwayne De Rosario who demanded a "fountain of youth" in his new contract
- Ethan Finlay, Columbus' 1st Rounder, demanded to know where the other 2/3 of Crew's new away kit was but was placated when he got to meet the three dudes on the club's logo
- Don Garber is still refusing to go by the name Dong Grabber
- News of Kenny Cooper's trade to NYRB being met with the phrase "Salary Cap - Shmalary Cap"

FURTHER TFC DRAFT UPDATES WILL APPEAR BELOW...

Big deal for wee man

A three-year deal Joao?



"El MosQuito" will be buzzing around BMO Field for the foreseeable future as Toronto FC announced today that Joao Plata has signed a multi-year deal with the club. The dynamic yet diminutive Ecuadorian was often the only bright spark in a miserable first half of 2011 and his re-signing was considered as an off-season must in most supporters' eyes.
　
As per the secretive world of MLS contracts "terms of the deal were not disclosed" so it is yet to be determined if this deal is a full buyout of Plata's contract with original club LDU Quito, or, as reported in many circles, some type of co-ownership deal. Surely the details will emerge soon but for now, most TFC supporters will feel happy, and relieved, that a player who is considered to be an integral part of the club's future will remain in Toronto.
　
Of course, to stay on track after a breakout 2011, Plata will need to keep working hard to avoid any sophomore slump in a league where he will no longer be a surprise. Expectations will also be higher for Platita from fans and coaches alike in 2012 and how he handles such pressures will be the difference between success and failure. One thing that Plata did show in his first year that will surely help is a supreme confidence in his own abilities.
　
A deal not announced but one that is being anticipated with equally bated breath is for similar 2011 loanee Richard Eckersley. There is no shortage of goodwill between the player and the club but many feel that the defender's parent club Burnley will play financial hardball until the end of the European transfer window. Some defensive cover may indeed be on its way however as rumours that Chilean wingback Miguel Aceval is on the verge of joining The Reds are heating further today. With the MLS SuperDraft a mere day away, TFC 2012 is slowly taking shape.