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Wednesday, November 24, 2010

O'Brian White(caps) moves (slowly) westward - TFC trims more fat

What could a Jamaican possibly like about Vancouver?

Going into the MLS Expansion Draft, Toronto FC dangled a couple of big names in front of Portland and Vancouver followed by a list of its various underachievers and also-rans. Looking at the list prior to the draft, most would have believed TFC would have a better chance of having its junk grabbed if it went through U.S. airport security. Badum-bum! Thanks, I'm here through the draft - try the butty.
 
With that said, it came as a mild surprise that Vancouver decided to draft former Toronto First Round SuperDraft pick O'Brian "Montego/Malvern Molasses" White in the 6th Round. White, who entered the league injured and never seemed to find his way back to full speed is a striker with some promise but also one with an increasingly questioned work ethic and a fairly sizeable contract. The recently capped Jamaican International marks something of a project for Whitecaps FC but if they can kick-start his career it will be an egg on the face of their Canadian cousins without the risk of taking on Julian de Guzman's DP contract.
 
The draft turned out to have a fairly deep field and the newly minted Whitecaps can enter the league with quality names such as Sanna Nyassi, Atiba Harris and sexy adult film star/ goalkeeper Joe Cannon. Timbers grabbed a few big names of their own today, snagging the likes of Dax McCarty, Robbie Findlay and Jonathan Bornstein. While many of the selected may end up becoming trade bait, it's more than disturbing to compare the similarities of these two first-year clubs and our very own local fifth-year offering and the unprotected "junk" still on its books.


UPDATE:
Later in the day TFC "Interim-ish" GM Earl Cochrane and the club announced further ballast jettisoned from "Bad-Ship TFC". No less than five players, all of the scrap-heap variety, were released by the club and their contracts terminated. The players released include:
GABE GALA: The only man who wasted more time at BMO Field over the last four years was Mo Johnston
MARTIN SARIC: The Argentine-Croat version of Kevin Harmse will likely get a red card on his way to the airport
MAXIM USANOV: His Ivan Drago-esque need to "break you" and punching random things will be missed. His South End nickname "Maximum Uselessnov" will be remembered fondly
RAIVIS HSCANOVICS: So many consonants. So little talent. Gdbye swt Ltvjn frnd.
MISTA: You may have been a whiny, unsporting waste of money who didn't give a toss but your signing was a big nail in Mo Johnston's coffin. For that hombre, we salute you.

All in all it was a day where much fat was trimmed from the roster. The common thread? Apart from Gabe Gala, every departed player represents the worst of the Mo Johnston era. We're still waiting on Nick Garcia. Cochrane may be "interim-ish" but today was a necessary cull.

UPDATING THE UPDATE:
Vancouver Whitecaps sent O'Brian White to Seattle Sounders late Wednesday evening in a flurry of moves that saw them free cap room, gain allocation money and International slots. O'Brian White... more will be expected of you. Good luck.

3 comments:

  1. I'd like to see the Random Loser Teams (TM) that Saric, Usanov, and Hscanovics join. I'd also like to see what team Gabe Gala is going to give Canadian involvement for.

    And as for Mista...good God, man, just go home!

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  2. Gala will be lucky to catch on in NASL/USL. Impact for one year?

    Saric - back to the Slovenian 3rd division. Usanov - Siberian Amateur league.
    Hscanovics - Latvian Bus Drivers League 2.
    Mista - Who cares.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Mista is off to Hollywood. Sean Penn Stunt double.

    ReplyDelete