Unlike a Boss! TFC deals Agbossoumonde - Acquires Luke Moore

Once a Swan, now a Robin



Nothing like a little sexy group action on a Thursday afternoon.

In their continuing war on puns, TFC has dealt away defender Gale Agbossoumonde to Colorado Rapids on the tail-end of a hot three-way which sees The Reds pick up 28-year-old English journeyman forward Luke Moore. "But I thought Moore played for Chivas?" we hear one of you saying. Well he did this morning but then it went down like so:

Chivas dealt Luke Moore to Colorado. Colorado sent Marvin Chavez to The Goats. Colorado flipped Moore to Toronto for Boss. We all clear? Aces.

T-Bez claimed post-trade that TFC's defensive depth allowed them to make the deal and to be fair, Agbossoumonde was very, very deep on the chart. Non-existent deep. It's always a shame to see young talent go but it was clear that he was not in the club's immediate plans.

In Luke Moore, TFC grab some depth up front. With Bright Dike looking like a late-season return at best, Moore is better than having Andrew Wiedeman as your bench weapon... but only just. Once a darling of the Aston Villa youth set-up, Moore has never established himself at any one club (and he's had his share) and will never be accused of being a consistent goal threat. Maybe it's all to make Gilberto feel better about himself? We kid!!!

There is a very outside chance that Jermain Defoe will join England at the World Cup thus missing a few matches but even if he doesn't, The Reds have yet to find a second scoring threat up front. If Defoe or Gilberto were to go down for a prolonged period, Moore at least offers some experience at striker.

And.. If it all fails, we get to use the gag "Less is Moore". Suck it pun thieves! We won't be stopped!

LETTERS FROM CAMP: Pitching a tent for 2013

Official red long underwear with giant, strategically-place maple leaf? Yup. Backpack full of guarded optimism? Check. Stale buttys to throw at any roaming bears/Collin Samuels? Packed. English-New Zealish Dictionary? On order.

Yes it' s the only return to sporting action anyone is talking about in Canada tonight as your Tee Eff Cee'ers trudged through the tundra to "Camp Shining Light". Relocated from its old lakeshore site, "Shining Light" (located in the middle of a creepy abandoned and no doubt haunted air field) will be the home base for the campers until they make their road trip to Florida.

For our readers who can't sit by the fire waiting for the latest scary story about ghosts of managers past, the "Letters From Camp" series will try to wrap up the latest news, rumours and tidbits from the Kiwi Jamboree. Now pass us those buttys... I heard a distinctly Trinidadian growl...

NILSIN NOT YIT PRISINT
The on-going tale of a Kiwi far, far away is going to dominate much of the conversation through camp and the fact that Ryan Nelsen played another full 90 for QPR on the day that his new charges arrived for camp hit the point home hard today. As the anxious wrung their sweaty palms and the cynical Marinerlytes loaded their mouth-cannons, the announcers during the West Ham v QPR match casually talked about how Nelsen would be with QPR until March. Inside knowledge or an educated guess? Who knows? However, during an interview with Sportsnet's Gerry Dobson, Kevin Payne remarked that "we (TFC) have a pretty good idea when (Nelsen) will arrive". He added that he felt fans would be pleased, and you get the feeling that it will be sooner rather than later, but also that the season won't feel "for realsies" until Nelsen touches down permanently.

THE CRAZY CANUCKS
The Canadian national squad's minor youth movement definitely has a heavy TFC influence as no less than five Reds will be headed down to Arizona and Texas to train with Colin Miller's team until January 30. Ashtone Morgan, Matt Stinson, Doneil Henry, SuperDraft sweetheart Kyle Bekker have all been called up as well as old man Terry Dunfield who will be driving the station wagon down south. We assume. The only important result from a Toronto point of view? No injuries.

OU EST LE SULK?
The TFC press machine was in fine form this morn tweeting TMZ-style paparazzo pics of happy Reds arriving at the KIA Training Ground. Thankfully no Richard Eckersley upskirt pics. One face who didn't skip through the door was French striker/ ink junkie Eric Hassli who has reportedly gone into "Full Anelka Mode" and wants out of town. There is no secret that Hassli was very close to Paul Mariner and was excited to play under him. There is also no secret that Kevin Payne will not be talking le guff from Hassli and has warned of "repercussions" if the big forward doesn't show. According to the club however, Hassli is expected to show up to Downsview sometime Saturday or Sunday. No matter what, this story is far from l'over.

SHUFFLERS OF CATAN
A bit of positive news on the Danny Koevermans front. First, his front isn't an issue. As opposed to years past where... well just let's say the pancakes prevailed... Koevermans is looking trim. A winter spent in godless Dutch honey-cake-free Canada obviously help cut the cravings. The other slight positive is that Koef has begun light running in his long path back from his ACL injury. Light running to goal-scoring is likely a six-month process, but it's a start.

"LIKE A BOU-SO"
Yes we will all just end up calling him "Boss" because we are lazy but young defender and lottery prize Gale Agbossoumonde took to the airwaves (well TFC's YouTube channel) to teach us just how to pronounce his name in full. It's actually still pretty fun too! You hear that Keith "It's Not Boo-Yah" Makubuya? Practice here.

Here's "The Boss" as Reds win lottery

Sorry, you're all wrong. Gale's "The Boss"



The Mayans were right! Sorry - had to use the crappy Doomsday joke one last time before tomorrow but suddenly Toronto FC are being gifted left and right with those mystical pan-dimensional creatures - centrebacks.
　
With the ink barely dry on Danny Califf's "I Heart T.O." tattoo those almost ambitious Reds won today's MLS Weighted Lottery and claimed young American (via Togo and Benin) defender... wait for it... Gale Abossoumonde. First one to make a good song about him wins a prize*. "The Boss", as he will likely be known through ease and laziness, was another great U.S. teen idol on the rocket to "soccer stardom" but rather than go the MLS route like many of his peers, he decided instead to sign with Brazilian "sports marketing" firm Traffic. That's where it seems his star seemed to stop soaring.
　
Agbossoumonde (so hard to spell without looking!) bounced around clubs such as the historic Miami FC and Estoril Praia while constantly being loaned out to the likes of Braga, Djurgarden and most recently Carolina Railhawks. While his level of professional experience and pedigree is not going to transform The Reds' backline next year, he may be a useful prospect IF he can regain the promise of his youth that made him a USA U20 fixture.
　
For TFC this pick-up gives them yet more options. With two new centrebacks on the books, this may very well change the club's philosophy heading into the SuperDraft with their two high picks. Trade opportunities and concentrating on other areas of need is now a very nice luxury. Depending on how "The Boss" shows in training camp this could also bounce the likes of Logan Emory and Doneil Henry down the pecking order. Of course for a club that has lacked depth for so long - this is a good thing. Overall this is a low-risk move for TFC to grab a kid who could still find his way and on a low wage to boot. And hey, that's hardly the end of the world now is it?
　
*Our seethingly jealous admiration

Here's some help with that chant South End...