Toronto FC’s Draft Pick ups and Recent Trades: Overview and Reaction

Last week, Toronto FC partook in the MLS Super and Supplemental Drafts. Toronto FC was much more active in the draft than past years, and rightfully so, they really need more bodies in our roster. This was the first year with a new management team and without “Trader Mo”. The drafting skill of Mo Johnson was one of the very few things he was praised for at his with TFC.  I think Toronto FC’s new management team did very well, but I’ll let you decide for yourself. Here’s who they picked up, and who we traded:


Trades


Chad Barrett to LA for Future Considerations

Chad Barrett, once a prominent player
for Toronto FC, has been traded to LA

Barrett was a hardworking player who gave everything for the club. But, as a striker, he really didn’t put the ball in the back of the net as much as he should have. And with a $205,000 base salary, he was taking up far too much cap space to be worth keeping. In exchange for trading Barrett to LA we will receive future considerations. I am unsure what the future considerations will be, but it is a smart trade none the less, as we free up a lot of space for some new quality additions. 




Jon Conway to Chicago for 3rd Round, 49th Overall Selection
Jon Conway was a strong back up keeper for TFC, but that was all he was, a backup keeper. There is no reason to have three keepers in MLS, due to the emergency keeper pool. Dumping Conway was a good choice because TFC has a strong third string keeper, and former back-up keeper David Monsalve is rumored to be coming back during training campt. Normally a third round pick would be useless, but Toronto FC luckily picked up a really talented player who I will discuss later. 

Demetrius Oomphroy was
TFC's first pick in the Super Draft

Major League Soccer Super Draft


Demitrius Omphroy (#26)
He seems to be a great pick up. He is a speedy and attacking fullback that will fit in well with Winter’s new system. When Demitrius was younger, he was almost picked up by Sporting Lisbon, only to realize he had Multiple Sclerosis. Demitrius’ condition has since gone into remission and he is healthy and had a strong college career. 


Matt Gold (#43)
From what we know so far he seems to be a strong, combative midfielder. But, he is also said to have a low soccer IQ and slow decision-making. A good yet cheap midfield pick-up.

Joao Plata could be a very exciting player one day, but
he does have his share of cons, notably his very slight build.

Junior Burgos (#44)
He seems like a good offensive pick-up. He is already on the El Salvador national team, so he already has quite a bit of a pedigree.


Joao Plata (#49)
This, in my opinion, was a really smart pick up. Joao Plata is on loan to Major League Soccer from the big club LDU Quito. He's only a teenager and was the top scorer at the Super Draft Combine. So why did he get picked so low? First off, he is an international and most MLS clubs don’t want to waste an international spot on a rookie. Secondly, and more importantly, he is only 5’2. Despite his height and international status, I think Toronto did well to trade Conway for his pick.


MLS Supplemental Draft
Toronto FC hasn’t been too active in the Super Draft in previous years, but with our lack of players we picked up some really solid additions in 2011.


JC Banks (#8)
He is a strong midfield player; great speed and crossing of the ball. He could provide depth on the wings or the centre of midfield.


Steven Beattie (#13)
He is another international player; however he played in the college system in the USA. No international college players were picked up in the Super Draft. Steven Beattie is a good striker, who has scored in the double digits throughout his youth career and is a great addition to our sparse forward line. 


Spencer Thompson (#26), Scott Rojo (#44)
I’m not sure if they will be offered contracts by the club, but they seem to be pretty good college players. If Toronto does offer them a contract this season they will provide some good depth and potential. 


Recap
Overall I think Toronto picked up some solid players. The salary dump of Barrett and Conway will ultimately be worth it. They picked up a desperately needed forward in Beattie; and a desperately needed fullback with Omphroy. Toronto FC also picked up some solid midfield additions with Matt Gold, Junior Burgos and Joao Plata. Spencer Thompson and Scott Rojo should impress. I think Toronto FC did well as a whole in this MLS Super Draft, and I look forward to seeing what the new additions can do at the next level.


Toronto FC training camp takes place in a weeks’ time in Antalya, Turkey. Where they will be playing is Partizan Belgrade, Dinamo Zagreb and a TBD team. After that they  head to the southern USA for the Disney Cup and Carolina Challenge Cup. Stay tuned for more preseason news and trialists, here at BTTN.

Toronto FC Roster Assessment Part 2/4 – Defence

This article is part two of a series, written by BTTN MLS correspondent Christian Medeiros.

Nana Attakora will be a key component of
Toronto FC's defence for years to come.

Toronto FC’s defense has been weak for the history of the club. They have struggled continuously in the pull together a cohesive backline, but last season was the first time that we had a consistently strong pairing at center-back.

 Adrian Cann and Nana Attakora were instrumental in finally raises the entire defense to satisfactory levels, but there is still work to do. Despite its improved defense, Toronto FC still let in a ton too many goals last year. TFC has only one experienced fullback, Dan Gargan and if the season were to start today, Toronto would essentially be screwed and without a doubt have MLS’s worst defensive unit.

A lot of this is due to the general weakness of the fullbacks, which undid the great work by TFC's two center-backs. Luckily, the worst of the fullbacks and defensive players have been cut already.

Garcia, whose age had really started to affect his play, was no longer useful to the club. Usanov and Hscanovics, who were brought in to play fullback at the beginning of the season, didn’t fare well either. The two eastern European defenders were totally outclassed in their roles, and left holes in Toronto FC’s defense. Both of them were also cut. If TFC’s defense is going to keep BMO field a fortress this coming season it will have to improve at fullback, especially left back.

Nana Attakora 3.5/5

He is truly a great young Canadian player, and has won the U-20 Canadian Player of the Year twice It has been great to see him grow with Toronto FC into a strong and confident center-back, from his early days as a developmental player. He has great fitness and strong positional aptitude. His ability to improve will also really allow him to fit in well to Toronto FC’s new system, whatever that ends up becoming.  Europe may also come calling in the future, but in the meantime he has a large part to play with Toronto. Don’t sleep on Nana Attakora.

 Adrian Cann 4/5

The Canadian defender was potentially the greatest addition to the roster last season. When he first arrived at the club, some in the industry were skeptical if he really was the solution at the center of defense but he has since proved the skeptics wrong. His experience and leadership have helped Toronto FC solidify the defense. The only knock one may have on him is that he isn’t too comfortable getting forward, which may not be so great in a total football system. His naming as Toronto FC Player of the Year was definitely justified, Cann will surely play an important role with the club going forward.

Dan Gargan 2.5/5

Dan Gargan is a bit rough around the edges but has a phenomenal drive to play the game. When he was playing right back he did a good job and was probably Toronto FC’s best fullback all season. His long throws add an extra dynamic to the attack and should be exploited even more in the future. He can play a number of positions, which is helpful if injuries set in. The new coaches want to play a more fluid and attacking system next year, so I’m not sure a right back in the model of Dan Gargan would be a key feature in that system. But if Toronto FC can’t pick up speedy attack-minded wingbacks, Dan Gargan will need to play a key role and I have no problem with that.

 Ty Harden 2/5

Ty Harden wasn’t featured too much last season, but when he was, he seemed like a pretty decent depth player. He will likely provide good defensive coverage next season, and add to the defensive depth.  He isn’t too mobile and lacks skill, although good improve into at least an adequate starting defender.

Emmanuel Gómez  ?/5

Gomez did not feature at all last season due to a season long knee injury. It is hard to say how he will play next season or how he will feature in next year’s squad. But in 2009 he was a solid defender with room for significant improvement.

Doneil Henry  2.5/5

Henry was the first ever academy signing and clearly is part of Toronto FC’s future. When he has played he has shown tons of potential and has done a good job in the defense. He will likely be a backup Centre Back next season, but in the future will take over the starting role.

Astone Morgan?/5

This new academy addition seems to have his share of potential. In the few games that he featured in for the senior squad, he seemed like a speedy fullback that liked to get forward. He could be the answer to the fullback problem, but only time will reveal his future.

Improvements Needed?

Yes! They're doing well with fantastic starting center backs: Attakora and Cann will serve Toronto FC well. 

Yet the depth in that position leaves something to be desired, Ty Harden and Gomez should have no major role on a team that plans to contend for a championship. The fullback position is obviously quite lacking. Astone Morgan is too young and inexperienced to be counted on. Dan Gargan is good at fullback but we can and should do better.

It’s imperative that TFC improve in defense because in some ways it has been their undoing in the past. If Toronto FC goes into the season without new fullbacks, the team is in serious trouble and blame must be heaped upon the new coaching staff.

Remaining BTTN Toronto FC Roster Assessment Schedule
Midfielders: Friday, January 14th, 2011
Forwards: Sunday, January 16th, 2011

Beautiful Soccer Finally Arrives In Toronto

This article is by BTTN Toronto FC correspondent Christian Medeiros, a TFC season-ticket holder and MLS insider.

Toronto FC has been with a void at important coaching positions since the end of last season, and all of TFC nation were getting nervous this holiday season when new appointments still hadn't been made. But have no fear, Christmas has still come to Toronto FC - just a bit late. This afternoon at a press conference Toronto FC will announce the addition of three Europeans who will manage the helm.

First up we have Aron Winter, former national team player and Ajax assistant coach for three years. He brings professionalism, experience, and a new footballing philosophy to the Toronto FC. This season, the prospect of watching Dutch inspired football from the south end of BMO Field is unthinkable.

Secondly, TFC will be bringing in Bob De Klerk who has been working with Winter at Ajax and in the Ajax Academy. De Klerk will be TFC’s new assistant coach. More Dutch infusion, especially people who have worked with our new coach can only be a good thing.

Our final but definitely not least important addition is Paul Mariner. Paul Mariner has just left Plymouth Argyle, an English league one side to join TFC. Paul has solid MLS experience as he was assistant coach for the New England Revolution for several years. His experience will be invaluable at his new role as head of player personnel. His knowledge of the strange MLS rules will allow him to help our new Dutch coaches.

A few questions do arise though. What will happen with interim manager and coach Cochrane and Dasovic? Where will Brennan, Dichio and the rest of the coaching staff fit in? We’ll have to wait until this afternoon to find out. But regardless of what happens, I am supremely excited for the new season and cannot wait until I am holding my new ssh scarf up high at the home opener and finally watching beautiful football in Toronto.

Am I being a bit too optimistic? Maybe. But after a dismal season, this is the time for us TFC supporters to enjoy and rejoice!