Trusting Mo - sometimes a struggle..

This is frustrating. When Mo Johnston decides to lead the MLS in saying "pass" in the latter rounds of the college draft last week, you had to wonder. On one hand, would any other sports team in this (or any) market get away with not using draft choices ? Even if he was only going to make a claim on those players fully expecting to either trade them or let them play USL and hold onto their rights, why turn down the opportunity ? Is this a form of Mo arrogance, he believes so much in the quality of his first six picks that he can say pass three times. Yet hope springs eternal. Maybe this is a sign that the overdue flood of signings we have been waiting for is just around the corner.
There must be a number of Canadians to be signed the development roster alone. I still think we have seen Jeff Cunningham play his last game for TFC. Someone is going to gamble that last year was the blip and look at his scoring in recent years and make a deal for him.
I should learn to avoid Internet rumours, remember I had Del Piero signing for us last November. The latest buzz is around Darren Huckerby and Stefano Fiore. Fingers crossed - I will wait until something is officially confirmed.

Draft day results in 5 new players

The 2008 MLS draft is complete and we have 5 rookies to start sizing up. All reports point to Julius James being a talented player and he was expected to be gone when TFC came to their first (9th) pick. So let's hope the mighty Mo's luck at the draft table is continuing. The new players are...
Julius James (pictured) - defender
Pat Phelan - defender
Brian Edwards- goalkeeper
Mike Zahar - defender
Joseph Lapira - striker
Indications are that James and Phelan will be pushing for first team roles. Edwards is hard to figure, is it possible for TFC to have an American keeper on their development roster ? The new roster rules and the Toronto exception has not been made clear. Or maybe they have been, but have avoided my limited understanding. If TFC is allowed 12 Internationals on the roster and some (2?) of them have to be Americans, I think that an American keeper is possible, but a back-up ? Is their a trade in the works ?
Zahar's chances seem small and Lapira is reported to be trying out for teams in the UK. His overseas plans seems to have scared teams and he was expected to have been chosen much earlier. Scoring talent is what you might have expected Mo and the TFC brass to have made a draft priority. Yet no complaints, there were holes at all positions. Perhaps drafting defenders will mean trades to come or signing some offensive players from wherever.

The first new face of 2008 ??

The off-season has been sparse indeed for TFC fans eager for news of player signings. The draft is just days away and the prospect of adding to the squad and possibly a trade to move up in the draft is exciting.
There is talk that Toronto is close to signing Josh Wagenaar who has been a keeper for ADO Den Haag for two years.
We are not the only ones desperate for news, the link below is The Globe and Mail quoting Soccer by Ives website on the possibility of this signing. He is young and fills one of many holes on this team.