It might happen today, it might happen Monday, but somehow, some way, TFC has finally made a deal with the Chicago Fire for the rights to American striker Brian McBride.
Our guy Luis Arroyave from the Chicago Tribune broke the news on his blog last night, while the rest of us were mesmerized by the Blanco and De Ro show at BMO.
And this morning at practice, TFC director of soccer Mo Johnston said the two teams indeed reached an agreement this week, though he still wouldn't reveal exactly who (or what) TFC would receive in return for McBride's rights.
Any other week the league would ratify this deal quickly, but the day after the all-star game a lot of MLS officials are either in Toronto or travelling back to New York, possibly dragging out the process until Monday.
Early Monday, Johnston hoped.
In late May, when McBride first announced he would return to Major League Soccer, hoping to play for the Fire (his hometown club), Johnston joked that he was "sitting on a pot of gold," and said he planned to receive "something big" an a trade with the Fire.
Just how big?
I'm trying to find out, but if not we'll all see once the league makes the deal official.
-- Morgan Campbell
Looks like Chad Barrett is who we get in return, with as you said, maybe a draft pick or something else. Sounds like he has potential, but has frustrated the supporters in Chicago with a lack of finish. We need a guy that all he does is convert. So here's hoping he can turn it around in T.O. Let's give him more than a couple games to show us what he's got.
Posted by: Ryan | July 25, 2008 at 02:12 PM
Brian McBride is going to dominate the MLS. Chad Barrett frustrates Fire fans like Cunningham with TFC supporters. If we we are not so pressed with Dichio's concussion and Cunningham's lack of ability, I rather have Mo wait this out. But now that Barrett is here, I can't imagine him being worse than Cunny, so I'll give him a chance.
Posted by: ballerz | July 25, 2008 at 02:25 PM
So can we now trade Jeff "can't score a goal if you had an open net from 3 feet out" Cunningham. There are rumblings that for some reason, there is actually a few teams interested in his services. I don't care what we'd get in return...Addition by subtraction my friends.
Posted by: Ryan | July 25, 2008 at 03:06 PM