What's the latest....

...On Paul Dickov?

Good question.

Depends on who you ask.

The folks in Blackpool seem to think the 35-year-old former Manchester City star is a whole lot closer to signing with TFC, especially since he turned down a contract offer from Blackpool.

But news on Paul Dickov is like the weather in Detroit: if you don't like it, just wait five minutes.

This morning I had a quick correspondence with someone close to the situation, and he assured me that nothing is happening on the Dickov front.

At least not over here.

Tuesday Ridge Mahoney of Soccer America reported that negotiations between TFC and Dickov had "hit a snag."

That link might have asked you to register and log in to read the story, but if you're not interested in doing that, I'll post the important part here:

A deal for former Manchester City striker Paul Dickov hit a snag last week. What snag? Has Dickov upped his demands? Has TFC balked at paying him approximately $500,000 guaranteed for the remainder of this season and next season, or has MLS refused to tender such a contract to a 35-year-old? Is there a competing bid for Dickov, who rejected an offer from one of his former clubs, Leicester City, before visiting Toronto?

But again, when dealing with Dickov, wait five minutes and the news will change.

Apparently Leicester City still wants him, and if their chairman, Milan Mandaric, is telling the truth, the player and the club are still negotiating.

So what's the latest with Dickov?

Nothing, as far as I can tell....but check back in about five minutes.

AND WHAT ABOUT TEBILY?

Commenter on a previous post asked me to give him some good news on Olivier Tebily.

Um, I can deliver a little news, but I'm not sure if you'll consider it good.

The team hasn't announced their plans regarding the 32-year-old defender so I can't really give you the official word here, but I can tell you that he wasn't at last Friday's practice, nor was he hanging around BMO Field when I showed up just after Saturday's practice. Those are matters of observation, not official information.

Beyond that, I can't say, but I can tell that if you look around the Internet you'll find highly unofficial but pretty accurate info on what happened to him.

Seriously, it's not that big a secret.

You just didn't hear it from me.

-- Morgan Campbell

Barrett, but who (or what) else?

Regarding that last post...

It's Chad Barrett.

Ives Galarcep reported earlier today, and I just confirmed it with a source who knows these things.

I still don't know if the deal will become official before the end of the work day, but it looks like the Fire has already prepared for Barrett's departure. They've already wiped clean the Barrett biography page on the team's website.

Still no word on when he actually joins TFC, but stay tuned.

-- Morgan Campbell

A Done Deal....almost

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

Is Help On The Way?

Another night, another tie for Toronto FC, except Tuesday's 1-1 draw with Montreal cost TFC a trip to the CONCACAF Champions League, which opens in September in Nicaragua.

Ouch.

What's got to hurt even more is that TFC had several second-half chances to break the tie but couldn't convert on any of them.

How desperate are TFC and its fans for offense?

This desperate: In the 85th minute a few clusters of spectators began chanting "We Want Smith!"

No disrespect to Jarrod Smith, who hustles as hard as anyone on the team, but when the fans clamour for a rookie with one goal in 12 career games, hoping he'll be the one to break the tie....well you must not have too many offensive options.

Carver reiterated the point in the post-game news conference, when he pointed out that the team currently relies on a raw 16-year-old (Ibee Ibrahim) for offence -- and it shouldn't have to.

And he sounded more urgent than ever when discussing his team's need for a proven goal scorer.

"It's blatantly obvious what we need to do, but unless we do something about it this season's going to out," he said.

That's deep, and with the regular season more than half over it's the first time Carver has expressed concern about his team's long-term health.

Carver assured the media, fans and whoever else would listen that he and the rest of TFC staff are working hard to address the problem before it's too late.

So far this season we've seen two TFC targets -- Darren Huckerby and Nuno Gomes -- decline to play in Toronto, while two more aging but possibly effective prospects -- Brian McBride and Paul Dickov -- remain in limbo.

With McBride headed to the Olympics it might be another six weeks before TFC can sign him, trade him or let another team assume his rights. And as far as I know Dickov is back in the UK, which isn't to say he'll never sign with TFC, but wherever he is, he's not in a position to help the team right now.

So I guess the question is, with Champions League out of the picture and the regular season half finished, how late is too late?

-- Morgan Campbell

It's Never Personal

Midway through John Carver's first season in Toronto, we've all grown used to him going off... on the CSA for not playing the TFC players he loans them...on Guillermo Barros Schelotto for diving... on officials for bad calls, blown calls and disrespect.

During the news conference following TFC's 0-0 draw with the San Jose Earthquakes, Carver went off again.

On the media.

I won't detail his first rant here because I know Cathal Kelly is covering it in his column for Sunday's paper, but midway through the news conference Carver challenged a reporter to tell him whether the local media want Toronto teams to win.

I'm summarizing here when I say the reporter replied (correctly) that his job is to ask questions, not to answer them and that he was just trying to do his job. They butted heads a while more before agreeing to disagree. The reporter left the conference to grab quotes from other people.

Before we continue, and since this is a discussion forum and not a news conference, I'll answer Carver's question here.

I can't speak for reporters on other beats, but every reporter who enjoys covering soccer secretly wants TFC to make the playoffs and play well once there.

Yes, we're supposed to be objective and I try my best not to come off as a homer, but I also understand that the soccer beat is a minor one at major papers in this market. That means mainstream media will cover TFC as long as they're either winning or setting records for goal scoring droughts.

But give big media in this market a reason to stop paying attention (by, say, missing the playoffs), and they'll gladly scale back coverage, and cover TFC the way they cover the Marlies -- which is hardly at all.

So yeah, part of this reporter wants TFC to do well. Working this beat has raised my profile both inside and outside the newsroom and allowed me to collect some Aeroplan points. But most importantly, it's fun.

Even when Carver's going off on me.

And did he ever go off Saturday night.

He singled me out, saying he took issue with something I'd written for Friday's paper:

Since then TFC has shone at times. On a sweltering April Sunday in Los Angeles they defeated the Galaxy on Jeff Cunningham's late goal.

Other times, though, they've stunk, earning just three of their 21 points on the road.

What, I thought to myself, did I have to do with the team winning just once on the road? Three points out of a possible 18 on the road sure isn't shining, and that's why I said it stinks.

In a packed news conference, the following exchange ensued:

John Carver -- That's a great comment, innit? That's gonna get everybody on our sides, innit?

Morgan Campbell -- You're 1-5 on the road, John. I'm not the one out there playing.

JC -- No, I understand that, but what I'm saying is, why do you have to go and write crap like that?

MC -- One and five on the road, John.

JC -- And we're playing at home...I think I've made my point. It's dead easy going on a website and looking for your questions to ask from supporters groups.

MC -- John, I write the good, I write the bad.

JC -- Yeah, but you never turn up on a Monday when we win. Monday's your day off.

Yes. A lot of times, it is. Has nothing to do with wins and losses. I'm not disappearing on Monday in a dastardly effort to deprive TFC of good press.

It's about a union contract that mandates a five-day work week and a hefty overtime rate for anything beyond that. Now, some folks in this business make a ton of money, but nobody's trying to see me join that list just yet, so for now I work five days a week.

Now don't think I'm trying to bash Carver here, because I'm not. He said later in the news conference that things would be back to normal by the next practice, even for the reporters he lambasted. And I believe him.

Thing is, I never took any of it personally, and I told Carver as much in the locker room after he had calmed down a little.

I write, people read. Sometimes they don't like it and they lash out. I get called all kind of names, but I really don't mind it. For me, it's never personal. It's just part of the job.

For him, too.

I can't call myself a journalist, then only write the truth when the truth flatters TFC. It's not the media's job to cheerlead for the team and Carver told me he understands that.

Again, I believe him.

I don't go out of my way to give people bad press, but I've got to be honest with readers, with sources and with myself.

So was it a little harsh to say TFC stinks at times?

Possibly.

But again, I've got to be honest.

And honestly, 1-5 on the road speaks for itself.

-- Morgan Campbell

On O'Brien, On Huckerby, On Turf

How starved are the San Jose Earthquakes for goals?

Consider that sixteen games into the regular season they've scored only 11 times, putting them well behind the pace TFC set last year when they established the league record for futility with 25 goals.

Or consider that new signee, 37-year-old Brazilian Francisco Lima, reputed to speak no English, managed to shout "C'mon, Kamara!" when striker Kei Kamara missed a sitter during a light scrimmage.

I guess they all count.

Finally, consider the ovation that Kamara received when he headed the ball into the net during a post-practice drill.

A drill!

Yeah, they're goal-thirsty.

ON O'BRIEN, ON HUCKERBY, ON TURF

Neither of them likes it. It hasn't changed for O'Brien since I talked to him in a hotel lobby in March. And it hasn't changed now that Huckerby's in San Jose.

But we knew that already.

DOUBLE DUTY DAVID

Dropped in on San Jose practice earlier this afternoon and noticed the goalkeeper in jersey number 31 looked a whole lot like David Monsalve.

Because it was.

Monsalve might practise with TFC as the backup to their backup keeper, but he belongs to the league. As one of Major League Soccer's pool goalkeepers, he trains with one team but is available to any squad who needs him on a given weekend, just like Sam Reynolds, the Chivas USA keeper TFC enlisted several times last season.

The Earthquakes called him up for Saturday's game against TFC.

But unlike Reynolds, who would fly from L.A. to Toronto to practise and play with TFC before heading back out west, Monsalve only travelled about a mile -- the distance from BMO Field to Lamport Stadium, where the Earthquakes worked out on Friday.

SPEAKING OF ITINERANT FOOTBALLERS

If you're like me, then you probably had a few questions about the guys filling out TFC's roster during Tuesday night's friendly against Independiente. The guys who materialize for games like this, then vanish until the next time the team needs bodies. Guys like Murphy Wiredu, Gerard Ladiyou and Frank Jonke.

Where do they come from? Where are they headed? And most importantly, do they get paid?

Couldn't find the answer Tuesday but luckily I ran into Earl Cochrane, TFC's manager of team operations, who broke it down for me so I could break it down for you.

For reserve games at home, the team usually tops up its roster with a couple of trusted CSL players. Their clubs release them to TFC, who sign them to a short term (like two day) contract, then return them to them to their club. So yes, they get paid.

At least they do for reserve games.

Friendlies work sort of the same way, except without the cash. The players, though, are compensated in that they get to keep a jersey.

No guarantee that the jersey will be their own.

Cochrane said that after Tuesday's friendly, all 22 Independiente players wanted to trade jerseys with their opponents.

Problem.

TFC only dressed 18 guys, forcing TFC staffers to scramble for some spare shirts.

I think a few Andy Welsh jerseys were lying around somewhere.

-- Morgan Campbell

Good news, bad news

Since I know soccer fans can be a little sensitive, I'll give you guys the good news first:

Olivier Tebily may play Saturday.

He hasn't played since suffering a calf injury a few weeks back, but he was on the field yesterday, doing sprints and footwork drills while everyone else scrimmaged. Head coach John Carver said Tebily, 32,  might be ready to dress for Saturday's league match against the San Jose Earthquakes.

Now the bad news.

Danny Dichio is still feeling the concussion symptoms that kept him out of both last week's Canadian Championship match in Vancouver and the league game in Chicago. Carver said Dichio went to see a specialist Monday and that both he and the team are awaiting some test results.

Uncertainty all around but it's pretty safe to assume neither man will get near the field Tuesday night against Independiente.

-- Morgan Campbell

Changes Have Arrived

Thank goodness for my disclaimer.

Two days after I told everyone that Toronto would take a while to unload Darren Huckerby's rights on the San Jose Earthquakes, the teams went and closed the deal.

Luckily my contract contains a clause that shields me from liability for predictions that don't pan out, but still I'm surprised and a little disappointed that it happened so quickly.

Anyway, it's done and right now I -- and everyone else who covers MLS -- am trying to figure out what Toronto will receive in return for Huckerby's rights.

Several blogs have speculated that San Jose will send allocation money, and that would make sense given that John Carver and Mo Johnston have been talking all season about signing a high-scoring striker, and that such a player would cost more than a little cash.

But at the moment it's speculation.

That's why people like me work phones, hoping to bring you details while we all wait for the league to finalize the deal....

We'll see what emerges.

IN THE MEANTIME....

...I'm well-known overseas.

Well, not exactly, but the Star's TFC coverage recently got a little pub in England.

This is the soccer non-purist in me speaking, but I'd never heard of the MK Dons until early June. That's when Lee Scriven, the journalist who puts out their game-day program, emailed me, explaining that he'd be in town filming the latest installment in his online soccer travelogue. For some reason, folks over here told him I know my stuff, so he wanted to know if I'd take a few minutes to give his viewers the straight goods on TFC and MLS.

So I talked and he filmed.

I returned to work and he edited.

I forgot about it and he remembered.

And yesterday he sent me the link.

The highlight (or lowlight, depending on what you think of me) begins about 5:15 in.

-- Morgan Campbell

All-Stars, all the time

A few hours ago Major League Soccer unveiled it's First XI for the all-star game against West Ham United at BMO Field later this month.

Team lines up as follows:

Goalkeeper: Matt Reis (NE)
Defenders: Jimmy Conrad (KC), Frankie Hejduk (Columbus), Michael Parkhurst (NE)
Midfielders: David Beckham (LA), Cuauhtemoc Blanco (Chicago), Shalrie Joseph (NE), Sacha Kljestan (Chivas), Robbie Rogers (Columbus)
Forwards: Kenny Cooper  (FCD), Landon Donovan (LA)

You guys notice anything missing?

If you didn't, let me point out that the MLS First XI, chosen by voting from fans, coaches, players and (of course) the media contains NO representation from Toronto FC.

Some of you are probably wondering how this happened, given that TFC fans voted early and often (the MLS website allowed up to 10 votes per person, per day), and vaulted several TFC players to the top of early fan voting lists.

Here's how: Media, coach and player votes were more heavily weighted than fan votes. So while TFC's rabid fan base propelled hometown players to an early lead, that advantage disappeared when everyone else filed their ballots.

Now I understand a lot of TFC fans are probably upset about the shutout, but before they flood the commissioner's office with angry emails they need to remember a couple of things:

1. The team isn't complete yet. These are just the first 11 guys named to an 18-man roster. On July 15 all-star coach Steve Nicol will choose five more players, and after that the commissioner will select two more. That's real good news for Toronto fans, because....

2. One of those seven additions will definitely come from TFC. Speaking at a news conference this morning MLS deputy commissioner Ivan Gazidis made a point of praising Toronto's passionate fans, and realizes that fielding a TFC-free team July 24 would be just plain dumb. He suggested as much when speaking to the media a few minutes later. He didn't use the word "dumb," but did say the league would include at least one hometown player in the roster.

So relax, guys. Someone from TFC will dress for the game against West Ham United.

But who?

I'm not a gambling man, but my money's on Marvell Wynne.

Before we continue, let me remind you guys for the 88th time that the rules of journalism dictate that I'm not responsible for predictions that don't pan out, but receive credit for the ones that do.

So yeah, if I've got to select on TFC player to add to the team, it's Wynne. In my very, very VERY humble opinion he's the team's best player this season, and his numerous "Man-of-the-match" trophies bear that out. He's the one constant on an inconsistent team, and a relentless, hustling defender who's a lot of fun to watch.

I'd suit him up, but we'll see what the league does.

ON LOMBARDO

It's true. TFC officially waived him earlier today.

It's not a surprise, given that he'd gone from a part-time starter last season to a full time reserve in 2008.

-- Morgan Campbell

Stalemates

It's been a long time...

I shouldn't have left you...

But after a spending a few days at the Canadian Olympic Track and Field Trials, I returned to Toronto just in time for TFC to head west for Wednesday night's rematch with Vancouver.

But just because they're over there and I'm over here doesn't mean there's nothing to report.

There just aren't any big signings or trades -- yet.

Last time we talked our guy Darren Huckerby was in the stands at BMO Field, checking the place out before heading to San Jose to see Frank Yallop and the Earthquakes.

TFC made it plain months ago that they were interested in the former Norwich City star, and even acquired his MLS rights, just to show they meant business. Huckerby, meanwhile, has decided he would rather play in San Jose, so right now the two teams are trying to figure out a way to make it happen while benefiting all involved.

This situation is similar to Brian McBride's (more on him in a second), in that pulling off this deal is nowhere near as simple as it sounds.

Those of you with long memories will recall that TFC received a first-round draft pick from San Jose in exchange for midfielder Ronnie O'Brien, which means the worse the Earthquakes finish in the standings, the better TFC fares in the 2009 draft. So TFC doesn't have much incentive to send San Jose a proven goal scorer if that guy might help boost their record. Why make a trade that all but guarantees you a lower draft spot?

TFC expects San Jose can sweeten the deal somehow.

Either way, don't expect immediate action. TFC knows what they want and San Jose knows what they're willing to give and, surprisingly, they disagree for now on Huckerby's worth. From what I understand this trade has to take place during the international transfer period (July 15-Aug 15), so look for the teams to take a little time before settling.

As for McBride, the situation remain the same. Toronto wants more than Chicago's willing to give and that's that.

McBride has reportedly returned to the U.S. and isn't waiting around for an MLS contract. Instead he's working out and expecting U.S. Soccer to make him one of three overage players to join the U.S. Olympic team.

We missing anyone?

Oh yeah....Paul Dickov.

He didn't make the trip to Vancouver, and hasn't signed a contract and, according to the team, isn't in Toronto right now.

Hope that Helps.

-- Morgan Campbell