The TFC Blog....

Will return Wednesday, Sept 3.....

-- Morgan Campbell

On Ruiz' arrival and supplemental draft picks

Judging from the comments on the last few Ruiz posts it seems like a few of you were hoping he really wouldn't show up in Toronto.

Fair enough, considering the Jekyll-Hyde type player we discussed in the last post. Folks who follow TFC have a right to wonder which Ruiz will suit up for Toronto -- the 24-goal scorer from 2002, or the guy who battled injuries and coaches on his way to just one goal so far this season.

One of them is in Collingwood, training and bonding with his new teammates right now.

Sorry to disappoint the anti-Ruiz crowd, but Ruiz did indeed arrive in Toronto yesterday and made the trip to the team retreat this morning.

And for the pro-Pescadito camp... stop worrying. He's here. Now sit back and wait for the goals to roll in.

Supplemental Note

Much of the debate on the Ruiz trade focuses on what exactly TFC gave up to acquire him.

To recap: cash and two picks (first and second-round) in the 2009 supplemental draft.

Now, the team's top two picks in any draft sounds like a high price to pay for a player with as much baggage as Ruiz lugged to TFC this morning, but there's a big difference between the "Super Draft" and the supplemental one.

First, a mini history lesson.

Back in the day (or as far back in the day as you can go for a league that's only existed since 1996), MLS held two drafts: the college draft for NCAA players, and the supplemental draft, for MLS hopefuls from club teams.

In 2000 they merged the two drafts to create the first "Superdraft." Six rounds long, 72 total selections.

That format lasted until 2005, when MLS shortened the Superdraft to four rounds, then added a four-round supplemental draft, the same routine that's currently in place.

It's important to remember that both drafts draw from the same pool of players. Guys not selected in the main draft head to the supplemental. There's no real shame in it. A few supplemental draftees (like Abe Thompson and Jeff Larentowicz) have made MLS rosters and had productive careers.

Still, none of that changes the fact that the supplemental draft is made up of guys not selected the first time around. So, what MLS calls "a first-round supplemental draft selection," other leagues might (more accurately) label a "fifth-round draft pick."

Looking at it that way -- Ruiz for fifth and sixth-round draft picks -- the price TFC paid for him doesn't seem nearly as steep, does it?

-- Morgan Campbell

Waiting for Mr. Ruiz

REUTERS PHOTO

What pace will Carlos Ruiz set with Toronto?

In case you're curious, Carlos Ruiz wasn't at practice today.

But that doesn't mean he's not coming.

TFC head coach John Carver headed off any "where is Carlos Ruiz?" questions by volunteering that the Guatemalan striker and L.A. Galaxy castoff should arrive in Toronto Monday night and connect with the team by Tuesday morning, when they head to Collingwood for a two-day training and bonding retreat.

If you haven't been keeping track, TFC acquired Ruiz last week in a trade with the Galaxy, who needed the roster spot and salary cap space (Ruiz makes $460,000 per season) to sign U.S. national team defender Eddie Lewis.

By now we're all aware that once upon a time Ruiz was the perhaps the league's most potent scorer, striking 24 times in 30 games in 2002.

We also know that the pace of his scoring has slowed dramatically since then -- seven goals last season in 22 games with FC Dallas.

But if you're ready to write him off as a player in decline, here's one more stat to muddy the waters -- 17 career playoff games, 16 goals, including one in the first round last year.

TFC acquired this guy in exchange for two picks in the 2009 supplemental draft.

So which team came out ahead in this trade?

Depends on who you ask.

Ridge Mahoney of Soccer America says TFC got fleeced.

Meanwhile, Ives Galarcep of Soccer By Ives says  Mo Johnston got one over on the Galaxy.

I say wait at least until Ruiz touches down at YYZ before declaring winners and losers in this deal.

And John Carver, naturally, thinks reports of Ruiz' decline have been greatly exaggerated, and says after a rough stint with LAG, Ruiz will love BMO and flourish with TFC...if the coaches give him some TLC.

"He's one of those players you need to love," Carver said, hinting that former Galaxy coach Ruud Gullit didn't take the time to learn Ruiz' interpersonal intricacies. "He gets a couple of goals and he'll be a cult hero. He'll be the next Danny Dichio."

-- Morgan Campbell

Still reeling in the Little Fish

Toronto FC ran through a short practice this morning ahead of tomorrow night's game against the New England Revolution, but they did it without brand new striker Carlos Ruiz.

As of Friday afternoon the Guatemalan forward -- who for reasons that still aren't clear bears the nickname "El Pescadito" (the little fish) -- was still en route from Guatemala City, where he played 90 minutes for the home team in their 1-0 loss to the U.S. Wednesday night.

Right now head coach John Carver's not sure if Ruiz will play, but says Ruiz he will dress if he arrives by Saturday morning. Whether or not he'll play depends on how he feels. Carver said the 90 minutes Ruiz logged against the U.S. shows he's in shape, but Carver's not sure how fresh Ruiz will be after a full game and two days of travel. But Carver says if Ruiz feels good he'll probably play.

FAST FORWARD

Mo Johnston said Johann Smith was fast when TFC signed him, and the 21-year-old proved it Sunday with several scintillating runs in his debut against New York.

And that 10.5-second 100-metre time listed on his Wikipedia bio? Smith says he actually did run that time as a senior in high school.

As he finished high school Smith knew he'd have to choose between soccer and track eventually, but says deciding really wasn't that tough.

He grew up near Hartford, Conn., in the heart of Jamaican-American community that surrounded him with both sports.

Unless you've spent the last two weeks in a world without television, Internet, newspapers or gossip, then you know that Jamaica's just a little above average at track and field.

And if you saw the sea of Jamaican flags at BMO Field during Wednesday's World Cup qualifier, then you know soccer's also sort of important in the Jamaican community.

Smith's father ran track before moving to the U.S., but Smith says the more he played soccer, the more it appealed to him.

Late in his last year of high school, Smith qualified for the state championship in the 100 metres, but the final race was scheduled for the same time as a big game with his soccer club.

Do I even have to tell you which one he chose?

I'll give you a hint: he's never had to compete against Usain Bolt.

"Soccer's not just about being fast," Smith said. "In track you're fast or you're not. Soccer's about skill. That was a challenge."

LEST WE FORGET

Maurice Edu is officially, officially on his way to Rangers after securing his work permit earlier today. Like Ruiz, Edu spent Wednesday playing in Guatemala City, except his team won.

And like Ruiz, Edu plans to be at BMO for tomorrow night's game.

TFC has scheduled a farewell news conference for 7 p.m. Saturday.

-- Morgan Campbell

Last post of the day: TFC going "little fishing"

Wondering what Mo Johnston planned to do with the roster and salary cap space that opened up when the team dropped Laurent Robert?

Looks like he's going to spend some of that cash on a little fish.

That's Carlos "El Pescadito" Ruiz of the L.A. Galaxy.

If you still haven't figured it out "Pescadito" is Spanish for "little fish."

As I've said before, we all need to be ready for the occasional dose of spanglish.

Ives is reporting it and my source at the league says it's happening, so expect this one to become official within the next few days.

In theory the deal gives TFC what they need -- goals from the striker spot. Though he has scored just once in 10 games this season, Ruiz has totalled 82 goals in his 150-game MLS career.

The trade also gives the Galaxy something they've wanted:

Rid of Ruiz.

With Landon Donovan (MLS' leading scorer) and TFC castoff Edson Buddle (third in scoring) scoring plenty of goals for the Galaxy, the team never really needed Ruiz. Dumping him and his $460,000 salary give the Galaxy and their new head coach, Bruce Arena, the roster and salary cap space to sign defender Eddie Lewis.

And after conceding 42 goals in just 20 games, the Galaxy might need defence even more than TFC needs offence.

No word yet on when the deal becomes official or what TFC will send the Galaxy in return.

-- Morgan Campbell

One more midfielder gone

File this under the heading "least surprising transactions of the summer."

TFC waived Laurent Robert this afternoon.

He came here in April, highly recommended by folks back in England, where he last played for the since-relegated premiership squad Derby County.

"If he produces anything that I saw when he was in Newcastle then we've got a good player." That's what the TFC head coach said upon acquiring Robert. "I know him better than anybody. I know what he's like. I know he's a good professional. I know he looks after his body. I know he's got a lot to offer this club. He's somebody special."

Turns out that was a big "if."

Robert shone early on, setting up Jeff Cunningham's game-winning goal in L.A. in mid-April, then scoring a game-winner of his own the following week against Real Salt Lake.

But since then he has done little beyond consume a large chunk of the team's salary cap (a team-high $337,300 guaranteed) and look listless on the left wing.

Sometimes, if you were looking for them, you saw small indications that the coaching staff weren't so enamoured with him anymore.

Or just didn't care.

One night the handwritten gameday roster submitted by the team and distributed to reporters identified him as "Lauren" Robert.

But the low point came Sunday against the New York Red Bulls, when the ball rolled Robert's way and he cocked his vaunted left foot to blast the ball downfield.

Then he whiffed.

Lost his balance and hit the turf.

At halftime the team replaced him with newly signed 21-year-old Johann Smith, and even though he didn't score, he brought something to the game TFC fans hadn't seen from Robert since springtime.

Effort.

If you're keeping track, TFC signed three fairly high-profile and fairly high-priced thirtysomethings in April, an experiment in importing experience that hasn't ended well.

Defender Olivier Tebily, 32, brought a bruising physical presence to the team's back line, but then got hurt and never returned to the lineup. Late last month he convinced the team to waive him so he could spend more time with his family in France.

Robert, 33, was let go today.

That leaves 32-year-old Amado Guevara, who just finished a serving a two game suspension for punching FC Dallas' Pablo Richetti.

If Guevara returns to the team this week and plays like he did in April and May, then maybe TFC will have profited from its early-season anti-youth movement.

But if you need more evidence that the team is looking to move in a new direction after cutting ties with Tebily and Robert, consider that the average age of its last two acquisitions, Chad Barrett and Johann Smith, is 22.

This isn't to say that TFC has given up on winning this year in favour of building for the future.

But throw in the recent trade of Jeff Cunningham -- a 32-year-old who made $257,000 -- and the trend becomes even more clear.

Looks to me like the days of building around aging, expensive players is over.

For now, at least.

-- Morgan Campbell

Mo on Mo

Three days after reports first surfaced that TFC midfielder Maurice Edu was headed to Glasgow Rangers, the folks at Toronto FC have finally broken their silence on the subject.

Normally they prefer to stay quiet on player transactions until they're 100 percent official, but with news of Edu's $5 million transfer continuing to circulate, TFC director of soccer Mo Johnston figured it was time to speak out and clarify a few things.

Again, this deal isn't completely done, but Johnston confirmed published reports that it's all sewn up except for Edu's work permit. That process could take a few more days, but Johnston doesn't foresee any major holdups.

According to Johnston, Rangers have been interested in Edu since last season, but the league wasn't ready to sell him back then. (Remember, MLS and not the teams owns the players' contracts.)

So Rangers sat tight and monitored Edu's progress, and after watching him play for the U.S. Olympic team, they made another play for the 22-year-old Californian.

This time, the timing and the price were right. The league okayed the sale, and so did Johnston, even though it meant letting go of one of the team's most recognizable faces, and the first player the franchise ever drafted.

"You can't hold someone like that back," Johnston said. "I'm a bit upset, but there's a bit of joy."

Upset because Edu's departure leaves a big hole in TFC's midfield. Johnston said he's already trying to land "the next Edu," but says that won't happen until next season.

And joy because the move to Scotland is another step toward soccer's biggest stage for a guy who has vaulted from college student to draft pick to Scotland's premier league in a hurry.

"It's a hell of a story in 16 months," Johnston said.

Johnston might also be happy because the deal gives TFC plenty of what every team needs.

Ca$h.

A few commenters had asked what happens to the transfer money when MLS holds all the contracts.

Here's what happens:

League takes one third of the money, which in this case is a little under $1.7 million ($1,666,666.67 to be exact).

Of the roughly $3.3 million that remain, $500,000 goes to the team's allocation fund, which seems to grow with every transaction.

The final $2.8 million belong to the team to spend on soccer operations, which could include anything from the academy to training facilities to, dare we mention it, a grass playing surface.

That last suggestion's not coming from me. Johnston threw it out there during our conversation today. I'm sure it was mostly hypothetical. Johnston knows as well as anyone that there's a lot of politics involved in converting BMO Field to grass. But if the Edu sale helps make it possible, do you think they would name the new surface after him?

Maurice Edu Pitch at BMO Field?

Just a thought.

-- Morgan Campbell

That Was Fast

Minutes after I mention that John Carver is waiting for the team's latest target to sign, TFC sends out a news release announcing that they've signed 21-year-old American striker Johann Smith.

With four goals in five games with the U.S. under-20 national team, Smith might provide the solution to TFC's lack of scoring touch. But he's also a free agent who didn't stick with Bolton's reserve and has more teams (3) than goals (1) in the last two seasons. So he might just be a young journeyman in training.

TFC fans won't know until he lines up.

But at this point one thing is clear:

Smith can run.

Browser beware when it comes to Wikipedia, but Smith's bio there says he has covered 100 metres in 10.5 seconds.

If the number is too abstract for you, Mo Johnston makes it concrete in the press release: "He's got the pace of Marvell Wynne."

I guess he's fast.

-- Morgan Campbell

It's true. No Mo Edu

Big week for (former?) Toronto FC midfielder Maurice Edu.

First comes the Olympic tournament in Beijing, where U.S. coach Peter Nowak once again used Edu as a central defender, but where no amount of lineup juggling could save the Americans from elimination. Especially not with cards of both colours keeping Freddy Adu and Michael Orozco out of action.

Last night came news that Edu, last year's MLS rookie of the year has been named the the U.S. team for the next round of World Cup qualifying, a high compliment for a player who, as far as the U.S. national teams are concerned, still doesn't have a true position.

But the most important development in a week full of them came this morning, with reports that MLS and Glasgow Rangers had worked out a $5-million transfer deal for the 22-year-old Californian.

Of course, the deal's not official yet, which would explain why nobody at TFC would elaborate on why Edu missed today's practice, or where he would be this weekend when they play the Red Bulls in at the Meadowlands.

Attempts to reach Mo Johnston for comment were unsuccessful, the team's PR staff saying simply that he had not comment on reports of an Edu transfer.

But people I talked to close to the situation said that if the deal's not final yet, it's definitely heading that way.

So how does this deal affect TFC?

It depends on who Johnston and head coach John Carver have coming in.

We've heard it before, but after today's practice Carver assured reporters that TFC would beat the FIFA transfer deadline and have a new player in by the end of the weekend. Reminded that he had made similar promises in the past, Carver chuckled and without naming names reiterated that a transfer is pending. He said he had hoped to have the player on the roster last week against Colorado, but factors beyond the team's control delayed the deal.

In the meantime folks who follow TFC shouldn't be surprised to see the Edu transfer happen. Edu's been the subject of transfer talk intermittently since last summer's friendly against Aston Villa. The club even invited him to train with them this winter, but he turned them down to work out with the national team.

When I interviewed Edu about his future plans late last season he said he hoped to play in Europe, but he just wasn't sure when the opportunity would arise. Around the same time, Johnston said he would never stop a young player, no matter how useful or popular, from realizing a dream to play overseas.

So Edu was never going to end up like New England's Taylor Twellman.

In January English club Preston North End made a $2.5 million offer for the high-scoring forward, and Twellman, eyeing an increase in pay and prestige, was eager to accept.

But the Revolution refused to transfer him.

That was never going to happen here.

As soon as Edu was ready to go, Johnston was resigned to letting him go.

That's the problem with adding talented young players to your team in this league. Sooner or later some team with more money is going to want them.

In Edu's case it was sooner.

-- Morgan Campbell

Dallas wins Cunnigham sweepstakes

TFC brass have talked openly for weeks about their desire to trade Jeff Cunningham, and there was plenty of speculation in the soccer blogosphere this morning about where he would go.

Steven Goff of the Washington Post said the L.A. Galaxy was interested, even though they already had Landon Donovan, Edson Buddle and Carlos Ruiz.

And Drew Epperley, author of the WVHooligan soccer blog, gave a team-by-team breakdown of potential Cunningham suitors, and also listed the Galaxy as a front-runner.

Turns out Mo Johnston and Schellas Hyndman fooled them all.

FC Dallas won the Jeff Cunningham sweepstakes.

In return, TFC received a third-round pick in the 2009 MLS Superdraft.

I had a quick word with Mo Johnston, who confirmed 1) that he has been trying to trade Cunningham for a while and 2) Cunningham's salary ($257,500) made unloading him difficult.

But the deal, at last, is done and after an injury riddled 2007 and inconsistent 2008, Cunningham gets a fresh start in Dallas, and a chance to finally bag that 100th goal.

The question for him is: does he beat out Dominic Oduro (five goals in nine starts) for the starting spot alongside all-star striker Kenny Cooper, or does he spend the rest of this season shuttling in and out of the lineup?

And the question for TFC is, who is available to help right now?

So right now TFC has two third-round draft picks to go along with three first-rounders in next January's draft, but none of those guys will be available tomorrow in Colorado, when a short-handed TFC squad faces the Rapids.

Danny Dichio, who is recovering from a concussion, made the trip, but his status is still uncertain. If he can't play, and with Cunningham in Texas, TFC may find itself undermanned up front yet again.

If the U.S. men's team keeps winning at the Olympics, TFC might not have its full squad back until August 30. Yeah, that's a long way away, but still too soon for draft picks to help.  Logic (and the team's six-game MLS winless streak) dictate that more moves are coming.

But when?

-- Morgan Campbell