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

Comments

[Michael]

Morgan, does "soccer operations" include using the $2.8 million to pay a designated player salary? I know TFC can't add one this year unless they are unsigned, but curious to know whether selling Edu might hasten the timetable on which a DP makes sense for TFC.

[doug]

looks like mo's work permit case will be finalized on friday. Here's the official mo edu update from the rangers:

http://www.rangers.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/NewsDetail/0,,5~1370381,00.htmlMLVickers@blackandmcdonald.com

[Rich]

Morgan,

The press release of Mo's comments on the Edu sale includes:

Johnston expects more player movement in the next 24 hours. "There's another player leaving the club and another player coming in. I think the player coming in will help us immensely. I've had to go into the market in MLS which enables us to get a quality player. I'm also still on the market for a guy who is out of contract and another player within MLS."

Any word on who is coming/going?

[doug]

Here's the update:

http://www.rangers.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/NewsDetail/0,,5~1370381,00.html

[John Dinner]

The fact that BMO doesn't have grass is a tragic, but somewhat understandable mistake. When the stadium was being built no one could have forseen the overwhelming popularity of TFC, which also seems to have translated to interest in our men's national team. Making it a year round, city-owned facility with artificial turf seemed like an okay idea as it meant another place to play for more of us, and in a world class facility to boot.
The money now being made (including this $2.8 million) SHOULD be re-invested in the stadium to get grass in there and expand - 25-30,000 would surely bring in more money for everyone without outgrowing demand for years to come, and grass would truely make this a mainstay for our CMNT (and for our conspiracy theorists out there, keep out the CFL).
I would then argue the new money being made be invested in other pitches around the city to meet what is surely a growing year-round demand for us weekend athletes and our developing youngsters, and replace the need for the public to use BMO Field.
I truly hope there are people out there with the willingness to make the investment to make this happen now.
By the way, GO CANADA!!

[Matt B]

There is a simple solution to the BMO Field turf year round usage: put the dome-thingy over Lamport Stadium just 500 meters away and use that in the winter. It has the same turf and is covered in snow from December to March. I don't know why no one has suggested this before (besides my friends who constantly bemoan the turf).

[Beautifulgamer]

I don't want a new pitch. I want a play-off spot. I prefer to not get distracted from the fact that we've lost one of our best players. If this were a proper team in a proper league, we'd not only still have Edu but also Brian Mcbride upfront-a player we legitimately and insightfully gained the rights to. The MLS needs to get real and TFC needs to get more aggressive on the team side of things. The fan experience has been second to none but the last thing we need are deceptions regarding the team's on-field operations.

[chief.]

beautiful gamer:
If this were a proper team in a proper league, we'd not only still have Edu but also Brian Mcbride upfront-a player we legitimately and insightfully gained the rights to.

This statement is a contradiction within itself. "legitimately and insightfully acquired"? hardly so, we acquired the rights to mcbride because we were at the top of the allocation list which is an absurd thing. McBride never wanted to play for Toronto or any team other than Chicago, so the fact that we get his rights because the league signed him is the very reason the MLS is not quite a "proper league." The fact that we sold Edu when we could make $5million instead of waiting just over a year until he leaves for free is a good piece of business by Mo. Sadly it comes at a point where we need quality players badly. However I do agree with you on the other points you make, but I alos think that Edu has looked below his standard of play last season, and that he doesn't have the offensive ability to create that our team so desperately needs.

[Rebuild]

I would just like to say that after the summer sports end (i.e., CFL, MLB, MLS) that every Toronto sports franchise (excluding the Raptors) will be in rebuild mode. The leafs we know have blown thier organization up and building for the future. After ten straight years in the playoffs, the Toronto Rock (National Lacrosse leagu team) fails to make the postseason this year. The Argonaughts should not have changed anything to thier roster from the '07 season unless it was a small change. Now they wont even make the playoffs. TFC is starting to get that MLSE stink. The only reason the Raptors are making the playoffs is because of the team bonuses. The Blu Jays, wiht Cito back will rebuild in the offseason and will be a stronger team.