TFC Heading South?

As of this past Monday MLS rosters are frozen, meaning teams can't transfer, make trades or sign free agents, but that doesn't mean TFC director of soccer Mo Johnston's work is done for the season.

With an eye on next year, he recently made a scouting trip to South America, and Thursday he returned to TFC practice full of hope amid big talk about building strong networks in Brazil and Argentina.

Of course, he said similar things last year when he made a scouting mission to South America, but a quick scan of their current roster reveals exactly zero South American players.

This isn't to say that Johnston is wasting his time and MLSE's money with his annual pilgrimages to Brazil and Argentina. But it looks like bringing South American talent to BMO Field is a lot like installing natural grass there -- a noble goal, but much more complex than it seems.

Johnston himself acknowledged that the trips aren't so much about signing players for today as they are about finding pipelines of young talent that TFC can tap tomorrow.

"I'm not looking at guys who are 33 or 34," Johnston said, adding that his targets are between 19 and 21. "It's important that we establish ourselves within that market, even if we don't take anything this year."

Might be a smart move, since most folks who follow MLS agree that South American signings generally yield more player for less money than European free agents do.

You can't deny that Real Salt Lake's play improved when they added Argentines Javier Morales ($240,000) and Fabian Espindola ($75,000) last summer.

On a recent story about head coach John Carver's promise to sign a designated player, a commenter points out correctly that Guillermo Barros Schelotto gives Columbus DP-type play (a league-high 18 assists) but doesn't cost close to DP money ($375,000).

Not to suggest that Laurent Robert exemplifies all European signings, but the former French international and Derby County castoff made 90 percent of Schelotto's salary while delivering, say, 15 percent of his production.

While revealing that he planned to make at least one more trip to South America between now and January, Johnston stressed that he wasn't going there looking for the designated player he and Carver have been discussing with the media lately.

He said the DP he has in mind comes from someplace considerably colder than Brazil.

"Preferably I'd like him to be Canadian. That's all I'm saying," Johnston said.

Any guesses?

-- Morgan Campbell

Comments

[Steve]

If it's a Canuck, I would have to believe it's going to be Dwayne de Rosario or, if they can convince him to come back, Julian de Guzman. Either would be fantastic.

[matt]

what canadian is good enough for that money? i doubt de guzman would up an leave. de rosario is under contract. atiba hutchinson? friend or gerba dont cut it for DP i dont think. or maybe hes gonna follow in our previous FA signings and bring aboard someone like stalteri or radzinski

[Toronto Till I Die]

Julian DeGuzman. Straight up... best Canadian player abroad and the only one worth signing to DP money.

Hometown boy and he would vastly improve Toronto's shite mid too

[Mike]

Neither Stalteri of Radz, both have panned the turf.

De Guz - can you honestly see him leaving Spain at 27 to come to MLS? Really?

Has to be De Ro - this league hasn't hesitated to force teams to make moves in the past (see McBride), why not do it to benefit us this time...

[Robert]

I personally think it is a waste to narrow our DP search to just a Canadian players, Its unlikely guys playing in Spain like De Guzman will come here because he still has a great potential future and frankly a guy like stalteri or radzinski
aren't worth it. Frankly I don't think you need a DP to suceed in MLS look at Columbus.

On the scouting note.
Looking to South America is the correct idea, first divisions there are very young because clubs want to showcase there players and sell them for millions to clubs in europe unfortunantly TFC is out of this market. Remaining However are many quality players not europe bound but have 2 to 5 years first team experience (aged betwwen 23-27), and not considered a possible export so they are put on the shelf. This group should be TFC's target. Unless these players are playing for a big club Boca, River, Corithians etc they would consider a move to MLS to cashin before they retire. These guys would be a perfect fit because they can cause an immediate impact due to there experience and age and at the same time be affordable to TFC. What doesnt fit is Mo Johnston and Carver at the front of our managment do they have the necesary conections and ties to bring these guys over and can they change their coaching style of play which will suit Southamerican playing skill and traits, not likely.

Mo for the love of God no more dubious F.A players something new please!!!

[alex]

In McBrides case all we had were his "rights" in a backwards allocation processed used to determine the pecking order of clubs to sign returning players to MLS. In Dero's case, he's under contract, could prove to be much more difficult.

How can South America be news to this club? You're talking about the biggest feeder outside of domestic talent to MLS.

Take your time making those changes Mojo, you might not be around in the future to see them.

[alex]

Robert, I could not agree more. You hit the nail on the head with that one.

[Ryan]

The only canadian born players I could see being a DP here are De Guzman or Hargreaves. But I don't actually see either of them coming here. I would love DeRo here but I don't think he's a DP.

[Pete]

TFC management seems pretty clueless when it comes to recruiting players. This is being proven again by scouting in Argentina and Brazil, probably the highest priced footballing nations in South America. TFC needs to look at markets where there are players that they can afford. These would be in the Caribbean, Africa, smaller South American nations and particularly China. I would suggest that they hire new management that has international experience now before next year turns into another wasted season.