MLS Toronto = Canada National Team?

[DCU1996]

I guess when only one Canada team (Toronto) joins MLS, It'll be basically like the Canadian National Team? except a few of the good ones gone to Europe...

[TopDogg]

I guess when only one Canada team (Toronto) joins MLS, It'll be basically like the Canadian National Team? except a few of the good ones gone to Europe...
Not even close.

[DCU1996]

Not even close.

Why not?

[metros11]

Highly doubt that. They will have international players, as well as Canadians and Americans.

[RealGooner]

Why not?

Because theres are alot of very good canadians playing in Europe who probably wont come back to play MLS, such as Paul Staltieri, the De Guzman brothers etc.

[Pbourgeacq]

Highly doubt that. They will have international players, as well as Canadians and Americans.What will the rule be in terms of using non-Canadian players? Will US players count as international players? In other words, just like MLS teams in the US are made up predominantly of US players (with Canadian players counting as international), will the MLS team in Toronto be made up predominantly of Canadian players (with US players counting as international)? Just curious. I'm not sure whether it benefits the Toronto MLS team or the US-based MLS teams more, but either way, it seems like the playing field is not quite level.

[DCU1996]

What will the rule be in terms of using non-Canadian players? Will US players count as international players? In other words, just like MLS teams in the US are made up predominantly of US players (with Canadian players counting as international), will the MLS team in Toronto be made up predominantly of Canadian players (with US players counting as international)? Just curious. I'm not sure whether it benefits the Toronto MLS team or the US-based MLS teams more, but either way, it seems like the playing field is not quite level.

That's one of my questions.

My guess is that both Canadian and US players are counted as domestic players in MLS?

[TopDogg]

That's one of my questions.

My guess is that both Canadian and US players are counted as domestic players in MLS?
Nobody knows those details for sure yet.

We'll have to wait for the official announcement and terms of the deal to be released.

[Captain Canuck]

We have too many good players nowadays to fit them all on just one MLS team that will also include foreigners. Many will stay in Europe.

[midwestsurfer]

I thought they already anounced that Canadians count as domestic players for Canadian teams and US players will count as internationals. However Toronoto will come into the league with extra inter slots, much like RSL/CHV, but will have one or two more.

[DCU1996]

I thought they already anounced that Canadians count as domestic players for Canadian teams and US players will count as internationals. However Toronoto will come into the league with extra inter slots, much like RSL/CHV, but will have one or two more.

If that's the case, my original thought should be right?

[TopDogg]

If that's the case, my original thought should be right?
No, because there are far too many Canadians making a better living in Europe than MLS, meaning none of those players would come back.

What you suggested was that it would be the defacto national team, minus "a few" that would remain in Europe. The ones who would consider coming back are the lower tier English based players, along with some Scanadinavian based players as well. That's about it.

[Scarecrow]

I thought they already anounced that Canadians count as domestic players for Canadian teams and US players will count as internationals. However Toronoto will come into the league with extra inter slots, much like RSL/CHV, but will have one or two more.

That would make sense, any team based in Canada should have the same rules applied to it as any other MLS side, only sub US for Canadien. Let US players be considered internationals. OF course that would impact trades I would think.

[midwestsurfer]

Hmmm true enough. Im not sure how it will work out. Seems to easy for MLS teams to just protect their Canadian players during an expansion draft so they won't get taken.

[scaryice]

What will the rule be in terms of using non-Canadian players? Will US players count as international players? In other words, just like MLS teams in the US are made up predominantly of US players (with Canadian players counting as international), will the MLS team in Toronto be made up predominantly of Canadian players (with US players counting as international)?

It is 100% sure that will happen. We've already heard it straight from Don Garber's mouth.

[BringBackTheBlizzard]

Hmmm true enough. Im not sure how it will work out. Seems to easy for MLS teams to just protect their Canadian players during an expansion draft so they won't get taken.

Personally suspect that the Canadian talent pool is deep enough that that wouldn't be a huge issue. In Chivas's case there were a limited number of Hispanic players available with US citizenship or green cards and most of them were already in MLS so the draft was a key issue and being dogmatic about their Spanish speaking only policy in the context of an expansion draft bordered on lunatic (Don Garber and co must have been laughing up their sleeves). In contrast, most top Canadian players are in Europe or the USL rather than in MLS so if Onstad and de Rosario were not available there would always be players like Stamatopolous and Occean or Sutton and Jordan who could be targeted instead from lower level Euro pro or top USL-D1 teams, respectively.

[DCU1996]

So, how many of the Canadian NT players are really good so they play in one of the major European Leauges or teams?

If majority of them are that good, so they are all in Europe. How come Canada has never even made to the World Cup???

[narduch]

If majority of them are that good, so they are all in Europe. How come Canada has never even made to the World Cup???

Um, 1986?

[DCU1996]

Um, 1986?

uh, my bad.

still only once from CONCACAF is pretty bad.

[TopDogg]

So, how many of the Canadian NT players are really good so they play in one of the major European Leauges or teams?

If majority of them are that good, so they are all in Europe. How come Canada has never even made to the World Cup???
You must really enjoy that red nipple.

The 'majority' of them do not play in the major European leagues or teams (the same could be said about the US, actually), but a lot of the ones that are already in Europe are either making a good enough living that they would not consider coming back for MLS, or they are young enough that they can move up to a higher level in a few years time, in which case they'd stay over there for the increased visibility.

The ones you would see return are those in their mid/late 20's that are still in lower-tier leagues/teams and looking perhaps for better competition and/or the stability of playing at home.

You are not going to see (for example) Julian de Guzman of Deportivo La Coruna or his 18-year-old brother Jonathan of Feyenoord (already a starter for the big club) come back any time soon (even though they are from Toronto), but you may see someone like Chris Pozniak, a 24-year-old fringe national teamer who plies his trade in second-tier Norway, come back.