Colorado-TFC Standoff?

[JoeW]

This is just a case of reading between the lines....and I admit up front that I may be completely wrong on this....but I'm wondering if there is a bit of standoff between Colorado and TFC.

Here's my thinking.

1. TFC drafted a number of players (Kreis for instance) with the idea of then getting something for that player in trade--usually from the team they selected him from. They picked Richie Kotschau, Mojo never indicated he was among the 2 players he wanted to keep and eventually cut Kotschau just before preseason training started. In between Kotschau's selection and his waiving, Colorado traded for Brandon Prideaux. Prideaux is basically a slightly cheaper version of Kotscheau (semi-versatile defender who knows the league, isn't that fast, doesn't add much on attack). Although I never saw anything in print, I think that TFC went back to Colorado to demand something for Kotschau and Colorado basically told TFC to stick it.

2. Colorado wanted Casey Connor and had been talking to him (or his agent anyway) for some time (CC is from Colorado). But they worried that a team ahead of them in the allocation order would put a claim in on CC. And that's exactly what TFC did.

But since then, what has happened. Unless something has changed in the past 2 days, while Casey Conor's contract with Mainz is now ended, he's still in Germany. He's never publicly said he didn't want to go to TFC. But I find it strange that while TFC is in training, Conor is still in Germany. Additionally, TFC is clearly still lacking some pieces (they need another GK for instance) and have 3 strikers (Eskandarian, Buddle and Conor) that all pretty much like to play the same role (ie: while they're all different, none of them is a withdrawn striker who sets up others).

I have to wonder if Conor is eventually going to be dealt to Colorado and this lack of conversation about it now is both teams (TFC, Colorado) playing hardball?

[FlashMan]

i don't know that of which u speak, but i believe TFC has 4 strikers - the guy from Togo they picked up from Red Bull (sorry, forget his name).

as to why Casey is still in Germany (if true), that seems like an odd one, unless it's taking him a long time with paperwork and just plain ol' moving.

[denver_mugwamp]

You're wrong about Kotschau. Clavijo dumped him and doesn't want him back. But I think you're right about Casey. Toronto never wanted him but thought they could force Colorado to give up something. But now they're in nowhere land with him. Teams that play tricks with player acquisitions should be prepared for the paybacks.

[USvsIRELAND]

i don't know that of which u speak, but i believe TFC has 4 strikers - the guy from Togo they picked up from Red Bull (sorry, forget his name).

as to why Casey is still in Germany (if true), that seems like an odd one, unless it's taking him a long time with paperwork and just plain ol' moving.

Abbe Ibrahim

[SccrDon]

....I think that TFC went back to Colorado to demand something for Kotschau and Colorado basically told TFC to stick it.

Maybe I'm missing something, but Kotschau played for Columbus last year, not for Colorado, so why would TFC think Colorado owed them something?

[murtaugh]

Who is Casey Connor?

[Jasonma]

Conor Casey, not Casey Conor

And yes, Kotschau was traded to Columbus in the 05/06 offseason

But other than that, you were right on with your post. :rolleyes:

[DoctorD]

Trade Casey for Mathis and everyone's happy.

[BringBackTheBlizzard]

There have been conflicting reports on whether Conor Casey is in Germany or not. Judging by what was in the Globe and mail on Saturday he was actually in Florida last week and is probably in Toronto now:-

http://www.globesports.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20070223.wspt-soc-torfc-23/GSStory/GlobeSportsSoccer

Meanwhile, Conor Casey worked out mostly on the sideline yesterday morning. He has a minor thigh injury and hopes to resume full training next week when the team is in Toronto.

And perhaps by then, Toronto FC will be able to announce that Casey is officially one of its players once MLS procedural matters are wrapped up. Casey, a former striker for the U.S. national team who has been playing in Germany, said he has not been disturbed by the slow process.

"I haven't put much thought into it to be honest," Casey said after a morning workout on the field that is part of the grounds of the team's hotel.

"I signed a contract and I'm assuming that in a few days it will be made official."

[Bill Archer]

So Casey Connor was drafted by Toronto but really played for Columbus even though Colorado wants him back.

Am I close?

[Bill Archer]

There have been conflicting reports on whether Conor Casey is in Germany or not. Judging by what was in the Globe and mail on Saturday he was actually in Florida last week and is probably in Toronto now:-

http://www.globesports.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20070223.wspt-soc-torfc-23/GSStory/GlobeSportsSoccer

Meanwhile, Conor Casey worked out mostly on the sideline yesterday morning. He has a minor thigh injury and hopes to resume full training next week when the team is in Toronto.

And perhaps by then, Toronto FC will be able to announce that Casey is officially one of its players once MLS procedural matters are wrapped up. Casey, a former striker for the U.S. national team who has been playing in Germany, said he has not been disturbed by the slow process.

"I haven't put much thought into it to be honest," Casey said after a morning workout on the field that is part of the grounds of the team's hotel.

"I signed a contract and I'm assuming that in a few days it will be made official."

So much for all the great untapped Canadian soccer talent that was going to take MLS by storm. They draft guys like Buddle and Kotschau and use allocations to pick up Americans coming back from Germany.

When the highest profile Canadian player you've managed to nab is Greg Freakin Sutton, something ain't right.

[FlashMan]

So much for all the great untapped Canadian soccer talent that was going to take MLS by storm. They draft guys like Buddle and Kotschau and use allocations to pick up Americans coming back from Germany.

When the highest profile Canadian player you've managed to nab is Greg Freakin Sutton, something ain't right.



You mean, Canada doesn't produce an abundance of soccer talent but is better known for its hockey output?

Sounds just about right to me...

[Jasonma]

So Casey Connor was drafted by Toronto but really played for Columbus even though Colorado wants him back.

Am I close?

As close as a Thiago Martins shot...

[BringBackTheBlizzard]

Jim Brennan is actually the highest profile Canadian signed so far. Only a small portion of overseas based Canadian players had contracts which terminated in time for the current transfer window.

[TheSlipperyOne]

So much for all the great untapped Canadian soccer talent that was going to take MLS by storm. They draft guys like Buddle and Kotschau and use allocations to pick up Americans coming back from Germany.

When the highest profile Canadian player you've managed to nab is Greg Freakin Sutton, something ain't right.

Well they did get a good Canadian defender/DM then traded him.

And they wanted a great Canadian AM but wouldn't pony up to get him.

[EdTheRed]

Well they did get a good Canadian defender/DM then traded him.

And they wanted a great Canadian AM but wouldn't pony up to get him.

TFC is just waiting for RSL to acquire DeRo...then they'll trade a fourth round pick in the '09 Supplemental Draft, a case of Molson Export Ale, and a box of Kraft Macaroni & Cheese for him.

[hobbes]

Jim Brennan is actually the highest profile Canadian signed so far. Only a small portion of overseas based Canadian players had contracts which terminated in time for the current transfer window.

Or maybe they just couldn't afford to lure them back with those massive MLS dollars. Or TFC put a priority on spending their cash on players with MLS experience or guys Mo liked (like Robinson).

The threads about "so Toronto is going to be the Canadian national team" were absurd beyond belief last year and no one who knew anything about the Cdn nats expected more than a few squad players to make the jump.

This is a good chance for fringe/young guys to get a chance to play at a high level. It looks like Jon Paul Piques may be the backup keeper after spending a year with Sporting in Portugal and then two or three with Braga as a youth teamer. I'm far more excited about guys like him, Rich Asante, Andrea Lombardo, etc having a decent standard to play at when they get a game than I am worried that current senior players aren't flooding back home from their European clubs. Patrice Bernier, Jaime Peters, Atiba Hutchinson, Andrew Hainault, etc, etc are fine where they are developing in decent enough leagues.

And for guys like Reda and Brennan I'm happy they're in better club situations and Pozzy, Sutton and Braz are taking a step up in competition. This is a good thing.

cheers,
hobbes

[BringBackTheBlizzard]

No idea what threads Hobbes is referring to. The salary cap was clearly always going to limit the number of top national team players that could be attracted back, however. So far Brennan, Reda, Pozniak, Piques, Lombardo and Canizales are Canadian players who have returned from Europe to play or try out for Toronto, while Serioux and Jazic returned to North America to play in MLS last summer. That is a far from inconsequential trend and there will undoubtedly be a few more arriving in MLS over the next couple of years as the contracts of more overseas based Canadian players expire, meaning that the players involved can be acquired for free on Bosman free transfers with no allocation and/or salary cap money having to be used on transfer fees.

[Stogey23]

So Casey Connor was drafted by Toronto but really played for Columbus even though Colorado wants him back.

Am I close?
That you are, Archer Bill.

[TopDogg]

The threads about "so Toronto is going to be the Canadian national team" were absurd beyond belief last year and no one who knew anything about the Cdn nats expected more than a few squad players to make the jump.
Amen.