greatest news ever yesterday when i heard the rumours....now that it is confirmed i cant stop smiling!
Oops, I think your link was changed---it now goes to a tennis article. Here's one I found: Welsh cut loose
He wasn't terrible really, he probably could have been a sometimes-starter on a lot of MLS teams. $200K though? BUH-BYE!!!!
Welsh wasn't a terrible player. But there are 2 factors that made him terrible for TFC: 1. He cost $200k. Anyone making that kind of money should be great--a starter or top sub at a key position who makes a difference regularly in games. Welsh was quick and he hustled. And other than that, he was quick and he hustled. Did I say that he hustled? 2. TFC right now isn't getting a lot of contributions from Canadians. So EVERY player who's an SI or YI needs to start and be a strong player or a major contributor. Many of their SI's fall into that category (Cunningham, ROB). But on a club that is maxed out of SI slots and Canadians are either too expensive (ie: Euro-based) or not MLS pedigree yet (ie: USL and not strong USL), the only way for that team to improve is through their SI's or YI slots. But cutting Welsh loose, TFC doesn't clear any cap room (his salary is guaranteed for the season now) but they do open up a slot they can use on another player and got rid of someone who didn't contribute much other than being quick and hustling a lot.
That's Mo Johnston for you. There are somethings that he does that are ok, but then there are things that make you wanna pull your hair out. Plus, he is not much on a team being fit.
As someone who has watched each game, Welsh is shite. He hustles and that's it, although he had his best game vs LA I think. He is not MLS calibre and to top it of $205 000. I am sure whatever his remaining salary was collected by MLSE through the backdoor. If he was transferred, then MLS would receive money, so he was waived, much easier that way
JoeW- if I was ever described like that, I hope I never touch a field again. That's damn harsh. I somewhat agree, but damn.
It's all in the context. If Welsh had been a Canadian citizen making $40k, than he'd be a great roster signing. He hustles, has pro experience and is quick and a mediocre wide player. But he's not Canadian and he makes $200k+. And given those realities, he's judged at a different standard. Look at it this way: TFC has lost ROB and Cunningham for the rest of the season. If they have ANY hope of getting some results, they need to add a scorer. That means they need to either cut a SI or a YI and add a scorer in one of those positions. Just about any SI or YI that TFC has is someone that plays a key role for the team. Maybe Welsh was cut b/c he was poor value for his nationality and cap cost. But if the team is seeking to add someone, Welsh is the best choice to cut. Plus, it's been pretty obvious for a while that he's not good enough to start in MLS. Letting him go back to Europe now is decent of TFC.
having watched all of Welsh's games, this is my scouting report: 1) tries his hardest (did someone say hustles? 2) good at challenging guys and winning balls 3) makes good runs that stretch the defense 4) can't score even on the easiest chances 5) can't cross a ball to save his life.... toronto journalists had some sort of pool every game to see how many times he'd make a great run down the wing and then foul up the cross he's got skills.. 90% of his game is good enough to satisfy an MLS team.. but it's that last 10% (the critical, finishing part) that is his downfall.
He wasn't fast enough for MLS. He has OK skills. He should do OK in Colaship. As long as he doesn't fall into one of the four thousand holes in Blackpool, Lancashire.
Here's the BBC article for those that like the BBC stamp of officiality. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/blackpool/6973559.stm Hope has good stuff to say about MLS when he gets home, but probably won't since he became something of a 'boo boy'. We'll see. Good move for Toronto FC I say, but a move that won't really mean much until next season, but that doesn't matter.
i thought he was pretty fast. he just has a funny running style (think drunken sailor) . his speed is what always got him those chances to cross after he blazed down the wing. his speed was in evidence at the end of the LA game when he sped past the defender and went in on goal... only to have no skill to get it past Cannon.
Welsh was an average player but why would TFC not just wait until the end of the year.....nobody expects them to make the play-offs this year. When they lost 2 key players for the rest of the year it looked even less likely.
As a Rovers fan, I must point out that the holes are in BlackBURN, not BlackPOOL. I'm pretty sure Blackpool isn't even in Lancashire. Carry on.
TFC couldn't wait. The transfer window in Europe closed Aug 31 at midnight. If they didn't move Welsh and let him have the chance to play regular football, then they would have had to wait until the January transfer window at the earliest to move him back to Europe. Cheers!
Yes I thought he was speedy as well but he just didn't do what was expected of him at that price in MLS standards. Sorry to see him go, he gave 100% on the pitch every game.