Thanks to VPjr for getting the information from a source at camp: Bold = Canadian 1 Greg Sutton 2 Andrew Boyens 3 Xavier Balc 4 Julius James 5 Mike Zaher 6 Maurice Edu 7 Ronnie O'Brien 8 Patrick Phelan 9 Danny Dichio 11 Jim Brennan 12 Todd Dunivant 14 Tyrone Marshall 15 Tyler Rosenlund 16 Marvell Wynne 17 Joey Melo 18 Brian Edwards 20 Andrea Lombardo 21 Collin Samuel 23 Jarrod Smith 24 Tyler Hemming 27 Gabe Gala 28 Stefan Honore 29 Nana Attakora-Gyan 33 Carl Robinson 96 Jeff Cunningham So, we've got 17 non-Canadians in camp, and just eight domestics...we are still three roster spots away from the 28 that we should be carrying, but we will have to cut two of the non-Canadians (don't ask me how in hell they managed to convince MLS to let them carry seven more international spots than the rest of the league....). There is a possibility that Dichio and Boynes are landed citizens now and would count as Canadians...that was the plan last year, but we haven't heard confirmation. We think Honore might be one of the French players that came over for an open try-out. However, he's a name we haven't heard before. Here's an idea MO... INVITE SOME CANADIANS
Boyens is a member of the New Zealand national team, so I'm surprised that obtaining landed status would qualify him as Canadian unless there are special MLS rules on that issue vs the FIFA definition of nationality. BTW, don't you mean landed immigrants, not citizens? They haven't been here long enough for citizenship, unless there are some quirky Commonwealth rules I don't know about, but I think those were all abolished in the 70s. As for getting more Canadians aboard, the well has run dry if you ask me. All the Canadians of the required calibre are tied up elsewhere right now.
You only need to be a landed immigrant to count as a domestic under MLS rules. O'Brien, for instance, is considered American in MLS. The domestic quota is only going to get bigger. If Toronto starts to win, while being allowed seven more international spots, I'm sure the other teams are going to scream bloody murder (not without justification). TFC must develop Canadians if it is to compete long term. Leaving roster spots open is idiotic. It cost all of $12,500 to carry a d-roster player. Explain to me how it is better to not try and give a young Canadian a chance to develop for a year so that MLSE can save 12.5 grand.
--------------------------------------------------------------------- So if Owen Hargreaves wanted to play for TFC, even though he plays for Englands team, he would not be considered a CDN.
Well the fact we put in a academy shows that the club wants to work in developing young Canadian talent but right now I don't see much of a point to put in Canadians unless they show they have the present ability or the potential to be a MLS caliber player. If that wasn't the case then we probley would of kept a player like Canizalez.
Question: how many non-Canadian players can Toronto FC have on their roster? As well, is the full roster set at 28?
We can field a 100% Canadian squad if we want, the only limit is as to how many foreign players we can hold. I agree that TFC has to be the cornerstone of developing Canadian talent, but I thought the developmental squad was something separate. As per #1TFCs comment, I'm guessing that although in the eyes of FIFA he's English, by MLS rules Hargreaves would qualify as Canadian..
I doubt MLSE will spend time and money developing Canadian players. It would be a great idea for the fans, but MLSE is concerned primarily with making money, and not wasting money. Unless they sign a top flight domestic player to a long term contract, there is nothing preventing him from leaving for Europe at the drop of a hat. Everybody is looking after their own careers first, so making any type of long term investment in players does not fit with the MLSE planning model (see Toronto Maple Leafs). Again, it would be a nice departure from their business model, and I would welcome it by renewing my season tickets year after year. However, it is already February and the team has not yet made a significant signing.
No - he is a Canadian citizen and can work in Canada. National team affiliation has nothing to do with it. Basically if you aren't a Canadian citizen being a landed immigrant allows you to count as a Canadian under the quota.
Perhaps, but a few things to consider: 1. Improving the Canadian talent base improves the profile of the sport in Canada, in turn improving the profile of TFC, in turn improving the bottom line. 2. They could easily lobby the government for a player development subsidy to offset the cost.
You make some good points, and I do agree that TFC should be looking to develop Canadian talent. But I think that in the next few years we are going to see some relaxing of the domestic quota. With all of the expansion the league is planning and the eventual raising of the salary cap there is going to be more need for teams to bring players in from outside North America. I think that if TFC starts doing well, other teams will start compaining, but the league may well respond by allowing them more foreign players.
No, Americans are considered foreign players for the Canadian team. To compensate for the fact that Toronto will be hard pressed to find enough Canadians to field a competitive team Toronto is allowed to carry a few less Canadians and a few extra foreign players. However, of the foreign players a certain amount must be American. Cheers!