I realize he does not speak Japanese, but why doesn't MO look to Japan, and Korea etc, for potential recruits?
Wages maybe? I dunno how much players in the A-League, K-League or other leagues in those places make.
The leagues there are miles ahead especially in leagues like the J-league, and the K-League is becoming good. Even India has formed the I-league. And then theres aust. A-League which is prob on par with us. And If I remember correctly the pay for the top asian leagues are much better than what we can offer under the cap, plus the clubs have real support not like everyother MLS club except us.
Well, last year there was a Chinese kid name Xu Qing who tryout for TFC, but he didn't make the team or he decided not to sign with TFC. http://torontomls.blogspot.com/2007/05/chinese-super-league-player-to-mls-la.html
Hey, I thought I came up with the term: "Whoregreaves" (canada thread). It would be nice if TFC could land somebody like Park (Is he still with Man U?). There has to be a place on Earth where Mo can find some decent players. I look at the current roster and shudder that some of these players are still with the team.
Why would Park want to play for us? We need to get realistic and start to target players that are playing bit roles (not at major clubs though, theres no way there coming here), because quite frankly I think almost anyone on a prem squad right now, could be our best player. Because we can offer these players an equal salary, and glory they might never get in England. (like Dichio)
Though they may have stronger leagues (I can't say because I never seen any of these clubs from Asia play) but you can still get players from that region. The Argentina league is miles better than MLS but we still get players from there.
I was just using Park as an example. Here is an excellent player who spends most of his time on the bench. There must be others of his calibre who would rather play in North America then ride the pines in the EPL, or elsewhere. MLSE has unlimited resources for a DP signing. Mo has to start somewhere.
What happened to Mo's venture into South America....how many times was it reported last year that he was "close to signing one or two Argentine players"? Still, it wouldn't hurt for him to check out places such as Korea, just a thought.
From Gerry Dobson: Source: http://www2.sportsnet.ca/blogs/gerry_dobson/2008/02/07/live_from_tfc_training/ From Luke Wileman: Source: http://blog.rogersradiointernet.com/extratime/2008/02/08/next-signing-two-weeks-away/
a Korean wouldn't want to come to the MLS, unless it's for the Galaxy... I think for Koreans...right now...it's EPL or bust(back to the K-League)
Isn't Lee Chun Soo in Feyenoord? I don't think its strictly EPL or bust.... but I really don't see a high profile Korean player in MLS. But there is still some real talent on the peninsula...
If MO could grab a top-flight Korean, or Chinese player, MLSE could add 20,000 seats to BMO and still have a season ticket waiting-list. Just a thought, I doubt anything will happen this year on the DP front. Wonder if MO has been told to hold-off until after the Maple Leafs do their expected house cleaning.
while I believe there are many good Asian prospects the problem is there are too many leagues/teams/hype that it will be too difficult to properly scout without a lot of assistance. And even then Asian's are not the most adaptable.
I think he means the language barrier. However, Toronto is home to close to one million people of Asian decent, so I think if there is one place in the West where they would feel at home, it is here (and Vancouver, but they don't count, yet).
To me Asian players don't live up to their hype most of the time. Outside of Park Ji Sung and Nakamura in Celtic most Asian players don't make any waves and just disappear into the fold. There are no Notable Asians in La Liga there are no notable Asians in Serie A, Actually there may be just 1 Asian all together in that league. I know in the Portuguese league we've had some Chinese and Korean players come and go without impressing. They're decent but for TFC it would be much easier to scout in South America where players generally work well in new leagues.
Couldnt be bothered to read anything but the title. But why look for Asian players over say....Canadian players in Canada that have the talent but just havent been scouted because our scouts are over in Asia because of an idea like this.
True. Does anyone from TFC scouting attend any of the CSL games. There may be and are a few descent players that can be added to the team from some of the squads that play in the CSL, or any of the other minor leagues. http://www.canadiansoccerleague.ca/
Exactly. When I see people say we should get a DP from this country, or that country, I want to punch a wall in frustration. Soccer is a global game. You can get great players from anywhere. I just want TFC to get great players. If they help TFC be a better team, I could care less where they are from.
If having Canadian citizenship is all that matters to some fans, why do they go apeshit whenever Dichio or Edu touch the ball? I like what teams such as Arsenal and Inter have done, and the other great European teams for that matter, namely, build a great team regardless of colour, ethnicity, race, nationality,etc etc.....soccer is not hockey, there is really no place for chest banging at the club and league level (save it for the world cup, if we ever make it there)....