NEWS: NATE JAQUA

The agent for Expansion Draft pick Nate Jaqua, has claimed the former Chicago Fire forward is heading to trials in Europe if not traded to the Los Angeles Galaxy. Sir Mo took a gander on Jaqua in hopes of trading him away to the LA Galaxy for youngster Nathan Sturgis. Jaqua is not interested in making a move to Toronto. He would be a good target man in the event the Los Angeles Galaxy land David Beckham in the coming months. With Alan Gordon emerging last season under Frank Yallop, the Galaxy already have a similar player in their ranks. Jaqua however brings a proven track record.

MLSE - SALMING - SUNDIN - TEDDY?

The Toronto Maple Leafs and MLSE have had a tremendous relationship with Swedish athletes over the years. That said will Toronto FC follow suit? Will we see a Swede lead TFC in its formative years! I wonder how someone like Teddy Lucic FOR EXAMPLE would do in MLS?

RUMOUR: Ivan de la Pena New York Bound

With so much emphasis being placed on the likes of Reyna, Beckham, Figo, and Ronaldo making moves to Red Bul I am hearing some discussion that the powers at be at Red Bull in Europe are seriously interested in convincing Ivan De La Pena to leave Espanyol for a glitzy move to New York. And yes re-uniting Ronaldo with his long lost play maker is the goal. That said I'm not all that convinced that big names will solve problems for any one team in MLS. Especially the likes of fragile players like Ronaldo. Yet if De La Pena actually comes to America and brings his "A"game and attitude, he will be the sort of player that will elevate the play of young domestic players in the same manner that ex-MLSers Valderamma, Etcheverry, Stoitchkov, Cienfuegos, Donadoni, Nowak, Preki (and that has been missing in recent years) did in the leagues formative years. Moreover, De La Pena has that bulldog attitude that can make him a huge success in America. His loyalty for Espanyol however may be too much for the Spanish International to contemplate a move abroad (he has been rumored to be working out a deal to end his career in Barcelona with Espanyol) . Interesting nonetheless.

NEWS: Toronto FC to announce full coaching staff as early as Friday

Sir Mo will officially announce his coaching staff prior to his departure for Europe next week with Bob Gansler, Earl Cochrane and and a third member (Tim Mulqueen has been mentioned although I am hearing its not) will be announced as early as Friday. Toronto FC & MLSE will want the open tryouts in late December to run as smoothly as possible in order for participants to feel as they got their $ worth - the coaching staff is critical to that process.

RUMOUR: Sandro Grande MLS bound

Sir Mo continues looking toward Scandanavia for Canadian International players to stock TFC. Talented midfielder Sandro Grande formerly property of Brescia (at the time in Seria A), the Montreal Impact of the USL, and more recently of Molde FK in Norway is said to be one of the more attainable Canadian targets for Toronto FC in Europe. Grande impressed many in the MLS with his solid play vs. the USA in 0-0 tie in San Diego back in early 2006.

RUMOUR: Toronto FC set to confirm Greg Sutton

The long rumored signing of Canadian International Goalkeeper Greg Sutton from the Montreal Impact has been concluded. Details regarding a working partnership between the Montreal Impact of the USL, and Toronto FC are being finalized. Look for many joint intiatives including the home & away Series next year. Although previously opposed to spending millions for an MLS franchise, Joey Saputo the Billionaire head of the Impact and the ownership group of the team are said to be considering a move into the MLS for the 2010 season. The Impact are on their way to building a soccer specific venue as the team maintains average crowds that rival some MLS teams.

RUMOUR: Guevara to Chivas USA

New York Red Bulls Honduran Midfielder Amado Guevara is heading to Chivas USA for an allocation. Things picked up for Guevara after Sir Mo & Lalas were sent packing from New York. The allocation looks to be used on New Jersey native Claudio Reyna coming home from Manchester City.

MONTREAL IMPACT & TORONTO FC WORKING TOGETHER

Transfer of Greg Sutton is looking more likely as discussions with Billionaire Montreal Impact owner Joey Saputo are going well. Montreal & Toronto may play a home & away series next year a possible Canada Cup Tournament.

News & Notes - TORONTO FC / TORONTO MLS

Sir Mo has revealed that he is close to signing a left sided player that has appeared in 3 World Cups Finals & no Beckam rule player on the radar until 2008.

NEWS: Edson Buddle Deal to Toronto FC

Expansion Draft choice Tim Regan has been traded to New York Red Bull in exchangefor Edson Buddle.

http://web.mlsnet.com/news/team_news.jsp?ymd=20061122&content_id=79290&vkey=pr_rbn&fext=.jsp&team=t107

Interesting how the Metrostars/Red Bulls end up with a player they let go for - well nothing this time last year.

Buddle has never lived up to expectations in MLS. He was once thought highly enough in Columbus as the successor to the great tradition of forwards in Ohio like Brian McBride, Stern John, and Jeff Cunningham. Columbus saw fit to let Cunningham & Brian West go anticipating Buddle's development. I would suppose that having Eddie Gaven (who was traded for Buddle last year) to show for Buddle is not all that bad though. As for New York Red Bull they end up with Tim Regan back at the team who was let go by the team last year without any compensation.

Sir Mo must see something in Buddle in order to justify a USA SI spot on the roster, and a pretty good chunk of the salary cap. Lets just hope Mo stops at Buddle in re-claiming the Bruce Arena rejects. Here's hoping Peter Canero goes back to Scotland to recover and play out his last days of professional soccer in peace, and Tony Meola + Chris Henderson ride off into the golden years of their lives to claim their rightful place in the hollowed halls of the Soccer Hall of Fame in upstate New York.

Toronto Contributions to MLS

Toronto FC begins play in 2007 yet Toronto relationship with MLS and namely Mark Abbott of MLS & SUM began as early as January 1995. Abbott was a guest of Richard Peddie, then with Skydome Entertainment and now current honcho at MLSE, exploring the possibility of a Toronto MLS team during the Inaugural & only Skydome Cup featuring the National teams of Portugal, Denmark, and Canada.

On the field players with local ties have had quite the impact in over the years - Dwayne De Rosario, Adrian Serioux, Andrew "Andy" Williams, Mark Chung, Ricky Titus, Jason Bent, Iain Fraser, Edgar Bartolomeu, Will Johnson, Greg Sutton, Adrian Cann have all suited up for various MLS teams. Former Blizzard (CSL) & Lynx (USL) players Ted Eck, Alex Bunbury, Pat Harrington, Pat Onstad have also been in the league.

NEWS: TORONTO FC SIGN CANADIAN INTERNATIONALS

Toronto FC have announced the signings of Canadian International defenders Adam Braz, Chris Pozniak & Marco Reda at a press conference held at the CN Tower this afternoon. http://www.cbc.ca/sports/soccer/story/2006/11/22/toronto-fc.html