TORONTO FC SPECULATION, TYLER ROSENLUND TO AIK, & MLS NEWS

No word on the expected foreign player signing from Toronto FC as of yet. Speculation continues to circulate largely based on comments made by Sir Mo in the media. Whoever it is, Sir Mo has made it clear that he is a lower profile player with leadership ability, as he expects him to become a co-captain.

The Dwight Yorke rumour brought about by comments made by Phil Scheon on GOL TV have circulated as a possibility, though I have my serious doubts given his position and age. Miami based Phil Scheon had ample opportunity to speak to Mo Johnston, as they know each other from Scheon's days at ABC covering MLS, while Mo was down in Florida for the National team camps and the MLS Combine. Or Scheon may have speculated based on what he read on the Internet about Mo watching Sunderland play in early December. Sunderland however has just signed yet another Trinidadian in Stern John so it would appear that they are assembling Soca Warriors not sending them away.

I would suggest my earlier suggestion of former Toronto Olympian Densil Theobald, the current T&T Captain, can be ruled out given the player Mo speaks of is coming from Europe. Theobald is back plying his trade in the T&T domestic league after ending his contract with Scottish team Falkirk (still worthwhile to take a look at considering his play in the World Cup and that he may come on the cheap). As for Europeans, Jacek Bak of Poland, a player Mo had gone on record stating was a target of his last year while coaching New York is a possibility, as is Martin Andresen of Norway. Andresen however would require a transfer fee and is highly regarded in Norway by both fans and the club making him less likely. Of course Scottish player Charlie Miller, apparently a friend of Sir Mo, has played alongside Andresen for a couple of years now at SK Brann in Norway so there could be a link. Another name floating around was Miroslav Karhan of Slovakia who has been with VFL Wolfsburg of Germany for several years. Although his contract status at the moment is being discussed, he has gone on record stating he would rather stay in Germany because he does not want to uproot his family who are very happy there. It is also not known whether he can speak English - certainly something a potential Toronto FC captain would require given the makeup of the roster.

As reported yesterday AIK Stolkholm will be taking a close look at Canadian Tyler Rosenlund. Rosenlund will be on trial until February 11th. If not successful at AIK, Rosenlund may have other opportunities elsewhere in Scandinavia. As I reported back in December MLS apparently tried very hard to secure Rosenlund to no avail after the College Cup in St. Louis.

DC United and the Houston Dynamo opened training camps yesterday. Of note Dwayne De Rosario was present and apparently well ahead of teammates due to the head start received during the National team training camp in Florida. Looks likely now that Dwayne will accept the big raise in pay and stay put in the MLS for the coming years. According to Kevan Payne DC United will probably not use a Designated Player this year.

Kansas City are getting close to finalizing a deal to play out of a small expanded community/high school field for the next two MLS campaigns. The seating capacity will be between 6500-8000. Not that the Wizards were ever a good draw in MLS, yet the reduced capacity will surely have an impact on the overall MLS attendance averages that so many soccer fans and basher's alike will be following closely to measure the David Beckham impact. The Wizards as an organization however are doing many great things on and off the field, and we should see stadium development plans shortly. The new local ownership group have already doubled the team staff to nearly 40 employees.