Christmas Comes Early

For Toronto FC fans, Santa Claus came down the chimney on Friday afternoon, around five o'clock. Mo Johnston has acquired Canadian international, and local boy, Dwayne De Rosario.

I don't know about you, but I was bouncing off the walls of my cubicle when the news broke. You know how I do.

De Rosario's a winner: a four-time MLS Cup champion. He's a goal scorer, an all-star, and easily becomes TFC's best, and most dangerous, player. If there's a guy to lead TFC to the playoffs!, it's the Scarborough native.

Mo Johnston's taken a lot of heat in Toronto for not delivering on his promise to bring a big name to The Big Smoke, but De Rosario's about as big as it gets in MLS. So, let's all give Mo a J.P. Ricciardi-like general manager's reprieve. You know, good for one more year.

For those of you not too familiar with DeRo's MLS exploits, check out the following video. I saw it over at The 24th Minute, where Duane Rollins is your host, and, well, I must share (remember, sharing is caring). The clip is a small window into the incredible talent that is Dwayne De Rosario and, like Rollins says, only the final replay gives it justice. Enjoy:

Filthy goal, wasn't it? Needless to say, it's going to be a lot of fun watching DeRo at BMO Field next summer.

Thank you Mo Johnston Santa Claus, and Merry Christmas TFC fans.

And, welcome home, DeRo.

Make Yourself At Home, TFC

Toronto FC's season is over. A season that began with so much promise ended with so much disappointment. BMO Field must wait to pop its playoff cherry.

Honestly, I didn't watch enough of TFC in 2008 to tell you where it all went to hell. I'll leave that to the professionals. In this case, The Toronto Star's Cathal Kelly.

I know, I know, there's a lot of hate out there amongst soccer aficionados pointed at my man Cathal, but I enjoy his work. I loved his coverage of Euro 2008 this past summer. His blog was hilarious. In my humble opinion, the man can write. 

Cathal's take on TFC in 2008? The team just wasn't that good. And you can blame TFC's director of soccer Mo Johnston for that.

Johnston promised big things, and he didn't deliver. If Mo was the man in charge of any other Toronto sports franchise, he'd be out of a job. I don't think he's taken enough heat for TFC's brutal season, but my man Cathal brought the fire. Read his column.

Here's hoping shit changes in the front office down at BMO Field. Major League Soccer has been a huge success in Toronto, but there has got to be a better squad on the field, plain and simple.

TFC is already looking all too comfortable in the city's sports scene. They're fitting in rather well, actually. The club is printing money, but the playoffs are nowhere in sight. It's absolutely shocking that they're owned and operated by MLSE.

If it weren't for the Toronto Raptors, these might be some of the darkest days in Toronto sports history. The Jays, Leafs, Argos (yikes), and TFC aren't exactly knocking my socks off. 

Required Footy Reading

If you're looking to satisfy your Canadian footy/TFC blogging needs, because God knows I'm not getting 'er done, check out The 24th Minute. Duane Rollins, he of Out of Left Field fame, is your amiable host. And, yes, the blog is aptly named in honour of TFC's first ever goal, scored by Danny Dichio in, you guessed it, the 24th minute.

Also, the gentlemen over at The Passion That Frustrates Us All have posted part one of their TFC Season Review. Check out the layout, they're good people over there.