Toronto FC director of player development Paul Mariner will be a guest Tuesday morning at Sportsnet Radio Fan 590. Mariner will join Dan Dunleavy at 8:45 a.m. to discuss many of the recent changes that have taken place at BMO Field.
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VIDEO: Leandre Griffit explains why Toronto could be a better fit for him than Columbus.</p> |
The Major League Soccer summer transfer window opened on July 15, but Toronto had already lined up several moves well in advance. Recent acquisitions of defender Andy Iro, midfielders Terry Dunfield, Leandre Griffit and forward Ryan Johnson complement the team’s two new high priced designated players, Torsten Frings and Danny Koevermans.
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It’s possible that Toronto could field six new players this week between Wednesday’s match against Dallas at BMO Field (TSN, 8 p.m. ET) and the encounter in Kansas City on Saturday (GOL TV Canada, 8:30 p.m. ET). These changes were deemed necessary by head coach Aron Winter. In accordance with first assistant Bob de Klerk and Mariner, the trio made it a priority to boost the quality of the TFC squad.
After 21 games Toronto sits tied for last in the Eastern Conference. That may deter some however, with key Champions League clashes ahead along with 13 MLS matches the management team has signaled there is plenty to play for in 2011.
Winter has indicated that more transactions could be on the horizon. The coach and most of the squad trained at a Community Practice in Oakville on Monday. The six new players, along with captain Maicon Santos (still recovering from a hamstring injury), and goalkeeper Stefan Frei remained at BMO Field and held a separate session monitored by de Klerk.
The entire team will train together on Tuesday at BMO Field.
NOTES: The new additions were sporting their numbers on Monday. Iro will wear number three, Johnson has the task of carrying Danny Dichio’s number nine, Griffit will be 21 and Dunfield chose 23.
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