In my previous piece, “Calm Before The Storm?” I mentioned that Toronto FC has been quiet on player signings, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t a lot of work going on behind the scenes.

Tuesday morning, new head coach and technical director Aron Winter, gave a small glimpse into his thinking on the matter in a Toronto Star interview.

Winter said he is “going to try” to secure a new designated player before the start of this season, and sounded out Stefan Frei, Julian de Guzman and Dwayne De Rosario as “key players” to the changes he plans to bring to football culture in Toronto.

Watch Winter and Toronto players at the preseason press conference Wednesday, 10:30 a.m.

Honed cynicism of some TFC supporters after four disappointing seasons will have a few understandably jaded by the designated player carrot.

The process isn’t simple. Los Angeles’ year-long courtship of Ronaldinho shows that it can become highly frustrating for all parties if it is not executed properly. Therefore, expecting any news on this item unless it’s very close to being completed is unlikely.

Winter isn’t the type to make boastful claims. Like most students of Johan Cruyff, he absorbs quickly and takes measured steps.

While some grow impatient, unaware which new players will join TFC on its preseason trip to Turkey, the Star interview shows Winter has lofty goals for 2011 and beyond. He is keen enough to realize that his ambitions require some new pieces.

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