It’s been a rough start for Toronto FC’s designated players.
With Torsten Frings battling a month-long injury, Danny Koevermans lacking both form and fitness, and Julian de Guzman continuing his inconsistent play in the midfield, Toronto FC’s designated players have been more miss than hit as of late.
Aron Winter believes that the players he has are not good enough for MLS – he may be right. He has expressed doubt in the quality in certain positions, and in doing so, he has also expressed a need for more players.
Yes, Toronto FC have lost their last seven games. Yes, Toronto FC needs help all over the pitch; the defense is porous, the midfield is physically incapable and the forwards aren’t scoring regularly. Yet, in a salary-capped league, Toronto FC’s hands are tied. With over a million dollars spent on Toronto FC’s three designated players (roughly $350 thousand per DP), adding quality reinforcements is nearly impossible.
Which begs the question – does Toronto FC need these designated players?
The quality of Torsten Frings is obvious, and scrapping the former German international is, perhaps, premature at this time. Yet Frings’ absence proved one thing; Toronto FC had grown reliant on their aging star – without him, Toronto FC’s defense fell to shambles and things have not been the same since. At his age, is he worth more than a quality MLS centerback?
Danny Koevermans came to camp unfit, and slowly but surely made his way back into a semblance of form, before picking up an unfortunate groin injury, ruling him out of the last two games.
As for Julian de Guzman, the Canadian midfielder can no longer claim a starting spot in the midfield. This being the case, Toronto FC now employs a multi-million dollar benchwarmer, hardly efficient for a team limited by a salary cap.
Each of these players had the potential to offer Toronto FC something special. Yet, each have come with their own flaws; Frings is getting old, Koevermans is physically battered and Julian de Guzman is nowhere near good enough.
In a league where getting the most bang for your buck is key, can Toronto FC really justify having three designated players on their roster?
I wouldn’t say so.
See, this is a league where you need 18 quality players. When this much cap-space is tied up in DP money, getting those 18 solid players becomes impossible. Keep in mind, that with $350 thousand of open space, Toronto FC can add one centerback, one defensive midfielder and one striker, at $115 thousand each.
Let’s look over at our friends in Salt Lake City and see how they spend $350 thousand:
Defender Tony Beltran, a possible MLS all-star this year? $100 thousand.
Midfielder Ned Grabavoy, capable, strong and smart? $118 thousand.
His partner in crime, midfielder Luis Gil? $90 thousand.
That’s two solid midfielders, and an MLS all-star quality defender, for just over $300 thousand.
Now, the trading game isn’t as simple as picking who you want and getting them. This isn’t FIFA career mode (unfortunately). However, looking at the salary spread of other MLS sides reveals Toronto FC’s flawed structure:
We are spending too much money in all the wrong places. This is $350 thousand we’re dealing with – now imagine that multiplied by three, and we can see exactly why DPs in this league need to be stellar in order to justify their cost.
If Toronto FC’s DPs aren’t working out, well then – do we really need ‘em?
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