All the DP talk over the past few weeks has got me a little excited. After all, the designated player rule was made to attract world class stars to Major League Soccer, and I think every Toronto FC supporter has been waiting for this to happen since the rule was put in effect.
Obviously, the league looks at designated players as potential seat sellers. David Beckham sells out stadiums league-wide, and players like Juan Pablo Angel and Cuauhtémoc Blanco provide good entertainment for their local fans. These three do a pretty good job both on and off the field.
When you look at our club, though, you know that we don't need to sell seats. Supporters just want TFC to win. Everyone involved at the club just wants TFC to win. We need a designated player who will contribute game in and game out on the field, from whatever position he plays.
If you were to give me the option of a 22 year-old striker from South Africa, who nobody has heard of, but will score 25 goals a year, and a player like Filippo Inzaghi, who will play for maybe a year or two, I'd take the 22 year-old. I'd take the player who would be here for many years to come, and would only get better and better. Granted, he could find his way over to Europe, but if that were to happen, we can always sign another DP (I know, easier said than done).
In signing a designated player, Mo doesn't need to necessitate to the soccer fans in the GTA. He needs to necessitate to the Toronto FC fans. For us, signing a DP isn't about attracting more fans, though this may come as result of a DP signing. It's about bringing in a player who will play well with our team, and lead us to success on the pitch.
Obviously, the league looks at designated players as potential seat sellers. David Beckham sells out stadiums league-wide, and players like Juan Pablo Angel and Cuauhtémoc Blanco provide good entertainment for their local fans. These three do a pretty good job both on and off the field.
When you look at our club, though, you know that we don't need to sell seats. Supporters just want TFC to win. Everyone involved at the club just wants TFC to win. We need a designated player who will contribute game in and game out on the field, from whatever position he plays.
If you were to give me the option of a 22 year-old striker from South Africa, who nobody has heard of, but will score 25 goals a year, and a player like Filippo Inzaghi, who will play for maybe a year or two, I'd take the 22 year-old. I'd take the player who would be here for many years to come, and would only get better and better. Granted, he could find his way over to Europe, but if that were to happen, we can always sign another DP (I know, easier said than done).
In signing a designated player, Mo doesn't need to necessitate to the soccer fans in the GTA. He needs to necessitate to the Toronto FC fans. For us, signing a DP isn't about attracting more fans, though this may come as result of a DP signing. It's about bringing in a player who will play well with our team, and lead us to success on the pitch.
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1 comments:
Hopefully all clubs start making their decisions based on what helps a club win, because there is a huge group of footie fans in Anglo-North America who won't watch MLS until the quality on the pitch is of English Championship level or better.
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