Toronto FC has endured a rough season under new head coach Aron Winter, but the last-place team in the Eastern Conference still has playoff aspirations and took a step toward trying to realize those dreams with a pair of major signings.
TFC announced the signings of German midfielder Torsten Frings and Dutch striker Danny Koevermans today, making the pair the second and third Designated Players on Toronto's roster, along with Julian deGuzman.
Frings, 34, and Koevermans, 32, will be eligible to play for Toronto once the summer transfer window opens on July 15th.
TFC is currently in last place in the Eastern Conference, but with the new MLS playoff format, the club is just four points out of the 10th and final playoff spot.
Frings is an infamous player among U.S. national team fans for being the German national team player who appeared to intentionally handle a goal-bound shot by Gregg Berhalter in the 2002 World Cup quarterfinals. Referee Hugh Dallas missed the call on what could have given the United States an equalizing penalty kick.
What do you think of the signings? Think Toronto can still make a playoff push?
Share your thoughts below.
here is some history…the White House is on fire
Frings still played 32 games last year for Bremen, if guys like Blanco and schelotto could have an impact at their ages I would not rule out Frings doing the same. Especially since physical play probably won’t be an issue in his case.
No, you’re still responsible for your actions. Boo all you want, but don’t throw stuff.
Does a team with American influence want to kill Ntaive Americans?
Red Bull fans who hate Frings make me laugh…you guys have freakin’ Marquez!!!
The battle for the most hated man in MLS has begun.
32? 34? It’s not 2002 and Frings looked old last time I saw him play. He’s gotta prove himself before I’ll call this a good signing. I’ll take Alonso.
I’ll Amen that too!
+1. We will be booing him in Timbers Green.
dork
i might add that having now seen the context of your ‘joke’, that not knowing the history of the american nats hardly qualifies as not knowing american history. Im guessing this was another ‘joke’ you speak of.
Could be that the joke wasnt funny.
Go figure eh?
If Toronto does make the playoffs, Henry’s usual tactic of scoring with his hands will be denied by Frings clutch defense with his hands.
Maybe they could just put Frings in goal, he’s excellent at guarding that line with his hands…
Scorers can score anywhere when given the PT…And he’s physical…Maybe better than Hassli, we shall see
The South Americans that can handle the physicality…it usually takes at least a half year to adjust
It does come down to physicality, and these guys can handle it
Just what the league needs…another thug
I am proud of you for being from Canadia AND not knowing your US history.
Iy’s too bad the Galaxy will not be playing Toronto FC again this year (unless,of course TFC make the playoffs), a Berhalter-Frings reunion would be pretty interesting!
It’ll be interesting when he matches up against Henry.
whatev…the O’Brien handball wasn’t the factor, the Frings handball was.
Yah but who can jeer Hugh Dallas these days? Frings will be coming to a stadium near you soon…. good move TFC.
got some cathartic jeering in my personal future, TFC is circled on the calendar….
John O’Brien isn’t playing anymore – he got his payback in career-ending injuries. Frings is still on the field, all the better to receive the uncivil verbal abuse that he so richly deserves.
At least he won’t get urine showers walking out the tunnel in and out of MLS stadiums.
What do you mean? Do you want TFC to invade Poland?
Euro or So American players havent worked out? When did you start watching MLS, last month? Jeez man learn some history.
Unh-hunh.
I wouldn’t book your ticket just yet.
Interesting speculation. Funny that we haven’t heard word one from Klinsy since the announcement of his consultancy. Maybe this is what he was quietly working on for the secretive Northerners.
DeGuzman is persona non grata at TFC and has been for a while.
Freudian slip. Doesn’t like to actually use the word. Not like W-I-N-I-N-G!
Yeah, I know.
Amen, brother.
john o’ brien, handball against mexico in the same world cup, not called ny ref. guess y’all have selective memory…
I wasn’t as clear as I should have been. Age and $$ they will likely cost is more of a concern than the fact they are from Europe.
I have no dog in this fight, I hope they do well.
In recent years, South American signings seem to have done better. And you are focusing on the wrong part of my statement, I am mostly talking about their age and the amount of money TFC will likely have to pay for them.
someone sign Maradona to coach and MLS will have 3 of the most infamous hands ever!
good for TFC, watching them right now, and they are missing soooo many guys right now.
The issue is their age and physical condition. And since they are signing with an MLS club, not a Bundesliga club, some might think they are not longer capable of handlign the physicality of that league.
Add to that the travel schedule, which will be a lot heavier in the MLS and weather.
I hope they do well, but I am skeptical of any MLS club trying to improve through signing of aging European players.
if Frings has an ounce left in the tank it is a great signing for TFC. He is a hell of a player. (who handled the ball in ’02 and we missed out on a PK but let’s face it, it is as much if not more the ref’s fault for not catching the obvious infraction)
Frings brings an instant enemy, but also sorely needed quality to the team. Reminds me a lot of Marquez in that sense. At least Frings is with a Canadien team so the home fans don’t have to ignore the handball.
Wow, I already disliked Toronto just because they are stupid, smelly, back-bacon eating Canucks. Now I really hate them!
Yes! the players should do what they have to to win. even if its’t pretty. the ref should be there to call it.
so many things wrong with this ^.. i hope your sarcastic
Will someone make giant TIFO of Frings’ handball against the US? Seattle, I’m looking at you…
a canadian with no sense of humor… now i have seen everything.
canadians have no sense of humor.
Exactly. See, this is why we need Klinsmann coaching the USMNT – with his connections we could probably sign Klose and Ozil to be our forwards!
Hey, bud! Let’s party!
Everyone’s going to be talking about Frings, but the really big impact news is the Koevermans signing. The guy scored 134 goals in 253 games with top Dutch teams. Better than one every two games. At 32, he might be one of the best signings in MLS history, assuming he can get some decent service.
He’ll also fit nicely into TFC’s DUtch-style organization.
(crickets…)
Just a guess, but I’d bet there are many more North American players who did not work out well in MLS than there are European and South American players. Its about the player’s skill and mentality, the team, and the manager, not where the player was born. Get quality players in a good situation and you’ll get quality.
He’s right.
Toronto’s season IS like an episode of Fringe.
Whoops, sorry, I misread the headline, my bad.