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Johnston: Edu staying put

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Toronto FC head coach Mo Johnston put to rest growing rumors that U.S. national team midfielder Maurice Edu was preparing for a winter transfer move to England, telling SoccerByIves.net that the TFC star is staying put.

"What people don’t think about is that right now he doesnt’ have the qualifications to go (to England)," Johnston said of Edu, referring to Edu’s inability to secure a work permit. "Are teams interested? Of course they are, but right now I think it bodes well for Maurice to stay in the league and develop.

"When the time is right for him to go, we’re not going to stand in his way."

Edu has been linked to a move to Aston Villa, which is in the market for a defensive midfielder. Edu caught the eye of Villa manager Martin O’Neill last summer when Toronto FC played Villa in a friendly. At least one other English club has also expressed interest in Edu’s services.

"Martin (O’Neill) loved him when he was here," Johnston said of Edu. "Maurice was oustanding and turned some heads.

"What people forget is that he just finished his first year as a pro," Johnston said. "There’s still room to grow and we’re excited about that."

Edu, the 2007 MLS rookie of the year, has impressed with the U.S. national team since starting in his first appearance, the team’s 1-0 exhibition win against Switzerland on Oct. 17. The 21-year-old midfielder is expected to be a key figure on the U.S. Olympic team this year and has established himself as a strong candidate to start when the U.S. senior national team begins its World Cup qualfiying campaign this summer.

Comments

  1. I’m all for more competition on the US team. No one’s spot is secure. I love how guys like Edu come in and play well and push other guys to step up. Hopefully more “Edu’s” will come onto the scene in the coming months. I think Gooch and Boca should be concerned not just with Edu but Jonathan Spector. I hear he’s doing well at West Ham in the CB role.

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  2. Edu is a genuine star in the making. If the potential he has shown so far continues, Michael Bradley better learn how to learn to play AM quick or enjoy life on the bench. (of course Edu is being experimented with playing Centerback in which case Boca and Gooch better prepare to fight for their lives because Edu has been showing great promise there as well)
    When he does transfer out, assuming MLS doesn’t suddenly have a rapid increase in quality and get $120milllion payrolls, I hope he goes to La Liga or Serie A where he will learn more than running around like a chicken with his head cut off in ‘long ball or death!’ England. (unless he went to Arsenal, that would be good as well)

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  3. The best player on TFC last year was ronnie O’brein (who unfortunately was injured most of the time). Jim Brennan was the most consistant.

    Edu provided a lot and definately has the most potential but didn’t do the most on the fiel last year.

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  4. To say that Edu was the best player on TFC is incorrect. But to say that comment was “vastly overstated” is even a bigger mistake.
    No one really shined on that team, the worst in the league. The only players that should receive any praise on that team regarding their performance from last season is O’Brien, Edu and at times, Dichio.
    Edu showed he can be a difference maker with his club but when surrounded by better players on the USMNT, he showed he can be a star.
    His true talent wasn’t really displayed until he was playing on the national team, i.e. Adu with the U-20 and his spot minutes with the senior team.
    If TFC brings in better players and develops as a team next season, it will be safe to say Edu is the best player on that team.

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  5. Whoever said Villa should take a look at Michael Bradley, I second that motion. I imagine Herenveen is sitting in some cold sweat hoping Bradley will slip under the EPL radar until at least the end of the season.

    Off topic: Hey Ives, judging by the quality and quantity of your content over just these past two days, you’re well connected to sources throughout the United States. Is there any chance you can go straight to the source in Europe as well, a la Yanks Abroad/ASD?? And while we’re wishing out loud, can you get any info about the progress of Danny Szetela, Sal Zizzo, and Gabe Ferarri??

    Oooooo: and is there any progress in the American pursuit of Giuseppe Rossi and Neven Subotic?? These are all hot topics on my mind, thought I’d share. =)

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  6. “Edu is the best player on the team”???

    this is a vastly overstated comment.
    Edu was one of the better players on the team, but not the best.
    Jim Brennan, Ronnie O’Brien, Jeff Cunningham played better than he did. He started off slowly although he improved greatly as the year went on.
    And why send off Mo Edu now, when his value will surely rise by the end of next season?

    Posted by: jeeves | January 03, 2008 at 11:11 AM

    So you think Jeff Cunningham had a better season than Mo Edu last year? That statement blows my mind. The only player that has a realistic shot of saying they played better than Mo Edu last year on TFC is Ronnie O’Brien due to the fact of how awful they were without him. Mo Edu will be a great player for whatever club he plays for and our national team for years to come. And Bradley going to the EPL, in my opinion, would be a big mistake. He seems more suited for Italy, my first choice, or Germany.

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  7. jeeves
    “Edu is the best player on the team”???

    Let me restate that he has the most potential, and honestly if you could only protect one of those players from leaving (Jim Brennan, Ronnie O’Brien, Jeff Cunningham, Edu)it would be Edu.

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  8. “Edu is the best player on the team”???

    this is a vastly overstated comment.
    Edu was one of the better players on the team, but not the best.
    Jim Brennan, Ronnie O’Brien, Jeff Cunningham played better than he did. He started off slowly although he improved greatly as the year went on.
    And why send off Mo Edu now, when his value will surely rise by the end of next season?

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  9. An offer has to be made and MLS has to agree to amount for a sale to go trhrough. No one said an offer was made, teams inquire and are interested in players and yet dont always sign them. They have in interest in him and will probably follow him this year.

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  10. “When the time is right for him to go, we’re not going to stand in his way.”
    Johnston

    Is the right time going to be if he gets enough starts for the USMNT this year?

    I say roll the dice. If Aston Villa wants Edu submit the transfer and hope that is gains approval in the courts. Why not have Bob Bradley provide a testomonial like he did for Benny Fielhaber? Hey Mo Benny didn’t qualify either and he still transfered. I’m pretty sure Bradley would be more than willing to do this. Aston Villa is a good side unlike a Fulham or a Derby County. It would be really nice to see an Amercian field player on a PL team in the top half of the table. STRIKE WHILE THE IRON IS HOT!

    It’s pretty obvious that if Mo Johnston doesn’t get results or make significant progress this year will be his last as the coach of Toronto. Edu is the best player on the team so Johnston will use the “What people don’t think about is that right now he doesnt’ have the qualifications to go (to England),” excuse.

    Mo I have thought about it, why not let Edu take a chance? If the transfer doesn’t go through you’ll have another year with Edu on your team.

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  11. I think its a good move to stay for another year (even if TFC is horrible again). He grew so much in the last 12 months and he will definitely get a chance to play if he stays – between TFC and the USMNT.

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  12. Maybe villa should take a look at bradley? I know the rules are crazy about securing a work permit, but i dont understand how players like Anderson can get one but edu could not?

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