Toronto FC signed Ali Gerba with hopes of having the Canadian national team striker be the goal-scoring threat the club had been looking for.
It didn't quite work out that way.
TFC parted ways with Gerba on Monday, terminating his contract and ending a brief tenure that saw him score just one goal in 11 appearances in 2009.
Toronto didn't waste time filling the roster spot. The club signed 2010 draft pick Joseph Nane.
Here are some other stories that have emerged on Monday:
MANSALLY NAMED MLS PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Kenny Mansally's two-goal effort in New England's 2-0 victory vs. D.C. United earned him MLS Player of the Week honors.
Mansally came on as a second-half subsitute and made an immediate impact, score two goals less than two minutes apart to break open a game D.C. United had been in control of.
NEWCASTLE SECURES PREMIER LEAGUE PROMOTION
A year after a shocking relegation, Newcastle is headed back to the Premier League.
The Magpies secured promotion after Nottingham Forest tied Cardiff, 1-1, on Monday.
Peterborough's demotion from the League Championship was secured by its 2-2 tie vs. Barnsley.
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Surprised it took this long for TFC to dump Gerba? Did Mansally get your vote for MLS Player of the Week? Happy to see Newcastle back in the Premier League?
Share your thoughts below.
Yeah, but we have Garcia on our team!
TOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOON!
Best part? Newcastle back on FSC next year!
san jose is still paying for the majority of garcias contract
Forest and Cardiff didn’t tie 1-1, it was a 0-0 draw.
I remember when San Jose traded Toronto Nick Garcia and the rights to Ali Gerba last season for a draft pick. That was awesome trade just given Garcia’s awful performances, but with Gerba sucking too that trade was like a gift.
Gerba to Dynamo. He can’t possibly be any worse than Oduro or Landin, can he???
Under the new CBA the roster rules are different. 24 players, and then can sign players to “apprenticeship” contracts.” Joseph’s contract isn’t “developmental” (designation was done away with), but apprenticeship.
Gomez is with the team, but injured. Velez left midway through last season.
http://www.mlssoccer.com/players/toronto-fc
This seems to be missing D Dan Gargan who they supposedly signed last week, as well as Nane Joseph. Not sure if Velez and Gomez are still with the team — they’re not listed, but never noticed anything about them being waived. With all those guys, it bring the roster to 22.
GK = 2: Frei, Conway
D = 8:Brennan, Garcia, Harden, Attakora, Herold, Gargan, Gomez, Velez
MF = 9: Peterson, DeRosario, De Guzman, Cronin, Sanyang, Saric, Gala, Joseph, LaBrocca
F = 3: White, Barrett, Ibrahim
Can we start the Altidore=Santi Munez call now? Get him on Newcastle!
“A Major League Soccer team’s full roster is comprised of the Senior Roster and the Developmental Roster. The full roster shall exceed no more than 24 total players: 18-20 players on the Senior Roster and no more than four (4) players on the Developmental Roster. All 24 players are eligible for selection as part of the game-day squad during the regular season and playoffs.”
TFC’s site is showing they have 17 players on their roster. Nane was signed to a developmental contract Gerba was a senior roster spot. Maybe their team bus doesn’t have 24 seats.
Despite the fact they’ve looked like going up almost the entire season, I’m only really relaxing about it now. It’s honestly more of a relief than any feeling of excitement at this point.
Andy Najar.
Does anyone know the name of the 17 year old that played for DC United this past weekend?
I wonder if that is the shortest Player of the Week appearance ever?
Ken, that was awesome.
As a Sounders fan, I’m staunchly opposed to this idea.
+1!
Filling the roster spot? They still have room for 6 more players.
“Oh Canadaaaa…”
cardiff and forest was 0-0
Gerba was fat and lazy
ELAC in this case i am not sure you can get worse then Gerba.. Terrible signing.. a guy can’t make it in league 1 in england so lets put him on a 2yr guarenteed contract.. Ives do you know if he agreed to a buyout or did they eat the whole years salary? And how does that affect the cap?
I’m not hating, but Preki has a way of dumping players and replacing them with less than stellar replacements.
Good luck to you guys.
Ives, you guys should do an MLS goal of the week feature.
Peterborough “secured” a demotion? Quite an achievement.