Toronto FC's youth movement is in full effect.
TFC signed four players from its academy on Thursday, inking defender Ashtone Morgan, midfielders Oscar Cordon and Matt Stinson and forward Keith Makubuya to Homegrown Player contracts.
The four of them join Nicholas Lindsay and Doneil Henry to help TFC match FC Dallas with a league-high six Homegrown Players on the first team.
All four players were with the team during its preseason trip to Turkey. Cordon and Stinson, both 18, figure to be closest to contributing this season. Cordon played for the first team during the Canadian championships and in the CONCACAF Champions League group stage last year.
What do you think about all the signings? Do you think any of these young players can make an impact in 2011?
Share your thoughts below.
Well I think it’s amazing that the FC feel they can benefit from their own Achademy. My prayers are with you Ashtone
Morgan played olympics so can’t play for Jamaica. He wouldn’t of anyway.
what other club in the world goes into the full season with 16 pros and 6 kids on the roster? none.
Nice to see Aron winter is committed to building from within the academy… the DNA of Ajax to create the blueprint of TFC… that said, we’re not winning many games this year. After the indifferent 4 years under Mojo, I can appreciate this strategy and player investment in comparison to the ‘Laurent Robert / Mista’ air drop decisons, or the Eastern Euro patch work line up of past lineups… but darn, we aint winning much this season. ugh.
I had read TFC is doing an extensive league partnering thing for youth teams. My feeling is that is a great idea but unlikely to yield truly major dividends until the club has a significant “retiree” or “near miss no hard feelings”‘base of ex-players. At that point you can expect slightly better skill coaching and free or low cost scouting from those who’ve seen the real deal up close…
Nice moves…But it looks like another year of rebuilding for TFC
Not that big an issue for TFC fans. National team fans? Different story.
I’ve played with Morgan and Stinson, both quality players. Both will develop into first teamers over time or will make the jump to lower European divisions (like Ethan Gage and Adam Straith of Vanvouver).
Morgan would be best discribed as very similar to Colorado’s Anthony Wallace. He can play both LB and Left Wing.
The issue with Morgan is, like a few other (former) TFC academy players, is they have Jamaican ties, and although they grew up in Toronto would rather represent the Jamaican national team.
FYI…TFC is playing a 4-3-3 this year. Winter has been coy about his starting line-up and there are a few injuries, so it’s a bit of a mug’s game. But, I’m a mug, so I’ll guess the following:
Martina-Maicon-Savarise
DeRo-Cordon-Peterson
Yourassowsky-Cann-Attakora-Gargan
Frei
Everyone wants to be like Dallas….
Combine this with the $17 million TFC is investing in the academy and the future looks bright for the MLS. This is the way to go to build a strong long-term league.
“With TFC ownership approving a $17.6 million investment in a new training facility, planning is underway for the creation of a third academy team. Neely said he expects a program made up of U-14 and U-13 players to be up and running by spring 2012.
And that’s just the beginning, Neely said.
“It’s exciting,” Neely said. “We are looking to create U-15, U-13, U-11 all the way down to U-7 [teams]. That’s been the plan from Day 1.”
Anyone have a projected lineup for TFC no that they have these 4 + Omphroy? Can Omphroy play LB?
Martina-Maicon
Peterson-DeGuzman-DeRosario-Savrise
Omphroy-Cann-Attakora-Gargan
Frei
Even if the kids don’t contribute a lot this year, I think that it is exciting news. For the kids that aren’t getting enough time bewteen Reserve matches maybe TFC will loan them out to an NASL or USL club.
I can’t get enough of these homegrown player signings, no matter the team. Great for the league.
Echo the sentiment on Nicholas Lindsay. The kid showed a lot in the games he played at the end of the season.
I wish Nicholas Lindsay hadn’t gone out on that snowmobile/ski hill (not sure the exact story) and hurt himself. Of all these academy kids, Lindsay was the best. He was making a serious contribution last year with a good number of assists in a short time.
Yep, Morgan and Cordon looked like they fit right in with the first team last year. Stinson has gotten rave reviews, but I’m not familiar with Makubuya. This is great depth for the team, and will be constantly pushing for a first team place, as this is where management wants them to be in the future.
Ummm… Ahstone Morgan is the most likely to contribute this season
He’s a left back which TFC don’t have, and he has played in a few of the CCL games.
Unlimited.
I think this suggests that Toronto was underwhelmed by trialists, or they’re up against the salary cap. Still, it’s good to see teams move young players through the system. This should give the kids a leg up.
How many players can you sign from your academy per year now?