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Union purchase Torres’ full rights, keep eye on future while aiming to build winner

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Photo by Michael Janosz/ISIphotos.com

By AVI CREDITOR

The Philadelphia Union have a plan, and they're sticking to it.

The club purchased the full rights to 20-year-old Colombian midfielder Roger Torres from America de Cali, which had been loaning him to the Union for the last two seasons. The financial haul from Tuesday's trade of Sebastien Le Toux to Vancouver provided more flexibility to make the move and keep Torres as a part of the club's young and growing nucleus, an aspect that is emerging as the highest priority for the club's front office even if it comes partially at the expense of a fan favorite and the club's leading scorer. 

"It's all around the future, it's not around one player," Union manager Peter Nowak said regarding the team's recent moves on a conference call with reporters Tuesday afternoon. "In the past two years we've built a good foundation to express that and to build it toward the future. It was important to keep our philosophy, and the moves we make confirm that."

Used mostly as a spark off the bench the last two years, Torres provides quickness, technical skill and playmaking abilities in the midfield. He'll be pushed into a larger role with the departures of Le Toux, Veljko Paunovic and Justin Mapp, among others, while rejoining the other key young players on the club such as Freddy Adu, Amobi Okugo, Zac MacMath, Jack McInerney, Zach Pfeffer, Josue Martinez, Danny Mwanga, Chandler Hoffman, Sheanon Williams, Kyle Nakazawa and Gabriel and Michael Farfan — all of whom are 23 or younger.

"We want to invest in the future," Nowak said. "We have a very good foundation with the youth pieces, and we have faith in them that they will develop the right way like they've showed in the past."

As a result, capitalizing on the chance to sell Le Toux became necessary. Nowak said that after Le Toux returned from his trial at Bolton without an offer, Vancouver stepped up with "a very strong approach," one that ultimately could not be turned down.

"If you want to be in a sustainable, competitive advantage, then you have to create the room," Nowak said. "We don't have like the NBA's luxury tax or salary cap, where you can blow the team out of proportion. 

"It's not an easy part for any of us. We have a couple of guys on the roster right now that we want to improve their contracts."

While Nowak singled out Williams, a U.S. Under-23 right back, as one of those players, securing Torres for the foreseeable future also falls into that category, and the pressure is on those young players to deliver at a higher, more consistent level.

The Union were three points shy from a first-place finish in the MLS Eastern Conference a season ago. Even though veterans like Le Toux, Paunovic and departed goalkeeper Faryd Mondragon were integral in helping the club improve immensely in its second year, it is that youth movement that is going to be looked upon to push Philadelphia to newer heights.

"Experience is vital, but over the last couple of years (Le Toux and Mondragon) give the group very good confidence," Nowak said. "They showed them how to win the games and how to be professionals. I think we have all the faith and confidence in this group we have right now."

Comments

  1. Le Toux actually asked to be paid less than DP money… and considering that he either scored or assisted 45 of the Union’s 79 goals over the past two seasons, he was DEFINITELY worth DP money…

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  2. I think this might be closer to the heart of the situation. I have a feeling Novak & LeToux butted heads some when LeToux was asked to play in the midfield during the first half of 2011. He did well there, but that’s not his game – this was well proven by his stats in the second half of the season when he was back up top again.

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  3. Unfortunately, I think this is one area that MLS hasn’t quite figured out well. They haven’t allowed teams to grow their top players enough. Any time a player is successful for two years in a row, all of a sudden they become to expensive to hold on to. 2010 Crew is a perfect example of this.

    I really think LeToux could have been the face of the franchise for the Union for the next few years, but for the fact that he asked to be paid what he is worth.

    Despite that, holding onto Torres is definitely a good move and I look forward to seeing how the youngsters gel out there this year. Don’t know what they are going to do when it comes time for the Olympics though…

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  4. Just read the article that gives LeToux’s side of the story- and if true- it reflects pretty badly on Philly management. Then again, I am so far removed from it to draw conclusions is almost impossible, but still somewhat fun.

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  5. I remember something about LeToux spouting off in the press about being played in the wrong position by Nowak. This could definitely have something to do with it. Plus LeToux has a strong possibility of returning to Europe.

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  6. Well that’s an interesting point: Does LeToux have a “there can be only one” mentality? I’ve never gotten that impression from his playing as he always seems pretty selfless on the field, but it could be…

    it could also be that younger players are generally cheaper to hold on to.

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  7. Interesting about LeToux. On the one hand he scored and assisted well the past two years. On the other hand two well respected coaches let him go. Sigi left him unprotected in the expansion draft and Nowak sold him.

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  8. Tough to win with young guys? Really? Give me ONE well known club in world football that has put an impetus on youth, and hasn’t won ANY trophies since Thierry Henry left. Then I might agree with … oh.

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  9. It’s true that they have a ton of young talent, but a vet like Le Toux provides nice balance, poise, and leadership. It’s tough to win with all young guys.

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  10. I really like the union and their approach. It is as close to the OKC Thunder as the MLS has- building on youth.

    As much as I hate to see LeToux go, I am excited to see how Mwanga,McInerny,Adu, Torres, William,Farfans etc. all develop together.

    Could be a great year for the Union all things considered.

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