Today’s News, Wednesday , Jun.11
Carver on Hemming
Coach Pleased with Midfielder's return
Toronto FC Media Relations
Toronto FC coach John Carver is happy to have Tyler Hemming back at the club. The midfielder was waived by the team in April, but has now re-signed on a senior developmental contract. "I said at the time that I thought Tyler was unfortunate to have left the club," said Carver. "It was his decision to leave the club because we offered him a different slot and he wasn't prepared to accept that. But now that Jarrod Smith has been promoted, and the slot has opened up, Tyler can come back in."
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Toronto to make room for one more
Toronto FC have created space for an extra overseas signing - keeping alive the possibility of a Major League Soccer move for Darren Huckerby.
Huckerby, 32, released by Norwich City, has repeatedly been linked with the Canadian club, who already have two ex-Canaries in their squad in Jim Brennan and Carl Robinson.
The extra vacancy has arisen because Toronto defender Pat Phelan has moved to New England Revolution and the club received an international roster slot in return.
They have 12 international rosters spots, but only 10 are occupied, meaning there is space to bring in another non-Canadian.
American striker Brian McBride - returning to MLS after four years with Fulham - is another option for Toronto because they own his trading rights.
But USA international McBride, 35, has expressed a preference for joining Chicago Fire in his home state of Illinois, and Toronto director of soccer Mo Johnston said he was open to trading McBride's rights as long as TFC received “something big” in return.
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Carver tries to solve Toronto FC's woes on road
Coach says he might tweak travel schedules to slash down time
Morgan Campbell
Sports Reporter
Toronto FC doesn't have another road game scheduled until June 28, and they're probably glad for that. Sunday's 3-1 thumping by the Houston Dynamo was TFC's fourth loss in five road games this season.
But even with another mini-homestand on the horizon, the folks running the team think it's never too early to figure out ways to start winning on the road, and before yesterday's practice coaches held an hour-long brainstorm session to figure out just what needs to change about TFC's road routine.
Head coach John Carver wondered if his team has too much down time on the road, and thought a game-day activity might keep them loose, maybe a game of bingo or bowling.
He also considered changing the practice schedule, training later in the day to mimic the game-day schedule, or booking an earlier flight to squeeze in an extra practice on the road.
While the answers aren't yet clear, Toronto's dilemma is.
Sunday's loss kept TFC in fourth place in Major League Soccer's competitive Eastern Division, and cost them a chance to gain ground on third-place Columbus and second-ranked Chicago.
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Carver fed up with loaning players to national teams
By DEAN MCNULTY, SUN MEDIA
Toronto FC coach John Carver has drawn a line on the pitch on loaning his players out for national team commitments.
Carver was livid yesterday looking at a lineup that has been depleted by callups to the U.S., Canadian, Honduran, Welsh and Puerto Rican national teams for mostly exhibition games.
His top two Canadians, defender Jim Brennan and goalkeeper Greg Sutton, his best American, Maurice Edu, and Puerto Rico's Marco Velez have been called up recently, and all have seen only limited national team duty, something that angers Carver.
"We have got to know that when these lads are called up that they are going to play," he said. "Or at least know what sort of training they will be doing while away from (TFC)."
Carver complained that some players are not coming back from these commitments in the same shape they left.
"If (national coaches) are not going to use players, then don't call them up," he said.
Carver was particularly upset that Edu was put into the U.S. game against Argentina this past weekend for just 29 minutes -- thus missing a TFC league game.
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SUNSHINE :noidea:
