Originally Posted by
ManUtd4ever
While I agree with some of your points, especially regarding the manner in which DeRo handled his contract situation publicly, the culmination of off field issues ultimately resulted in DeRo's unwillingness to forgive the organization as a whole for what he percieved as mistreatment over the last two years.
As more information has become available, we have learned that it is very likely that MoJo offered DeRo a contract under false pretenses, which was gullible on DeRo's part, but an indictment of previous management nonetheless.
We have also learned that Earl Cochrane wasn't forthright with the media during the Celtic debacle, which further tarnished DeRo's image and strained his already tenuous relationship with the club.
I personally would have loved to see DeRo forgive and forget, give Winter and Mariner a chance to instill some credibility and integrity within the organization, and remain with the club.
It's easier said than done though...
Exactly.
Today we heard in the CBC article
"It was just an offer that more suited Toronto than myself, and it was one that I felt had some uncertainties," De Rosario said on a conference call Tuesday from New York. "I said, 'Enough's enough.' I didn't want to be a negative influence, I didn't want to be a bad guy in the locker-room. I would still play 100 per cent, but I just couldn't carry that weight on my shoulders and in my mind.
"I just needed to get some clarity and just play, so it had to come down to one of us making a decision."
The Globe article stated something similar
“It was an offer that more suited Toronto than myself and it’s one that I felt that had some uncertainties in it and at that point I was very disappointed and was even looking at other options to help me stay there and every option that I brought forth was turned down so I kind of said enough’s enough,” he said. Having heard rumours that the club was trying to trade him during the preseason, he finally agreed to a move to New York last week.
If we look at the highlighted areas and take into account everything that we have heard from both sides of this we can decipher the truth from it all.
No one can question Dero's commitment. He did exactly as promised, both on and off the field. On the field, he scored goals, played for the crest, gave 100% come game day and mentored many of the younger players on the squad. He always appreciated acknowledged our support and when we couldn't get anywhere with the grass issue, he stuck his neck out and spoke up for us, WITH us. Off the field, he did an enormous amount of charitable work and was always available to fans for signings, conversations and whatnot. He lived up to, and likely exceeded, his promise to the club.
Did the club live up to the promises made to him? Quite clearly, they did not. Hell they haven't lived up to their promises to us but....
So then, Dero asks management to fulfill their promise to him MANY times, only to be served with reason after reason or excuse after excuse as to why they can't do it yet. So he keeps playing and they keep saying "keep waiting" until he could no longer bite his tongue. He does the Cheque signing gesture as clearly the situation has poisoned him so badly that he can no longer sit quietly. (Does anyone here know what it's like to work for people who consistently lie to you and don't fulfill promises? I certainly do, but that's beside the point.) So with each day his venom for management grows and he finally DEMANDS that they fulfill their end of the bargain. They offer him a new contract (not what was promised), the option to play out his old contract and also inform him that teams have been interested in him if he would consider that route. He makes it clear that he does not WANT to be traded, not did he ASK to be traded. He wanted the promise fulfilled. They tell him that this is all they've got to offer. After being presented with the offer, he realizes that management will not, and never intended to, fulfill their end of the agreement and also realizes that if he were to stay it would be a detriment, not only to him, but to the boys in the locker room and the fans, so he agrees to a trade.
Some people will say he asked to be traded as that's the choice he made. What they refuse to accept is that that choice was forced on him because of broken promises and lies. Some of you will say that his agent should have got it in writing and he shouldn't have signed the contract but, even in today's world many verbal agreements/promises are made(many of which are legally binding i might add) and I too would not have thought that an organization of this stature would be so shallow as to not keep their word. I am certain he did everything he could to get past his animosity for management before coming to this conclusion. He first and foremost, wanted to play for TFC, in Toronto, and for us. Of this I have NO DOUBT. When he realized he couldn't do so, he did the only thing he could do.
As for Winter/Mariner, I still don't see where anyone has specifically said they were the reason for this. And quite simply put, they are not. Both Winter and Mariner are on record as saying that they wished that Dero was with this club. In turn Dero has stated the same and has actually praised Winter in what he's trying to accomplish here, even after his departure. The only thing about Winter is he'll have to be more careful with his words. We here in North America, play on words and some of his statements could easily be twisted to serve alternative means.
I'm done with this thread. I will see if I can personally hunt down Dero in July while I'm at the TFC/NYRB game and thank him personally for what he's done for this team and us suppporters.