TFC sign Brazilian holding mid/ defender Julio Cesar!!!!

[Eastend]

http://www.theprovince.com/sports/so...754/story.html


And rumoured in WakingTheRed earlier today.....

http://www.wakingthered.com/2013/1/1...ng-kansas-city

[Bluenose13]

Good stuff!

He was a very important player for one of the best teams in the league last year.

[TOBOR !]

Great comments in that article about pride and character as important qualities. Gives ya goosebumps.

[Derko]

Great comments in that article about pride and character as important qualities. Gives ya goosebumps.

I'm over my signing old guys rant, Payne is making moves early, I don't think TFC have ever done that before,no!!!

[bigredone]

Not happy. An old fellow (by pitch standards) that will be gone soon. No connection built here for the fans, but another excuse if things go bad.

[Oldtimer]

Not happy. An old fellow (by pitch standards) that will be gone soon. No connection built here for the fans, but another excuse if things go bad.

What's wrong with old fellows?

In every team you need some veterans to teach the younger players (who should form the bulk of your squad). Every good team has a mix. No veterans, and your team gets lost, especially on the defensive end.

[Ivy]

Good signing, I like it. He was good enough to play with KC in the playoffs just afew months back, I'm sure he's good enough to play for TFC - for now

I'm curious what they gave up for him though? Hopefully not the first draft pick lol

[Detroit_TFC]

Good signing, I like it. He was good enough to play with KC in the playoffs just afew months back, I'm sure he's good enough to play for TFC - for now

I'm curious what they gave up for him though? Hopefully not the first draft pick lol

It's a free. He was released by SKC on November 19.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J%C3%BA..._Santos_Correa

[pdogg]

Average Age of MLS Teams
Team	2012	2011	Diff
VAN	29.71	26.35	3.36
COL	29.19	28.25	0.94
CHV	29.06	27.79	1.27
LA	28.76	27.73	1.03
NY	28.53	29.05	-0.51
CHI	28.52	26.23	2.28
DAL	28.50	27.57	0.92
SJ	28.48	27.76	0.73
MTL	28.37	N/A	N/A
HOU	27.86	26.51	1.35
SEA	27.83	28.38	-0.54
RSL	27.65	27.91	-0.26
SKC	27.43	26.80	0.63
DC	27.37	25.18	2.19
NE	27.30	26.52	0.77
CLB	27.06	26.92	0.14
TOR	26.25	25.44	0.81
POR	26.24	25.78	0.46
PHI	26.18	26.98	-0.80

I'm just going to throw this up here - it's from MLS.com as of April 2012. TFC, Philly and Portland were one of the youngest and did poorly. However SKC and RSL were under the average as well. Vancouver got 3 years older from the previous year, moving from one of the youngest to one of the oldest and did much better. But this could be skewed by the amount of academy kids/prospects on the on the roster. A better indication might be the average age of the players with the top 10-15 minutes.

[jabbronies]

Good signing. Would be interested to see how much he costs.

At the end of the day, Cesar and Frings will be sharing the duties in the mid. Don't think either of them can play a full season alone, this should assures us of a veteran mid marshaling the team on the pitch at all times.
I don't see them both as starters every game - except maybe to start the season and then the odd must win situations down the road i.e. champions league?

[Initial B]

As long as Cesar still has a step, I think he'll be fine for a year or two yet, considering the skill level of TFC. So of our starters, almost half of them are now over the age of 30 - Cahill, Frings, Cesar, Hassili, and Koev. Well since this is a learning year, I don't expect we'll make the play-offs (again) since they'll probably wear out by September.

[Yohan]

As long as Cesar still has a step, I think he'll be fine for a year or two yet, considering the skill level of TFC. So of our starters, almost half of them are now over the age of 30 - Cahill, Frings, Cesar, Hassili, and Koev. Well since this is a learning year, I don't expect we'll make the play-offs (again) since they'll probably wear out by September.

what. lol

[jabbronies]

As long as Cesar still has a step, I think he'll be fine for a year or two yet, considering the skill level of TFC. So of our starters, almost half of them are now over the age of 30 - Cahill, Frings, Cesar, Hassili, and Koev. Well since this is a learning year, I don't expect we'll make the play-offs (again) since they'll probably wear out by September.

I think he means Califf
Good thing you caught it before he bought a Cahill Jersey

[Yohan]

at least TFC can say they have a former Real Madrid and AC Milan player in the books

[Richard]

I had to do a double take when i looked at the teams he played for.

This guy is a world traveler,

Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
1995–1996	Marathón	22	(2)
1996–1999	Valladolid	60	(4)
1999–2001	Real Madrid	21	(0)
2000	→ Milan (loan)	4	(0)
2000–2001	→ Real Sociedad (loan)	16	(1)
2001–2002	Benfica	20	(3)
2002–2003	Austria Wien	9	(1)
2003–2004	Valladolid	28	(1)
2004–2005	Bolton Wanderers	5	(0)
2005–2006	Tigres	29	(4)
2006–2008	Olympiacos	41	(7)
2008	Dinamo Bucureşti	8	(0)
2009–2010	Gaziantepspor	31	(1)
2010	Marítimo		(0)
2011–2012	Sporting Kansas City	54	(3)
2013-	Toronto FC		(0

[jabbronies]

I had to do a double take when i looked at the teams he played for.

This guy is a world traveler,

Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
1995–1996	Marathón	22	(2)
1996–1999	Valladolid	60	(4)
1999–2001	Real Madrid	21	(0)
2000	→ Milan (loan)	4	(0)
2000–2001	→ Real Sociedad (loan)	16	(1)
2001–2002	Benfica	20	(3)
2002–2003	Austria Wien	9	(1)
2003–2004	Valladolid	28	(1)
2004–2005	Bolton Wanderers	5	(0)
2005–2006	Tigres	29	(4)
2006–2008	Olympiacos	41	(7)
2008	Dinamo Bucureşti	8	(0)
2009–2010	Gaziantepspor	31	(1)
2010	Marítimo		(0)
2011–2012	Sporting Kansas City	54	(3)
2013-	Toronto FC		(0

Becuase he has played on some big teams or because of the number of teams he's been on!

[Richard]

Becuase he has played on some big teams or because of the number of teams he's been on!

Both.

[bigredone]

What's wrong with old fellows?

In every team you need some veterans to teach the younger players (who should form the bulk of your squad). Every good team has a mix. No veterans, and your team gets lost, especially on the defensive end.

I agree completely, but was hoping Koevs, Frings and arguably Califf would cover our lines. This has added a little excitement to this season, but after that?

The fact that he was free makes it completely worth it.

[bigredone]

Average Age of MLS Teams
Team	2012	2011	Diff
VAN	29.71	26.35	3.36
COL	29.19	28.25	0.94
CHV	29.06	27.79	1.27
LA	28.76	27.73	1.03
NY	28.53	29.05	-0.51
CHI	28.52	26.23	2.28
DAL	28.50	27.57	0.92
SJ	28.48	27.76	0.73
MTL	28.37	N/A	N/A
HOU	27.86	26.51	1.35
SEA	27.83	28.38	-0.54
RSL	27.65	27.91	-0.26
SKC	27.43	26.80	0.63
DC	27.37	25.18	2.19
NE	27.30	26.52	0.77
CLB	27.06	26.92	0.14
TOR	26.25	25.44	0.81
POR	26.24	25.78	0.46
PHI	26.18	26.98	-0.80

I'm just going to throw this up here - it's from MLS.com as of April 2012. TFC, Philly and Portland were one of the youngest and did poorly. However SKC and RSL were under the average as well. Vancouver got 3 years older from the previous year, moving from one of the youngest to one of the oldest and did much better. But this could be skewed by the amount of academy kids/prospects on the on the roster. A better indication might be the average age of the players with the top 10-15 minutes.

Hopefully their winning ways can be sustained.

[T-boy]

No doubt Cesar is a journeyman traveler.

BUT - what Payne is starting to line up is a real experienced DEPTH to the TFC squad. Cesar, Califf, and Frings bring some amazing experience and depth to the defence/DM position. If we now get the right young players through the draft, we have a decent looking depth squad. Add to that the young player we already have - like Henry, Ecks, Agboss, Morgan - that's the type of mixed youth/experience depth to get through a MLS season.

[bigredone]

Cesar signing feels/looks better after the draft. " We've got high hopes"

[PopePouri]

It looks like we're building an experienced core in the middle of defense and midfield with a young attack. I think that's really smart.