99 problems
If Mo Johnston knew all along that Toronto FC would receive only a third-round pick in the 2009 SuperDraft for Jeff Cunningham, then the timing of this deal is troubling.
If a pick was the acknowledged return, the criticized-since-spring Cunningham should have been dealt months ago. Why wait until the roster is in full crisis mode to cut the ropes on a player with no injuries, cards or international commitments?
As it stands, and unless the trade is the first move towards freeing up cash and a roster spot, TFC face a season-breaking month of August with a trio of delicate strikers up front.
Danny Dichio will not return as the player he was before the concussion; Chad Barrett can hope the first-game cramping is not a product of the FieldTurf and young Ibrahim is still learning the game at a professional level.
Nevermind the fact that Cunningham played his best game since the road win in Los Angeles when paired with Barrett. It seems Dallas saw something in the audition last weekend.
The widely-accepted theory that the trade with FC Dallas was the first move in acquiring another striker is difficult to accept. Have we forgotten the fact that it took nearly two months to complete the Brian McBride swap? The transfer window closes next Friday and I am just wary of drinking that Kool-Aid.
(In fact, the Kool-Aid in my cup tastes more like a smokescreen: Dichio returns, he brings a false sense of security with him and Cunningham is quickly pushed out the door.)
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