Today’s News, Saturday , Aug.16
Rumours swirl that absent Edu is headed to Glasgow Rangers
TFC coach Carver expects midfielder to play in N.Y. tomorrow
MORGAN CAMPBELL
Half a day after his flight from Beijing landed, defender Marvell Wynne returned to the practice field with Toronto FC as they prepared for tomorrow's visit to the New York Red Bulls.
But his Olympic teammate Maurice Edu remained absent, and if the folks at Toronto FC knew where the second-year midfielder was, they weren't saying. Head coach John Carver simply said that he expected Edu, who played centre back for the U.S. Olympic team, to man TFC's midfield tomorrow.
On Thursday U.S. Soccer announced that Edu had made the U.S. team for the next round of World Cup qualifying and had flown from Beijing to Carson, Calif., to train for next Wednesday's game against Guatemala.
By yesterday, however, it became clear that Edu's absence might be permanent, when reports surfaced that Glasgow Rangers of Scotland's premier league had agreed to pay $5 million (U.S.) to acquire him.
TFC director of soccer Mo Johnston wasn't available to verify the reports, but a league source, while denying the transfer deal was complete, confirmed it was underway.
As of yesterday Edu's bio was still listed on TFC's website.
Under Major League Soccer rules, TFC will receive two-thirds of the transfer fee with some money going to the team's academy and some to the allocation fund. MLS, which owns all players' contracts, receives the remainder of the transfer fee.
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Maurice Edu sold to Glasgow Rangers: reports
Scotland's Evening Times is reporting Toronto FC midfielder Maurice Edu has been sold to Glasgow Rangers for a deal worth around $5 million.
The story backs up multiple media reports in North America that had the American international, just back from the Beijing Olympics where the U.S. were eliminated early, on his way to one of Europe's most famous clubs.
Edu is said to be only waiting on work permit formalities before he can leave for Britain.
His signing is one of a handful Rangers have completed or are trying to in an effort to boost their midfield, the Times says. Portsmouth's Pedro Mendez is in for about $6 million and the club has also made an $8 million bid for Palermo infielder Mark Bresciano, an Australian international.
A product of Fontana, Calif., Edu was named the MLS's top rookie last year when he scored five times and had two assists. This year he had a goal and a helper in 13 games, missing a number due to American team call-ups for FIFA and Olympic play.
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Canada's soccer loss is end of Pellerud's tenure
Jim Morris THE CANADIAN PRESS
SHANGHAI, China–In the final moments of his last game as head coach of the Canadian women's soccer team Even Pellerud stood at the bench, collar open on his white shirt, eyes focused on the play.
His expression was hard to read.
After the heart-breaking 2-1 loss to U.S. Pellerud briefly put his arm around captain Christine Sinclair's shoulder.
It was classic Pellerud. The tactician to the end. A hint of emotion after.
The loss in Friday's quarter-final not only eliminated the women from the Summer Olympic tournament, it also signalled the end of Pellerud's tenure. He announced earlier in the summer he planned to leave after the Games following nine years with the team.
With Pellerud moving on, and some of the players likely to retire, it's difficult to predict the future of the women's soccer program. But Pellerud's influence was the catalyst for the team evolving from a rambling amateur program to a smoothly operating professional group.
Read morePellerud has his critics.
Jason DeVos, a former men's national team member who has been working as a television analyst, said Pellerud's methods are outdated.
Instead of playing a kick-and-run style, the women should play a more possession-focused game, said DeVos.
Pellerud was blunt in his reply.
"He can start to look at my record," he snapped.
Sinclair was more acid.
"The men's team is not at the Olympics," she said. "It's a shame to hear men's players saying that when they are no where."
TFC prepares to sell Edu to Scottish side
LARRY MILLSON
From Saturday's Globe and Mail
TORONTO — As Toronto FC announced the signing of free-agent forward Johann Smith yesterday, it was also preparing to say goodbye to midfielder Maurice Edu, who is on the verge of leaving for Rangers of the Scottish Premier League for a $5-million (U.S.) transfer fee.
Edu, last year's Major League Soccer rookie of the year, has just returned from the Beijing Olympics after the United States was eliminated by Nigeria 2-1 this week.
MLS is reported to have accepted the Rangers' offer and now it is a matter of working out the final details.
Under MLS rules, the club receives two-thirds of the transfer fee, with the other third going to the league.
Toronto manager Mo Johnston would not comment on Edu's situation yesterday, but did have some things to say about Smith, describing him as "quick" and a player that head coach John Carver knows and likes.
Johnston said American-born Smith, 21, will join the team immediately.
"Quite a few teams were after him," Johnston said.
In order to land Smith, Toronto made a deal with the New England Revolution, sending them allocation money and then swapping places with them in the allocation rankings, going from 13th to second to acquire Smith.
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SUNSHINE
Great love does not exist without joy and without great suffering ,that's why One club is worth only as much as its fans !
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