Now that the SuperDraft and the Supplemental Draft are out of the way TFC now has 20 players either signed or drafted with space left for up to 8 more to fill out either the 18 man senior roster or 10 man development squad:-

The general consensus amongst people who follow MLS closely is that Mo Johnston has done a good job so far in assembling his roster. His strategy of trading expansion draft picks for allocation money took most people by surprise but has subsequently helped to facilitate the signings of Alecko Eskandarian from DC United (needed allocation money for Latin American signings) and Andrew Boyens as a first round SuperDraft selection (based on a trade an LA Galaxy draft pick). Few probably would have expected that 11 players who have played in full internationals would be on board at this point.

Although the bulk of the remaining signings will undoubtedly be Canadian development roster players who are 24 years of age and younger and who do not count against the salary cap, it was reported this week by Canadian Press that there is still $US 625,000 of cap space left and an additional $US 900,000 in allocation money that can be used on salary over and above the cap as well as on transfer fees and signing bonuses.

Canadian Press also reported in the same article that Mo Johnston has identified a playmaker in central midfield, a left-sided midfielder, a backup goalie and some forward help as the key areas that need to be strengthened.

The backup goalkeeper will probably be a young Canadian development roster player or perhaps an inexpensive experienced locally available Canadian domestic player such as Theo Zagar from last year's Toronto Lynx roster. The other positions are likely to be filled by import player allocation signings from the European transfer market, however, based on a significant portion of the $US 1,525,000 that is still potentially available for 2007 season player salaries. Mo has stated in recent days that two signings are imminent in that regard. One a younger player and another an older midfield player who is currently captain of both his national side and his club.

The bottom line is that the imminent acquisition of higher salary senior internationals (and/or another starter from the Canadian national team?) is the final piece in the puzzle which could determine whether Mo Johnston has succeeded in building a genuinely competitive roster that has a legitimate shot at emulating the Chicago Fire's expansion season championship win in 1998.