Projected 2007 roster--------------by Section 112 Blizzard

Back: Andrew Boyens, Maurice Edu, Edson Buddle, Chris Pozniak, Marco Reda, Adam Braz, Carl Robinson. Front: Jose Cancela, Rich Asante, Paulo Nagamura, Jim Brennan, Alecko Eskandarian. (missing: Ronnie O'Brien, Greg Sutton)

With the official announcement of Conor Casey's signing still to be made there is clearly some kind of behind the scenes intrigue going on either in the shape of a trade or internal league politics over whether a returning American national team player should be allocated to a Canadian franchise. Until this issue is settled there will continue to be considerable uncertainty over the shape of this summer's roster. A complicating factor that may need to be straightened out before a decision is made is the special lottery for the services of returning American player, Robbie Rogers. Factoring in Edu's Generation Adidas status, however, and the probable signing of Abbe Ibrahim if/when visa issues are straightened out, there are three senior roster spots up for grabs based on the roster info on the TFC website should the Casey deal ever be finalized.

One of these roster spots will almost certainly be an experienced backup keeper. Mo Johnston is reported to already be in contact with a potential recruit in this regard. Another key acquisition will be that of another left-sided player, given that Jim Brennan is the only obviously left sided player in defence and midfield. Ex-national team player Richard Hastings, currently starting for Inverness Caledonian Thistle and a Sunderland first team squad player called Andy Welsh appear to be the two main candidates in this regard. In the event Hastings is signed, Jim Brennan would probably be a midfielder, whereas a left back role is more likey if Welsh were to be signed.

There are various permutations for the third remaining spot but the salary involved is unlikely to be high so a YI defender could be a good fit, assuming Edu does not count in this regard, given the relative lack of depth in that portion of the squad and the question of what is likely to happen when national team players are called up for Gold Cup matches this summer for most of the month of June should the Canada repeat the heroics of Holger's Heroes back in 2000. It should be noted that if the Casey deal were to be called off by the league competition committee that an SI could be signed for considerably more money for this role.

A projected roster for the 2007 season is attempted below. Most of the salary numbers are guesswork, beyond figures reported for the 2006 MLS season by the Washington Post based on information compiled by the league's player association, but in mid-January the numbers were consistent with the remaining salary cap space figure reported in a Canadian Press story. Given the reported $US 2.1 million salary cap it seems likely, based on these numbers, that Conor Casey's salary would be partially paid using the $300,000 major allocation used to claim him rather than with salary cap money given that the player left Mainz 05 on a free transfer. The fact that Norwich City released Carl Robinson may also have helped to create additional salary cap space for similar reasons.