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The protected 11 - who will they be?

October 24, 2008 10:40 AM | Posted by   Jason de Vos  

The season ends on Saturday for Toronto FC with a trip to San Jose to face off against the Earthquakes.

Although it is the last game that the players will be involved in this season, for head coach John Carver and Director of Soccer Mo Johnston, the games are just beginning.

With Seattle joining Major League Soccer in 2009, the league will have an expansion draft in which Seattle can choose one unprotected player from each of the other MLS teams. Each team can protect 11 players, making them untouchable in the expansion draft. This is where it gets tricky for Toronto FC’s coaching staff.

Do you protect your best 11 players, and hope no one picks up one of your promising youngsters? Or do you leave a player who earns a big salary unprotected in the hopes that Seattle will shy away from the large chunk of the salary cap?

Like just about every other fan of Toronto FC, I have my ideas on who the team should keep for next season, so here is my list of 11 players, in no particular order:

Greg Sutton - He’s had one or two forgettable moments this season, like the second Kenny Cooper goal in Dallas’ 2-0 victory at BMO field in August. But Sutton has been very good for Toronto this season, and leaving him unprotected would almost certainly tempt Seattle’s hand. I like a big, commanding keeper in goal, and if he can become a bit more consistent, Sutton could have an all-star appearance in him next season.

Marvell Wynne - Keeping hold of this man during the expansion draft will be easy. Keeping hold of him through the transfer window might prove to be a much more difficult task. He is not the finished article yet, as his positional sense is still not what it needs to be to play at the highest level. But he has learned a great deal over the course of the season, and from what I can see he has a great attitude. That, and the fact that he is the quickest player in the league, could see a few big clubs in Europe tempting Mo Johnston with an offer for Wynne’s services.

Jim Brennan - Criticized by many for his comments about Dale Mitchell and the Canadian national team, Brennan has had a rough time of it lately. I can understand his position, as I would expect a phone call if I were in his shoes. But I wouldn’t have said anything publicly because it never comes across the way it is intended. Regardless, Brennan has to stay. He can be a leader on this team for years to come, and the fantastic chemistry this team has is largely due to his influence in the dressing room.

Tyrone Marshall - I know I’m going to take some stick for this one. But I think that Ty Marshall can be a solid central defender in this league. He just needs to have the right partner beside him. He’s not an organizer and he doesn’t boss people around in front of him so he needs someone experienced beside him to do that. He needs someone who takes the responsibility of leading the back line off his shoulders, allowing him to just do his job. He’s good in the air, not afraid to put his foot in and he’s OK on the ball. He’s not your top centre half, but he’s a capable second or third choice.

Nana Attakora-Gyan - This is another one that some people might disagree with because he hasn’t seen much playing time. But he’s young, he’s quick, he’s strong, and he has a big upside to his game. Attakora could be the natural successor to Marvell Wynne if and when he’s tempting away by a big money move to Europe. And he’s Canadian! So for me, Nana stays.

Kevin Harmse - Again, this is sure to cause some debate. At the start of the season, I thought he was a red card waiting to happen. Reckless in the challenge, he seemed like a liability. But he managed to curb his desire to kick lumps out of people, and he has evolved into a solid player. I actually think he could have a bright future as a centre half. He’s certainly committed enough, not bad in the air, at least by MLS standards, and he has shown composure on the ball. He needs a bit of work on the positional side of things, as we saw when he got turned by Dane Richards in Toronto FC’s 3-1 victory over New York, but that will come in time. His versatility is a big plus and, as with Ty Marshall, with the right partner at the back, Harmse could be a solid centre half for the club.

Todd Dunivant - He has been a big loss for Toronto FC this season, something no one seems to mention. A fit and healthy Todd Dunivant allows Jim Brennan to move over to centre half, which cuts out some of the silly goals that have cost Toronto dearly this season. He’s got a great left foot, he’s a solid defender, and he has a great attitude. I’ve spoken with him on a number of occasions, and he is a bright, articulate guy with a lot going for him as a player. Getting him back next season will be like adding a new signing.

Carl Robinson - Losing Robinson would be a huge loss. I couldn’t believe some of the stick he was getting from some quarters earlier in the season. For me, he has been the best player this season for Toronto FC. He sits in front of the back four, he breaks things up, gets the ball moving and rarely concedes possession. I can see why he is getting offers from England, and I know that John Carver and Mo Johnston will do everything in their power to keep hold of him.

Rohan Ricketts - On his day, one of the best wingers in Major League Soccer. The trick is getting him to have his day every Saturday. Needs to be more consistent to fulfill his obvious potential.

Amado Guevara - I’m going to be honest here. I think Amado Guevara has been a bit of a disappointment this season. Yes, he’s a very talented player, arguably one of the most talented in the league. But I don’t think he’s had as big an influence on things as he should. I’ve played against him when he has played for Honduras, and he runs the show for them. He should be doing the same thing for Toronto FC. Guillermo Barros Schelotto has had an MVP season for Columbus, and I wouldn’t say he’s a much better player than Guevara. Seven goals and 19 assists - those are the kind of numbers that I want to see from Guevara next season.

Chad Barrett - He came into Toronto carrying the weight of expectation on his shoulders, and he’s handled it pretty well. I like the fact that he admits he can do better, and I’m sure he’ll work hard to make sure that happens. He’s not going to be a 20-goal striker, but he will be a great foil for a designated player, if and when that comes to fruition.

So no Julius James, no Marco Velez, no Jarrod Smith and no Johann Smith. All players who have logged significant minutes this season. And no Danny Dichio.

It pains me to say it, because I’d love to see him in a TFC jersey again next season, but I think Danny has to be left off the protected list. He’s 34 and one more concussion away from possibly having to call it a day. I don’t know if Seattle would be tempted to take him, but I hope they won’t because I want to see him back here next year, even if it is only as a squad player.

Ibby Ibrahim doesn’t have to be protected, as he is still a Generation Adidas player. Which is a good thing, because I’ve run out of room.

Let me know which players you would protect in the expansion draft. That’s the beauty of football - everyone can have an opinion!

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