Soccer"Trader Mo" fools 'em all

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That didn’t happen, probably because the right player/players weren’t offered in exchange for the draft positions. Instead, Mo used those picks to plan for the future of the club, which I think is a good strategy.

You see, drafting players who can contribute right away in such vital positions is wildly optimistic, to say the least. There is just no way to tell whether a college star can make the transition to the professional ranks and be successful.

Despite what anyone tells you, there is a huge gap between the university level and the MLS. I liken it to the difference between reserve team football and first team football in Europe.

At the reserve team level, when you are a young, up-and-coming player, you are generally playing against players in a similar situation as yourself. You occasionally come up against the odd first-team player who is either out of favour or is coming back from injury. But for the most part, they are only there to get some match fitness and they don’t play with the same intensity as they do in a first-team game.

Most of the players you are up against are just like you. Lots of potential, but need to learn the tactical side of the game in order to flourish. Results are often secondary to the overall individual and team performance, and the emphasis is placed on development.

When you step up to the first team, you are playing with and against seasoned veterans. Development, while still important, is of little consolation if you lose five games on the bounce. It is a results driven business, and you are playing for your very livelihood.

Some players handle that pressure and thrive under the scrutiny. But countless others don’t, and they fail to live up to expectations. How many times have you heard the question, “What ever happened to....” when you talk about players who were stars on their teams in university?

I know that there is a certain amount of pressure playing at the university level. You are trying to win a national championship and get noticed by professional scouts, and I imagine if you play poorly enough, you might have your scholarship revoked. And no one wants to walk around campus when you play on a losing team.

But your ability to support your family doesn’t hinge on whether you’re winning games in college. It does when you’re a professional. Every training session, every game, you are being judged. And that all comes into play when it comes time to negotiate your next contract.

I often tell young players that becoming a professional is the easy part, and staying a professional is the hard part. Seventy-five per cent of all professional footballers in England are out of the professional game by the time they are 21. That’s because once you get that first contract, you have to continue to improve in order to get your second contract. That sort of pressure can either make or break a player.

Judging by the reports I’ve read about Mo Johnston’s draft selections, I think that Toronto FC fans will be generally pleased with how things turned out.

Sam Cronin is regarded by those who follow the NCAA as ‘ready to play’ in MLS. Paul Winsper will whip O’Brian White in to shape as he recovers from ACL surgery, and Stefan Frei was voted MVP of this year’s combine.

Are any of these players ready to step into Toronto’s starting 11 this season? I honestly don’t know. I’ve only seen highlights of these players, and you never get the full picture of a player from watching highlights.

I’m going to reserve my judgment on these guys until I can watch them up close and personal in training. Providing, of course, that they even get that far. You never know when “Trader Mo” is going to surprise us all!

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