Toronto set to sign Olivier Tebily, Kluivert an empty rumor
Toronto FC is set to announce the signing of Ivory Coast defender and EPL veteran Olivier Tebily, team sources told SBI on Thursday. An announcement is expected to come by the end of the week.
Also, sources in Toronto have denied rumors of a link between TFC and Dutch striker Patrick Kluivert. Toronto is seriously considering using its designated player slot on a forward during the summer transfer window, but Kluivert is not a candidate to be that player.
Ives Galarcep is an American soccer columnist for ESPNsoccernet.com and creator of SoccerByIves.net.
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It's hard to believe Kluivert is only 31. Night clubs and booze ravage the human body.
Posted by: kpugs | April 17, 2008 at 03:30 PM
I'm not sure who I like less -- Vieri, Van Nistleroy, or Kluivert. I really hope that there's no truth to this rumor...
Posted by: RK | April 17, 2008 at 03:31 PM
Ives! Thank you for your gracious work my friend!! Sad to see that Kluivert is an empty rumor but i guess we'll have to take what we can get right now...Thanks for your hard work!
Posted by: Alex | April 17, 2008 at 03:40 PM
Kluivert please stay away. If TFC is deciding to bring in an aging striker I say bring on Del Piero! His free kicks would make Beckham look like Lombardo.
Posted by: Bryan | April 17, 2008 at 03:49 PM
Looks like TFC is going in the right direction.
Posted by: Spencer | April 17, 2008 at 04:12 PM
Dunno about Tebily, haveheard mixed reviews and havent watched him play. Ideally, like everyone else we have signed, hes fallen down the pecking order rather then out of shape. I really hope Huckerby isnt our DP.
That being said, god god, im excited for Saturday.
Curious to see who will pop up as DP prospects over the next few months...
Posted by: Ossington Mental Youth | April 17, 2008 at 04:14 PM
I also like how we've signed a couple of new managers the last few days too (chris cummins as our youth manager and Tim regan as our top scout). Glad to see that MLSE and Mo are taking it seriously. Im sure Regan will be relegated to NCAA/USA if and when we sign another scout with better connections...
Posted by: Ossington Mental Youth | April 17, 2008 at 04:16 PM
I always thought Alessandro would be TO's first DP, and I continue to think so! We'll see come June.
Posted by: Vascão | April 17, 2008 at 04:21 PM
Ives: Thanks for the diligent work on breaking TFC news. Thank God Kluivert is not coming. We can now unlock our women and let them out of the house again. He is a reprobate, a drunk, a womanizer and a head case. Teliby has been rumoured for a while now and after the loss to DC and the fact that Landycakes cut our defense open a few time last week, we definitely need the support at centre half.
Posted by: bgnewf | April 17, 2008 at 04:42 PM
Kluivert is 31? He doesnt look a day over 39
Posted by: Reid | April 17, 2008 at 04:48 PM
"we definitely need the support at centre half."
I hear Babayaro is available! ;)
Posted by: Brant | April 17, 2008 at 04:51 PM
He should help the defense immediately. just past 32 is not too old for a defender... but would be for a washed up forward like Kluivert. Hopefully they sign a forward 30 at the oldest.
Posted by: Camjam | April 17, 2008 at 04:52 PM
Del Piero has pledged his career to Juve.
Posted by: Ossington Mental Youth | April 17, 2008 at 04:59 PM
"He is a reprobate, a drunk, a womanizer and a head case."
Well, geez, nobody's perfect. I'm just a drunk and a head case - the day I can say I'm also a womanizer and a reprobate I'll know I'm in fine company. I just hope the womanizing doesn't cut into the drinking - my wife wouldn't like that.
Posted by: DeathWatch | April 17, 2008 at 05:22 PM
Anyone watching this Euro segment on ESPN2 to "preview" the DC-Crew match?
Good stuff.
Posted by: Dominghosa | April 17, 2008 at 07:46 PM
I was watching part of the Euro stuff. I wanted more highlights of how they built up to it. I really don't care about what happened 20 years ago.
Posted by: Spencer | April 17, 2008 at 08:03 PM
Ives,
Do you think any MLS team signing Kluivert would be repeating the mistake Chicago made with Wanchope last year?
Two players that in their day were excellent, but relied heavily on the speed they no longer have?
Posted by: markspence02 | April 17, 2008 at 08:55 PM
Am I crazy or are Toronto now a better team than RBNY?
Please don't respond by saying that Toronto hasn't done anything yet, and that we don't know how these players will work out for Toronto yet, obviously I know that.
I'm just saying without waiting to see how things pan out, and just looking at the teams on paper, would you choose Toronto or RBNY to have a better season right now if you were making a bet?
Posted by: aristotle | April 18, 2008 at 02:23 AM
RBNY will get better!
And, since I am an RBNY fan, I have to say that they we are better than TFC. :)
Or I could use stats to show the same thing... but this year is still young and fresh... stats don't hold for this year just yet. We need a few more games.
And I can use my magic crystal ball and what do I see ... "I see RBNY ... " :)
Posted by: Lucerene | April 18, 2008 at 06:43 AM
Off topic, but for Red Bull fans, you'll be happy to know that the stadium has got workers at it already at this early hour. Getting excited to see something start rising out of the ground...
Posted by: Mark | April 18, 2008 at 07:24 AM
Pauleta could be a possible DP. He has asked to be released from PSG, so that he can seek a contract elsewhere. His likely destination is Portugal, hopefully Sporting, but he could come to TFC for the right offer. He was making 2-3 million euros in France, but I'd expect him to sign for less than that wherever he goes.
Before someone mentions his international performances, I should point out that Totti only has 9 goals in 58 games and ADP has 27 goals in 85 games internationally. Also, Pauleta has scored 100 goals in less than 200 games for PSG. Not as epic as Totti or ADP but a whole lot better than Huckerby and JPA.
Posted by: anon_e_moose | April 18, 2008 at 08:22 AM
markspence02, quite similar, but at least Wanchope was very good as recently as WC2006.
Posted by: RK | April 18, 2008 at 09:22 AM
RK, I don't get how RVN fits into that picture. Vieri and Kluivert, while once great, are well past their best (obviously).
RVN still scores goals by the bucket load. Are you honestly telling me you wouldn't want him on your MLS team?
Posted by: kpugs | April 18, 2008 at 10:10 AM
Anon, Pauleta would be great for any MLS club. But why would PSG grant his request? He is basically the reason why they aren't going to be relegated.
And I don't know what you're talking about with regards to international duty, he is Portugal's all time leading scorer in 88 matches. That is nothing to write off.
It's also pointless to compare him to other players, he has only played in one top league in Spain, with only 18 goals from 58 matches. Stuff like this is irrelevant in my opinion, but if you are going to bring it up you should at least do your homework.
Posted by: kpugs | April 18, 2008 at 10:14 AM
Last November, Savo Milosevic trained with TFC. Wouldn't mind watching him with the club. For anybody who doesn't know he's the Serbian intl. FW who plays for Osasuna.
Posted by: Isaac | April 18, 2008 at 11:57 AM