I don’t usually post speculation about transfers here but this particular signing would be massive on many levels. My feeling is that MLS exists to promote domestic talent, and Julian DeGuzman is the best attacking player from the US or Canada in Europe. DeGuzman’s revelation that he is considering a move to TFC should inspire confidence in Mo Johnston and Major League Soccer. Now let’s hope they can close the deal.

I often criticize MLS for its scheduling policies, its marketing, etc. But should TFC pull off this coup, bringing Julian DeGuzman home from Spain, we should all be thankful and proud of TFC for making the deal and MLS for allowing it to happen.

In his first few years on the job, Mo Johnston seemed more interested in signing lower league talent from England rather than building a Canadian brand. But this season that has changed and if De Guzman does in fact sign with the Reds, they have to be considered among the favorites to life the MLS Cup this November.

More later as details are revealed.

DeGuzman could be CONCACAF’s best overall player: But Canada is hopeless even with him and several other top stars/Canadian Soccer.com photo

Despite the recent strides made by club football in Canada: the admission of Toronto FC to MLS, the sharp play of the Montreal Impact in the CONCACAF Champions League and the Vancouver Whitecaps continued semi-domination of USL-1, Canada’s national team continues to be hopeless.

Why is this? From a pure talent standpoint, looking at the starting XI Canada can rival anyone in CONCACAF other than Mexico. In fact it can be strongly argued that the Canadians have more talent in their starting XI than the US or Costa Rica, and yet those two nations are much more successful than Canada in every way possible.

Canada has since 2000 fared very well in the CONCACAF Gold Cup, winning once and reaching the semifinals twice. After all that is short event that requires no long term preperation or planning. Canada is one of three nations that does not have to qualify for the Gold Cup, along with the US and Mexico. However when Canada is thrown into a situation where matches are spread over a long period of time they are almost always hopeless. That’s why despite my belief of the high quality of Canada’s current talent, I did not believe the side had a snowball’s chance of getting out of CONCACAF’s group of death featuring Honduras, Mexico and Jamaica. In this group Canada has one point through four matches despite under Dale Mitchell playing attractive and honestly entertaining football.

The Canadian Soccer Association (CSA) is a dysfunctional entity no doubt. But that alone cannot account for Canada’s poor performances and early elimination in three consecutive World Cup qualifying campaigns, or can it? I’d love to hear from Canadian listeners and readers as to why this situation continues to get worse and worse:

The Canada Squad:

Goalkeepers: Lars Hirschfeld (Rosenborg, Denmark), Kenny Stamatopoulos (Toronto FC).

Defenders: Daniel Imhof (VfL Bochum, Germany), Ante Jazic (Los Angeles, United States), Adrian Serioux (FC Dallas, United States), Andre Hainault (FK SAID Most, Czech Republic), Jim Brennan (FC Toronto), Atiba Hutchinson (FC Copenhagen, Denmark), Chris Pozniak (Toronto FC).

Midfielders: Julian De Guzman (Deportivo La Coruna, Spain), Paul Stalteri (Tottenham, England), Patrice Bernier (Kaiserslautern, Germany), Tomasz Radzinski (Xanthi, Greece), Issey Nakajima-Farran (FC Nordsjalland, Denmark), Dwayne De Rosario (Houston, United States), Kevin Harmse (Los Angeles, United States).

Forwards: Olivier Occean (Lillestrom, Norway), Ali Gerba (IFK Goteborg, Sweden), Iain Hume (Leicester, England).