Gramsci, here are three names for you.

Hernan Crespo, Pauleta and (wait for it) Pippo Inzaghi.

What about retrieving some US internationals?

Bobby Convey isn't going to put bums on seats in Toronto.

I'm sure a lot of teams will be hoping to get Bobby Convey--relegated team, and it seems like Reading doesn't want him around.

Beaten to it (sort of).

Is that an inspired guess or inside information, Urs?

See, the killer is a transfer fee. MLS is only ever going to get people on the fag end of a contract. Crespo can't be out of contract *yet*, can he? If he is, I suppose that would be a possibility, though i have this feeling that he would never do more than phone it in for an MLS team.

Pippo is possible, as is Pauleta, although I think the fashion for DPs is to get them at about age 31-32 rather than 34-35, which would exclude those two but (I think) include Recoba and Kewell.

I doubt anyone will ever use a DP spot on a keeper.

But they don't need to put bums on seats in Toronto -- they need to keep them there by winning.

TFC needs to keep up their momentum by getting in the best possible fit for their team.

Oh, and Michael Owen, anyone?

We need a speedy forward. We're suddenly able to play lots of quick, short passes and yet we're playing a long-ball specialist with the agility of a water buffalo up front (Dichio, god bless him). We need a speed merchant with a bit of size. John Carew, anyone?

Antonio Gramsci wrote:

QUOTE:
I doubt anyone will ever use a DP spot on a keeper.

Unless he puts on a show...

...you know who's still playing?

Well, Convey didn't exactly cover himself with glory at Reading this season; I don't think he's worth a DP spot on talent, either.

They are guesses, Gramsci. I don't trade in inside information. Pauleta is out of contract and leaving PSG. Crespo is actually still on loan from Chelsea in a deal that expires at the end of May, but Inter are paying (essentially) all of his wages. Pippo may actually be the only one who would require a fee.

John Carew and speed, Gramsci?

Are you having issues converting kilometres to miles again?

Isn't Owen currently on about $12M a year? That would be a stretch.

He used to be kind of speedy when he was at Valencia. How much has he slowed down?

I didn't say you were *trading* inside information, Urs. That would be illegal. Donating it, on the other hand, would be another matter entirely.

Owen is still marketable, albeit not in the Beckham stratosphere, but it could be a deal along the lines of Beckham's if much smaller (where MLS isn't actually paying that much salary).

Not saying it's likely, just putting it out there.

What's Patrick Kluivert doing these days?

What does Patrick Kluivert weigh these days?

He's playing at Lille. I thought I had heard that they had tossed him at the start of the season for being slow, fat and disruptive, but apparently he's played in a half dozen games or so this season.

You know why I like supporting my local MLS club rather than being a Eurosnob as many of my friends are? My favourite Fire player, Bakary Soumare, is coming out tonight to support our Section 8 soccer team. He's even bringing a drum.