3rd Degree

“there is no burrito in FCD’s future”

Hold the phone there, Chamo…

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.c.../2008/soccer/07/22/ortega.fcd/

I never thought they would increase to 1.5 for Toja. I would hate to see him leave. He is the main reason I have become a fan of soccer.

Do you really think Toja will agree to leave?

Yeah, the Romanian press is not joking around: they even filed an article on today’s weekly Los-Toros.com column (the “Monday Morning Pescadito”) which only sought to give Toja some advice about going to Romania.

Here’s their article:

http://www.gsp.ro/stire/suport...ransfere-in-romania-88485.html

We’ve already responded:

http://www.los-toros.com/2008/...2/kirkbhoy-is-a-romanian-star/

@TojaPal: They’re offering him 200K *Euros* to go to play Champions League football.

“200.000 de euro este salariu pe care roş-albaştrii i-l pregătesc lui Toja”

which translates as:

“200K Euros is the salary which [Steaua] has offered to Toja”

(from http://www.gsp.ro/stire/aducet...ss-marcat-toja-span-88387.html)

Adios, Toja. The only question now is whether MLS will “keep it secret” until after the ASG or pull him now and name a replacement.

Thanks SteveToro! I appreicate any information you can provide on this. I am a “dumb butt” when it comes to all this soccer stuff and I am really just now starting to understand everything about the sport, MLS, etc.

So, what do you think Toja will do?

Toja has a huge fan base here and I know that Europe is an amazing opportunity for him. Do you see him considering is fan base and club when making this decision? Thanks again SteveToro!

Stop the presses - SI is now reporting that Ortega has changed course and now wants to come to FCD.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.c...er/07/22/ortega.fcd/index.html

SI now says that Ortega wants to come to FCD:

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.c...er/07/22/ortega.fcd/index.html

Moose,

in Diego’s article he mentions that Steaua hope to see him by the end of this week. So, the All-Star game might be Toja’s last MLS dance this time around.

TojaPal,

In the long run Toja’s move will be good for FC Dallas and MLS. In South America there has been a perception that if a young prospect comes to MLS they were commiting career suicide. They lose visibility to their national team pool and they can kiss any aspirations of playing in Europe good-bye which is why MLS foreign acquisitions tend to be players on the downhill side of the careers.

Toja is the first young south american player to challenge that notion. When he goes, MLS will be able to approach talented young players in South America that aren’t on the fast track to superstardom and offer them “playing time” and the opportunity to get to Europe. The league will be better off by having this option available to them.

And one last thing Tojapal, don’t worry! There always is another player out there that will capture your imagination and increase your love for the beautiful game.

Thanks Chamo!

One thing that has happened in the past when players have left FCD has been not much of a Good Bye for that player. Since Toja was MVP for 2007 and has had a great deal of impact on this team, do you see them considering some thing more for the fans when seeing him leave or do you think the blog will be updated with his comments and that’s it.

I know it is a good move for both parties and I know that there will be another player to catch my attention. This is sad but it want keep me from supporting the team. I am hooked!

I know all the logical consolations on this, but losing Toja is like the straw that broke the Camel’s back for me. Good for Toja, but for FCD in the short term, this is another step to Hitchcock’s systematic dismantling of this team.

Seriously- can I take back my complaining about Colin Clarke crashing out of the playoffs twice now?

SI now reports that Ortega has reversed course and wants to come to FCD.

Jamie,

I don’t mind losing Toja because for all intents and purposes we lost the Toja that we all fell in love with at the beginning of the season when they tried to make an attacking mid out of him. He has been playing out of position all-season long, and never did find his groove.

As far as Colin Clarke goes, sure take it back. Personally, watching his team’s choke at crunch time for three season’s in a row was enough for me.

Does anyone have any insight as to why Ibrahim never saw any first team playing time. It seems like a bit of a kick in the gonads that after a few seasons with FCD and no PT he scores in his TFC debut days after being traded. Especially considering that we can into this season expecting a flat offense.

Looks like he’s gone, boys and girls:

http://www.los-toros.com/2008/07/22/gone-baby-gone/

(Today’s GSP.Ro…)

Adam -

We picked Ibby up _last year_ while he was still finishing school. He was not here for more than a few days here and there.

This year, he was here for pre-season, playing really well, with good possibilities of getting some playing time - then he asked for personal leave and was gone for a couple of months dealing with family / personal issues.

It was NOT a matter of him not ‘getting’ playing time, he simply was not here. There are several articles about Ibby here on 3rddegree in the past year and taking a stroll through the archives may be something you want to do.

Buzz / Chamo - if my memory of the time-frames, events is faulty please correct!

P.S. Chamo - thanks again for doing this - I check your posts frequently but rarely comment, and just wanted to let you know it is appreciated.

Thanks Chazsoccer, that takes away a bit of the sting. I remember reading that he was playing really well in preseason, I guess I didn’t realize how much he was away from the team.

Well, Toja will be missed and I hate that we will not see him anymore. ASG and then he is on his way. What a way to say goodbye to the all star and MVP.