TORONTO — Julio Cesar, we hardly knew you.
Toronto FC coach Ryan Nelsen announced Friday that the club waived Cesar, bringing an end to the veteran midfielder’s brief time with the Reds.
Cesar, 34, joined TFC in January after being released by Sporting Kansas City, and took part in the club’s pre-season preparations in Florida. But he didn’t play a single Major League Soccer game for Toronto due to a nagging calf strain.
Signed by new club president and GM Kevin Payne, Cesar was expected to serve as the club’s midfield linchpin, especially after Torsten Frings announced his retirement prior to the start of the season.
Cesar was at BMO Field during Friday’s practice but didn’t train with TFC ahead of its Saturday afternoon home game against the LA Galaxy. Dressed in street clothes, he had a quick word with Nelsen on the field during the training session and shook hands with the manager before leaving.
Nelsen said the decision was made because he couldn’t guarantee the Brazilian playing time.
“He’s a great guy and a really good professional. It just gives him a bit of time, especially late in his career, to find some playing time (with another club). It was just unfortunate that with the guys doing so well, and some of the young players we have here, that it was going to be difficult to (give) him playing time,” Nelsen told reporters.
Upon Cesar’s arrival in Toronto, Payne stated that Cesar would be “an important part of the backbone of our team in the middle of the field.” After playing 27 games for Kansas City in each of the last two seasons, Cesar had a lot of expectations resting on his shoulders.
But in the end, he became surplus to requirements and didn’t fit into Nelsen’s plans and how the coach wanted his team to play. With Cesar gone, Nelsen will likely continue to use Canadian Terry Dunfield in the holding midfield role.
Eckersley at left back
Right fullback Richard Eckersley has been used on the left side of defence in training this week, and chances are very good that he’ll start on the left against LA – especially as starting left fullback Ashtone Morgan is coming off a lengthy plane ride home from Qatar where he played for Canada’s national team earlier this week.
Eckersley played in the centre of the defence for a large portion of last season. Even though he admitted he’s not terribly two-footed, he’s comfortable playing at left fullback, having filled in at that spot earlier in his career in England.
“If the coach wants me to play on the left, I’ll play on the left. I played there many a time,” Eckersley stated.
Nelsen wouldn’t say if Eckersley’s move to the left is for the long-term and whether Morgan has lost his place in the starting line-up. Darel Russell is expected to play at right back against LA.
“Ashtone is growing and learning, and he’s still a young guy. … Nothing’s permanent in football. We’ll see how it goes. It gives us options,” Nelsen said.
Like Morgan and fellow Canadian Kyle Bekker, central defender Darren O’Dea was also away on national team duty, but didn’t play in either of Ireland’s World Cup qualifying matches against Sweden and Austria. The Irish defender will be available to play against LA, despite a lengthy plane ride home, and will start alongside Danny Califf.
In fact, Nelsen will have all of his players available for selection for the first time this season (with the exception of Danny Koevermans, who is out with a long-term injury), including midfielder Luis Silva who has missed the first three games with a hamstring problem.
It’s not immediately known whether Robbie Keane (calf injury) and Landon Donovan (coming off a self-imposed exile), two of LA’s more dangerous players, will see action on Saturday.
“We’re kind of sad to see these players not playing, because we want to play against the best players they have to offer. (But) they have other players who have quality,” Eckersley said.
O’Dea added: “We’re ready for them either way. I don’t want them to have any excuses coming here.”
Even without Keane and Donovan, LA (2-0-1) pose a stiff test for a still developing TFC side that has one win and two losses on the campaign. The Galaxy have looked solid at both ends of the pitch, scoring six times and giving up just one goal.
“I’m glad they’ve conceded only one goal because I think it’s a great challenge for us,” Toronto forward Robert Earnshaw said.
NOTES: Saturday marks Toronto FC’s first home game of the season at BMO Field. The club’s home opener was staged at Rogers Centre earlier this month… A TFC official told sportsnet.ca there is no update on the young Argentine forward the club is negotiating with, believed to be Maximiliano Urruti of Newell’s Old Boys… After the LA game, Toronto returns to action on April 6 when it hosts FC Dallas…
