if toronto has soo much money to splash out on players, how come they didnt sign a qualified coach? maybe theres something they know about nelsens ability that we dont.
Don't discount the value of Ryan's connections in the Premier League etc. to Toronto which allowed him to convince Defoe to come to Toronto (and captain Steven Caldwell from Birmingham last year). Ryan also knows a lot of major players' agents and has "off-field connections" which according to this report enabled him to snap up top Brazilian striker Gilberto from Internacional:
“A great coup for the club,” said Nelsen, whose off-field connections helped cut through the red tape of dealing with Brazil.
It’s also a coup for the North American league, which in the past has had to settle for aging overseas stars.
Gilberto is young, has played at a high level and comes with solid credentials. MLS fans should see him flourish rather than fade...."
