Koevermans and Fringes

Today, Toronto FC signed former Werder Bremen captain and German international Torsten Fringes and formr PSV Eindhoven striker Danny Koevermans. These two signings just pose more questions, rather than give answers to a team that is struggling in the league and with the system of first year manager Aron Winter.

Koevermans has had a stellar career in the Dutch Eredivisie scoring boat loads of goals; he has scored 136 goals to be exact in a 10-year career that has spanned three clubs. Koevermans is familiar with the 4-3-3 formation as that is the preferred formation in Holland, and recently played the central striker role for PSV. Currently, PSV is in serious financial problems and not only have released quality players, sold their biggest star Balazs Dzsudzsak, but they have asked their city council for nearly $55 million as a bailout. If Koevermans is in it for the pay day then TFC won't improve, and with the contract/money structure of MLS I wouldn't be surprised.

Fringes on the other hand is past his prime. As a supporter of German side Werder Bremen I was able to watch a terrible, terrible Bremen team lose week in and week out. Fortunately, the club did just enough to avoid relegation and it could be said Fringes was the best midfield player throughout the season despite his age, but he didn't have much help in the area. Bremen played most of last season with Fringes holding in an attacking 4-3-1-2 that gave attacking midfielder Marko Marin a free role to exploit defenses. In TFC's
4-3-3, I don't believe Fringes has the legs to cover as much ground as he will be required to do. No doubt he has been a great player over the years and it is a shame to see him leave Bremen. However, TFC may have bought a player that is past his sell-by date.

I would love to see these players help TFC become a playoff contender. But it seems TFC is continuing to put the pieces of a different puzzle down hoping they will fit and no one will realize the pieces don't match. Better than Mista, but they don't have the core still.