Gilberto's seven goals actually stacks up as pretty successful. The top 17 scorers in MLS last year were all returning players.
This is the context you must view the Jozy Altidore to Toronto rumours in. He's scored 15 goals in a MLS season before. There is literally no one else available in this window that can make that claim.
The problem, of course, is he's scored one goal in the last 6,000 games – or so it seems. He can't convert for Sunderland and it's stunning that he can still apparently demand a $6-million salary in MLS.
Apparently he can, with three teams, including TFC, willing to pay it. Since it's come out recently that TFC is first in line for his services – apparently the league is going with the allocation order on this one, despite doing something different the last time a USMNT player came back. MLS, eh? What are ya gonna do! -- we need to evaluate whether this is a good thing.
What's being suggested is that TFC would pay Sunderland about three million quid and give them Defoe. This is still up in the air though. Hopefully because TFC thinks that's crazy.
One of TFC's biggest advantages this year is the amount of allocation it has. That advantage goes away if it's paying a big transfer for Altidore. So, bottom line here is this: No transfer. Period. Paying anything for a guy with a goal in two years is nuts.
Unless you think he's going to score 15-20 goals next year. Bluntly, you pay whatever for that. As said, finding goal scorers is hard.
Here's where it gets complicated. MLS and, especially, TFC isn't on the same level as teams in Europe/competent teams. The market is limited. Not everyone will consider coming. Altidore, apparently, will. So, is he worth the risk?
Make no mistake, he is a risk. There are some in the USMNT community that will argue otherwise but it's been a long time since this guy scored. Strikers are a funny lot. They can be hard to predict and they can lose it as fast as they gained it.
But, dismissing Altidore – as many in Canada, including, if I'm honest, myself, do – is probably too easy too.
He's scored 15 goals in a MLS season.
Can he again?
The honest truth is that no one knows. That's not a hot take. But it is probably fair.
Evaluating this potential move really comes down to evaluating whether it's TFC's biggest need. Regardless of what they do there will be a risk in the signings they make. Is this the right risk? That's the question that needs to be answered.
The perspective here is no. But, I'm not prepared to claim that in absolute terms.
Sadly, MLS transfers are rarely absolute.
Your thoughts?