“This is still a nice setting,” he said. “For us it's big for our club, it's big for our team, it's big for our coaches. But, in the end it's about winning.”
There are legitimate questions about whether Altidore is the player that can bring that winning, but it's clear that TFC feels he's better suited to do so than the player that left. Choosing words carefully, all involved with the swap were clear that the Jermain Defoe problem needed to be addressed.
“(Defoe) had always played in England and I think the entire project (of playing in MLS) is something that a player has to take on,” Bez said when asked why the Defoe signing failed. “I think he was initially, but he wasn't so much through the middle of the year and the end of the year.”
Bezbatchenko stressed it's not unique for non-North American DPs to struggle with things like media access and travel in MLS.
“So you have a player like David Beckham who eventually was able to take (it) on – carry the team and the league. But, it also took him some time.
“Jermain maybe thought that he didn't have that time to do that.”
He stressed that Altidore understanding those challenges was key to the signing.
But, the question many TFC fans are having now is whether this is it. Will TFC add another significant piece in the transfer window and, if so, what does that mean for the Gilberto, the third wheel of their current crop of DPs.
That's especially the case with rumours of Juve's Giovinco on the way. For now, the club stressed that they were committed to Gilberto.
“We think we have now a combination of forwards and midfielders that can unlock defenses,” Bezbatchenko said. “But, we're always looking for new players to improve our roster. Always. We need competition in all spots but were not afraid to say that we are looking for an attacking midfielder. It doesn't always have to be a No 10 – there are creative players that can play out wide, up front. So, we're looking.”
Greg Vanney echoed his GM's thoughts.
“He's a part of our club. Like always we're always listening...but Gilberto he's with us and I think this year is a year he can really break out and score goals in this league.”
Vanney went on to suggest that the chemistry between Gilberto and Defoe last year might have held the Brazilian back.
“I think it's always a problem. If you're going to have your three DPs it's critical that they compliment each other, they can work together and you don't have different ideas on the field. That was always a challenge. There was no secret in that. I also thought there was some personality conflict between the two of them. This is an opportunity to start fresh with guys that are young and fresh and invested in this.”
He doesn't see the same issues with Altidore.
“I do believe (Gilberto and Altidore) can work together. I also believe they'll be an incredible handful for any centreback pairing. Both of them are strong. Both of them can get behind. I think they tend to drift off in different spaces at times. Jozy likes to drift to the left side and then attack the goal from there and Gilberto likes to run channels a little bit more. They can play off of each other.”
Vanney also suggested that it might be time to stop holding big splash press conferences every off-season, double-decker buses or not.
“I think it's important that we can start working with a 5-year plan and not be reactive because we brought in an older DP.
“We can really plan for our future and give our young guys a chance to develop and prepare themselves to be difference makers in this league.”
Now that would be a Bloody Big Deal.