Vancouver Whitecaps busy summer transfer window continued this evening with the news that Designated Player Eric Hassli has been traded to Toronto FC.
Vancouver will get a first round selection in the 2014 MLS SuperDraft and an international roster spot that lasts until the end of next season.
In return, Toronto will get an expensive forward in poor form who has managed only 12 MLS goals in 44 appearances.
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That said, this could very well be the move that reinvigorates the Frenchman and Toronto's style of play should suit him more than what Martin Rennie has been trying to get him to play.
With Danny Koevermans now injured, TFC have had to act quick to fill that huge hole in their attack and they will see Hassli as the perfect fit. He just has to recover from his ankle injury first.
The Whitecaps seem to be quite good at burying these big transfers on Friday evenings. Le Toux last week. Hassli this. The French Disconnection as it turned out.
Martin Rennie was quick to talk about the transfer and how it was a hard decision for the Whitecaps to make:
<i>"Trading Eric has been a difficult decision and we really appreciate all that he has done for the club. With the emergence of our young strikers and recent additions, we felt that this is the right time to make this move.
We wish Eric the best of luck in Toronto."</i>
And so do we here at AFTN. We loved the guy for his charisma and overall package. As a footballer to score goals for the Caps, not so much.
The news won't come as a surprise to a lot of us in Vancouver. We were even debating such a move in the comments on AFTN earlier this week.
Hassli's days were clearly numbered following a disappointing season, where he struggled not only to find the net, but also a regular place in the starting eleven.
To have a situation where a striker is on a huge $790,000 guaranteed salary, and taking up a DP slot, and is simply not performing just couldn't continue.
Factor in the excellent form of Darren Mattocks and the acquisition of new DP Kenny Miller and the writing was on the wall.
In 897 MLS minutes this season, Hassli recorded 2 goals, 3 assists and just 7 shots on target. He also managed to pick up six yellow cards in his 18 appearances, but thankfully didn't add to the three sending offs he had last year.
It should be no surprise that Hassli went to Toronto. He does have an affinity for reds after all.
And therein lay the other problem with Hassli apart from the lack of goalscoring.
He seemed to have become a marked man by MLS referees, not getting decisions, picking up bookings for seemingly minor tackles and left looking constantly frustrated and mumbling away to himself.
We genuinely hope that this move gives him a new lease of life and he will be welcomed back to Vancouver if he is still with Toronto next season.
Hassli was thought to be on a two year contract with Vancouver, with the club having a further two year options. Whether Hassli will just be a quick stopgap for Toronto, will depend largely on his performances and his desire to stay in North America.
He will be fondly remembered in Vancouver, both for his goal and for his personality.
Hassli always had time for the fans and spent ages signing autographs after games, outside the stadium and at training. Everyone loved him. Everyone wanted a picture with him. He always obliged.
He was the biggest selling replica jersey, even above Y-P Lee with all his fervent followers. At least from a marketing point of view, the Caps can go and sell some more!
Eric Hassli's time in Vancouver may have been brief but he will long live on in Whitecaps history.
He was the Club's first Designated Player. He scored the Club's first goal in Major League Soccer. He was the Club's first sending off in MLS. And when he did score, he had some wonder goals.
No one will ever forget that goal in Seattle last year that made him an internet sensation. Then he followed that up with the amazing Voyageurs Cup strike against TFC this year.
That was what he was capable of, he just didn't show it enough to keep him here.
Good luck in Toronto Eric. We wish you nothing but success in every game except the ones against Vancouver.
Merci Beaucoup for all that you did here.
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