June 11, 2024 – MLS NEXT Pro (MLS NEXT Pro)
Toronto FC II News Release
Following the end of the 2023 MLS NEXT Pro season, Toronto FC II took a deep look at their roster, analyzing and comparing it to the rest of the league.
MLS NEXT Pro rosters break into three broad groups: players graduating from the club’s academy system, MLS SuperDraft and college players, and international additions.
“We had a chance to look at the makeup of sides,” said TFC II Head Coach Gianni Cimini. “We were ~30% above in the academy signings – a good thing from an academy standpoint, but if our team is made up of 75% players from our academy and very little in the other two categories what do you lose?”
“You lose the ability to have guys that have different experiences, that see the game differently,” he listed. “That have been developed differently, that can add a spark.”
“We did a better job of finding a balance,” Cimini continued. “We picked guys that had a good mentality, actively recruited guys that had leadership qualities, and came with good character references.”
The lead into the 2024 regular season saw a number of recruits in those latter two categories.
A pair of goalkeepers in Abraham Rodriguez from Colorado Rapids 2 and Shafique Wilson, a Canadian playing at Fort Wayne FC after his collegiate career. Brazilian defender Ythallo, on loan from São Paulo FC. Brampton-born wing-back Nate Edwards, who split his university career between Purdue University Fort Wayne and Syracuse University.
Midfielders Hassan Ayari and Charlie Staniland from Sheffield United’s system. Mark Fisher, who has played several positions for TFC II this season, from Stanford University and 2023 MLS SuperDraft pick Charlie Sharp, a striker, out of Western Michigan University.
The process of scouting and acquisition is different for every player. Edwards, Sharp, and Fisher for example, all came via different means.
Edwards, despite never being involved with the TFC Academy, had been on the club’s radar for some time.
“It started two years ago,” explained the 21-year-old. “I was playing with my club, Vaughan Azzurri, against the U-17s.”
“I played really well that day, I scored. The coach was Dino [Lopez, now TFC Academy Assistant Director & U-19 Head Coach, he] reached out to my coach, asked if [they] would allow me to go on trial at TFC II for a week,” Edwards continued. “I went, did really well; they asked me to stay for the summer and I did.”
“After that they wanted me to come back for another…
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