Ryan Johnston

After being scolded for using the wrong doorway at BMO Field Thursday, it was business as usual on the pitch. Despite my efforts to convince John Carver that the weather will get worse come August, he would have none of it, taking solace in the fact that it was not a training ground in the northeast of England in April.

Perhaps if I was a bit more courageous I would have abandoned the climate talk with Carver and asked for his opinion on the reported MLSE interest in expanding their soccer empire into England. Who knows, maybe Carver has put in his request card for a Newcastle buy up? But in all seriousness, the idea is "very premature" according to CEO Richard Peddie. For all the alleged sports holding company's faults, it is an airtight operation bent on profit. I imagine any foray into business across the pond would not be done in haste.

As for TFC, I do not see any reason for concern should anything materialize. Colorado entered into partnership with Arsenal under the pretense of Building the Arsenal brand in the U.S.; helping to improve the quality of football at MLS team Colorado Rapids and supporting grassroots football in the U.S. Is it instant dividends you're after? Well, consider that Colorado has claimed the title of reserve division champions the past two years.

Any pairing with an English club would enhance coaching and player development while giving the MLS, and TFC explicitly, a face in an untapped, yet soccer saturated, market.

In the business of sports, money is paramount; especially in the areas of longevity and trophy-case building.

Carver's decision to bring in an assistant as soon as possible made perfect sense after taking a look at the 20-25-plus players on the turf Thursday morning. Split into two groups, Carver managed a gaggle of players at the south end while Chris Cummins was with the rest in front of the north goal. Cummins is still on a wait-and-see basis, with an emphasis on more wait.

"We're looking at him, he's looking at us," Carver said of his former coaching colleague at Luton Town. "There is still a decision to be made."

The mass of bodies on the field still included defender Olivier Tebily, who, like Cummings, is waiting and seeing.

"We were probably about an inch away yesterday, and it is now millimetres," Carver said. "We are close to something but he has still not signed any papers and until that happens he is still not our player."

UPDATE: An hour or so after writing this, Tebily signs. Go figure.

“We’re adding another experienced player to the squad,” said head coach John Carver. “He’s had a good career especially at Celtic and Birmingham; he’ll definitely improve the team with his versatility as he can play either in the centre or on the right in the back.”

Julius James trained with the team, but Carver still wants to see the first-round draft pick in game action before considering him for the starting 11.