If Maurice Edu is unable to wear his No. 6 in Glasgow, then he should consider the No. 33 as an alternative.
Why? The opportunity for Edu to play in Europe is due in no small part to his TFC teammate Carl Robinson. As two players to survive the revolving door in Toronto from Day 1, Robinson has served as a mentor to the young American, helping the talented midfielder learn to be a professional both on and off the pitch.
And with Edu set to depart at some point next week, it seems that not even the Atlantic Ocean will terminate the education of Edu.
"I have got a few friends there (in Scotland) and I have already said to them to look after him (Edu) and take him under the wing," said Robinson, who uprooted his own life to come to play the game in Toronto.
Edu will be lucky to find a replacement for Robinson, as the ambition of performing at a top club sometimes usurps the ties of friendship.
"I told him, 'Don't be afraid of anyone, they will help you but at the same time they want the shirt off your back.'" Robinson added, "The lads will all respect him when they see him perform on the pitch."
For Edu, the $5 million move to Scotland is the fulfillment of a lifelong dream.
"It was something I wanted," Edu said of the transfer, "When I first came to this club I talked to Mo Johnston about my future and what I eventually wanted to do and I said that I wanted to play in Europe."
With only a season-and-a-half of professional experience the jump is quite remarkable. The Scottish giants have won more major trophies than any other club in the world and employ internationals with close to 300 games on their resume.
Each time Edu answered a question during the pre-game farewell conference on Saturday, he looked just as bewildered in discussing the gravity of the situation as I do while writing it.
"Football is the only sport over there; it is life over there," Edu said." So (Robinson) told me to be ready for the critics and just know that the level of football over there is different."
Different indeed; and the critics in Glasgow have already outlined what is to be expected from the relatively unknown MLS product. There is very little grace period for Edu to adjust as next weekend is the first Old Firm meeting of the new domestic season.
"The spirit that we have here in Toronto is exactly the same as the spirit in the locker rooms in England and Scotland, and he'll do quite well," Robinson concluded.
I meant to ask Robinson who his new pupil will be now that Edu had moved on - Tyler Rosenlund. perhaps?
NOTES: John Carver confirmed he is set to lose a minimum of seven players to call up on September 6, which may grow to eight if Young Ibrahim is called up by the U20 squad … The coach was also quite cordial when asked about the officiating during the 1-1 draw with New England, joking that his fiery rants of the early season left him too light in the pocketbook … New signing Carlos Ruiz had 'a few things to take care of' before coming to Toronto, but when he arrives Carver expects to use him in a partnership with Chad Barrett … Carver finished his post-game session by applauding the block made by Julius James late in the game, citing how it alone was worth as much as another TFC goal.
