By Ryan Johnston

SPORTSNET.CA

Toronto FC head coach John Carver insists he is focused on the final six games of the current season; however, the excitement of what he guarantees will come in the offseason is too much to suppress.

"I would be ignorant if I was not thinking about next year and how we are going to build the team for next year," Carver said during his Monday Q&A session at BMO Field. "I have pictures in my head of what the team will be like next year. I would be wrong for to not be thinking about next season, but my priority at the moment is this season and not giving up on the situation."

The current situation sees TFC six points out of a wild-card playoff spot with six games to play. On Saturday the Reds played to a 1-1 draw with the MLS-best Columbus Crew, which also marked the first time in over a month that Carver was able to field his starting 11 of choice. The result against one of the league's best teams in Columbus prompted Carver to wax poetic about the future of the club.

"I'll guarantee you this (change on the pitch) will definitely happen by the start of next season," Carver said when asked about the expectations of the team going forward. "We have already started planning for it. We are now thinking about what we are going to do next year and how we can take this to another level."

Carver was candid in discussing the idea of using a designated player slot to acquire a big name in the offseason. In Carver's words a top quality striker, a top quality midfielder and a leader at the centre back position are all going to be addressed when the work begins in earnest this winter.

"It's going to happen. The time is right now to bring on the DPs, at least one and if not two," Carver said. "We have ear-marked a couple of players."

The selection process will be shared by both Carver and Director of Soccer Mo Johnston. Speculation is that Johnston recently traveled to South America for business, lending credence to Carver's earlier words that the wheels are already in motion. When asked about the pitfalls surrounding a coach and director trying to reach a consensus on personnel, Carver was quick to point out that his relationship with Johnston was a two-way street.

"I have a great relationship with Mo," Carver said. "We were on the phone after the game on Saturday and all day yesterday. I will have a big say in what we are going to bring in."

Carver's former employer, Newcastle United, watched recently as its manager Kevin Keegan resigned from his job after being left out of important player transfer decisions.

The designated player rule allows each MLS franchise to sign one player that would be considered outside of the teams' salary cap. There are six MLS teams currently using DP slots, with David Beckham in Los Angeles being the most recognizable. The criticism of the DP rule is that teams are too often using it to bring in a player in the twilight of his career for one last paycheque in North America. Carver is adamant that both he and Johnston are not looking to use the DP spot on an aging superstar, instead citing the example of Juan Pablo Angel in New York as how the slot can be used correctly.

"I know David Beckham arrived at the end of his career, but look at New York. I don't know how old Angel (Juan Pablo) was when he arrived but he was in his prime at Aston Villa when he left," Carver said. "(Angel) came at the right time because they are going to get a good few years out of Angel."