Koevermans’ injury could have bearing on TFC’s transfer-window wish list

Oh the best laid plans of mice and men.

With deals to send Joao Plata away on loan, the release of Nick Soolsma and then the trade of Designated Player Julian de Guzman in exchange for a Generation Adidas player who doesn’t constitute a cap hit, the pieces were in place for Toronto FC to make a major roster move.

Of course, the team’s cap issues hurt it badly as it tried, in vain, to court central defender Alessandro Nesta. Now that the roster spots and cap space have been freed, there was plenty of scuttlebutt about TFC chasing another name defender to help stabilize the back line.

But did those priorities change after striker Danny Koevermans left Saturday’s match with the New England Revolution with what’s suspected to be a fairly serious left-leg injury?

While the nature of the injury isn’t confirmed, TFC coach Paul Mariner said after the game that it’s, well, bad. And, when the coach speaks about how other players have to step up to replace Koevermans’ goals, you know he’s already thinking about life after Danny.

Here are the MLS roster rules on replacing injured players:
“A team with a player lost to a season-ending injury can place the player on the Season Ending Injury List and replace that player on its roster, while remaining responsible for the full amount of the injured player’s salary. A player can be placed on the season-ending injury list once another player has been signed as a replacement (provided the team has budget space). International player limits still apply at the time a season-ending replacement is made (with the player being replaced not counting against those limits).”

Koevermans was on crutches after the match.

Of the 22 goals TFC has scored this year, Koevermans has eight of them (and added one assist). So, the team has scored just 13 goals in 19 games that Koevermans did not have a part in.

So, assuming the Koevermans injury is long-term in nature, does TFC try to put together a patchwork offence led by Ryan Johnson and continue to chase hard after a high-priced CB, or do the Reds now decide to spend a little less on a defender, and allocate money to a striker, too?

Really, it depends on how Mariner and the TFC brass view the season. If 2012 is now seen as simply a rebuilding project, then go and get the CB, a leader type who will help mentor what is a very young back four. The lessons learned by the defenders from an experienced veteran will benefit the franchise in the long-term.

But, if there is hope that TFC can make up a nine-point hole and get into an Eastern Conference playoffs — or, if TFC feels it has a serious shot at having another glorious run in the CONCACAF Champions League — the decision becomes that much tougher. The team needs a proven goal scorer to win games and, right now, the cupboard is pretty bare.

With the recent roster moves, Mariner has got the club some roster flexibility. But, like a game of Whac-A-Mole, the problems creep up faster than the new TFC coach can solve them.