There are, it has been said, four stages of fame.
In the case of Maicon Santos – who actually managed to score goals for Toronto FC, and is now winging his way to a new and better team in Dallas – those are these:
1) Who is Maicon Santos?
2) Get me Maicon Santos!
3) Get me a young Maicon Santos!
4) Who is Maicon Santos?
We have essentially hit number 3.
[PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
What’s really interesting, looking back on his time in Toronto, was how little of what happened to him was anything more than a fleeting accident of history. Any other player, with the same general skill set, would likely never have been here – and certainly wouldn’t even have been captain of Toronto FC.
It was Preki (who never should have been Toronto’s coach) who brought him north. Santos played for Preki as a loan player at Chivas USA, and popped home a couple of goals. That’s all it took. Preki wanted someone who could drive the net and score. Santos – thrillingly – could … sometimes.
Santos’s Wikipedia entry is the darndest thing. It suggests the 27-year-old Brazilian turned pro in 2004, and made only 34 first-team league appearances – for eight different clubs – scoring just five goals, before arriving at TFC. Ali Gerba’s vagabond career is almost rational by comparison.
He certainly did better here! Ten goals in 32 games. He could run, hold up the ball, and uncork some spicy, delicious goals. Didn’t pass very well, though, which hurt quite a bit in a dull, plodding TFC attack that needed creation every bit as desperately as finish.
Once Preki’s bluff was called, and Aron Winter arrived on the scene, Santos ended up getting some very strong mixed signals. At first, he was the guy who could go forward and finish. Winter’s whole scheme hinges on that. Santos even found himself named team captain after Dwayne MeRosario was dealt to the PopCans.
It was certainly never Santos’s fault he ended up with the armband. All MeRo’s infamous cheque-writing stunt late last season really proved is that Toronto FC didn’t have a real leadership guy anywhere on the roster. Goaltender Stefan Frei was the nearest thing to a captain – but almost always the furthest player from the action.
So Maicon Santos – largely as a reward for his forward-forward style of play – got named team leader. Then, inevitably, his inconsistency bit him in the ass. Winter started benching him, then dealt him to Dallas for a young attacking mid who doesn’t count against the salary cap. (Nice pick-up, Paul Mariner!)
The new guy, Eric Avila, is not really “a young Maicon Santos." In his present form, he’s an attacking midfielder who doesn’t score goals. But Winter saw no benefit in playing Santos, and dealt him for future – a pretty reasonable move, wholly in keeping with the latest, most sudden, most sweeping Toronto FC rebuild.
With Torsten Frings as captain, Danny Koevermans finishing, and tiny, perfect Joao Plata doing the linkwork, there just wasn’t any room left for Santos – unless he upped his goal rate and cut down on the game-crushing giveaways.
In the end, though, Toronto was a good thing for Santos. He got his first, best chance to really play, and responded with some gorgeous goals. He has now parlayed that onto a spot with Dallas – one of the very best teams in MLS, however little we might like the sound of that up here.
Bigger picture, though, his departure is – I hope – a clear sign of something far more desirable: Toronto FC … getting better. This torrent of new players includes rations of youth, experience, toughness … talent!
It may yet be far too late for any kind of 2011 playoff run, but Toronto is on to the qualifying stages of the CONCACAF Champions League – where they may just end up in a group with Maicon Santos and FC Dallas.
I absolutely loved watching Santos play ball for the Reds – aside from the game-crushing giveaways. The idea that the team is good enough and strong enough no longer to have any room for him at all is …
Intriguing.
Onward!