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TORONTO -- Toronto FC managers are no stranger to being on the hot seat, given the underachieving MLS franchises woeful record. Two months before the start of the 2014 season, Torontos Ryan Nelsen finds himself under the spotlight for entirely different reasons -- the high expectations that come with the clubs recent spending spree. As the slogan in the Detroit Red Wings dressing room says, "To whom much is given, much is expected." ESPN commentator Alexi Lalas clearly agrees, choosing Nelsen as his choice for coach on the hot seat during coverage of Thursdays MLS SuperDraft. The 36-year-old Nelsen welcomes the pressure. "Of course. Ive always been in that (situation) my whole career, my whole life," he said Thursday from Philadelphia, site of the MLS SuperDraft. "It doesnt take a rocket scientist to work that out. "Would I rather be in that position or what we were last year?" he asked. An easy question to answer. Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment, which owns the club, has raised the bar on MLS designated player compensation with the signing of England striker Jermain Defoe and U.S. midfielder Michael Bradley. The additions of Brazilians Gilberto and Jackson, Canadian international Dwayne De Rosario and U.S. international fullback Justin Morrow have also drawn attention to TFC. "We normally get the wrong end of the press generally so its nice to be, I suppose, on the other side," said Nelsen, who went 6-17-11 last season as he tried to sort out the salary cap and other issues he inherited. "And thats good for the fans and the club. "We know were still a couple of pieces away and were working really hard to get there. But well see." Nelsen, who became the franchises eighth manager in seven seasons when he took over prior to the 2013 season, added two more pieces Thursday by drafting Xavier centre back Nick Hagglund in the first round and Elon left-winger Danny Lovitz in the second (24th). The two players are ones for the future, although Nelsen says that can change depending on performance. "Both are guys that we saw that long-term would have the best positive chance to play for Toronto FC." Toronto sent its 15th overall pick and allocation money to the Philadelphia Union in order to get Hagglund with the 10th pick. "He was gone before it got to us (with the 15th pick) and we couldnt allow that," said Nelsen. "Youve got to get the guy that you really want." The 21-year-old Hagglund won Defensive Player of the Year honours in the Big East in 2013 for the second straight year. In his four seasons with the Musketeers, Hagglund made 80 starts with four goals and 11 assists. The Cincinnati native featured in 31 Xavier shutouts. Nelsen says the MLS Combine confirmed what they already knew about Hagglund -- a dominant centre back whos competitive, reads the game well and is good in the air. "Im so excited, Im pumped," Hagglund said of coming to Toronto. "I think this is the place to be playing soccer right now," he added. "This is where the excitement is happening." Hagglund calls himself a reliable defender -- "an athletic centre back that has the ability to outjump, outrun the guys that are coming at me." The six-foot-one 193-pounder started his collegiate career at forward, moving back to midfield and then centre back at the end of his freshman year after a change in coaches. Hagglunds selection adds depth to a Toronto backline that features captain Steven Caldwell, Canadian international Doneil Henry and Gale Agbossoumonde. Recently acquired U.S. international fullback Justin Morrow can also play centre back. Mark Bloom played well at right fullback when he came in at the end of last season, as the freezing out of incumbent Richard Eckersley started early due to his hefty contract. Asked what he planned at right back, Nelsen said: "Watch this space. We obviously know what we need and I wouldnt be very surprised if something happens pretty soon." It would seem that the club would have to use a one-time buyout to get rid of Eckersleys contract without impacting its salary cup. But given GM Tim Bezbatchenkos knowledge of what goes on behind the curtain at the leagues front office, there could be another outcome. In snapping up Bradley and squeezing a pair of draft choices out of the departing Bobby Convey and Stefan Frei, Bezbatchenko has already proved to be a canny operator. Toronto also has to do something about Argentine midfielder Matias Laba, either finding a way to remove his designated player label and keep him or move him on. Teams are only allowed three DPs and Toronto currently has four in Bradley, Defoe, Gilberto and Laba. The five-foot-10 193-pound Lovitz missed the Combine due to a slight meniscus tear. That may have helped Torontos cause since Nelsen believes he would have turned heads had he played. The 22-year-old from Wyndmoor, Pa., was Southern Conference player of the year in 2013. He had four goals and six assists in helping the Phoenix to a 15-5-3 record and the SoCon title. "Hes direct, hes left-footed, he runs at defenders," said Nelsen. "Hes got a great work ethic. He adds something that we kind of dont really have in our squad." Lovitz had nine goals and added 16 assists in 80 starts at Elon. Torontos original first-round pick -- third overall -- went to Vancouver in the trade for French striker Eric Hassli in July 2012. The Whitecaps used that to select California defender Christian Dean. Chris Tierney Jersey . On Thursday theyll learn even more. Despite the cloud of uncertainty that has followed them around from the moment general manager Masai Ujiri was brought in to put his stamp on the franchise, the Raptors have surpassed all pre-season expectations. Bobby Ryan Jersey ... as usual. Even with the salary cap being set lower than many general managers expected and hoped for at $69 million and whats considered a shallow pool of top-end players available, this unrestricted-free-agent period figures to follow the familiar script of teams bidding up prices to keep up with each other. http://www.authenticsenatorspro.com/Mikk...enators-jersey/. So they rushed to re-sign the first baseman who general manager Ben Cherington described Friday as "a unique player." The World Series champions finalized a $32 million, two-year agreement Thursday with the slugging former catcher who turned into a surprisingly good defender. Jason Spezza Jersey . Johnson shared an update after his surgery Tuesday on Twitter. He also wrote, "now lets get on the grind." The running back told The Tennessean he was having surgery in Pensacola, Fla. Tom Pyatt Jersey . Milan was held to 1-1 at home by Torino. Cagliari scored six minutes from halftime when Mauricio Pinilla blasted home from the penalty spot after Facundo Roncaglia tripped Marco Sau. The home side could have doubled its tally in stoppage time as first Fiorentina defender Stefan Savic almost scored an own goal then Albin Ekdals shot clipped the top of the upright.The FIBA World Cup gold and bronze medal matches are set. As expected, the USA plays in the championship game against unexpected upstarts Serbia. Will Strickland and Duane Watson of TSN 1050s "1 On 1 With Will & Duane" share the ball this week with Postmedia news editor/writer, Hasan Alanam, also a statistics consultant for the Womens program at Canada Basketball. TSNs Three-Man-Weave assesses the World Cup as it winds down and weighs in on the unfolding situation with the Atlanta Hawks. After spoiling the anticipated FIBA World Cup Final by shocking Spain 65-52, did France become the Cinderella of the tournament? Strickland: Hard to call one of the top teams in the world and current Eurobasket champs "Cinderella," even without Tony Parker and Joakim Noah, but the good money was on a final match-up between hoops superpowers Spain and the USA. Despite the heroics of Nic Batum and Boris Diaw, France was edged by the real Cinderella, Serbia, in the semi-final. Lead by Milos Teodosic (look for him possibly on an NBA roster near you someday) and the irrepressible Bogdan "Bogdan" Bogdanovic, Serbias underdog status versus the US will have the Palacio de Los Desportes in Madrid at full tilt for what could be a thrilling final. Alanam: France stunned everyone after eliminating the only team that had a chance of beating USA and they did it without Tony Parker and several key rotational guys that helped France win the 2013 Eurobasket. Credit the French for recognizing the Diaw-Gasol mismatch and Rudy Gobert for shutting down the Spanish frontcourt. That said, France was only a big underdog in their match against Spain. Serbia, on the other hand, had a tougher path to the final after beating favourites Greece and Brazil. Theyre the Cinderella team of the tournament. Watson: France cant be a Cinderella if they are the reigning Eurobasket champions. They overachieved, but no team has surprised more than Serbia. Ranked 11th in the world, every country they defeated was ranked higher than them (Greece #5, Brazil #10 and France #8) and they were all beat convincingly. With little NBA-calibre talent on the roster, they have shown how a balanced team effort can pull through, compete and win. Best chance for Serbia to knock off the USA in the Finals?Strickland: Hope that the USA doesnt show to the arena? Really, if Serbia can implement a plan to keep the USAs offensive rebounds relatively even with their own to quell second and third shot opportunities, limit dribble penetration, force live ball turnovers, stay home on the shooters and make bigs like Anthony Davis, Kenneth Faried, DeMarcus Cousins and Mason Plumlee decision-makers late in the shot clock, they have a real chance. Then again, looking at that laundry list of requirements against the USA, it should be posted under Serbias "Easier Said Than Done" file, as well. Alanam: Serbia has an outside shot of beating the USA if they can control the pace, limit their transition game and execute efficiently. They space the floor well, have three-point shooters outside (second in the tourney in 3PT%) and have multiple ball-handlers that can run their staple high pick-and-roll play. It will be interesting to see how Milos Teodosic, arguably the best point guard in Europe, stacks up against the elite USA point guards. Watson: Im going to throw the playbook out the window here. If Serbia continues to play with confidence and never-say-die-attitude that got them to this point, they will be ok. They surely will compete and not be scared of the fact theyre playing the US. They havent backed down to anyone and wont now. They just have to be able to come up with answers defensively. Who is the MVP of FIBA World Cup 2014?Strickland: Fans vote so, itll be Pau Gasol. The tourneys in Spain. Politically correct or even accurate? No, but the FIBA World Cup is being held in Spain! Being a firm believer in the idea that the team who wins normally has the MVP on its roster, it cant be Gasol. If Serbia upsets the USA in the final, Milos Teodosic is the MVP. The 65", 27-year-old Teodosic is one of the best players in Europe and has been beyond fantastically clutch in this tournament. When the USA wins, it should be either Klay Thompson or Kenneth Faried, two guys few were sure would make the US Mens National Team, but have been vital contributors to its success. Wonder if Duane Watson voted for Andray Blatche... #Gilas Alanam: It has to be Pau Gasol, despite Spains early exit. The 34-year-old big man looked as dominant as ever in international play and appears to be finally healthy after battling injuries the last two seasons with the Lakers..dddddddddddd. He finished the tournament averaging about 20 points and six rebounds with a true shooting percentage of over 68 per cent. Chicago Bulls fans should be optimistic about this coming season even with Derrick Rose struggling in the tournament. Watson: Well, the fans actually vote for the MVP and since the World Cup is based in Spain, Pau Gasol will walk away with the award. Deservedly so, averaging 20 points a game, 5.9 rebounds and shooting 63 per cent from the field, while leading his team to an undefeated record in pool play. Gasol has used the World Cup as a perfect springboard for a fresh start with the Chicago Bulls this season. Derrick Rose is averaging 5.4 points per game, 2.8 assists and 2.0 rebounds on 27 per cent shooting from the field in 17 minutes a game. How would you rate his return? Strickland: Disappointingly incomplete. My issues with Derrick Martell Rose, how hes handled the injuries, his role on this team and public perception of his desire are myriad, but there is nothing Ive seen from Rose in this tournament that tells me his return to the NBA will also mark his return to elite status as a player or that hes fully shaken the mental, emotional and physical hurdles someone so athletically gifted may have to leap to find peace, progress and ultimate performance after such devastating injuries. Alanam: It would be unfair to rate Rose at this point because he is coming back from two major knee surgeries and playing under a different set of rules (and with a different ball). His jumpshot isnt falling, he isnt finishing well, has turnover issues (turnover rate over 20 per cent), but his drives to the rim have looked explosive and he has played solid defence. Rose had his best game against Slovenia when he dropped 16 points, but struggled in USAs semi-final match against Lithuania. Watson: On a scale of one to 10? FIVE. Rose has shown that his knees work and are functional, but his game and competitive spirit are somewhat lacking. I wont attribute it to the competition, as he has been training with USA Basketball all summer, but the player who dominated the league a few years ago is nowhere to be seen and this is against "perceived" weaker competition. He still has a few more kilometres to travel on the road to getting back to himself. If Atlanta Hawks owner Bruce Levenson or GM Danny Ferrys insensitive comments occurred as isolated incidences, would there be as much of an issue? Strickland: Wouldnt have made a difference one way or the other. In light of fresh scars from the Donald Sterling/LA Clippers drama, this situation in Atlanta reads like a modern Shakespearean tragedy. Front office power struggles between Bruce Levenson, Danny Ferry, CEO Steve Koonin and co-owner Michael Gearon, who looks to be the whistleblower here, are only the tip of the iceberg. Danny Ferry committed potential career suicide by claiming he was only reiterating words from a scouting report on then-free agent and fellow Duke alum Luol Deng, instead of speaking extemporaneously. And Bruce Levenson, in an attempt to address market pressures, but in racially insensitive tones, is relinquishing his majority ownership of the club, aware of the consequences of his judgement. It may get worse before it gets better in the ATL.Alanam: In the post-Donald Sterling era, any time when there is any sort of racially charged comments coming from a high-ranking front office member of a team, its going to be a big deal. This is a league thats predominantly African-American and has always gotten high marks for its diversity, so this goes completely against what they stand for. Luckily for the NBA, they have the Ray Rice situation unfolding at the same time. This could have been a lot worse. Watson: The coupling of the statements spells bad news for the Hawks, but individually, particularly in the light of Donald Sterlings Clippers fiasco, they would likely have had the same amount of weight. Levensons insensitive e-mail was damning and a sale of his majority share was inevitable. Ferrys mishandling of statements that "werent his," made the situation worse and referring to it as a poor judgement call would be a gross understatement. He apologized, but is the only one who hasnt owned up to what he said, unlike Sterling or Levenson. The fact they both happened within a relatively short timeframe of one another speaks to the culture in the Atlanta organization, which is in desperate need of change. The Three-Man Weave contributors are co-hosts of TSN Radio 1050s 1 On 1 with Will & Duane, Will Strickland (@WallStrizzle1), Duane Watson (@DuaneWatson) and Postmedia News editor / writer Hasan Alanam (@hasanalanam). 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