TORONTO -- For once, expectations are sky high at the start of Toronto FC training camp. Kevin Faulk Patriots Jersey . A team that has long been the MLS doormat --Toronto has won six, nine, 10, nine, six, five, and six games since coming into the league in 2007 -- enters the 2014 season as a shooting star thanks to the hoopla over high-priced signings Jermain Defoe, Michael Bradley and Giberto. "Its a bloody big deal" is the already tired slogan around the acquisition of England striker Defoe. But the atmosphere is unmistakable. "Theres a buzz," said general manager Tim Bezbatchenko. The players started arriving late this week and most trained indoors Friday, although manager Ryan Nelsen did not involve those who were are the recent Canadian national team camp in Florida. He also gave Bradley a pass, given his recent involvement in Serie A. "Michaels had a lot of football," Nelsen said. "He doesnt need it now. He just probably needs a little rest." Captain Steven Caldwell sat out with a minor calf knock while the club waited on visa paperwork for Brazils Gilberto and Jackson. Toronto leaves Sunday for Florida. The 31-year-old Defoe will remain with Englands Tottenham until the end of February. Toronto opens the season March 15 in Seattle. Nelsen says the team will give Defoe time to bed in when he gets here. "We have to be very careful and we have to judge it. Hes here for four years, its not like were going to rush him back, patch him up if we have to and throw him out on the field. We have to think long-term. "So when hes ready to play, hell be ready to play. If thats Game 1, then brilliant. If its Game 4, so be it." In his second year on the job, the 36-year-old Nelsen finds himself in a totally different situation. He arrived last year with minimal knowledge of the talent that awaited him. He has the squad of his choice largely in place this time. "In all honesty I thought it might take a couple of years to get to the situation where we are right now," said Nelsen. There was short-term pain for long-term gain last season. Some 27 players came in -- if you count Israeli defender Tal Ben Haim whose loan deal from QPR never quite happened -- and 26 exited. The revolving door has slowed ahead of 2014 but those coming in have been quality additions. The three DPs are joined by American Justin Morrow and Englands Bradley Orr on defence, Jackson and Canadian star Dwayne De Rosario in midfield and teenage Canadian forward Jordan Hamilton. The team still has some roster work to do on the status of Argentine midfielder Matias Laba and English fullback Richard Eckersley. Laba is in camp while Eckersley, with the teams blessing, is not. Laba also has a designated player deal, meaning Toronto is one over the three DP limit. So the club has to find a way to restructure his contract or move him on. The club likes the Argentine, who at 22 has many years ahead on him. Heres guessing the team finds a way to farm him out without losing track of him. Eckersley is a victim -- sort of -- of a rich contract that grew fatter this year when the team was forced to restructure his deal to help ease its salary cap burden last season. Toronto could take a one-time contract buyout to get out from under the Eckersley contract burden without taking a salary cap hit. Toronto can also reach a settlement with Eckersley or deal him while eating some of the contract, which would impact the cap. Other MLS teams are unlikely to take Eckersley at his current number. Still, Bezbatchenko is confident he can find a way. Given his background as a former MLS insider and the leagues seemingly fluid rules, he is likely to succeed. When it comes to his starting lineup, Nelsen often says his players -- not him -- pick the team with their performance on the pitch. When all his pieces are in place, one would expect a likely starting 11 of Joe Bendik in goal behind a backline of Morrow, Caldwell, Canadian Doneil Henry and Orr, a midfield of Jackson, Bradley, De Rosario (or fellow Canadian Jonathan Osorio) and Alvaro Rey with Gilberto and Defoe up front. Its a good-looking team sheet, although the rest of the roster is young. Nelsen likes what he sees but is realistic. He knows it takes time to turn around a franchise and establish a winning culture. "It doesnt matter who you put out on the field, the clubs got to learn how to win ... we know weve got a long way to go." Nelsen adds: "I say that with one side of my face. The other side says if theres a group of guys that can live up to any expectations, I feel like these guys will really enjoy it and will enjoy the pressure. "It will be different for them because we will have a target on our back. Everybody will want to beat us. Everybody wanted to play us because they knew they could beat us in the past. Now theyll want to play us because they will want to try to prove a point to beat us. "Its a different mentality and its going to be difficult. But its a lovely challenge to be in." A one-year partnership with the North Carolina-based Wilmington Hammerheads of the USL Pro League gives TFC a place to give some of its younger talent a chance to play. Toronto may also look to loan a player within MLS. Bezbatchenko was part of the process in getting the newly installed loan format approved while he was working in the league office. Canadian international Issey Nakajima-Farran is in the Toronto camp on trial. Sony Michel Womens Jersey . Dallas also Monday recalled defenceman Aaron Rome from his conditioning assignment with the Texas Stars of the American Hockey League and assigned goaltender Jack Campbell to the AHL squad. Steve Grogan Youth Jersey .C. United have acquired midfielder Alex Caskey from the Seattle Sounders for a third-round pick in the 2016 MLS draft. https://www.patriotssportsgoods.com/Womens-Kevin-Faulk-Inverted-Jersey/ . The Extreme Heat Policy was enacted at Melbourne Park just before 2 p.m. Thursday, suspending all matches on outer courts until the early evening and requiring the closure of the retractable roofs at Rod Laver and Hisense arenas before play could continue on the show courts.The San Antonio Spurs will welcome Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers to the Alamo City Friday night in the conclusion of a quick two-game homestand at the AT&T Center. The Spurs recorded a 109-95 victory over the New York Knicks on Wednesday and were led by Marco Belinellis 22 points. Danny Green scored 13 and Boras Diaw added 12 for San Antonio, which played without Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili and Kawhi Leonard. I havent been this pleased in a while. I just saw a lot of guys who havent played much play the fundamental game, Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. San Antonio shot 50.7 percent from the floor and hit 10-of-19 3-pointers. The bench scored a season-best 58 points. Knicks star Carmelo Anthony sat out due to left knee soreness. The defending NBA champion Spurs, who have a 10-0 mark when scoring 100-plus points, are 8-1 at home and have won 11 of their last 13 games. Parker (hamstring) is probable Friday and Leonard (hand) is listed as questionable versus the Lakers. Duncan and Ginobili should be back in the lineup. Duncan is 15 points shy of passing Jerry West for 18th on the all-time scoring list. Los Angeles will play three in a row on the road against San Antonio, Minnesota and Indiana, and is 3-7 as the visitor this season. The Lakers ended a three-game losing streak with Tueesdays 98-95 victory over the Sacramento Kings, as Bryant scored 21 of his 32 points in the second half and made 11-of-27 shots. Tom Brady Youth Jersey. Bryant is second in the NBA with 25.5 ppg and 31 points shy of passing Michael Jordan (32,292) for third place on the NBAs all-time scoring list. I just wanted to keep us in it, Bryant said. Down the stretch we were active defensively. We made steals and our energy carried us through. Carlos Boozer tallied 15 points off the bench, Nick Young scored 12 in a reserve role and Ed Davis added 11 and six rebounds. Davis, of course, replaced Boozer in the starting lineup. The Lakers, who made just 39.6 percent from the field and erased a 12-point deficit, scored 21 points off 16 Sacramento turnovers. The Lakers allowed 14 points in the fourth quarter and 40 in the second half. Guard Wesley Johnson (illness) is questionable Friday. Los Angeles suffered a 93-80 loss versus San Antonio on Nov. 14 and Bryant was held to just nine points on 1-of-14 shooting. Duncan recorded 13 points and 11 rebounds for the Spurs, who took three of four meetings with the Lakers last season and are 8-2 in their last 10 against Los Angeles. The Lakers and Spurs have split the last 10 games in the Alamo City. In 56 games (51 starts) against the Spurs, Bryant is averaging 24.1 ppg. ' ' '