Many TFC fans would like to forget the 2014 MLS season, that saw a club market the “Bloody Big Deal” of Jermain Defoe and had eventually suffered a heartbreaking season finale that saw the club fire manager Ryan Nelson at the end of August and finish the season 2-6-2 and fell even more out of a playoff spot.

That season was supposed to be different than the others for Toronto FC, as the club brought in three new Designated Players to make the squad stronger. Jermain Defoe, Michael Bradley and Gilberto were all signed to strengthen the team and give them that final push for the playoffs.

However, we all know how that ended. Defoe now calls Sunderland home, Bradley stayed and is new captain, and who could forget the Brazilian Gilberto? I don’t think many TFC fans will and can forget him. If it wasn’t his speech about being able to score 15 goals in the MLS, or fighting teammates to take free kicks, than maybe TFC fans wouldn’t be able to look back and laugh a little about last season.

Going into this season, the club moved away from the “Bloody Big Deal” and sold Defoe to Sunderland and received Jozy Altidore. Than, the massive signing of Sebastian Giovinco from Italian club Juventus that now sees the “Atomic Ant” as the clubs single season top scorer. A move for Gilberto elsewhere had to happen to make room for the two new DP’s, since the league only allows teams to have a maximum of three DP’s on a roster.

Gilberto was loaned to Brazilian side Vasco de Gama in the offseason. His stay there, like his TFC career was short. He appeared in 28 games for Vasco, while scoring seven goals in the clubs regional championship, he was only able to score twice in league play. Gilberto was then brought back to Toronto after his loan deal was terminated. The club had to find a way to get the Brazilian off the books, so they had waive him in the hopes a club picked him up. That club was the Chicago Fire.

Gilberto recently joined the Fire this month, and has made one appearance so far.

Now the big question here is, What if Gilberto never left TFC, and finished this season with the club? Would he be better off in Toronto?

To answer that question, lets look back at Gilberto’s stats. He appeared in 28 matches for the Reds, scoring seven times and providing five assists. Not bad, but not the best for what a DP should bring to a club. He then had a pass success rating of 75.6% and took around 2.4 shots per game, according to whoscored.com. Again not bad, but not for what the club was paying him.

You also have to look at the big issue at hand. If Gilberto was still a member of TFC, one of the clubs three DP’s would have to leave. Which one would you pick to leave? The jaw dropping play of Giovinco? The attacking force of Altidore? Or the leadership and command of Bradley? I would have to say none of the above.

Gilberto’s time with TFC was short lived, and wasn’t considered awful, but I wouldn’t say it was the best. With Giovinco and Altidore upfront, the club looks more organized and is playing much better football compared to last season. If Gilberto was available as a non DP, than I would love to have him. Considering he would be a better option than the likes of Robbie Findley and Luke Moore.

However, GM Tim Bezbatchenko had to make a move and didn’t want his club to not comply with league rules. The move to the Fire stings since he left for nothing, and is on a conference rival. What doesn’t hurt, is that the decision to keep one of the three current DP’s is still intact and the likes of Giovinco, Altidore and Bradley have all brought an important spark to the club.

Let us know what you think. Would you like to have Gilberto back, did you enjoy his time in a Toronto FC kit?