After two wins to start the season the tendency will be to underplay what that means for Toronto FC. Too many years of too much disappoint have left a fan base with culture of defensiveness: don’t get ahead of yourselves, don’t get too excited, it’s only two games. And while it’s certainly not possible to qualify for the MLS playoffs based on results in March alone it’s also possible to do something TFC fans are all too familiar with: put yourself in a hole early and make the task substantially harder.
That’s why what TFC has achieved with their start shouldn’t be understated. An unexpected win in Seattle and then holding serve at home versus DC United has left Toronto FC with six points. That’s not just more points than they’ve ever had after two games; it’s more points than they’ve ever had after three! In fact, before this year, the Reds have only managed to have six points after FOUR games once in their history.
Toronto supporters will all remember the terrible starts. What escapes easier recollection are the mediocre ones.[PRBREAK][/PRBREAK] Even in 2009, the only year that TFC sustained a realistic season-long hope of making the postseason, the Reds failed to build on an opening day win followed by an away draw in Columbus and were mired on five points until their sixth match. That slow start resulted in John Carver’s departure and the instability cycle continued.
So, heading into an away match at Real Salt Lake, that’s what six points means to TFC and Ryan Nelsen: a cushion. Preseason doubts about the impact of the Designated Players (and the rest of the team around them) have been definitively put to bed. The question is no longer “can this team compete?” It’s “how good are they?”
It’s a question not just being asked in Southern Ontario. For once, the team themselves, instead of the fans or stadium atmosphere, matter to the rest of MLS. Toronto FC at Real Salt Lake -- a match that, in the past, even the most diehard TFC fans had to force themselves to tune in to -- is amongst the ties of the round.
After narrowly missing out on a second MLS championship in an epic penalty shootout in Kansas City the big off-season story in Salt Lake was the departure of the head coach Jason Kreis for the brighter lights of 2015’s New York City FC. Kreis, along with general manager Garth Lagerwey, was the architect of the transformation of RSL from a proto-Toronto into one of the most consistent and consistently attractive teams in MLS.
The Lakers haven’t gotten off to a flying start under new top man Jeff Cassar, elevated from his position as a long time assistant, but, so far, remain undefeated themselves. A somewhat fortunate win in Los Angeles was followed by a late collapse that squandered two points to “Goonie Time” in San Jose and a tempestuous draw in last week’s rematch versus the Galaxy in their home opener.
For the most part though, RSL seem to have not missed a beat and remain more than capable of playing the intelligent, possession-oriented soccer they became known for under Kreis. The central spine of Nick Rimando, Nat Borchers, Kyle Beckerman, Javi Morales, and Alvaro Saborio remains intact and with Saborio avoiding supplementary punishment for his late tackle on LA’s A.J. DeLaGarza all should see the field against TFC.
Both sides will be dealing with absences, however, and Toronto fans are likely to get a first view of what depth exists in the Reds’ squad. For RSL, former Toronto favourite Joao Plata has been sidelined with a hamstring strain after scoring the Royals’ winner in Los Angeles and looking dangerous so far in 2014. Meanwhile, Toronto midfielder Jackson, was not as lucky as Saborio and has been suspended for a sly elbow that connected with DC United’s Davy Arnaud last weekend.
Jackson has been the subject of some ire from TFC fans after his first two appearances in Toronto colours were blighted by heavy first touches, persistent fouling, and a seeming disinclination to take the easy pass when available. How he’ll be missed on the defensive side of the ball is an open question though as his work keeping opposing fullbacks in check seems to have been underappreciated.
More concerning, however, is the suggestion that Jonathan Osorio may not be available to partner Michael Bradley in central midfield. While it has been the big names of Bradley and Defoe splashed across all the headlines in T.O. Osorio’s contributions have not been going unnoticed. Absent Jackson, and possibly missing Osorio’s emerging tactical awareness, it will be interesting to see if Bradley’s tendency to chase the ball in a relentless high-press will pose difficulties for the rest of Toronto’s midfield.
Tactically, the match sets up in an interesting contrast of styles and formations. Amid the joy of the results some Toronto fans have expressed concern over the team’s lack of possession in their two victories. The Reds seem happy to allow their opponents the ball, so long as it’s not being used to create dangerous chances, while waiting to pounce on mistakes with quick counterattacks. So far it’s worked well but against a side with more capability to move opponents around and create than TFC has yet faced it could be dangerous.
Salt Lake’s diamond midfield presents Ryan Nelsen with question of where and when to focus his team’s press. Much has been made of the U.S. men’s national team battle between Bradley and Beckerman and if the Toronto man can successfully cut off the connection between defense and attack that Beckerman so ably supplies then the Reds’ tactics may continue to work unchanged.
The danger though is leaving Javi Morales too much space behind Toronto’s pair of central midfielders. TFC’s defense has looked better than anticipated so far but if RSL can get the ball into the Argentine in that pocket and he starts to dictate from his favoured spaces the Red’s back four will be tested in a way they haven’t been so far in 2014.
But, more than anything else, that’s the exciting thing: two games into a TFC season and we’re actually talking about football and approaching a game with something more than dread! Savour these moments Toronto fans, they’ve been a long time coming.