Toronto FC fans can be forgiven for feeling as though they're paraphrasing a war slogan from Orwell's 1984 when referring to the squad's backline: "We have trouble in defence... we've always had trouble in defence."
But in the novel, that slogan is mere doublethink, revisionist history meant to blind the citizens of Oceania to the fact that things haven't always been the way they are. "Ignorance is strength," as the dystopia's ruling class is wont to repeat.
While comparing Toronto FC's five-plus years of existence to one of literature's most enduring totalitarian nightmares is somewhat harsh (somewhat), the team's early struggles in 2012 have gotten fans once again repeating the mantra that Toronto's defence -- particularly its central defence -- is and always has been wretched, putrid, its most glaring weak spot.
So... has it?
[PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
This is hardly an attempt to analyze game-by-game, or even season-by-season, performance. Instead, much like my look back at the fates of the members of Canada's 2007 U20 squad, it's merely taking a look at where Toronto's former centrebacks have ended up, as a way of gauging... well, OK, it's really not a scientific measure at all. And some of these players weren't regular centrebacks, necessarily. Look, just take it for what it is, alright?
Miguel Aceval (2012-present): He's with Toronto FC. For now.
Nana Attakora (2007-2011): The longest-serving Red, "young Nana" (not really young anymore) currently finds himself out of contract after being bundled off to the San Jose Earthquakes in the Ryan Johnson trade. He had a few European trials (including with Hibs in Scotland), but didn't catch on, and thanks to MLS's arcane roster rules, even though San Jose has no further use for him, he isn't free to sign with another team.
Andy Boyens (2007-2008): The Kiwi international (who was part of New Zealand's 2010 World Cup squad) was another original Red, drafted by TFC in 2007. He was cut by Toronto in 2008, then picked up by New York, before being dropped by them after three years. Chivas USA utilized his services last year, then decided they had no use for him. You'll now see him appearing (sporadically) for the L.A. Galaxy -- until Omar Gonzalez comes back, anyway.
Adam Braz (2007): A member of TFC's CanCon contingent in Year One, Braz used Toronto as a mere pit stop between a pair of three-year stints with his hometown club, the Montreal Impact. With 12 caps for the Canadian men's national team under his belt, Braz also went on to help Montreal win the second-division title in 2009. Having retired in 2011, he's now part of the Impact's coaching staff. (And yeah, he was usually a right back, but hey, maybe some people were wondering where he went.)
Adrian Cann (2010-present): After three years on the periphery of Danish club Esbjerg (and the Canadian national setup), the Toronto-area native was repatriated in 2010, and quickly ensconced himself in Toronto's backline. He even won the team's Player of the Year award in 2010, in a decision that had nothing to do with avoiding inflaming the egos of certain teammates. Nope. Totally on merit. Anyway, considering he was a local boy, performing well for TFC at a position the team needed help at, of course the fates intervened, and he tore his ACL last spring. But he should be back within weeks (fingers tightly crossed).
Kyle Davies (2011): Was he even a CB? It's tough to remember. Sure, it was just last season, but in TFC-roster-turnover-time, a month counts as, like, three years. Either way, he's playing for the Three Lions now. Yeah, really. Why? The three-headed purple lions, Orlando City SC of the USL-Pro. Who did you think I meant?
Logan Emory (2012-present): Has hair like a poor man's Marouane Fellaini. Came over from the Puerto Rico Islanders. Beyond that, see Aceval, Miguel.
Hunter Freeman (2008): The only reason I'm including him here is to quote this passage from his Wikipedia page: "He was traded to Toronto FC on September 12, 2008. Despite Freeman having already agreed to join IK Start of the Norwegian leagues, Toronto FC gave up two supplemental draft picks to acquire him for four months. Trade conditions also dictated that New York retain the MLS rights to Freeman." Strange deal for Toronto. Oh well, I'm sure it was a mere blip on an otherwise sterling record of acquisitions by whoever was making those decisions for Toronto at the time.
Nick Garcia (2009-2010): Oh Nick. Poor Nick. After seven years with KC and a couple with San Jose, Garcia came to Toronto seemingly for the purposes of absorbing wrath from the increasingly agitated fanbase. Monstrously unfair as it is, my lingering memory is of him blasting a doomed shot 30 feet over the bar late in a CCL qualifying game against Puerto Rico. He was let go by TFC at the end of 2010 and took part in the MLS Re-entry Draft, but wasn't taken. He appears to have (involuntarily) retired a Red.
Kevin Goldthwaite (2007): Everyone remembers May 12, 2007 -- specifically, the 23:13 mark. Dichio, first-ever goal, flying seat cushions, etc. Toronto FC's first-ever MLS win. But you know who scored the winning goal that day? 'Twas Mr. Goldthwaite, with a 51st-minute tally against Chicago in a 3-1 win. Dichio's name is now in the rafters at BMO Field, his name sung during every match... and as for Kevin? He was unloaded to New York later that season, and retired as a Portland Timber last year after blowing out his ACL. Hmm.
Emmanuel Gomez (2009-2010): Along with Amadou Sanyang, one half of "The Gambians". Initially gave fans hope that TFC could reach into untapped markets for footie potential. Was waived by TFC before the pre-season began in 2011. At age 21, doesn't appear to have caught on with another professional club. Surely just another blip for whoever was making TFC's personnel decisions at the time.
Ty Harden (2010-present): Picking up the scapegoat slack after Garcia's departure, Harden surprised some by surviving the roster purge that took place when Aron Winter took the reins of the team. Continues to be employed in MLS, somehow, despite constant declarations of his incompetence by anonymous Internet commenters.
Doneil Henry (2010-present): The first home-grown player signed from the TFC Academy, Henry was immediately thrown to the wolves in his first start for the senior club, a CCL qualifier against Motagua in Honduras. The teenager hasn't made the jump to the senior team on a full-time basis yet, but showed some encouraging signs for the Canadian U23 squad at this year's Olympic qualifiers.
Andy Iro (2011): Iro's a big, tall guy, which can be good for a CB (strength, presence in the air) or bad (lankiness). We'll let you decide. Despite becoming a lightning rod for fan criticism (noticing a trend?), Iro was actually wanted back by the club for 2012, but politely said "no thanks" (or at least we imagine that's how he responded; he always seemed like a nice guy). Until presented evidence to the contrary, I'm going to guess the 27-year-old is still currently searching for a club.
Julius James (2008): Drafted by Toronto in 2008, he was a solid contributor, particularly insofar as he was part of the deal that brought Dwayne DeRosario to Toronto. James, though, made sure Toronto fans remembered him, scoring the lone goal for D.C. United in a 1-0 win at Toronto in late 2010 that essentially scuttled TFC's playoff hopes. He now plays for Columbus, which surely endears him to the TFC faithful even more.
Diaz Kambere (2008): No clue if he was a centreback. Just wanna mention him as being part of that ridiculous game on Sept. 6, 2008, when TFC needed all sorts of emergency callups against Chivas USA due to having all sorts of players away on international duty. Kambere was signed on a "one-day" loan from the Vancouver Whitecaps. He's now with the PDL's Victoria Highlanders.
Tyrone Marshall (2007-2008): Well, what can you say about the guy. You either love him, hate him, or have an opinion that falls somewhere in the middle. But at 37, he's still chugging away in MLS (with Colorado, where he signed last year), after a few years in Seattle. He's also amassed 82 caps for the Jamaican national team, which is really nothing to sneeze at. Unless you've got allergies. But that's a different matter entirely.
Aaron Maund (2012-present): Rookie! Draft pick! Where's he going? Who knows! Up, hopefully!
Chris Pozniak (2007): Simply to placate the many people who hold this opinion, I will state the following: Yes, Pozniak surely would be the panacea for all of the woes that Toronto FC and the Canadian national team have endured in the past few years. Now then. In actuality, after his brief spell in Toronto, Pozniak bounced to Chivas USA, Vancouver, Dundee United, back to Vancouver and eventually on to Hauguesund in the Norwegian league, where he currently plays.
Marco Reda (2007): Another member of the CanCon Contingent, Reda moved to the Charleston Battery and then on to the Whitecaps, for whom he played his last bit of pro soccer in 2009.
Dasan Robinson (2011): Kinda vaguely remember him coming in a few times last year, right? Am I right? I dunno. He was only around a few months. Traded Dan Gargan to get him, traded him to get Kyle Davies, now don't have any of the above. And Robinson is retired at age 27. Can't pin this one on Mo Johnston.
Adrian Serioux (2009): Best known for his big hair, apparent attempt to cripple a newly-arrived-in-MLS David Beckham, and providing the one highlight of a disastrous World Cup qualifier against Honduras in 2008, Serioux moved to Houston in 2010, his final season in MLS. Don't worry, you can still catch him on GOL TV.
Olivier Tebily (2008): He played for Sheffield United, he played for Celtic, he played for Birmingham City, he played for Toronto FC... for five games. Then he screwed up his ankle and wanted to go live in France. So that was that for his career.
Rick Titus (2008): Who even remembers whether he was on the field in that infamous 2008 game (he was another one-day loan)? Well, lots of people do, probably. I don't. I was in Montreal watching Serioux score for Canada. But Titus's career has taken him through four different Toronto teams as well as the Vancouver 86ers and the doomed Edmonton Aviators. None of this has any bearing on TFC's current defensive troubles, but come on, it's Rick freakin' Titus! (p.s. He's 43 years old and retired now.)
Marco Velez (2008-2009): Well, that name's already drummed up a reaction in your mind, so I'll let you just stew on it. After leaving Toronto -- involuntarily, that is -- Velez returned to the Puerto Rico Islanders, where he had previously played for several years, and where the 31-year-old continues to play to this day.
Dicoy Williams (2011-present): The 25-year-old Jamaican international went on trial with TFC in early 2011 and did enough to earn himself a contract. After showing himself capable at the position, the fates once again intervened and screwed up Williams' knee, an injury from which he is yet to fully recover.
Honourable mention: Marvell Wynne (2007-2010): A fan favourite known for his blazing speed, Wynne was used as a right back during his tenure in Toronto. But after being traded to Colorado in 2010, he was converted to a centre back and, well, the Rapids won the MLS Cup that year, so the experiment must be going alright. Although, anyone who saw Colorado's loss to Real Salt Lake over the weekend (where Wynne was paired with fellow TFC alumnus Tyrone Marshall) knows the system ain't quite perfect.
Addendum: Jim Brennan (2007-2010): You know what he did, and where he ended up (retiring, joining TFC Academy as a coach). I'd forgotten about his temporary service as a centreback.
So, what's the deal? Are the Reds subject to the same curse as other Toronto teams, where great players become mediocre upon arrival in Toronto? Was it Mo Johnston? Is it wind tunnels at BMO Field?
Or, as is more likely, has the perpetual roster turnover made it difficult for Toronto to establish a solid pairing in the centre of defence, where good communication and anticipation of one's teammates are especially important for success?
... Nah, must be the wind tunnels.
Either way, here's hoping TFC's defence going forward doesn't turn out to be another paraphrased and repurposed message from 1984: "If you want a picture of the future, imagine a boot misplaying the ball inside its own penalty area -- forever."
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