

Posted by

Steve Bottjer ,

April 16, 2014 Email

Steve Bottjer

On Twitter:

@BottjerRNO

While the Colorado Rapids ultimately earned their first ever win against Toronto FC at BMO Field last Saturday, if there was a silver lining for the Reds in defeat, it likely came in the form of a second straight impressive performance by young Canadian midfielder Kyle Bekker.



After being drafted third overall in the 2013 MLS SuperDraft by Toronto FC, the Canadian International endured a challenging and peculiar rookie season in which he played more regularly for his national team than his club squad. However, even with some pundits speculating over the offseason that Bekker might be a player ripe for a change of scenery, TFC Head Coach Ryan Nelsen always maintained that the young Central midfielder would eventually come good for his hometown side.



With two solid performances against the Columbus Crew and the Rapids now to his credit, the 23 year old looks to have turned a corner and assuaged early season concerns that some observers have had with regard to Toronto’s depth at the central midfield position.



“I thought Kyle was absolutely brilliant today,” Nelsen told reporters after Toronto’s tough 1-0 loss to Colorado on the weekend. “I thought he was one of our standout players amongst a lot of guys who played really well.”



“He balanced out the attack well and most of the possession in attack started from him,” Nelsen added. “He also did a lot of stuff on the opposite side of the ball, which is something that he has brought into his game and that shows a kind of level of maturity in Kyle which we have been hoping to see and which he has been developing through his hard work.”



Interestingly, with Designated Player Michael Bradley playing in and taking ownership of a box to box role, the usually offensively-oriented Bekker has thus far excelled playing in more of a deep lying midfield role.



According to player himself, he is just happy to be getting a chance to play and is focused on building on the solid performances he has put in to date.



“In the past I have definitely played in a more attacking role, but I’m comfortable playing anywhere in the midfield,” Bekker told RedNation. “I just want to get on the ball and keep the balance and keep the team shape. Right now I’m fine with this position.”



“I just have to keep building on each performance with any chance that I get,” Bekker added. “Keep the passing tight and getting onto the ball and winning tackles in the middle.”



While the benefit that Bradley has brought to Toronto as a team has already been immense and obvious, at a micro level his presence in the TFC lineup and in training could pay major dividends for the career of young players like Bekker and fellow Canadian International midfielder Jonathan Osorio.



Bekker was quick to admit that he is enjoying training and playing with the United States International.



“Any player can learn something from Michael,” Bekker said. “With me playing in the middle, it is good to have him there. It is about working together and working off of each other. Any time you are playing in the midfield, you have to react as the game goes. So if he is going one way, then I have to come in and fill in the spot.”



“You learn all the little stuff from a player like Michael,” Bekker added. “You might not see it on camera, but it happens every day in training. Just the work rate and all the little things he does in games that make the biggest difference. To see that firsthand makes the biggest difference.”



With Bradley expected to miss a significant number of games in the summer due to the World Cup, the emergence of Bekker as a solid option for Nelsen could end up being of vital importance with respect to where Toronto eventually finishes in the table at the end of the season.



Asked about the challenges he faced as a rookie last year, Bekker was quick to stress that he is now looking forward and that he feels like he is in a good place with respect to be able to contribute to what many are hoping will be a breakthrough campaign for Toronto FC.



“Any rookie season is going to have its up and downs,” Bekker explained. “It was good to get that out of the way. Now it is just about focusing on the team and not about it being my first year. I’m now a better player with respect to the little things, focusing on keeping the team shape, more movement off the ball and just staying in tune and not worrying when I have it.”