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Cormac McGee ,

July 1, 2013 Email

Cormac McGee



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With yesterday’s loss to Real Salt Lake, Toronto FC are still searching for their first regular season win at BMO Field in almost a year. The team missed copious chances and conceded with mere seconds left in the first half. Promising young centre back Doneil Henry earned himself a red card by shoving Salt Lake’s Tony Beltran in a moment of mental weakness, and once again, former TFC players – Joao Plata and Aaron Maund – left the stadium happy with three points. See also: The Twelfth Man: Team spirit

It’s said that the statistics speak for themselves, but sometimes they don’t say enough. While the above recap is accurate, it paints a much gloomier picture of the game than is fair. Yes, many problems still plague TFC, but yesterday’s game showed that the team is moving in the right direction and progressing far more than the stats will have you believe. Sitting second last in the Eastern Conference with 12 points in 16 games, there’s more hope for Toronto FC right than ever before, and here’s why: Distribution

It starts at the back with Joe Bendik. Halfway through the season he’s suddenly realized it’s not necessary to boot the ball down the field at every chance. He was looking for the short pass all game, especially as Salt Lake dropped further into their own end in the second half, and seemed to only boot the ball as a last resort – a complete 180 degree turnaround from the start of the year. From Bendik it moves to Darren O’Dea, who has perfected the line drive ball from left back to the far right corner, perfect for any winger to run on to. After a rusty start at left back, O’Dea has settled into the role and offers a calm demeanor fans haven’t seen on the flank in a long time. Willing to slow the play, the Irish international lets his midfield set up and prefers to knock a short ball to the winger than a hopeful long bomb up to the strikers. And while he’s not the fleetest foot on the pitch, he’s not afraid to make runs up the field and swing a cross in. Shift focus to the middle of the park and you’ll find Matias Laba, who has become a commanding force. It looks like Laba is finally comfortable in Toronto and he’s not afraid to demand the ball from teammates who are more than happy to knock it to him. He’s even getting players to take quick throw ins, an act unseen at BMO for six years. He assesses his options very quickly and the ball is gone almost as soon as it’s on his foot. Laba has become the direct channel many of TFC’s moves play through, which is exactly what he was brought in to be. Individual Consistency

With a relatively regular starting 11 these days, we’re at a point where we can expect certain things from players every game. Take Jeremy Brockie – it’s a guarantee he’s going to run like a madman and be chomping at opponents legs each minute he’s on the field. Even though he has yet to find his scoring touch, he can be counted on to get into dangerous positions and be a headache for defenders. Laba also falls into this category. It’s exciting to actually have a very skilled, yet gritty midfielder. The 21-year-old is a strong physical player who will not back down from anyone and routinely challenges many of the league’s top players, often coming out with the ball. TFC’s most consistent player over the last few weeks has been Steven Caldwell. While he’ll be having nightmares of the missed open net for weeks to come, the Scottish defender has been a rock at the back since he joined TFC, rarely losing anything in the air and bringing the necessary experience to Toronto’s young backline. The Return of Danny K

It’s no coincidence TFC’s play took a turn for the worst after Danny Koevermans was forced to the sidelines last year. With 17 goals in 29 games, he’s got an eye for goal like nobody who has stepped foot in BMO Field. The big target man has the finishing ability Toronto has been lacking, and the hope is when he strikes goal once, the floodgates will open again. The rotation of Koevermans, Brockie and Robert Earnshaw also looks very promising, with Justin Braun able to slot in now and again. Koevermans’ return finally gives the Reds some options up front, rather than having to stick with the same attackers time and time again. The biggest thing that stood out in Saturday’s game was Toronto FC’s play in their own penalty area. As Real Salt Lake pressed, the Reds won the ball, but instead of instantly booting it, they calmly passed it up the field– defender through midfielder to striker – creating something that resembled a real live counter attack. This willingness to look up and find a teammate shows not only the confidence the team is playing with, but that the players actually trust one another. This trust is the foundation of a true team, which we’re closer to being than ever before.