

Posted by

Steve Bottjer ,

February 17, 2014 Email

Steve Bottjer

On Twitter:

@BottjerRNO

While most of the ink that has been spilled about TFC this offseason has pertained to the new players that the Toronto FC brass have brought into the squad over the last number of weeks, Reds Head Coach Ryan Nelsen has also been quick to highlight the importance that he is placing on the base of returning players from last season.



One player who certainly returns to TFC for 2014 with a firm knowledge of the tactics and team culture that Nelsen has brought to Toronto is midfielder Reggie Lambe.



The 23 year old Bermuda International was an important squad player for Nelsen last season in a mostly defensive role and now that he is heading into his third season with the team he is hoping to contribute significantly both on and off the pitch for what many are hoping will be a breakthrough year for the club.



“In training I have been playing right and left midfield and I have been tucking in a lot and just getting more involved than I did last year,” Lambe told RedNation Online. “It is looking much better this season. We have brought in a number of players and we still have our base from last season, so hopefully we will push on and do well this year. I think I will be more offensive this year because we have that base of central midfielders, some of whom will sit back and allow me to get forward more. That’s something I really look forward to.”



“I think I can help some of the players to understand the league a bit quicker and to help them settle in,” Lambe added. “I’m trying to learn Portuguese right now, so I can speak with Gilberto a little bit and also some Spanish so I can speak with Alvaro (Rey) and Matty (Laba). I’m just trying to help the team any way I can and to get to know all the new players a bit more and just help the team to strive.”



After spending three years in England with Ipswich Town, Lambe made the jump to TFC and Major League Soccer in 2012 and he was quick to admit that he is now excited to play with another veteran of English football and help his transition to the North American top flight.



“I didn’t know Jermaine (Defoe) before he joined TFC, but I have played against him before when I was at Ipswich and we had a reserve game against Tottenham,” Lambe explained. “I am looking forward to training with him and getting to know him and combining with him to score plenty of goals this season.”



“I think Jermaine will fit in perfectly in this league,” he added. “He will be a top goal scorer and he will help us to get forward. We brought in Gilberto as well, so with those two up front, hopefully it will get us plenty of goals.”



With TFC adding a number of foreign players such as Defoe and Gilberto recently and with International slots on the roster at a premium, there has been some speculation that the Hamilton, Bermuda native could be in line to apply for Permanent Residency in Canada and thus change his status on TFC’s roster to that of a domestic player.



While Lambe admitted that there has not been any significant movement on that front, he was also quick to stress that he would like to stay with TFC for what are sure to be the exciting and fruitful years ahead for the team.



“There haven’t really been any talks about anything like that, but that is a good idea and something that we will look into,” Lambe said. “I would be interested in getting my residency and being able to stay here. I like the club and enjoy the atmosphere and we are bringing in great players, so it looks like we are striving to win championships.”