

Posted by

Steve Bottjer ,

March 13, 2014 Email

Steve Bottjer

On Twitter:

@BottjerRNO

While big names acquisitions such as Jermaine Defoe, Michael Bradley, Dwayne De Rosario and Julio Cesar have been the most talked about players on Toronto FC’s roster heading into the club’s 2014 MLS campaign, the performances of the young Canadian players on the roster will certainly play a vital part in determining where the club finds itself sitting in the standings at the end of the season.



Barring injury, it is not a stretch to predict that proven top class veterans such Defoe, Bradley, De Rosario and Julio Cesar will be very effective performers and that they will deliver and play key roles in turning around the fortunes of an MLS team that has never qualified for the postseason in its history.



However, unlike a sport like basketball, where the acquisition of a star player or two can immediately turn around the fortunes of a franchise, soccer clubs are often only as strong as the weakest or most inexperienced players in their starting eleven.



See also: Henry feeling confident after training stint with West Ham



Therefore, how young and still developing players such as Jonathan Osorio, Doneil Henry, Kyle Bekker and Ashtone Morgan grow their games compared to last year and how they do in terms of supplementing the production of the big name veterans on the squad will very likely be a key factor with respect to whether or not the Reds are able to deliver on the big expectations that have been placed on the club. All four players will likely play significant minutes for the Reds in 2014, with Henry and Osorio already tabbed as starters.



Jonathan Osorio speaks with RedNation ahead of TFC's season opener against the Seattle Sounders:







With the TFC brass electing to use the team’s Designated Player spots on two strikers and a defensive midfielder rather than on a traditional number 10, Reds Head Coach Ryan Nelsen will be counting on midfielder Jonathan Osorio to build on an impressive rookie campaign and to play a key role as the central midfielder who will most often play further up the pitch. While Jermaine Defoe is undoubtedly a top class striker and Gilberto has set a big target for himself in terms of goals scored in his first season in the North American top flight, as Robert Earnshaw learned last year in a TFC uniform, a striker can only score if he receives service.



While it would be incorrect to project Michael Bradley as someone who will be purely a defensive player who won’t contribute much to the offense, it is still pretty much a certainty that the 21 year old Osorio will be vital offensive player in terms of his playmaking, buildup play and ensuring that Defoe and Gilberto get the type of service that was rare for Earnshaw last season. With consistency often being the biggest issue for young players, whether or not Osorio can deliver complete performances day in, day out will go a long way towards determining Toronto’s level of success in 2014. All of that said, the Toronto native’s temperament, skillset, pedigree from his days playing in South America and the manner in which he grew as a player over the course of last season suggest that the young Canadian International will be up for the challenge of being a key cog amidst a star-studded lineup.



On the defensive side of things, it is probably safe to hazard a guess that aside from the exceptional talent Omar Gonzalez, not many teams have legitimately competed for a Supporter’s Shield or an MLS Cup while fielding a 20 year old as a starting central defender. Therefore, it was something of a surprise to many TFC observers when the Toronto brass did not bring in another veteran central defender over the offseason, as either a player to compete for a starting role beside team captain Steven Caldwell or as depth in case Doneil Henry hits a rough patch in terms of his form.



Doneil Henry speaks with RedNation during TFC's preseason preparations for the 2014 MLS season:







Realistically, Henry isn’t your average MLS 20 year old player. Considering he signed with Toronto at 17 years old, he already has a considerable amount of experience in the league and at the International level. Furthermore, he is genuinely gifted and very athletic and he combined with Caldwell last season to form a very solid partnership down the stretch. Interestingly, if you want to draw parallels with Gonzalez and the success of the Los Angeles Galaxy, the U.S. International Gonzalez was similarly partnered with a veteran signing that Bruce Arena brought in - Gregg Berhalter, who had 200+ games in 2.Bundesliga with Cottbus and 1860 Munich. All of that said, it is often stated that central defense is the position that takes the longest to learn and mature in for a younger player.



While it certainly won’t hurt him at all to have to defend Defoe, Gilberto and Dwayne De Rosario in training on a weekly basis, Henry has yet to put together a full season as a starting player, so he represents something of a talented question mark for a TFC team that must deliver an above par season after spending over $100 million over the offseason. The TFC Academy graduate undoubtedly has the potential and qualities to be a top professional and a key player for Canada at the International level, so it will be interesting to see if he can deliver the consistency that often eludes central defenders that are even older than he currently is.



One player who saw his minutes limited last season but who could see more opportunities in 2014 is midfielder Kyle Bekker, TFC’s first pick in the 2013 MLS SuperDraft. With central midfielder Matias Laba traded to Vancouver, Reggie Lambe released by the club and a general lack of depth at the wide positions, the 23 year old Boston College product will likely get opportunities to prove himself both in the middle and out wide.



Even though at times last season Bekker appeared to look like a player prone to defensive lapses and sometimes giving up on plays, he nonetheless presents a very intriguing player for a club with a lot of marquee talent, but not a lot of depth. While both Laba and Lambe were employed in defensive roles last season, the Oakville native is a more offensive-minded player who has shown proficiency on set pieces and with his forward passing, especially while featuring for Canada at the International level. If he can deliver enough quality defensively, he will provide Ryan Nelsen with another option, increased depth and lineup flexibility.



On a positive note, Bekker looked like an effective and improved player in his preseason appearances and with a number of squad players dealing with injuries heading into the season, he should not have to wait long to prove himself in league play. While the third overall pick in the 2013 MLS SuperDraft was clearly frustrated with his lack of minutes last season, Nelsen has likened him to United States International Graham Zusi as a player who needed to be seasoned outside of league fixtures early on his career before he could make an impact in Major League Soccer. Thus, TFC supporters will be hoping that some tough love last season will result in a more complete player who can contribute this year.



Ashtone Morgan speaks with RedNation during TFC's 2014 Media Day event:







Another young Canadian to keep an eye is 23 year old left back Ashtone Morgan. While the 2011 Canadian U-20 Players of the Year is likely to start the season on the bench for Toronto due to the club’s acquisition of Justin Morrow, like with Bekker, it is probably only a matter of time before he gets minutes as a starter or substitute. Interestingly, of the four players discussed here, Morgan has the most MLS games under his belt. Intriguingly, he was also in a similar position last year when the club brought in Jonas Elmer presumably to take his place in the lineup and that challenge saw Morgan’s play improve to the point that Nelsen could not take him out of the lineup. If he can carry over his solid defensive play from the second half of last season in conjunction with the pace and crossing ability that makes him an offensive weapon on the overlap, the resulting competition for minutes on the back line will only make TFC a better unit overall.



While some fans have seen Toronto add big names like Defoe, Bradley, De Rosario and Julio Cesar over the offseason and immediately anointed the club an immediate contender, whether or not young Canadians such as Osorio, Henry, Morgan and Bekker can rise to the challenges they will presented with as they endeavor to play key roles for a club with significant pressure and big time expectations will likely go a long way towards determining whether or not Toronto finishes as a high seed in the Eastern Conference, squeaks into the playoffs or misses out one more team.



All four are talented and have previously shown themselves capable of delivering on their considerable potential. Should all four enjoy breakthrough seasons on the first winning team in TFC history, it won’t only be fantastic for Toronto’s long-suffering fans, it will also be a great boon for a rebuilding Canadian National Team.