August 1st, 2008 . 8:08 am . By: Jason Benfield

Overview

Although they have struggled a bit in their last few games, TFC are a much better team now than they were in their expansion season. Despite the fact that they have not won in their last 5 MLS games (9 games overall), they are still hovering around the .500 mark in a very difficult Eastern Conference. The overall record is buoyed a bit by the home support, but the fact is that the roster has been upgraded a bit since last season and at times has looked like quite a good team. Loss of personnel to the Olympics and injury, as well as a few players hitting a fitness wall are contributing to their current poor run of form, but TFC should be able to rebound, close the season out on a positive run, and squeak into the playoffs for the first time in franchise history. Making the playoffs would be quite an achievement after watching Chivas USA and RSL struggle for the first several years of their existence.

One of the people who should be given credit for the turnaround is Mo Johnston. Sure, he wasn’t the best coach. Both his New York and Toronto teams were very unfit and the results in both places were poor, to say the least. But Johnston’s strength has always been talent evaluation. The core group he brought in that first season – Dichio, Edu, Robinson, Brennan, Wynne, and Sutton were something to build around. And by accepting a change in position – to Technical Director, where he could concentrate on acquiring new players – he helped the team immensely. TFC are constantly on the move to upgrade the roster and this has lead to a quick ascent in the quality of play.

The man at the helm of the club this year is John Carver. Carver has kept the same formation, the 4-4-2, from last season, and has even kept many of the same philosophies. However, the team is much more fit, and much more disciplined. The biggest difference on the score sheet is the defense. The Toronto defense last season were horrible; this year, they upgraded one central defender position and have held things pretty tight at the back, especially at home. They have only allowed two goals all season at BMO Field, the best mark in the league. Carver realized that the backline, with the exception of Wynne, is pretty slow. So, the Toronto defense keeps a pretty deep line, does not play around with offside, and generally looks to keep anyone from having the space to get in behind them. The outside backs are allowed to attack at will, but the defense as a whole is very organized and sits deep.

The amount of space that opens up on the field is tremendous, and the strain it puts on the Toronto midfield is starting to show. At the start of the season, Robinson and Edu were all over the place as central midfielders that stay back a bit, and Roberts and Ricketts were daemons on the wings, where the attack was focused. The midfield was one of the best in MLS. However, things have seen a downturn. Edu was always the main engine, and he is now at the Olympics. Robinson has worn down a bit as the summer has progressed, and hasn’t shown much bite the last few games. Both Ricketts and Roberts transferred in during the English season, and both are starting to hit the same wall that effected Cooper the year he transferred to Dallas.

Because the midfield has slowed down, the team is struggling to put pressure on the opposing goal. Yes, Toronto are not exactly dangerous up front; injuries have forced them to start Ibby and Smith up front, both of whom are natural wingers rather than forwards. But the fact is that they just don’t create many opportunities over the course of a match. Possession is not kept in the middle, and teams have figured out the strong reliance on wing play and stuffed that option. The team has already acquired Barrett and Carver said he hopes to have another forward by Sunday (Dickov?). That will certainly help, but TFC need to pick it up in the middle of the field before any of the new players have much of an impact.

Toronto FC Roster

Just a reminder of the rating system:

1 = Developmental player
2 = Solid bench player
3 = Below average starter in MLS
4 = Above average starter in MLS
5 = All-star caliber player in MLS
6 = Superstar

Chad Barrett – 3 - Starting forward plays as a target, but is really not that tall. Doesn’t quite have the speed or athleticism to be a top tier forward. Passing is improving, but is still not that great. Can finish chances well, and has the numbers to prove it. Good energy, works hard, and usually is in the right place, but can struggle to put a game away with straightforward chances. Does not create his own shot very well. His ability to come back and hold the ball up is very important for the Toronto team.

Jim Brennan – 5 - All-Star and team captain is the best left back in the league. Doesn’t have the best speed, but positions himself well and is rarely beaten down the line or in 1v1 situations. Outstanding distribution out of the back. Supports the attack quite well and has a nice cross.

Jeff Cunningham – 2 – Has been awful this season. Has missed some easy chances and his confidence has taken a hit. Is not very fit. Has lost a step from a speed perspective, but also doesn’t cut-back as well as he used to, making him less effective on the dribble. Has always been poor in combination play, so if his individual skill has deteriorated, he is not an effective forward. The fact that both Smith and Ibby have passed him on the depth chart is telling. Might get the start on Sunday to give Ibby a rest.

Danny Dichio – 3 - Solid MLS forward has missed several games with a concussion problem and is out for Sunday as well. Plays a very important role in the Toronto attack – his size allows him to serve as a target for the wing play. His strength on the ball allows him to hold the ball up when played long or up the middle, and allow the other players to join the attack. With him out, they have no other player to fill this role, which is why Barrett was brought in. Not a great finisher, but he does a lot of the dirty work out there and has been effective in the league.

Todd Dunivant – 3 - Can play as a left back or a left midfielder. Hit the ground running with San Jose his rookie season and looked great – got forward well, defended well enough, put in a sweet cross. Even saw some time with the national team. But since then, his game has not progressed, both because of improvements in the league and injures. Does not have great speed or tackling skills in the back and can be taken advantage of by better athletes. Better on the wing, but doesn’t have the speed to push down the wing. Serves as a backup in both positions.

Maurice Edu – 4 – Central midfielder hasn’t been as strong this year as last, but a sophomore slump is almost expected after a great rookie campaign. Strong defensive presence, and great physical attributes. Is the energy in the midfield that sparks the team. Good shot from distance and makes good runs into the box, like Toja did from deep for FCD last season. Not a great passer yet. Will miss the Dallas game because of the Olympics.

Brian Edwards – 2 - Backup goalie has some decent size, but has made some bad mistakes. Doesn’t position himself that well and lacks quick reflexes. Not sure if the upside is there to really stick around in the league.

Amado Guevara – 3 - Another player who came in towards the start of the season and did well, but has lost his form. Has played as a second forward as well as in the central midfield. Because of Edu’s absence will probably play central midfield against Dallas. Did not look comfortable there in the last match because it is a more defensive role. Scored a great free kick against RSL, but otherwise was not effective. The combination of he and Robinson in the middle lacks any energy. Is a nice, creative passer, but the work rate isn’t quite there right now.

Kevin Harmse – 2 - Defensive midfielder has shown he can be a solid reserve in the league. Acquired from LA by trade, and he played there quite a bit last season. Is an adequate passer, and tackles well enough. Positioning is fine. Could progress to be a starter on the level of a Logan Pause, but not much more upside than that. Is injured and expected to miss the Dallas game. If he were available, he would allow Guevara to serve as a second forward.

Abdus Ibrahim – 2 – Former Dallas player had an impact in his first game, but has struggled a bit since. Fast play, really nice first touch, and good with the ball at his feet. Good shot from distance. Struggles with the passing game, and struggles with quick decision making. Is a better winger at this point in his career, where he has limited responsibilities and has more time on the ball to decide what to do with it. Is dangerous because of his shot and speed, but his passing can be disruptive.

BONUS CONTENT: Here are the scouting reports I wrote about Ibby during the Dallas preseason:

FCD-Memphis: RM - Wow, has this kid grown. Had a very strong second half. Was active and showed speed, athleticism, and good passing ability. Nice play right off the top to check back wide for a ball, turn, and feed it up the line to a streaking Mina who was making a diagonal run. Could have been more aggressive a couple of times, but most of the time made the correct decision of when to push the ball forward and when to maintain possession. Looked in control every time he was on the ball, something you don’t see very often from a 16 year old. Did lose track of his man once when he was lazy getting back, but had a good performance and was better than Rhine on the day, even though his team was a man down most of the time he was on the field. Was outstanding during the period of time that FCD was at even strength. Is progressing towards being a capable backup in MLS.

FCD-West Texas A&M – F/RM - Yet another strong preseason performance. Very comfortable with the ball at his feet. Has a plethora of 1v1 moves and is able to get around a college level defender with ease, and does not just use his speed. Has good speed and a good burst of acceleration. Really is a player to watch this season. Is ready to be at least an effective reserve in the league. Needs to cross the ball more often when he has space; today his crosses were not as sharp as in the other games.

Julius James – 2 - Has played both left and right back for Toronto. Will play right back with Wynne at the Olympics. Has really nice size and speed, will be a beast of a defender in the future. Right now, is a bit naive. Doesn’t pass that great. Gets caught way out of position and doesn’t mark players tightly on the back side. Has been consistently beaten where he gives a player off the ball too much space and is beaten on a through ball into space. Is probably not ready to start in the league, but he is the best option they have.

Tyrone Marshall – 3 - Starting central defender is in-between a 3 and a 4. Was awful his last season with LA and wasn’t that much better last year for Toronto. Has really stepped his game up this season. Lost some speed, but his positioning has been great as he covers for other players’ mistakes. Good, physical defender who marks tightly and doesn’t give opponents room to breath. Has played better with the deeper backline because he doesn’t have to worry about space behind and reads the game in front of him well. Strong in the air.

Rohan Ricketts – 3 - Can play forward or right midfield; has mostly played out on the right. Stocky player who has decent speed and nice athleticism. Comes from the English Championship. Was good at the start of the season, but his form has slipped. Inconsistent crosser, is better when taking a player 1 v 1 and slipping a ball in across the box on the ground. Doesn’t make great decisions about when to take a player on and when to settle for a cross and bring the ball back. Has a nice shot and can be a very effective player when he gets in a rhythm.

Laurent Robert – 4 – Starting left midfielder came on with a bang, but has slipped the last few weeks. Looks gassed and has hit a wall from playing to much. Strikes a nice ball with his left foot, but as the game goes on, the crosses get too long and he is less effective. Doesn’t put a lot of energy into the midfield, only in bursts. Doesn’t really have the speed to get up and down the line. Would be more effective if the team brought the ball up slower and maintained possession. Of every player on the field, he has been hurt the most by the loss of Dichio because of the giant’s ability to hold the ball up and bring the full team into a play as well as serve as a target. Bringing on Barrett may bring him back into the flow of the game.

Carl Robinson – 4 - Nice player was outstanding at the start of the season, but has slipped a little since then. Seems to be running out of gas a bit – is not delivering the biting fouls and disappears from games at times. The ability of Edu to join the attack at will allowed him to sit back and pick his spots; now that he has nobody providing the energy is struggling to make the push on his own. Very good passer who has the vision to deliver a creative pass. Combo of him and Guevara in the midfield should give possession and good passing, but didn’t do it at all against RSL because they couldn’t make themselves available or turn the ball over.

Tyler Rosenlund – 1 – Started at defensive mid a few games ago and was very ineffective. Is not up to the speed of play and got the ball taken off his foot several times or was forced to just clear. Is not ready for the league.

Jarrod Smith – 2 - Like Ibby, should be on the wing, but is playing at forward out of desperation. Has a nice shot from his left foot, and has potential, but is not ready to play major minutes. Disappears completely from long stretches.

Greg Sutton – 4 – Starting keeper has been very good this season after a disappointing 2007. Tall with a big frame, but gets down quickly for his size. Doesn’t get caught out of position. Makes good decisions on when to come out and when to stay back. Can cover the entire goal, and when in the zone is very difficult to beat.

Marco Velez – 3 – Has been a very important addition to the team. Strong in the air and positions himself well. Lacks a little speed but is not as slow as last years’ option, Boyens. Can be a little awkward when challenging using his feet, but marks tight and denies service to try and avoid that situation. Can be taken advantage of when running at him with the ball because of his slow feet. Uses his body well to defend.

Marvell Wynne – 4 – Starting right back. Great speed. Great physical frame that he can use to work players off the ball. Fantastic athleticism allows him to tackle a ball away well. Has made strides this season to be a better player. That said, he is an awful, awful passer. Consistently mis-hits the ball and has no touch on his passes. Gets caught dribbling in space and will basically take it until he reaches the end line, dribbles out of bounce, or has a massive collision with another player. Will miss the Dallas game because of the Olympics. His 4 rating is because he really has become a good defender, but is also indicative of a weak position in the league. Hedjuk with better physical upside?

Attakora-Gyan, Elkinson, Gala, Hemming, and Melo will not factor into the match.

EXPECTED TORONTO LINEUP

The forwards are difficult. Barrett will be thrust in immediately, but Carver has also said that Ibby needs a break. Playing against his old team might be a little too much. Normally Guevara would be the second forward, but with Harmse and Edu out, they don’t have anyone to play in the midfield. So, I will gamble a bit and predict that Cunningham gets thrown back in.

EXPECTED DALLAS LINEUP

I wonder if the Toja deal is being held up until FCD sign Sikora? Anyway, with AA gone, Toja will play the left flank. Other than that, same lineup as last week. I’ll be a sucker and based on the game last weekend, bump Cooper, Oduro, Avila, and Ricchetti up a notch.

KEY TO THE GAME

Wow, what a game last weekend against LA. Don’t underrate that Colorado game either – that was a team playing very well that were extremely lucky to come out of Dallas with a draw. Dallas seem to have found their form. Davino has shown now that he is a much better player in a four man back line, Ricchetti played his best game of the year, Avila showed he can play in the league, and Cooper was just awesome, best game in a Dallas uniform.

I think the key to the game is Cooper and Ricchetti. If Cooper and Ricchetti play as well as they did last weekend, Dallas will not lose, regardless of the TFC home field advantage. Ricchetti was adding himself to the attack at will, and was a dynamic force in the midfield. Cooper was incredible – two goals, passed better than ever, didn’t get wide too often, made nice decisions on the ball, wasn’t caught offsides. Just an outstanding effort. Avila could have nerves in this atmosphere, and could hamper the midfield, but if those guys play that way it won’t matter.

PREDICTION

TFC sets up very similar to LA. They aren’t pushing forward down the middle right now, and they almost solely rely on flank play. The one major, major difference is that they keep the defensive line back. Dallas will not be given the space to get in behind the defense and use Oduro’s speed. They won’t give Cooper space to isolate a defender on the wing at the midfield stripe. They will not allow FCD to counter – they will force FCD to possess the ball and bring it up the field, something that has been a weakness this season.

Because of this, I don’t think FCD will be as effective going forward as they were last week. Coop struggled with the turf at the all star game and the ball will roll to fast for Oduro on the break. Home field advantage and defensive tactics have draw written all over it.

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Categories: Match Preview.

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