For Bobby Convey and Bright Dike, Toronto FC was not in their plans for 2013.
Convey came to Toronto FC from Sporting Kansas City, a “come-and-get-me” signing that saved the American veteran from seeing plenty of the bench in 2013. At Kansas, he was seen as excess to requirements but in Toronto, Convey became an instant starter and a contributor from his first game.
He scored one goal and recorded four assists with Toronto FC in 21 games. He started in 20 of those matches, making himself a clear choice for Ryan Nelsen out wide.
Bright Dike came to Toronto FC via a trade with the Portland Timbers, though his acquisition made headlines for another reason – Toronto FC had traded a Designated Player it had just purchased, Maximiliano Urruti. In his seven games with Toronto FC (five as a starter), Dike bagged himself a goal, and combined well with Robert Earnshaw up top.
The two may not have predicted they’d be wearing red by the end of the year, but they’ve certainly adjusted to the change well! RedNation Online had a chance to speak with the two Toronto FC trade acquisitions as seasons’ end. Was there a moment that stood out for them?
“I think it’s a combination, I don’t think it’s one moment,” said Convey. “This team has been evolving. We went from giving up easy goals late to now, you know, being in games and winning games. We just have to keep progressing with that.”
While Convey chose to focus on the progression of the team throughout the season, Dike has a clear favourite moment of his own from 2013.
“You’ve got to go with the first goal!” said Dike. “That’s the first goal since I got injured, and hopefully they’ll keep coming next year.”
Convey and Dike came into Toronto FC while the season was in progress. Both were asked if they met their goals for the season, despite being traded to a new outfit halfway through. For Convey, the shirt swap didn’t change his primary goal.
“It’s really just to have fun, enjoy playing and get involved here as much as possible,” said Convey. “I’m really, really looking forward to next year, and hopefully next year we’ll be in the playoff race.”
Dike wasn’t quite as pleased with the season, but for good reason.
“The season was too short, really, to set really good goals,” said Dike, who himself was returning from an injury that had ruled him out for an extended period of time. His excitement at returning to the playing field was accentuated by his immediate impact on the team. In Toronto’s last two games, Dike was the go-to guy up top, drawing defenders on and providing a big body to aim for with longer passes.
Convey, on the other hand, spent a good part of the season establishing himself as a veteran presence in Toronto’s starting line up. He believes Toronto FC need to find a few more players like him to find success next season.
“We have a solid group of young guys,” said Convey. “We need a few more veteran guys. We need a goalscorer. We’re not a team that creates 10, 15 chances a game like some other teams. We create three, four, five chances. We need a proven goalscorer to take the pressure off the rest of the team.”
“The defence has done really well and has gotten better throughout the year. Now we just have to score more goals,” Convey added.
Dike was pleased with what he’s seen so far, though, and stressed that the team stick together to find a heightened level of form in 2014.
“The team just has to believe in each other,” said Dike. “I mean, we showed, the last couple games, that we can play some good soccer. We just need to be focused and ready to come out each and every game. If we bring how we played this last game into next season, we’ll definitely get good results.”
While Dike mentioned he isn’t sure what his plans are for the offseason, Convey will be doing what he regularly does at season’s end.
“I’m going to go home, I have a workout that I do every offseason with a friend of mine for seven weeks,” said Convey. “Then I’ll go see my family for a few weeks and then start working out again.”
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