Rebuild has been a popular word in the city of
Toronto over the years, and especially with Toronto FC over the last
three seasons. The revolving door of head coaches comes with the
inevitable reassessment of players and retooling (aka overhaul) of the
roster. TFC have gone through so many rebuilds that after the 2012
season, especially starting 0-9 and finishing on a fourteen-game winless
streak, there can be little debate that there is nothing to rebuild,
this team is now back to 2007 and is starting at ground zero.
But where to begin?
Perhaps the only area that offers some kind of stability is between the
posts where Stefan Frei looks to return from a season-long injury and
Milos Kocic emerged as a capable MLS-level starter. What is left are
three areas of the pitch that all require significant improvements. From
a million dollar backline with players out of position and lacking a
veteran presence to a million dollar strikeforce that has spent more
time watching from the stands than playing on the field. In between is a
midfield that has suffered in quality from a spending imbalance. To
finish it off, that all areas have in common, is a lack of depth on the
bench.
RedNation's Armen
Bedakian, Cormac McGee and Ian Clarke will look at all three of these
areas and make a case for where Paul Mariner should focus first and
foremost in building Toronto FC. Part two is the midfield as Cormac McGee lays out his argument this is where the club's attention priority should be in 2013.
Let’s face it, Toronto FC has never had a great midfield. Major League Soccer is fast and physical, games are won and lost in the midfield, and no Toronto midfield has ever really been up to the task. The midfield has been this team’s problem since year one and TFC will not be playoff bound until this is fixed.
See also: Building TFC: Part 1 of 3 - Starting at the back
The case can be made that both our defence and forward situations are cause for optimism. There are two good fullbacks in Eckersley and Morgan, as well as a solid centre back in O’Dea and there is an overabundance of talented goalkeepers. Add a couple of decent players and they should be good to go. Up front, between Hassli, Johnson, Silva, Amarikwa and (fingers crossed) Koevermans, somebody has to have a decent year right? But you see, it doesn’t matter who’s up there if there’s nobody to feed him the ball to feet or swing a cross in.
Have you ever wondered why every team that comes to “our house” dictates the play? It’s because TFC’s midfield has never been able to command the middle of the park. The midfield has been littered with the same type of gritty players who can win the ball and dish it, but not much more, thus invariably coughing it up and allowing the other team creative licence to put pressure on the back four.
These defensive minded midfielders are key components in any midfield, but they can’t be the nucleus, as they have been in Toronto for the past six seasons. A holding midfielder needs to be paired with a playmaker who can link with the attack and those around him, a quality rarely seen at BMO Field.
For a while, Amado Guevara and Carl Robinson provided that needed balance, playing well off each other. But then Mo Johnston ransomed the present and future by grossly overpaying for Julian de Guzman to play the familiar defensive role. The idea was to allow Dwayne De Rosario the freedom to push further up the field where he would be most effective. De Guzman wasn’t the playmaker that the team needed at that critical juncture in the team’s history. Frustration on and off the pitch led to the departure of the star player and captain. The club then tried to right the ship by signing another defensive midfielder to a huge contract.
Torsten Frings did have more upside as a playmaker, but arrived after his best before date and was eventually forced to play the role of fifth defender. Now millions of dollars were tied up in two players who weren’t creating or scoring goals, surrounded by MLS fringe players – a sure recipe for disaster.
And a disaster it has turned out to be, a new coach who rode out the season with a subpar midfield in hopes of rebuilding in the offseason. Let’s have a look at the incumbents.
Terry Dunfield’s work rate is unmatched, and last year he stepped up as a leader and contributed some important goals.
Reggie Lambe is a hard worker well schooled in defending, but leaves you with the feeling that he has more to offer in attacking third.
Eric Avila is a creative player but his slight frame means he can be pushed off the ball, limiting his effectiveness in this physical league.
Matt Stinson and Aaron Maund are two players not yet ready for regular first team action, but will keep improving if kept in the squad.
Joao Plata is a bit of an enigma and a gamble – if brought back, can he repeat that first year success?
Frings is supposed to be back next season and is passionate about this team and city, but at 35, he will probably be used sparingly.
Obviously, reinforcements are needed.
In a recent interview, Paul Mariner stated, “We need gritty, blue collar players...We have players with flair.” I don’t think he had the midfield in mind when he made that comment.
At the moment, TFC has seven true midfielders in the squad. If things are to get better, realistically only Dunfield, Frings, and Lambe would have a shot at a regular starting spot. That’s one gritty central midfielder, one skilled but aging star and a blue collar wide man. The gruelling schedule demands depth and three more quality midfielders are needed. Ideally players with MLS experience – like Brad Davis of Houston and Ned Grabavoy of Real Salt Lake – or imports who can adapt to the style of play like the Red Bull’s Joel Lindpere.
It’s a tall order, it’s critical to get it right. The midfield is the engine room, responsible for linking defence with attack and is the key to dominating the opposition. Stack this midfield now, through any means necessary.
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