Toronto FC look to continue their ascent under new head coach Paul Mariner, as they return home from a confidence-building 3-0 victory over rivals Montreal Impact to host the New York Red Bulls. The Reds are still looking to get their feet beneath them after an abysmal start to the season, but have had three results with plenty of positives that hint they are beginning to go in the right direction.
New York come to town looking more like the Eastern Conference contender than in 2011 when over-confidence, poor attitudes and the wrong mix undermined what should have been one of the best sides in MLS history. A few key additions and subtractions have balanced out a talented group who are hovering around the top of the division.
Styles make fights, and Montreal midweek were the the right style for Toronto to look good and keep out goals. New York on the other hand have a handful of ways to score and a solid group from defenders through the midfield to attackers. A balanced side has proven difficult for TFC to handle over the years, and the Reds will need to ride their wave of form and remain disciplined if they are to stay in the fight with one of the top sides in the league.
Keep Thinking
The bi-polar nature of following Toronto FC is alive and well as a week ago there were some positive signs in a 3-3 draw away to Houston, but on the heels of a 2-0 defeat at Kansas City, the question of it being the exception rather than the norm was a legitimate one. A 2-2 draw on the weekend supported a return to form for Danny Koevermans and an improved midfield, but inexperience and slack marking let the team down for the third game in a row.
A 3-0 victory over Montreal on the road turned Toronto's form on it's head and looks to be evidence that the team is beginning to pull itself together and at the very least become the competitive side that finished off 2011 with such promise.
New York kicked off the season after a disappointing 2011 where many expected them to be contenders for the MLS Cup given the quality of their roster. With Kansas City being the team many expect to rule the division this season, New York have quietly gone about their business to be neck and neck with Kansas City and DC United for top spot. A strong home record, but more importantly, a decent one on the road with four wins, four losses and a draw is what has them keeping pace.
While so many eyes are on Thierry Henry, who should see time after returning from injury, it is the addition of Kenny Cooper that has been the best signing for the team. Eleven goals so far, paired up with Henry's nine, has Cooper bringing a different dimension to the Red Bulls offence.
As noted against the Montreal Impact, there were match-ups player for player that were in Toronto's favour. The absence of a true target man or physical presence to get on the end of crosses or corner kicks is what has taken TFC out of games this year, and Montreal lacked that. However, New York do not suffer from that deficiency and overall are very balanced in their options up front.
Most important for TFC is the aforementioned Kenny Cooper. Supporters will know all too well what Cooper was able to do when he was with FC Dallas in stealing late points and punishing the Reds over and over. Not only that but the quality of delivery New York has from Joel Lindpere who is strong technically, and pace down the wing from Dane Richards will be a huge in them creating chances.
Those two players, in addition to the likes of Medhi Ballouchy, Jan Gunnar Solli and Dax McCarty round off a formidable midfield who will be the main challenge for TFC. This is where the Reds came out on top against Montreal, as the foursome of Torsten Frings, Julian De Guzman, Terry Dunfield and Eric Avila have been integral in not only providing service to Koevermans and Johnson, but aleviating pressure on an inexperienced group of defenders.
For Toronto the approach is simple. Keep doing what you've been doing, and be proactive in avoiding a defensive shell. Torsten Frings has been criticised of late, his legs looking very much like those of a 35-year old footballer, but the performance against Montreal could put an extra spring in his step and push him to deliver another solid ninety minutes. The players around him will need to keep penetrating the final third, especially Eric Avila, Terry Dunfield or Nick Soolsma.
New York without question will be able to challenge what is clearly TFC's biggest weakness, and that is dealing with pressure in the 18-yard box. Their group of midfielders will definitely find ways to win corner kicks and feed crosses in with accuracy. The only way for Toronto to evade this tactic is to not be reactive and once again win the midfield battle. The last concern is simply fatigue for the Reds and if they have it in them to fight a full ninety minutes against a side with quality front to back.
In the End
There are so many positives to take from Toronto's midweek match against Montreal that the short term is beginning to look much brighter for the side. An in-form Danny Koevermans means the team is now able to remain competitive with most teams and always have a chance at getting a point. New York though, are still a side that are on another level.
A formidable midfield with real quality both physically and technically will be tough to stem, as well as two strikers who have in the past put daggers in TFC's chances of three points at home. While the team has signs to be positive about, New York are still a side who are simply a step above. A draw would be a good result, but even in a loss the upcoming schedule still has plenty of opportunities for the team to keep building upwards.
Prediction
New York 3 - Toronto FC 2
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