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Posted by
Steve Bottjer,
July 4, 2012 |
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Email Steve Bottjer
Twitter @BottjerRNO |
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Terry Dunfield has seen plenty of ups and downs over the course of his professional career, both at an individual level and from a team standpoint. So the 30 year old midfielder is keenly aware of how quickly fortunes can change in professional soccer.
In fact, you could forgive Dunfield if he exclaimed that his two years playing in Major League Soccer have not turned out exactly has he had initially expected. After originally signing with the Vancouver Whitecaps and experiencing the high of starring for his hometown club, the Vancouver Whitecaps, under Head Coach Teitur Thordarson, the Manchester City Academy product was traded by Thordarson's successor Tom Soehn to Toronto FC last July in a move that came as a surprise to both the player and the observers of both Canadian MLS sides.
The silver lining for Dunfield in that transaction would come in the form of the eventual success that he and the rest of Toronto FC would enjoy in the CONCACAF Champions League, with Dutch Head Coach Aron Winter leading the Reds to an apperance in the semifinals of the competition, which was the first ever final four appearance by a Canadian team.
However, with professional soccer very much being a "what have you done for me lately" environment, Winter was recently sent packing by TFC due to a very poor start to the team's 2012 league campaign and Dunfield suddenly found himself playing for his fourth head coach in two years in the MLS.
To his credit, the affable, but hard nosed midfielder has been one of the players who has really excelled under new Reds Head Coach Paul Mariner. And Dunfield is quick to admit that he is enjoying playing under the stewardship of an Englishman who is also familiar with the style and quirks of Major League Soccer.
"It's never nice to see the gaffer lose his job, but it is part of football and right now I am loving every minute of playing under Paul. The results are reflecting that as well," said Dunfield.
Asked if his role has changed much in conjunction with the coaching change and related tactical adjustments, Dunfield admits that he now has a little bit more freedom to play to his strengths as a rugged and industrious box to box midfielder.
"I'd say that my position is a little less restricted and I'm able to get up and down the field a little bit more. I'm enjoying it. I think that with two quality players like Torsten and Julian, who read the game well, if you get forward, you know there will be cover behind you. I think the system we are playing right now, suits my style of play," says Dunfield.
Given the background he shares with Mariner in English football, the 30 year old also now feels very in tune with his new manager in terms of his desire to be able to bring a more physical style to the TFC midfield.
"I like getting box to box and winning tackles. It's brilliant having players like Torsten, Avi and Julian around you to give the ball to when you win it. I also think it is important (to let the opposition know you are there). The MLS is a physical league. We want to have a presence on the field out there and I see that as part of my role," says Dunfield.
In addition to being able to play to his strengths as a player, Dunfield is also quick to admit that he and the other TFC players are also feeding off the energy and passion that Mariner is bringing to each game from the sidelines. Furthermore, he also believes that new Head Coach is making the right moves with his substitutions and tactical adjustments.
"You can see the passion that he brings and we saw it in the last game (against Montreal) that he also made some smart substitutions and changed our system after fifteen minutes. And then he made the change when Montreal bought on the speed of Nyassi," says Dunfield
With Toronto FC now on a four game unbeaten streak, Dunfield explains Toronto's recent improved performances in very simple terms. Simply put, the team is working hard as a whole and there is focused sense of unity that stretches from Mariner through the entire squad, which is now also feeling more and more confident with each positive result.
"We are were sort of scratching our heads after the Houston and New England matches, feeling like we left something at the table. I think against Montreal it was a more complete performance. I just think that everyone is working hard for one another and for the manager right now," says Dunfield.
While Dunfield is a Vancouver native, he is also very much an athlete who plays his sport in the type of manner that is usually appreciated by Toronto sports fans: hard working, physical and with moments of dramatic skill from time to time.
Therefore, it will be interesting to see how the 2012 season plays out for a player who continues to take the knocks that circumstances can bring and always gets right back up and continues to give his all for the full ninety minutes of every game he suits up for. And with Paul Mariner now employing a substance over style approach when compared to his predecessor, both opposition clubs and TFC supporters can expect to see a whole lot more of Terry Dunfield going forward.
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