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With Toronto FC having chalked up their second win of the 2011 season against Houston on Saturday, all is well with TFC for at least a few days. For the eternal Reds optimist, Joao Plata is now Toronto's version of Lionel Messi and a playoff berth looks like a good bet. However, for those that felt burned in their optimism after a dismal showing against Seattle following a genuinely impressive performance by the men in red against Columbus, a more guarded view of Hogtown's MLS club is probably in order. RedNation had a chance to catch up with a few of the veterans on TFC following the team's 2-1 victory over the Dynamo and the general consensus among those who have see the ups and downs of the club from a player's standpoint over the last few years was that while it felt great to get a win, it will be a fleeting satisfaction if the team can't follow it up with a run of tangible results.
"This is something we have to be able to get a hold of this season - consistency. That's something that we have been lacking in past years. The Edmonton win was a huge help towards today's victory. We were able to use it as a confidence booster and we came into this game with a lot of confidence and that showed. We have great character and unity and the guys worked hard from the first minute. It's something that we have to continue to do in every home game especially," said Julian de Guzman.
Team vice-captain Stefan Frei concurred with his team's Designated Player that both building confidence among the squad and an improved work ethic are two of the main variables that will enable Toronto to play with more consistency than the team has shown thus far in 2011.
"It's huge (to defend our home field). I think we built up a little bit of momentum in both competitions combined and we have to keep riding that. I think we saw today that if we put in a strong performance and the work ethic is there, then we can compete with anybody. And I think that's one of the strong points of the Houston team. And for us to be able to compete with them on the same level and then getting a win like that, it shows us that we should be able to do that against other teams. We need to maintain that and come out strong against Dallas and deliver a good performance in that game. I think we were able to outwork a hardworking team," said Frei.
With the victory over Houston, Toronto not only finds itself right back in the MLS playoff race, but also in a position where the suffocating pressure the team was under after the loss in Seattle has now abated.
"It's great getting this win because it gets the monkey off our backs. We were searching for those three points for the last few games and it is fortunate that we came through tonight. It makes for good energy going forward," stated central defender Adrian Cann.
For a team that has shown a propensity to fall behind early in matches this season, De Guzman was quick to reiterate that having the mental focus to prevent defensive breakdowns early in matches is fundamental for the team produce more wins.
"The first twenty minutes is what makes all the difference. We were able to finish the first half 0-0, but it was a positive performance. And we felt that the goals were going to come and they did in the second half. I think we could have scored a few more and I think we dominated the match and the result speaks for itself," said De Guzman.
It's a commonly stated refrain that teams can learn plenty when they lose, but Cann believes that positive performances are even more instructive, especially given that Toronto is a squad that has been implementing a very different system than the team played in past years and, instinctively, the players are also building up confidence in the team's new tactical approach.
"I thought we learned a little bit today about how this team can win. Aron and Bob emphasized certain structural plays, starting from the back four and moving through the midfield and I thought we did a great job. Jules was holding in the midfield playing between myself and Dicoy and he kind of locked things up. Also Plata isolating players out wide, he did a great job. Maicon came on near the end and popped in a goal. All of the guys had a great game," said Cann.
Toronto FC will now play their next match on the road against FC Dallas. When asked whether going on the road will benefit a team with so many new faces on the roster in terms of allowing the players another opportunity to continue bonding as players and people, Cann stated that winning is the quickest way to build unity and positivity among the squad.
"It's really good when you are getting the victories, getting the three points. I think that just helps with the bonding between the players and the energy throughout the whole squad. Winning puts you on a positive note and then you go to training and I think people put more emphasis on what they have to do and pay more attention to detail," continued the veteran central defender.
As a player who has witnessed a thing or two about what it takes to succeed at the world's most beautiful team sport at the highest levels, De Guzman was hopeful and positive about the win over Houston, but also cautious about taking away too much from a single victory.
"There is still a long season ahead of us and we don't want to get overexcited from one game. The most important thing is that we have to continue to look forward and show that consistency in terms of both positive performances and getting results," finished De Guzman.
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