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Posted by
Steve Bottjer,
April 28, 2013 |
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Email Steve Bottjer
Twitter @BottjerRNO |
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Whenever a team goes through a rebuilding process and brings in a new head coach, the fortunes of various players often rise and fall within the overall organizational transformation.
In that vein, the rise in prominence of Jeremy Hall and the fine play he has delivered through the first two months of TFC’s 2013 campaign has to be counted as one of team’s major success stories to date.
The Tampa, Florida native has gone from being a player who struggled at times last season at right back and who was questionable to even return to Toronto this season to one who is likely the first name that Nelsen enters on his lineup sheet before each match.
Hall had played out wide for the majority of MLS career but was converted to a central midfielder during TFC’s preseason. At the time it was a move that most Reds supporters likely felt was a stop gap until either of the recently departed veteran midfielders – Julio Cesar and Torsten Frings – would be fit enough to play or until the club brought in midfield reinforcements, as the team did on Friday with the signing of Young Designated Player Matias Laba.
Interestingly, Nelsen was asked at his post-match press conference following Toronto’s 2-1 loss to the New York Red Bulls on Saturday whether the expensive acquisition of the very talented Laba would mean that Hall, Toronto’s Man of the Match in the team’s last two matches, would have to take a place on the bench to accommodate the club’s new marquee addition.
“No. Jeremy Hall was absolutely brilliant out there today. The amount of times he picked up the ball and started things, his energy when the team was down - he was a real leader out there Jeremy Hall,” Nelsen said. “From day one Jeremy Hall has been one of our best players. I can see (Matias) and Jeremy being a very good midfield in there.”
According to Hall, the confidence that Nelsen and his staff have shown in him has played a key role in the individual success that he has enjoyed while playing in a new position.
“(Nelsen) is just a great coach. I think from day one on the training field, just learning how to position ourselves, how we want to win the ball, how we want to be connected as a team and how we want to be as a team to play against, it been great. Every day we are learning from the video sessions with the clips that are broken down where we can see what we need to do to get better. We didn’t have that in the past and I didn’t have that in the past,” Hall told RedNation following Saturday’s match against the Red Bulls. “It’s just been awesome with the confidence shown by Fran, Jimmy and Jason in addition to Coach Nelsen. The confidence they have given me by telling me that I am doing well and that I just have to continue that and to continue to grow and play hard. It’s really given me confidence.”
“It’s crazy how they saw me as a central midfielder. Everybody saw me as a right back. It’s been great and I have really embraced the role,” Hall added. “I feel that I can still continue to get better as I learn the position.”
Amid his transformation from a wide player to Toronto’s bulldog midfielder in the middle of the pitch, the 24 year old has transformed into the type of athlete that Toronto sports fans tend to love - a combination of a work horse, prize fighter and the energizer bunny.
According to Hall, he is focused on continuing to get better rather reading his own press clippings. He also admits that his Man of the Match awards would have been more enjoyable if they had been coming following Toronto FC victories.
“It’s a new position for me, but I just want to come in and work hard and just try and fight and scrap in there and win second balls for us and then get the ball and get it to our playmakers. I’m enjoying it in there but it would be a little bit more fun if we were winning,” Hall said.
On Saturday Nelsen highlighted the leadership that Hall has been bringing to the pitch and the former FC Dallas player admitted that while he is still learning a new position, he is striving to make his voice heard in matches.
“First, it is my fifth year in the league, so I have been around and I have seen a lot of things. I’m still only 24 years old, but I feel like I can bring a lot to the team. Being in the middle of the park, I can see a lot of plays as they develop – just pointing guys in direction and encouraging players. If it is a bad pass or a good play, just letting them know that we are doing well and that we are going to be okay,” Hall continued. “I really love just doing that and helping my teammates out, just like they have helped me out. We are all pushing each other, because in the end we all want to be a successful team. I think we are close to being that, but we still have a lot of work to do.”
Ultimately, in a season to date in which Toronto has shown plenty of signs of progress while also clearly illustrating that the team still has a ways to go, no player has been more representative of the state of Toronto FC as it enters its third month under Nelsen than Jeremy Hall.
He is difficult to play against, bristling with desire and fight and looking very much like a footballer whose best days are ahead of him.
Hall also looks like a player who still has a considerable amount of work and development ahead him and very much like a performer who is an odds on bet to be even better in October than he has been in April.
“Each practice and each game I am feeling more confident. I just want to continue to keep learning. We are watching the film after each game and I’m able to watch myself and my touches and I’m able to see where I can get better and how to create space,” Hall said. “I’m feeling great. The coaching staff has really given me a lot of confidence, as well as my teammates. I’m just trying to build and get stronger and stronger each game.”
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