It’s a shame BMO Field no longer sports a flurry of flags from around the world upon its stands – for a certain faction of the club’s player personnel, the Union Jack would certainly fly freely!
While Montreal is mentally in Rome, doing as the Romans do, and Vancouver is finding talent from the far corners of the globe (but not Canada!), Toronto FC has quietly but quickly created a healthy mix of local and international talent, in particular, a mix of British and Canadian players.
For the first three years of Toronto FC’s existence in Major League Soccer, the tag of British-friendly outfit has followed the club. Three British head coaches in Mo Johnston, John Carver and Chris Cummins oversaw a barrage of players hailing from the United Kingdom; Danny Dichio ruled the roost at BMO Field, while Rohan Ricketts became a fan favourite; Andy Welsh was infamous on the wing, and Carl Robinson bossed the midfield.
Yes, Toronto FC was a side that could easily confuse potato chips for French fries. Sure, the huge number of international and local players that have donned the red of TFC outnumber the number of Brits who have done the same, but the real identity of the club, in the very core of its most important players, could very well pay homage to Queen and country.
So it was, for many years, until Preki took over, than Aron Winter, and Toronto FC transformed itself from a team built around the English lower leagues, to a team heavy on Canadian content, a team dependant on the performances of one Dwayne De Rosario. Then, when Torsten Frings and Danny Koevermans spearheaded a Euro-centric Toronto FC look, the club’s British identity had finally been put to bed.
Not anymore!
With Ryan Nelsen at the helm, Toronto FC has acquired a flurry of new players from England and Wales, making the 401 Derby against the Montreal Impact a miniature encounter between England and Italy.
For fans of the British game, Toronto FC’s current form pays homage to the likes of Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur, and Cardiff City, amongst others. Toronto FC’s current crop of British soccer football players includes Richard Eckersley, along with newcomers Darel Russell, Robert Earnshaw, Hogan Ephraim, Taylor Morgan, and John Bostock.
So, do these new faces match up to Toronto FC’s past generation of British footballers? It seems the quality of these players is a bit higher than what Toronto FC has sampled from over yonder in years past. They’re also much, much more expensive; Eckersley and O’Dea’s salaries are the only ones currently available, and the pair together takes up more money against the cap than a pair of Designated Players would.
However, the newer faces, sans salary-tinted opinion, have offered followers a glimpse of their quality on the field.
In Hogan Ephraim, Toronto FC has found a player capable of linking up with every player around him. His passing skill is noteworthy, but so is his awareness and special recognition.
He’s the first central midfielder that Toronto FC has scooped up from Britain after Robinson. Unlike Robinson, though, Ephraim plays much higher up on the field, and has a much more attacking presence, while Robinson was a defensive midfielder.
It is with John Bostock that Ephraim looks to have the best connection with on the field. Bostock is no stranger to the game of football, having played at a very high level with Tottenham, but his numerous loan spells to teams like Brentford, Hull City and Swindon Town made him available to Toronto FC, too.
While Bostock may have had trouble settling down and finding a club in England, he’s certainly making a case for himself in Toronto – his ability to just blow past fullbacks has become quite apparent over the last three games; he handled Seth Sinovic with ease, and didn’t have much problems against Dennis Iapichino either.
Then there’s Robert Earnshaw. The Welsh international has already scored three goals in as many games for Toronto FC, though two came from the penalty spot. Earnshaw is a speedy striker and is full of energy, making him an offensive presence and a headache for defenders.
Ephraim, Bostock and Earnshaw are all on loan deals with Toronto FC. They will have a chance to impress Ryan Nelsen and earn a full contract, should Kevin Payne decide to sign them. Of course, financial options will need to be considered, but based on their performances so far; the trio are making their case quite effectively.
“And summer's lease hath all too short a date.”
-William Shakespeare, Sonnet 18
You said it, Willy. Loaning these players till summer and failing to sign them on full contracts should they pan out could have ramifications for the rebuilding project Toronto FC is undergoing. If these loan options are declined, Toronto FC would have wasted time and resources building a starting XI that would ultimately need to replace the three. It’s a safe bet to say that Toronto FC is covering their bases, and with plenty of poor contracts under their belt in the club’s six-year history, loan options sound like a pretty piece of good business, indeed.
However, if the trio are not in the club’s long-term plans, relying on them may be detrimental to potential starters like Kyle Bekker and Luis Silva, and could also deter the signings of other players on loan.
One of the players Toronto FC has signed is Earnshaw’s backup, Taylor Morgan. The Englishman was drafted in the 2013 MLS supplemental draft, but with Justin Braun and Danny Koevermans almost back from their injuries, Morgan’s role with the club seems to be a bench-role at best. With hints of future signings coming in, Morgan could also be moved on loan to free up international roster spots.
Finally, there’s Darel Russell, formerly of Norwich City. A midfielder (or fullback), Russell has been used as a substitute for the first handful of games in the season, but his real threat is to Ashtone Morgan – defensively, Russell offers an alternative at fullback, and already, Nelsen has used Russell as a right-fullback, switching Eckersley to the left.
So there you have it – Toronto FC’s British battalion. With rumours of Argentines and Hondurans swirling around the club, it is these new faces that have established themselves as starters and bench options for Toronto FC. Add into the mix the likes of Kyle Bekker, Luis Silva, et al., and you have a recipe for a potential powerhouse line up: on paper, that is.
I have to also acknowledge Darren O’Dea, even though the Republic of Ireland is not part of the United Kingdom. O’Dea has played for Celtic FC as well as Reading, Ipswich Town and Leeds United, and the level of play has translated well in MLS. Even if O’Dea isn’t British, his defending style certainly is, and it’s obvious that his experience in the lower levels of English football has helped mould him into the defender he is today.
Richard Eckersley, Hogan Ephraim, Robert Earnshaw, John Bostock, Taylor Morgan, Darel Russell – run down the list with an English accent and you could pass as a commentator announcing a team sheet for a side in npower League 1.
The potential for success is there, the touch of quality and class apparent. Toronto FC’s chances of signing Frank Lampard must have improved ever so slightly, too, but that may just be the whims and dreams of a sleep-deprived writer and Chelsea fan (yours truly).
What’s certain is this; with the current crop of Toronto FC’s British footballers, the club has started playing attractive football once more – for that, Great Britain, we thank you.
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