The past week has been one of tumultuous highs and lows for Toronto FC fans. First, a gut wrenching last second draw to Houston, then braving the fierce cold as the team toppled Montreal, and finally, Saturday’s disappointing effort.
Another late goal is heartbreaking indeed, but worse, TFC were fully outclassed for the first time this season. What really stood out was the lack of creativity. New York was not stifled by Toronto’s ‘high pressure’ system, stringing passes and runs together with relative ease, and the Reds did not have an answer.
Toronto FC were disjointed and slow to move the ball anywhere except across the backline. It took most of the game for the defence to figure out that booting high balls up to Robert Earnshaw and Andrew Wiedeman was not going to work with 6’3” New York defender Jamison Olave cleaning up back there.
TFC took over an hour to register a shot on goal and didn’t look threatening going forward until the last 20 minutes. For much of the game, the only things to cheer for were Joe Bendik’s acrobatic saves and Earnshaw’s cheeky, yet hopeful attempts at goal.
Danny Califf earned himself some cheers as he roused some fans behind the south end goal with a “rock on” sign of the horns during the substitute’s sideline warm up. But other than that, there was nothing to get the “sitters” out of their seats for most of the game.
On Wednesday night, the fans were treated to 45 minutes of entertaining soccer. Many of Toronto FC’s bench players really stepped up their game and controlled the game, hardly giving the second string Montreal team a chance to attack. Luis Silva picked apart the Impact’s defence with beautifully threaded passes, Ashtone Morgan and Ryan Richter held tight for 90 minutes and John Bostock commanded play on the wing, looking dangerous every time he got the ball.
Yet these players continue to flounder against superior opposition. While we hope consistency will come as the season goes on, it’s time to evaluate whether many of TFC’s current starters are at the level – be it mentally or physically – the MLS demands. Today Silva created little, Richter continually got beat down the right hand side, Jeremy Hall was always a step behind, the list goes on. However, as it has been all season, we did see flashes of decent play. TFC woke up for 15 minutes in the second half, pinning the Red Bulls in their own half for the first time all game.
Unfortunately, short spells of play like this are simply not enough. Toronto FC has yet to play a complete 90 minutes. And it comes down to the individuals. Many goals scored by TFC are players singlehandedly capitalizing on opponent’s mistakes and many against are caused by individual errors. Poor decision making and lack of intensity has burnt this team time and time again, and today felt like a big knock backwards for a team with players on short-term contracts trying to prove themselves.
One positive from today (as it has been all season) was TFC’s hustle and refusal to give up. The team displayed great resilience in the second half, putting New York under pressure and finding an equalizer.
But after Wednesday night’s win, Toronto FC’s display sucked the life and hope out of the BMO crowd. On Wednesday, many people lingered after the game in near-zero weather to chant and dance around a red smoke bomb lit just outside the stadium. Today, seats started emptying the second Tim Cahill scored his second of the day.
As the rest of the crowd cleared out after the final whistle, one man a few rows in front of us looked to his friend and sighed,
“Some things never change.”
But hey, at least we’re not 0-9.
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