It is now a rare away fixture for Toronto FC as they look to get motivated in facing Eastern Conference rivals New York Red Bulls on Saturday night. The Reds are coming off a lacklustre display against Sporting Kansas City that exposed a lack of quality depth against a team missing some key players. New York won't be in the same situation as the Red Bulls are in top form and have not lost a league match since the first week of July.
TFC will have their work cut out for them as New York have quietly taken away the attention from NYCFC and simply gone about their business, which has been winning games. There is no secret intel on Toronto right now, as most teams will be well aware of their defensive weaknesses and how easy it has been to score on them of late. Attacking hasn't been an issue for TFC, but the team still relies heavily on Giovinco as the go-to for everything in the final third and that will need to change. A stronger defensive display is an absolute necessity, anything less that the Reds best this weekend will undoubtedly result in a loss.
Keep thinking
Toronto are coming off a disappointing home display last weekend where former conference rivals Sporting Kansas City came into BMO Field and took all three points. It was an outing where it was difficult to put an exact finger where it all came apart, but in the end Toronto simply did not come out prepared to fight for the win and Kansas City implemented their gameplan as needed. There are still many issues that TFC are suffering from that will factor into the final push for the playoffs and facing New York does not help the situation.
Red Bull Arena, and for those with longer memories even Giants Stadium, has not been kind to Toronto FC over the years. Several severe beatings have taken place there since the most notable loss to New York back in October 2009. Once moving to their new stadium in Harrison, New Jersey, TFC have struggled to earn a result and unfortunately after dropped home points, could use a win to boost their position in the standings.
TFC though have to come up with an elusive complete performance that has not been seen with enough frequency to consider them true contenders at this juncture. While one can look back on the result away to DC United as an example of earning a clutch win against a top side, New York will offer a team who are potentially even more confident and with as many, if not more weapons. Toronto's defending has come under question and it is not unfair to underscore that Ahmed Kantari is still likely getting his feet under him and Eriq Zavaleta perhaps still too young to expect a flawless game from. Winning the midfield battle would go a long way in ensuring a positive result, but that will be no easy task.
New York have done well to rebound from an offseason that saw discontent from the firing of head coach Mike Petke as well as losing marquee DP Thierry Henry. In truth, 2014 was more about the emergence of Bradley Wright-Phillips who completely blitzed MLS with a total of 31 goals on the season. While he hasn't been able to finish on the same clip this year, he has still be proficient, and likely is the reason why his older brother, Shawn, has now joined the club.
Shawn Wright-Phillips becomes an addition to what looks like one of the best midfields in MLS currently. TFC supporters will already know from past encounters what a handful Dax McCarty can be breaking up plays, and now he is paired with US International Sasha Kljestan in the middle as well as the speedy Lloyd Sam and Felipe Martins as options moving forward. While Bradley Wright-Phillips is the name most will be watching in the attack, former top NCAA product Mike Grella has returned to North America and has looked decent this season.
Toronto can do themselves a huge favour this game as long as the midfield comes prepared to battle and the right pieces are in place to execute. Greg Vanney has tried to implement the diamond, but as seen last weekend without Benoit Cheyrou, Collen Warner cannot execute the role of playing at the bottom. With Cheyrou back, there is now a player with the vision and passing ability to link up with Michael Bradley or Gionvinco and that will be essential. Prior to the Gold Cup, the triumvirate of Bradley, Giovinco and Altidore were looking in-sync and re-establishing that will be needed come Saturday.
While this match up looks to set Toronto as heavy underdogs, there has been something about their consistent inconsistencies that gives them hope. Obviously, one cannot discount TFC as long as Giovinco is in the line up and when he has shown up motivated, and his teammates looking prepared to be committed and disciplined, there have been outstanding displays. Essentially, this is a match where from the back there can be no mental mistakes and moving forward there can be no passengers. Players such as Jonathan Osorio and Marky Delgado cannot go missing and the more they can be involved the better to keep New York for focusing solely on the DPs. If Vanney has the plan in place to lock down the midfield and keep New York from opening the game up, there is a chance of coming out of Red Bull Arena with what would be a massive result.
In the end
Toronto FC have been woeful on the road of late and the timing could not be worse to face off against one of the best teams in MLS right now. New York has not lost in MLS play since the beginning of July and are in a prime position to content for the top of the conference. The Reds have not looked cohesive of late and are sorely lacking leadership at the back, which will be an issue as several Red Bulls will be threatening towards goal. Toronto always have their dynamo striker Giovinco, however, the side cannot continually rely on him to keep things competitive and until they are able to put forth a comprehensive display defending there will be more dropped points for TFC.
Prediction
Toronto FC 2 – 3 New York Red Bulls
|