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Canadian International Terry Dunfield just completed his first full season with Toronto FC and was recently named as the team’s Most Valuable Player for the 2012 campaign. The 30 year old midfielder is a player who brings toughness, grit, spirit and leadership to the middle of the pitch and he looks to be one of the players that Reds Head Coach Paul Mariner will be leaning on as he moves forward in rebuilding Toronto for greater success in 2013.
RedNation Online and Dunfield discuss Toronto’s recently completed 2012 season, TFC Head Coach Paul Mariner, winning the Canadian Championship trophy and his preparations for the 2013 campaign.
RedNation Online: Terry, no player on TFC looked like they were working harder than you and or looked like they wanted to win more badly than you as TFC struggled in the team’s final matches of the 2012 season. Even though the team looked like it was in most matches, why was TFC not able to pull out a win or two?
Terry Dunfield: We came close. I think we went toe to toe with some of the best teams in the league, but we just didn’t have that final quality to see team’s off. I think for me that was the biggest difference.
RedNation Online: There has been heavy criticism of TFC Head Coach Paul Mariner over the winless streak by some who follow the team with a passion. Some people have said that they think that is unfair, while others believe it is valid. As someone who has a different vantage point as a player and who is involved with everything – games, team meetings, training sessions – and who sees up close how he manages games and has dealt with the players he has had at his disposal, is the criticism unfair? Or, given the team’s results, is it fair?
Terry Dunfield: When you are not winning, for sure there is going to be criticism. But I think that with the injuries that we have had, you could have brought in Jose Mourinho and we would have struggled this year. It was difficult to bounce back after we started 0-9. When he first came in, Paul was able to pick up results and, unfortunately, we were just too inexperienced going into this final stretch of games. The young lads did great, but we weren’t quite good enough.
Terry Dunfield - Year End Media Interview:
RedNation Online: In several games at the tail end of the season, you were basically the only veteran guy on the pitch and it almost looked like you were playing with the Academy team at times. Are you looking to take that expanded role and to run with it next season?
Terry Dunfield: I’ll sit down with Paul and Earl and we’ll see what role that I will play next year. I think that football-wise the way that Paul wants to play, it suits me down to the ground.
RedNation Online: You are a player who has previously faced adversity and challenges in your career and you seemed to hold up better than some of the younger players during the overall stress and turmoil of a tough season. How big a learning experience has this year been for the younger guys?
Terry Dunfield: It was huge. When you are thrown in the deep end at New York away or playing against Los Angeles away - probably not by choice for Paul who had to play a lot of young players – you can only learn from those situations and you can only get better. Some were ready and some weren’t. I think Paul now has a good idea of what we need for next season and what he is going to keep.
RedNation Online: You and the club did win the Canadian Championship this year. How big was that for you, especially given how that trophy had evaded you when you were previously playing with the Vancouver Whitecaps?
Terry Dunfield: It was huge. Beating Vancouver is always great. Hoisting a trophy, whether it is the FA Cup or the Dog and Duck Cup with a Sunday league or the Canada Cup, it is great. That winning feeling is what both the players and the fans want and it was definitely one of the highlights of the year for me.
RedNation Online: The Vancouver Whitecaps did earn the distinction of becoming the first Canadian team to make the MLS Playoffs this year. How badly do you want to make the playoffs with TFC next year?
Terry Dunfield: I want it big time. That is something that I want to do here and that I want to be a part of here. I understand the pain that the fans are feeling and I feel it just as much.
RedNation Online: You are still a young man at 30 years old, but now that you are in your thirties, do you have to approach the offseason differently than when you were in your early twenties?
Terry Dunfield: I think you have approach off seasons in the MLS differently than off seasons in England, given that it is almost three months long. I will probably look to train with a team over in England to keep myself fit. Maybe I will give Mancini a call or something.
RedNation Online: You are known as a guy with a real love for the game. Even with the tough season that the team has just completed, are you already itching to go in January?
Terry Dunfield: I am. I can’t wait to get our big guns back and to see who Paul signs. I think next year is going to be an exciting year.
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