It's just going through the motions for one more weekend as Toronto FC were 'officially' eliminated from the playoffs last Saturday and they now travel to New England to wrap up their 2014 season. There is little to feel positive or hopeful about after a start to the year that had so much hype that even the best attempts at silver linings moving forward can easily be dismissed through the last seven years of similar failure and folly. The Reds do have a chance to try and save a little bit of face, but against a New England side who have considerably more depth and form, a win is highly unlikely.
The last ten games were supposed to turn the team around under Greg Vanney, but the team has not looked any more motivated or improved under the new gaffer. Recent dropped points, especially with games in hand, indicate things might be tougher to get on track than simply a coaching change. Of late the Reds have not been able to see a consistent starting eleven, either through injuries or suspension, and this game is no different. It will be a tough game to go out on and one where supporters will already be looking ahead to 2015.
Keep thinking
It is difficult to focus solely on the match at hand given the sideshow atmosphere, despite Tim Leiweke's promises of a culture change, that appears to continue with Toronto FC. When truly scrutinizing the season as well as the final stretch under Greg Vanney, there is little to bring confidence the team is heading in the right direction.
While it was meaningless in the end, the do-or-die game against Montreal was underwhelming for a team who was competing against the last placed side in all of MLS. A match where anything less than three points would not suffice, where one would expect everything put on the line, a home performance against the worst team in the league ending in a 1-1 draw says everything.
And rightly-so, as many have observed for over a month, Toronto FC are far from being legitimate playoff contenders as they managed to squander third place in the Eastern Conference with several games in hand. It has been a tough season where Jermain Defoe was the starting point and he has been all but MIA for the last three months, even when he was on the pitch. Steven Caldwell's return should have been the anchor needed in the defence, but he has not looked as sure as he did when he arrived at the club and first half of the season. Michael Bradley continues to be one of TFC's best players, but questions continue about what will get the best out of Bradley?
This will be important in the final game as Toronto will try to end the embarrassment and save some face traveling to New England. Unfortunately they are now facing one of the hottest teams in the league. The Revolution are on a fantastic run of results where they have won eight of their last ten games. What has been a revelation for the team isn't the depth of forwards or young attacking talent, but 28-year old journeyman Lee Nguyen. The attacking midfielder has settled in with the Revs over the last few years and in 2014 has been outstanding, scoring 17 goals on the campaign.
Nguyen has been critical for their run in the Eastern Conference as aside from him, you could make a case the attack has been somewhat disappointing. Loaded with goal-potential at the start of the season, New England went and drafted two of the top forwards in the NCAA in Patrick Mullins and Steve Neuwmann. Of all their existing talent: Diego Fagundez, Teal Bunbury, Charlie Davies, Kelyn Rowe, the leading tally from that bunch is five goals.
Toronto's one chance might be that even though New England have been great at scoring, they've been poor at keeping the ball out of the back of the net. While their back line has been consistent with Andrew Ferrel continuing his progress and Jose Goncalves and AJ Soares anchoring the defence, there is still opportunities to catch them out. Coincidentally though, the Revs last clean sheet was against TFC when they took all points in a 3-0 win at BMO back in late August.
Add to that point is Toronto has been anything but an offensive juggernaut, even with two DP strikers. All the talk of Gilberto's technique is fine, but in the end he has had countless attempts to bury his chances and they continue to miss the mark. There won't be too much help as Jonathan Osorio will be serving suspension as well as Dwayne De Rosario. Finally Jermain Defoe is out injured, but in truth Defoe has not be a positive part of the club for months and should be reconsidered in the offseason.
Greg Vanney's task from the last two months hasn't changed much. TFC are a team needing confidence and self belief. The problem with this going into the final match of the season is that there has been no evidence that Vanney has been able to instill this into the team. Even when he has made note of what to expect leading into games with regards to approach and tactics, few games under him has seen the side with any actual cutting edge or mettle. It will be essential for Toronto to show something drastically different in this last game as the last four results, against both top teams in the East as well as the worst, have all been the same - dropped points and mostly losses.
In the end
Toronto FC supporters were able to take the team off the playoffs life support last weekend but there is still the matter of wrapping up another season with a game left in New England. Never an easy place to get points for TFC, added to that is the Revs are one of the best teams in the league right now with a red hot attacking midfielder in Lee Nguyen. As it is the eighth year in a row without the post season, it is known what will be said and expected. Players are fighting for spots in the 2015 side now, but after the drop off in quality over the last ten games, there isn't likely much fight left in the side. If they can pull off a result that will be a silver lining, but there is not much to go by from the last four games that Toronto can muster up a better performance.
Prediction
Toronto FC 1 – 3 New England
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