After nearly two years of tinkering with Toronto FC, Mo Johnston might want to take Monday off and rest on his laurels for a moment.
He won’t; but maybe a private bow will be taken.
The countless moves and endless speculation culminated in the form of a 3-2 win against the Galaxy, the shiniest jewel in the MLS’ crown.
The obvious storyline is the three goals on the road, only the second victory away from BMO Field in team history. But the overall storyline is that the team finally looked settled.
Prior to Sunday’s match I had a short email exchange with ESPN Soccernet Editor Jen Chang about TFC and the upcoming match against the Galaxy. If you haven’t read Chang’s blog, make it a point.
Here is a snippet from the exchange:
From: Jen Chang
Sent: Wed 4/9/2008 6:36 PM
To: Ryan Johnston
Subject: Re: Toronto FC blog
Well, being an expansion franchise, Toronto gets a little more leeway initially than would otherwise be the case. The real issue here, as I mentioned before is that the team has made little visible improvement from last season. The problems remain the same, a shaky defense and an inability to put the ball into the net. The acquisition this past week of Laurent Robert will help, as will today's signing of Amado Guevara, but while both players are talented, they've also shown a historical tendency to be problematic in the locker room and pout when things don't go their way. Add that to the fact that both players typically exert less than ideal work rate on the field and Toronto fans will have to hope that both players have retained the flair that they're noted for in order to compensate for that.
Mo Johnston's made some nice draft picks, and he's also made some smart trades - one does get the feeling however that he makes too many wholesale changes that are ongoing throughout the season which means his team is in a perpetual state of flux and never really settles down or gels. We're seeing this again this season and we're only at week 2.
On 4/9/08, Ryan Johnston wrote:
Jen -
It's true; Toronto overachieves in the seats and underachieves on the field. That being said, the Galaxy might be their polar opposite: employing a group of overachievers while failing to consistently draw the attendance numbers.
In the first meeting last season the two teams cancelled each other out in a scoreless draw that, as alluded to above, showcased the TFC environment (on ESPN2) but exposed the club's inability to both seize the moment and put the ball in the back of the net. Through two games this season it looks like much of the same. Plus, TFC seem to star-gaze with the marquee players -- Schelotto in the opener, and Gallardo, Emilio last week -- a trend that does not fare well for a meeting with Beckham and Donovan.
Earning a point in LA is paramount for Toronto before returning home to what will be a raucous crowd brimming with three-point expectations.
It would seem both of us got our wish. Toronto head home with not one but three points for what will be a carnival-like environment at BMO Field on Saturday. But perhaps more importantly the settling, or gelling, is 90 minutes in the works.
TFC only led in Los Angeles for a combined eight minutes in regulation; holding the lead for spans of one, five and the final two minutes. The TFC of yore may have succumbed to the agony of watching a lead dissolve after just one minute in the first half.
But the new TFC looks the part, and may surprise yet.
Credit must also be given to coach John Carver. I have to admit, it is a struggle at times to watch a team run possession drills for two hours at training. But as is the case with Carver, everything is done for a reason, and the ball movement triangle passing looked fantastic on Sunday afternoon.
(And apparently his instincts surrounding new acquisition Amado Guevara were right. The newest acquisition picked out the run of Danny Dichio like an old teammate.)
That being said, it should be a fun, but purposeful, week at training.
Thank goodness thay waived Samuel...BUM
Cunningham was flying..Dichio was solid the new guys chipped in
and thank you Greg Sutton.
now play Lombardo more ...he has lots of creativity and patience with the ball...something we need,grit and passion and his younger legs will be a factor late in games as well as a sub...I would love to see Lombardo and Cunnigham on fresh legs for 25-30 mintues, especially if we need a late goal...
Or even give Lombardo some midfield time feeding passes in a taking late runs for headers