Toronto FC will have its own version of an insider on Saturday when the team travels to San Jose to face the Earthquakes.
Defender Nick Garcia was acquired form the 'Quakes in a June 9 trade that also included discovery rights to Canadian striker Ali Gerba. The 32-year-old native of Texas has been tutoring his new Reds teammates in the week leading up to San Jose.
"I have the luxury of knowing all the guys I am playing against," Garcia said after training on Thursday. "I know the tendencies and I can pass it on."
Garcia played in 12 games for the 'Quakes before the trade, and understands that even with his frontline experience San Jose is not a team to be taken lightly.
"I have been in the midst of what they are trying to do and knowing who is healthy and who is not," Garcia said. "But on top of that it is not an easy place to play. It is kind of like a match box out there -- pretty tight and confined and they play well at home."
The trip west will also be somewhat bittersweet for Garcia, who is ready to make Toronto his new home.
"It is one last trip for me on the year. I will get in and get this last game in San Jose out of the way. I'll be finalizing a few things on Sunday after the game like getting the house packed up and moving on to Toronto."
The Earthquakes sit in last place in the Western Division, but the second-year franchise have neither lost nor conceded a goal to Toronto. In two games last season, the 'Quakes were able to earn a goalless draw at BMO Field and a 2-0 win in the final game of the 2008 season.
"I don't look at past records," Toronto coach Chris Cummins said of San Jose’s success. "It is different team here and it is a different team for them. I keep saying this is a year of firsts for us as we are breaking records and winning cups. So if we haven't scored or won against them this might be another chance for one of those firsts."
The two-week layoff between games has allowed Cummins to rest his players and the squad will have no injuries going into Saturday's match. The only notable absentee will be rookie Sam Cronin, who is away with the U.S. men's team at the Gold Cup. Midfielder Amado Guevara was back training on Thursday after a tumultuous time getting out of politically-unstable Honduras.
"I have been speaking to (Guevara) and he has had to leave his wife and his young daughter, but he was keen to get back," Cummins said. "His family will come out (of Honduras) on Saturday."
A full squad will be a bonus for Cummins, who has not won on the road during his time as coach. The Reds were soundly beaten 3-0 by Real Salt Lake the last time out and have conceded 15 goals away from BMO Field.
"We haven't changed too much (during the time off)," Cummins said. "It does allow us to go in to this weekend fully fit and we are raring to go. We are going to change the philosophies on the road now, so you might see us playing a little bit different from past games."
The game in San Jose begins a busy stretch of five games in three weeks for Toronto, including their first CONCACAF Champions League game against Puerto Rico Islanders.
NOTES: Kick-off on Saturday in San Jose is set for 10:30 p.m. ET and can be seen on all Sportsnet channels … Former TFC player Chris Pozniak trained with the team on Thursday, but no word was given on his contract status … First-round draft pick O'Brian White was also involved in the scrimmage, and picked the pocket of a defender before slotting a goal past Brian Edwards … The team trained indoors at the Oakville Soccer Centre.
