Ryan Johnston

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Julian De Guzman's ill-timed jump.

Preventable mistakes were once again the story as Toronto FC failed to pick up a point in Colorado.

There exists a tacit agreement in soccer that if you commit a silly foul in a dangerous spot, you get in the wall. There is also a common sense rule that if you are five-foot-seven, you find somewhere else to be on free kicks.

Rapids forward Jeff Larentowicz should be applauded for having the wherewithal to fire his free kick at the far end of the Reds' wall, conveniently where five-foot-seven Julian De Guzman and five-foot-eleven Sam Cronin stood.

Cronin may not possess the height to anchor a four-man wall, but at least somewhere along the road to being a professional he learned not to be afraid of the ball. Perhaps a bit unfair, as I do not think De Guzman's ill-timed jump was a reaction to being scared, but when three of the four asked to risk life and limb to stop a speeding ball from 10 yards stand still while the other bails exit stage left, there are only a few applicable adjectives to be applied.

But it is these types of preventable mistakes that are at the source of Toronto FC's terrible start to the season. Errant back passes, poor clearance, 21 minute slumbers and simply forgetting the basics have TFC teetering on early irrelevance.

Sure, Mo Johnston shoulders the blame for what has transpired thus far, but take the time to review the 10 goals surrendered this season and ask yourself if the Scotsman had any idea his signings would perform in such a manner when he asked each to sign on the dotted line?

On the upside, and yes there still exists one, of the four teams to have played four games so far this season, only one has more than two wins. It's still early; and ugly.