Every Friday, Sportsnet.ca will chat with Sportsnet soccer commentator Paul Dolan—a former Canadian national team goalkeeper—about the big stories and issues in Major League Soccer.
What did you make of the Montreal Impact’s performance and 1-1 draw against Club America at Azteca Stadium on Wednesday in the first leg of the CONCACAF Champions League?
Incredible. It was honestly one of the most interesting games I’ve seen and I was riveted for 90 minutes to see how things would unfold in the cauldron that is Azteca. The atmosphere, the occasion and everything else that makes up a Cup final in this type of surrounding was immensely entertaining and the Impact were fantastic on the night. I thought Laurent Ciman was massive, defending with timely tackles and reading the game so well, leading a defence that was under constant pressure and his beautiful cross-field switch of play began the move that was finished off for a goal by another pillar in the line-up, Ignacio Piatti.
Domenic Oduro was outstanding as a constant threat and he ran miles as the lone striker and should have seen his opponent sent off late in the first half. Danny Toia worked tirelessly to limit Club America’s attack down the flanks, which seem ten miles wide at altitude and goalkeeper Evan Bush looked very cool under pressure and made timely saves when need be. It truly was a performance to be proud of and sets up a sensational spectacle Wednesday night at a sold-out Olympic Stadium in Montreal with everything to play for.
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How do you see Cristian Techera fitting in at the Whitecaps? How will Carl Robinson make room for him? Does he replace Darren Mattocks or Mauro Rosales in the starting 11? Or will he start on the bench?
It’s hard to know exactly how he will fit in until we see him in actual MLS game but it sure looks like he is fitting in well in training, settling in well both on the pitch and off it so far in Vancouver. Robinson has been a big proponent of earning your spot in the starting lineup through hard work in training and in games so it would be hard to see him drop anyone from the current lineup to make way for a new player after a solid win in Salt Lake last weekend.
I see Techera starting on the bench Saturday against DC United but possibly come on as a sub who can come into the game to have a positive effect with his energy (he’s nicknamed the bug for a reason) and for tactical reasons if the Whitecaps need a different look. I see him more as a Rosales type replacement when needed, playing in wider areas but interchanging with the other forward players to link up around the box as well. He brings a completely different dynamic at just 5’2” and more South American flare to a team that can already throw so many different looks at their MLS opponents.
It’s now eleven goals conceded and no clean sheets through five games for Toronto FC. They’ve had to deal with injuries and suspensions, but should the back line get a complete pass? How worrying are the team’s defensive woes?
The first 30 minutes (never mind first 30 seconds) were a defensive disaster for TFC last weekend in Dallas. It was dreadful defending and no, they don’t get a pass because of missing players as the entire team defensive play was woeful. No pressure on the ball, poor defensive reads on the runs with insufficient cover and a third goal that was comedic with players running into each other. The game was over before it started. Defending is as much about a collective mindset as it is the personnel playing in certain positions and although Greg Vanney has tried to stress awareness in defence while in possession of the ball it is simple mistakes time and again that are undoing TFC at the moment.
The focus against Orlando this weekend seems to be about shutting down the opponent first and I think as much as the manager wants to have an aggressive team offensively as well as defensively it is the latter that has to be concentrated on first and foremost away from home, especially after what happened in Dallas. Play for the clean sheet with disciplined defending and then allow your star offensive players to shine when Toronto wins the balls back. Keep a good shape throughout the match with players behind the ball in compact lines and limit the space for Kaka to play into. Orlando loves to play down the left side with Brek Shea joining the attack which is the same flank Dallas exploited so easily. TFC needs to address that threat from the start and not 30 seconds after it which means it could be another long day for Warren Creavalle or Justin Morrow at right back if Vanney decides to play him there.
The New York Red Bulls are off to a great starts, topping the Eastern Conference after going unbeaten through their first five games. What have you made of the job that new coach Jesse Marsch has done thus far?
His toughest job was to win over the fan-base that was vocally against the firing of former coach (and former homegrown player) Mike Petke, who got the Red Bulls to the Conference Finals last year. I watched the Town Hall meeting Marsch had with angry supporters groups after Petke’s firing and I was incredibly impressed by how he seemed to win them over with his understanding of their disappointment but his passion and game plan to get things right this year. He’s followed through by getting the most of a team that I actually think has less talent than last year when you consider the loss of Thierry Henry and Jameson Olave in particular. That’s a testament to a coach getting everyone on the same page to make the the whole greater than the sum of its parts and while it’s still early, the new coach seems to have won over both his players as well as the supporters in a very short period of time
Which of the many Canadian players in MLS have impressed you the most so far this campaign?
We’ve seen some really good moments from a lot of the young Canadian players and the good news for national team supporters is that most of the players now playing first team MLS football are young. Cyle Larin and Tesho Akindele have scored early in the season and continue to show promise as potential starters for their clubs down the road. Russell Teibert and Sam Adekugbe have put in some very strong all-around performances for the Whitecaps and Teibert’s cross for Darren Mattocks’ winning goal last week was inch-perfect.
I think Ashtone Morgan has been a pleasant surprise for TFC looking very confident in getting into the attack from his fullback position while Jonathan Osorio has done well to hold his spot in a Toronto midfield with lots of competition for places. Will Johnson is due back into the Portland lineup soon and Marcel de Jong has had a good start at Kansas City earning himself a team of the week place already.
Perhaps the most valuable experience any Canadian is getting in preparation for national team qualifying matches though is the experience Maxim Tissot is getting playing for Montreal in the CONCACAF Champions League finals. Being thrown into high pressure situations in three of the toughest places in the region (Pachuca, Alajuelense and Club America) will put him in good stead for future National Team visits to Latin America.
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