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.
Toronto FC is coming off a 2-0 road loss to the Columbus Crew last week—this after they beat the Vancouver Whitecaps in their home opener. The positives for TFC have been the play of Sebastian Giovinco and Jozy Altidore, but what about the negatives? What have you seen from the Reds through their first two games that could be a cause for concern?
Certainly in the early going the defence is a cause for concern, especially now with Justin Morrow, TFC’s steadiest player last season, suspended for the next game. In addition, Steven Caldwell, at 34, is again showing signs that a grueling MLS season will likely mean he makes way at times throughout the year for more inexperienced players, which means there will often be a need for mixing and matching in the defence as was the case against the Crew.
The back four needs to be better organized regardless, as the first half in Vancouver and much of the game in Columbus proved—there was too much room left in behind when the lines weren’t right.
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What did you make of Sam Adekugbe’s performance as a starter in the Whitecaps’ 1-0 win over the Chicago Fire last week? Did the Canadian do enough to displace Jordan Harvey as Vancouver’s starting left back?
Last week I suggested he might be good enough to displace the veteran Jordan Harvey for the game in Chicago and this week he’s not only been named to the MLS Team of the Week but has earned a call up for Canada to play in the friendlies vs Guatemala and Puerto Rico. Yes, he did enough and I would be shocked if he didn’t start again vs. Orlando this weekend, although he will miss the following game against Portland while away with Canada.
The same attributes mentioned last week were fully on display against the Fire as he was quick to join the attack and confident in his defending against a faster Chicago front-line than he will see from many teams. Consistency is huge for a defender and at just 20 years of age that won’t come easy. But that will be the benchmark for whether he can reclaim the starting position when he returns to the Whitecaps from national team duty and whether he keeps that position for the rest of the season.
Octavio Rivero has goals in each of the Whitecaps’ first two games this season. Aside from his goal-scoring ability, what, for you, has stood out about his game?
Not to steal Carl Robinson’s words but the Vancouver coach is spot on when he says Rivero’s strengths are his superb runs, his ability to read the play well and his unselfishness in drawing defenders away for his teammates to take advantage of open spaces.
I also like how quick he is over his first few steps and while his finishing was hot and cold in pre-season and first two league matches (just like many strikers) his scoring rate through two matches and his ability to get into dangerous positions and finish chances when needed is exactly what the Whitecaps were looking for when they signed him at Christmas.
How would you rate the Montreal Impact’s performance in the first leg of the CONCACAF Champions league semifinal? Do you see them winning the tie?
They were sensational in the early going, scoring twice in the first half and playing the balance of the match in a very professional manner, securing a crucial clean sheet at home above all. It’s incredible how large a part playing at home may have in this competition, though they may rue missed opportunities that could have made it a three goal cushion going into Costa Rica, as Alajuelense was able to put five goals past D.C United in their home match last round.
I really want to see them win the tie for the growth of interest in the competition in Canada but I can’t help but think back to 2009 when they had the same 2-0 lead against Santos Laguna of Mexico and got pounded 5-2 in the return leg to knock them out. None of those players remain from that team, though, and you just get a sense this side really believes they can compete with these teams after their success Wednesday night and in the quarterfinals against Pachuca.
MLS commissioner Don Garber said this week that while Las Vegas is no longer being considered for this round of expansion, the league is considering bids from Minneapolis, Sacramento, San Antonio and St. Louis. If you were the commissioner looking at adding another two expansion franchises, which cities would you choose?
Well, it looks like a Minnesota franchise is almost a certainty based on everything we have heard and I like that pick of a traditional soccer hotbed dating back to the old NASL. I’ve always felt that St. Louis would be a good complement and a natural rival for Sporting Kansas City and even Chicago, but it will all come down to ownership.
Despite the fact St. Louis has always been a strong soccer city my money is on Sacramento landing a franchise because of solid ownership and impressive attendance numbers plus what seems to be a genuine fan interest. They regularly draw sellout crowds for their USL matches and former TFC coach Preki will have the team contending again this year after having won the USL Pro championship in 2014.
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