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 have you made of the job Greg Vanney has done so far since taking over as coach of Toronto FC? Can he guide them to a playoff spot?
It’s probably unfair to judge any coach without the better part of a season under his belt as it takes time to implement systems of play, solidify his tactics within the squad and put his stamp on the culture of a team. But I will say that everything I’ve heard about the new coach from the players themselves has been positive so far. As much as the change was made to help ensure a playoff spot this year I don’t think it will be down to the manager as to whether Toronto qualifies for the post-season or not. It’s down to the players.
The performance against New England before Ryan Nelsen was let go was troubling, as it almost looked like a team looking to get the coach fired. While the recent games against Philadelphia were marginally better, the odds on Vanney guiding TFC into the playoffs get slimmer with every successive unconvincing performance. The ship needs to be righted and it’s up to the players to do that in their last eight games.
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How do you think Costa Rican defender Kendall Waston has fit in with the Vancouver Whitecaps since singing with the club earlier this summer?
Very well. As expected with any new player, there were ups and downs in his first couple of games, but he’s been named man of the match in the last two matches for Vancouver as much because of his physical presence in the opposing penalty area as for his strength in the tackle and in the air in his own half. He was close to scoring from set pieces in his first two home games against Portland and D.C. and then drew the penalty kick to open the scoring against San Jose on Wednesday night before adding the insurance goal himself with a well-timed run and great header. He reminds me of Jay DeMerit with his forceful play but he is able to impose himself even more because of his size and he’s the genuine threat from offensive set-pieces the Whitecaps have never really had in MLS.
Last week, the Montreal Impact announced that they will field an USL-Pro team in 2015. How will the Impact benefit from this?
We saw a simple example of how a USL Pro team can help players on MLS first-team rosters last week when the Whitecaps’ Ethan Sampson had to be subbed out of a game with cramps just after half time against D.C. Without the benefit of playing high level competition in meaningful games some players just aren’t getting the “game fitness” and experience necessary to allow them to adjust to MLS. Younger players will now get the opportunity to play in professional environments in their own city in the case of Montreal’s new team and in the case of the new USL Pro team planned for New Westminster near Vancouver, making assimilation into the MLS first team much easier for up and coming professionals.
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Dom Dwyer spent most of last season on loan in the USL with Orlando City. This season, he’s one of the top scorers in MLS with Sporting Kansas City. What have you made of his stunning rise?
Every time I watch Dom Dwyer play I’m impressed by his ability to score and cause havoc for his opponents in the penalty area. He’s the type of player who instinctively seems to make aggressive runs in dangerous places knowing he will get his chances and he is playing with a confidence that makes him and everyone else think that every opportunity he gets he will finish. I’m not really surprised by it as he scored 15 goals in 13 appearances in Orlando and with 18 already this year for Kansas City I still think he has a genuine shot at the Golden Boot.
There are still eight weeks to go in the season, but if you were to cast your ballot today for league MVP, who would get your vote?
I don’t think it’s clear cut but quite a few names spring to mind when you consider players who are having stand-out seasons. Robbie Keane, Obafemi Martins and Landon Donavon provide the star power and probably lead the popular pick based on performance and impact within the league and within their teams, as Seattle and LA sit one and two in the tough Western Conference standings.
There are also several players that make strong cases because without them, you really feel their teams would not be in playoff contention: Vancouver’s Pedro Morales, New England’s Lee Nguyen and Bradley Wright-Phillips, who has a league-leading 21 goals for New York this year (but only one assist). You’re asking me to name one today, and based on overall contribution to his team’s current success I’ll go with Obafemi Martins. But I’m guessing eight weeks from now I’d have a different pick based on seeing a player step his game up in this crucial time of the season on the run-in to the playoffs.
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