Toronto FC is still a work in progress.
It was easy to get caught up in the hype surrounding the Reds’ 2-0 record—their best start to a season in club history—after seven horrendous years. But coach Ryan Nelsen kept reminding everybody who cared to listen that TFC still had work to do, and that this team was far from the finished article.
That much was made clear on Saturday in a 3-0 loss away to Real Salt Lake, a game that saw the Reds outplayed by one of the top sides in Major League Soccer.
For the first time this season Jermain Defoe was kept off the score sheet—although he had chances—and the defence looked disorganized, unable to contain the dangerous attacking duo of Alvaro Saborio (who netted a brace) and Javier Morales (who masterfully pulled the creative strings).
Here are three things that stood out about Toronto FC’s loss to Real Salt Lake.
Lack of depth exposed
TFC’s starting lineup has a strong spine (Julio Cesar, Steven Caldwell, Michael Bradley and Defoe) and solid wingers in Alavaro Rey and Jackson. But once you get past the first 11, the quality of talent begins to drop off.
With Jonathon Osorio out injured (hamstring), Nelsen was forced to make changes, bringing in Jeremy Hall to play with Bradley in the centre of midfield. Bradley and Osorio had formed an effective working relationship over the first two games, but Hall looked out of his element in Utah—he was often caught flat-footed when defensive duties beckoned, and he rarely got into advanced positions. Simply put, he wasn’t up to Bradley’s standard.
Jackson provided Toronto with solid play down the wings in the first two games, adding genuine width to the attack and proving to be a defensive menace for opposing players when tracking back. But the Brazilian’s suspension meant Nelsen was forced to shift Rey to the left side, move Mark Bloom up from right fullback to right midfield and give Bradley Orr his first start on the right side of defence.
Rey had an off day and Bloom offered very little going forward in attack. Toronto’s play on the wings on this night it was non-existent as everything went through the middle. TFC was predictable in its buildup play, with very little variety.
As for Orr, the Englishman looked slow and unable to keep up with the pace of the game in his first start for the Reds. RSL took full advantage with Saborio getting on the wrong side of Orr to collect a pass from Morales and put the Utah club up 3-0 in the second half. Orr is coming off an injury problem so you don’t watch to judge him too hard. Still, you have to wonder if he’ll be able to keep up to speed with the MLS game.
Jackson will return next week, but Osorio is expected to miss a few weeks due to injury. So who partners Bradley? Hall, again? Or Kyle Bekker, who has barely had a look from Nelsen since last season? And is Bloom or Orr the solution to the starting right fullback position? Time will tell.
Poor play by Henry on penalty call
Doneil Henry was one of TFC’s better players through the first two games, winning plaudits for his poised and mature play, as well as his decision making. But we caught a glimpse of the “old” Doneil Henry on Saturday—the one who makes rash decisions and tries to do too much.
In the 10th minute, a ball was played in the top right side of the TFC box to Saborio. The Costa Rican international’s back was to goal with Henry marking him close. There was no real danger as Saborio wasn’t going anywhere, but Henry jostled with the Costa Rican as he began to turn and he brought him down, leading to referee Baldomero Toledo pointing to the spot.
Saborio went down a bit too easily, and he was tugging on Henry’s jersey in the build up. But Henry was at fault for the unnecessarily aggressive manner in which he marked Saborio, and at the end of the day the Canadian defender did haul him down. It was a penalty, contrary to Nelsen’s suggestion to reporters after the match.
Why give Toledo anything to think about? Why force the referee into making a decision? All Henry had to do was contain Saborio in the corner of the box, and turn him away from goal. Henry was just asking to be called for a foul.
Lack of possession worrying
TFC totalled 32 percent possession in their season-opening win in Seattle. Last week’s home opener against D.C. United saw the Reds enjoy 38 percent of the ball. Against Salt Lake, they had 39 percent.
Salt Lake controlled the game because they enjoyed the lion’s share of possession, out-passing Toronto by a remarkable 434 to 265 margin on the night.
After the game, Nelsen downplayed TFC’s lack of possession this season, stating that it’s what you do with the ball when you have it that matters. Fair enough. But the more you have the ball, the more opportunities you have to do something with it. Toronto actually created a number of chances against Salt Lake, and registered three shots on target. Imagine how many more shots they could have fired at Salt Lake goalkeeper Nick Rimando had they enjoyed more of the ball.
You’re not going to win games on a consistent basis with less than 40 percent possession. TFC’s lack of ball retention through the first three games is a growing concern, hinting at Nelsen’s tactical rigidity (he’s a 4-4-2 man) and that he has no “Plan B.”
John Molinaro in Sportsnet’s chief soccer reporter. Follow him on Twitter.