Last week we were talking about how Toronto FC’s depth would be tested against the Columbus Crew.
Well, the Reds’ trip to Ohio—which produced a 2-0 win—was nothing compared to Saturday’s home tilt against the Colorado Rapids. TFC will be missing top scorer Jermain Defoe (hamstring) and defender Doneil Henry (knee), and will likely be without midfielder Jonathan Osorio and winger Alvaro Rey (both hamstring).
But wait, there’s more. Influential midfielder Michael Bradley will be a game-time decision, as he is suffering from “fatigue injuries,” according to coach Ryan Nelsen.
“There are a few guys that healthy, so we should be able to put 11 (players) out, which is positive,” Nelsen quipped with reporters after Friday’s practice.
Here are three storylines to watch for in this match.
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How will TFC’s back line hold up?
For the second week in a row TFC’s defence will be the focus of a lot of attention—and for good reason.
Doneil Henry is still hobbled by a knee injury. Last week, both Henry and Steven Caldwell (suspension) missed the Columbus game, forcing Ryan Nelsen to field a new-look back line with veteran Bradley Orr and rookie Nick Hagglund in the middle. Hagglund looked solid in his professional debut, but he’ll make way for Caldwell, now that the TFC captain has served his suspension.
Normally a right back, Orr had a strong outing against the Crew, so he’ll likely start again. Expect Orr to slot in alongside Caldwell against the Rapids, which means TFC will sport a new pairing in central defence for the third consecutive week.
It’ll be interesting to see how this lack of continuity at the back plays out on Saturday—if Caldwell and Orr will be able to forge an instant partnership, or if they will struggle with the Rapids taking full advantage.
The Bradley Factor
Even without Jermain Defoe, Toronto managed its best and most complete team performance of the season last week. More important, they showed that they are capable of finding a way to score without Defoe.
Toronto really didn’t miss a beat against the Crew, but will we be able to say the same thing if Bradley can’t play against Colorado? The American has been TFC’s best player this season—and it’s not a stretch to suggest he’s been the best player in MLS this year.
With Bradley in the lineup, TFC have looked a composed and balanced side—difficult to break down (Bradley protects the back four and runs himself ragged intercepting passes) and dangerous in transition (Bradley’s distribution and probing runs forward have helped).
If Bradley can’t play on Saturday, that leaves a gaping hole in the centre of TFC’s midfield—even more so if Osorio is ruled out, too. Kyle Bekker had a strong game filling in for Osorio last week, but a Bekker-Jeremy Hall partnership is a big step down in quality from the Bradley-Osorio pairing.
The Gilberto watch
It’s not that Gilberto has played poorly since coming to Toronto. In fact, the Brazilian has shown flashes of creative ingenuity.
He hasn’t quite lived up to his designated player tag just yet, though, having failed to score in three appearances. In Toronto’s home opener versus D.C. United, Gilberto and Defoe gelled and showed some chemistry. But since then, the Brazilin has been pretty quiet.
Last week he had the stage all to himself with Defoe out injured. This was the Brazilian’s time to shine, his chance to make a statement. Instead, he had a relatively quiet game on a night when so many of TFC’s role and depth players stepped up in a big way. Gilberto wasn’t involved enough, waiting for the ball to come to him instead of making something happen for himself.
It’s far too early to push the panic button. But a goal or two against Colorado wouldn’t hurt his reputation one bit.
