TORONTO – Step to the fore, Greg Vanney.
Vanney put Toronto FC players through their paces on Tuesday, less than 48 hours after being named the club’s ninth manager in eight years, and shortly before a crucial home-and-home series against the Philadelphia Union.
It’s been a crazy past few days for Toronto FC—Tim Bezbatchenko called out the players last Friday and challenged them to “take it up a notch”; coach Ryan Nelsen shot back at Bezbatchenko after the team’s loss to New England on Saturday; Bezbatchenko fired Nelsen on Sunday and replaced him with Vanney; and the team nearly sold top scorer Jermain Defoe on Monday, but ultimately turned down a transfer offer from Queens Park Rangers.
Got all that? Leaves your head spinning, doesn’t it? Don’t worry, you’re not alone.
“It has been a whirlwind. I can’t say that I’ve slept many hours, but it’s all good,” Vanney told reporters after Tuesday’s practice.
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The new coach won’t have much time to settle in. TFC plays in Philadelphia on Wednesday night and then hosts the Union on Saturday afternoon in a pair of games that could go a long way in sealing the Reds’ playoff fate.
Vanney, 40, previously served as Toronto’s assistant GM and as the team’s youth academy director. He has coaching experience, as an assistant at Chivas USA, and played in Major League Soccer with the LA Galaxy, FC Dallas, Colorado Rapids and D.C. United. The former U.S. international defender also spent time at French club Bastia.
So, why does Vanney think he’ll succeed where eight previous Toronto FC coaches have failed?
“I believe in my knowledge of the game and in my knowledge of this league. I’ve been around this league for a long time. … I also have a teaching background and I think this a league where you have young players who are still learning, so you can’t be afraid to teach a little bit,” Vanney explained.
“At the same time, you have to have the respect of the veterans and get them all on the same page.”
He’s also looking forward to putting his stamp on TFC, starting with Wednesday’s affair in Philadelphia.
“By and large our tactics may or may not be exactly the same [as under Nelsen], but what’s important for me is that we bring a high level of energy to the field. …I really want us to feel like we can let loose and play with some freedom, but with our tactics in mind,” Vanney offered.
He later added: “I want to dictate the game on both sides of the ball. I don’t like waiting and letting the other team dictate what we do. … [I want us to be] proactive through the course of the match. I want us to be possession-oriented and attacking-minded. … This group is built to be dynamic and we need to be dynamic.”
Midfielder Michael Bradley has been impressed by Vanney’s calming influence the last few days.
“He has a strong but calm way of leading. He has a good presence within the group,” Bradley said. “He leads with a strong calming presence and when you’re at a club that’s going through some crazy times it’s important that the leaders within that club be strong. I think Greg has done an incredible job of that.”
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Captain Steven Caldwell was disappointed to learn of Nelsen’s firing.
“Ryan brought me to this club and I have a great relationship with him. He’s a friend of mine and somebody who I look up to. I tried to be the captain and leader of his team, so it’s disappointing. … But these things happen and we look forward now,” Caldwell offered.
Nelsen’s dismissal came on the heels of a dreadful run that saw the team earn just three wins and one clean sheet in its last 13 games. TFC also conceded a whopping 26 goals during that stretch.
Toronto sits fourth in Major League Soccer’s Eastern Conference with a 9-9-6 record with 10 games left in the season, and is tied with New England and Columbus on 33 points. The top five clubs qualify for the playoffs. New York (31 points), Philadelphia (30) and Chicago (29) have all made up ground on TFC recently, although the Reds still have games in hand on all the teams chasing them.
At the start of the summer, TFC was in third and looked a sure bet to make the playoffs. Now, it’s far from a lock after the team’s poor recent form, which cost Nelsen his job.
“Anybody who is a good professional feels a sense of responsibility when any manager loses his job. I’m no different. I certainly feel responsible and so you should because we’re all a part of this,” Caldwell said.
Caldwell defected when asked about Defoe’s future with TFC.
“I’m a football player. I’m here to do my job which is to captain and lead this team,” Caldwell answered.
Asked that in light of recent events—MLSE CEO Tim Leiweke announcing his plans to step down, Nelsen getting fired, Defoe being linked to QPR—if he had any regrets about signing with Toronto FC, Bradley answered: “I absolutely want to be here. Everything I’ve said, everything I’ve done since I arrived has shown that.”
Nelsen’s entire coaching staff, with the exception of Jason Bent, was also fired. Vanney confirmed that Bent will stay on as assistant on an interim basis. Vanney also named youth academy coach Jon Conway, a former TFC goalkeeper, and Nick Theslof, another academy coach, as his interim assistants.
Vanney named Sigi Schmid and Bruce Arena—two of the most successful coaches in MLS history—among the most influential managers he played for during his career.
NOTES: Defenders Doneil Henry and Ashtone Morgan were originally going to miss the two games against Philadelphia because they were called into the Canadian national team training camp ahead of next week’s friendly against Jamaica at BMO Field. But the Canadian Soccer Association released the players, making them available to play for TFC against the Union… Caldwell (quad strain) is expected to miss both Philadelphia games, as will Jermain Defoe (groin) and left back Justin Morrow (hamstring)… Defender/midfielder Warren Creavalle (hamstring) won’t travel for Wednesday’s game in Philadelphia, but could be available for Saturday’s home game against the Union.
