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 did you make of the first leg of the Amway semifinals in Montreal? Who has the advantage going into next week’s return match between TFC and the Impact in Toronto?
It was an opportunity for some of the depth players on both clubs to post notice they should be challenging for more playing time, but aside from a few moments here and there I just didn’t see it from either team. Both sides played cautious and it appeared that outside of Michael Bradley there was no urgency to get the ball forward for Toronto with any purpose, and until the last ten minutes of the first half it was much the same for the Impact. I thought Montreal looked more dangerous when they committed another player forward as they switched to 4-4-2. Toronto was content to mirror what they have done in their last two road games in MLS and focus on defending first with everyone behind the ball.
Understandably, with so many new faces in the line-ups, the ability to click with passes out of the back and through midfield was missing, and there was very little link-up play going forward but overall players I thought might spark the game with their chance to shine, didn’t. I think TFC are the favourites now at home with just the one goal to overturn if they elect to go with the heavy-hitters, although the home clean-sheet Montreal earned on Wednesday may prove to be the difference if the Impact can score at BMO.
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Do you like the current format of the tournament? Should it be revamped? Should NASL teams be allowed in?
Of course NASL teams should be allowed to participate and at some point I would like to see something similar to the US Open Cup format where all professional and even amateur teams are invited into the competition, with the higher division MLS and NASL clubs coming into the tournament in the latter stages as you see around the world for domestic cup competitions. The NASL teams have been competitive over the years and it’s not a stretch to suggest Edmonton should have beaten Montreal last year in the Canadian Championship but for a last minute and highly disputed penalty decision.
I actually think the format is exactly how it should be presently with the NASL teams having to play off to face the highest seeded MLS team, and the home and away legs adding to the interest of the event. I believe the plan is to move the tournament starting dates closer to the summer months so we don’t see a similar situation as we did in Edmonton on Wednesday night with the postponement of the Edmonton vs. Vancouver game due to snow.
Ashtone Morgan has looked his best in years, and earned his 100th appearance for TFC last week. What have you made of his great form this season? How do you account for his ascent?
I think it might be a bit simplistic to say he’s improved simply because of his manager’s confidence in him and the opportunity to play more meaningful minutes consecutively, but that is surely where it starts. Confidence is the most important thing any young player can have (or lose) and the fact he continues to do well in every game he’s played so far means he goes into each game believing in himself. He’s picking the right times to get forward with the encouragement of Greg Vanney and more importantly for a defender, he’s making better decisions at the right times to do what a defender is supposed to do first and foremost, which is defend.
I felt in the past he had a tendency to want to over-protect the inside of the area rather than get tight to cut out service from the flanks but in the last few games he has struck a good balance of defending where the danger was most imminent. He’s also worked very hard in training which is made easier when you believe you will get your opportunity in matches if you play and train well. At this point he will likely keep his place for as long as he continues to do well in games even when the injured players return.
The Whitecaps have historically struggled on the road, but this year they’ve looked terrific away from home. Why?
I would say they have looked terrific defensively away from home and for the most part been able to grab late winners or in the case of last week, a valuable draw against Portland, but any way you look at it just one goal conceded on the road all year is fantastic. I think similar to what we have seen from TFC the last two weeks away from home, it begins with a defence-first mindset which puts the onus on the home team to open up a bit to find space in their attack. The Whitecaps are such a dangerous team in transition, with pace to burn up front and players who can make the pass into the right areas that they will expose teams who push forward too much. That leaves their opponents too afraid to get caught out and perhaps they don’t threaten the Whitecaps defence as much as you normally see from the home team because of that concern.
Vancouver has been able to punish those teams that have strayed too far forward on occasion this year as we saw in Chicago and Salt Lake specifically where they were able to turn one point into three on both occasions because of resolute defending and taking their chance when it came late. The defensive spine of David Ousted in goal, Kendall Watson in front of him and the shield of Matias Laba and Russell Teibert in front of the back four has been incredibly strong. If defense wins championships, especially on the road, then the Whitecaps will be in the title conversation as long as they keep this type of shape away from home all season.
It’s back to MLS for the Impact after their great run to the CONCACAF final. How do you see them adjusting back to life in MLS?
I believe the success in the CONCACAF Champions League will give them some confidence to know that when they are on their game they can be a team to contend with. However I just fear that the grind of a long MLS season, with so many games to make up (Philadelphia has played 10 to Montreal’s four league games) and so little depth in the squad will be too much to overcome in the long run. Even on Wednesday against an undermanned TFC squad at Stade Saputo with most of their regular starters on the pitch, the Impact weren’t able to create many scoring chances. This will be the Impact’s downfall until they shore up the team with a player or two who can score and as importantly, some depth in midfield to be more dangerous in the attacking third.
Defensively, their right side is also a concern and not just in the fullback position where both Club America and TFC targeted Montreal specifically in the last two matches. Frank Klopas has shown the ability to adapt in-game and he got his tactics right at the Azteca and on Wednesday to get results in both games but until the squad depth is shored up in several areas, I think they will struggle to be a factor in the East.
Wednesday, May 13 programming alert: Watch Toronto FC vs. Montreal Impact on Sportsnet ONE and Sportsnet World at 7:30 pm ET and Vancouver Whitecaps vs. FC Edmonton on Sportsnet ONE and Sportsnet World at 10:00 pm ET. || Sportsnet World NOW || Broadcast schedule
