Tim Bezbatchenko isn’t in panic mode just yet.
But it’s clear that Toronto FC’s general manager hasn’t been pleased with the team’s performances in recent weeks, including last Saturday’s 2-2 home draw against the Chicago Fire when the Reds twice threw away a one-goal lead.
Chicago’s equalizer in the 90th minute saw Toronto drop valuable points, and it also allowed the four teams directly below it in the MLS Eastern Conference standings to gain ground in what is shaping up to be a very tight playoff race.
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Toronto sits third in the East with 33 points, tied with the Columbus Crew, and just ahead of the New York Red Bulls (31 points), the New England Revolution and Philadelphia Union (30 points apiece). The top five teams in the East qualify for the post-season.
A playoff berth looked like a sure bet for TFC at the start of the summer, but with only three wins and one clean sheet in their last 12 games (a stretch that has seen them concede 23 goals), the Reds now find themselves in a dogfight for a post-season spot.
It wasn’t supposed to be this difficult for a team that underwent a massive overhaul in the winter, signing three designated players — Jermain Defoe, Michael Bradley and Gilberto — and a number of other MLS veterans in hopes of ending its seven-season playoff drought.
With the season headed into the home stretch, Bezbatchenko wants more from his players.
"With 11 games remaining I think what we’ve been saying is that it’s going to take some time to gel. I think that time of gelling is over. We’ve assembled an extremely talented squad [with a lot of experience] and together it’s time to for all of that experience to show and take it up a notch," Bezbatchenko told a small group of reporters on Friday.
He later added: "The last 12 or so games hasn’t been good enough, at least for making a run in MLS."
The good news for TFC is that it still controls its fate, with games in hand on the four teams chasing them, and the two sides ahead of them in the standings, D.C. United and Sporting Kansas City. Plus, four of the club’s next six games are home, including Saturday’s affair against New England.
It’s a crucial run of games for the Reds, and Bezbatchenko wants his team to gain the momentum back by developing more of a killer instinct and closing out matches when they have the lead.
"Talk is cheap. We have 11 games left — six at home and five away. We’ve shown an ability to pick up points on the road but now it’s time to do it at home. We have New England, Philadelphia and Chivas USA [coming up]; those are all games that we should be able to pick up some wins at home and need to. The time is now. …We mean business now. We can be better," Bezbatchenko stated.
Despite the club’s stuttering form, Bezbatchenko still thinks the Reds are in an advantageous spot to claim one of five playoff berths in the East.
"Overall if you look at the season, we’re tied for third. There is a little bit of a cluster [of teams] for those last few playoff spots. Would we like to separate ourselves from the pack like we had a couple of weeks ago and be farther from New York, Philadelphia and New England? Yeah, absolutely," Bezbatchenko said.
"We’re in a good position but there’s urgency now. We had the [chance] to separate ourselves over the last few games and we [didn’t]. To maintain our position we need to win now. We need to win over the next few games. We need to win."
That might be difficult without one of their star players. Coach Ryan Nelsen confirmed that Defoe continues to deal with a nagging groin injury and will miss Saturday’s against the Revolution.
Nelsen said they hope to have Defoe back for the team’s Sept. 6 home game against Philadelphia, but that the English forward will likely be out until late September. Defoe missed three games earlier this summer with the same injury and only returned to action last week. The former Spurs star is seeing a specialist about his injury.
The loss of Defoe is a big blow for Toronto, as he leads the Reds in scoring with 11 goals this season — although Gilberto has scored in four straight games, and fellow forward Luke Moore has played well in recent weeks.
Still, it’s worrying that Defoe has to see a specialist as he continues to struggle with injury problems this late in the campaign after already missing seven games.
"If we go into October and he still has the issue then I’d be concerned. Right now we have people who are scoring. Obviously we miss Jermain [and] his presence. …We just have to manage [his situation] over the next two to three weeks," Bezbatchenko said.
TFC is already missing Warren Creavalle (hamstring), Steven Caldwell (quad strain) and Justin Morrow (hamstring).
Bezbatchenko said that he might make some player moves ahead of the league’s Sept. 15 roster freeze date in light of this rash of injuries. But if he can’t bring in new recruits, TFC’s GM said he is confident that they can reach the playoffs with the current crop of players.
"There could be [additions]. You have to look at what’s available," Bezbatchenko said.
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