TORONTO – It’s only four weeks into the Major League Soccer season, and already there are questions about Toronto FC’s depth—and for good reason.
TFC will be without veteran centre back Steven Caldwell (calf), and backup defenders Mark Bloom (quad) and Eriq Zavaleta (ankle) for Sunday’s road match vs Real Salt Lake. The Reds will also be missing left fullback Justin Morrow (suspension), and influential midfielder/captain Michael Bradley and forward Jozy Altidore, who are both away with the U.S. national team. Squad player Marco Delgado, who can play in midfield and at fullback, is away with the U.S. under-23 team.
French central defender Damien Perquis has overcome a minor calf strain and should be available for selection. TFC on Friday announced the signing of rookie defender Clement Simonin, who will make the trip to Salt Lake, to a senior team contract.
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But make no mistake about it—the Reds’ character and depth will be tested with four key starters missing this weekend in Utah. However, coach Greg Vanney insists the injuries and absences won’t radically change his tactics for Sunday’s contest, and that the team has the depth to see itself through this minor crisis.
“From a tactical standpoint we’ve set out to have a certain style of play and what we want to accomplish. That may adjust 10-15 percent based on the opponent and us looking at what we think we can do to give us the best chance against (Salt Lake),” Vanney told reporters after Friday’s practice.
“But we’re not going to change our identity for any given game. We’re not going to change our system for any given game. That’s why we built the team we have, to be able to plug guys into specific roles and a specific style. We’ll remain who we are.”
He later added: “We chose the way we wanted to play based on the depth of our roster, not just the (starting) 11, but also the guys we thought who could come in and give us minutes.”
With Caldwell out, look for Nick Hagglund to partner Perquis in the centre of defence for a TFC side that has conceded three goals over two games, and has yet to record a clean sheet. Canadian Ashtone Morgan will fill in on the left side of defence for Morrow, while Warren Creavalle will start his third straight game at right back.
Toronto is likely to start Luke Moore and Collen Warner for the absent Altidore and Bradley.
“I’ve said all along that I think our team is deep, and nothing I’ve seen this week or through pre-season has changed my mind on that. Guys understand what their roles are, they understand what we’re trying to accomplish,” Vanney said.
Simonin will be a backup option for Vanney at the centre back position. Toronto FC has also recalled midfielder Jay Chapman, forward Jordan Hamilton and Morgan from their loans at Toronto FC II, the club’s USL farm team, for depth purposes this weekend.
“I’m super excited to go (to Salt Lake) to compete,” Simonin said of the possibility of making his first-team debut this weekend.
Caldwell came out at halftime in the Reds’ 2-0 loss to the Columbus Crew on March 14 and was replaced by Hagglund.
TFC were on a bye last week, and the hope was that extra time off would allow Caldwell to recover for Sunday. It didn’t come to pass, though.
“It’s a little frustrating that (the injuries have) come from the same position (in defence). It’s a little bit of a perfect storm of events because it’s come during an international week, so we’ve lost players to (national team) call-ups that have hurt us in terms of starters and depth,” Vanney conceded.
Vanney feels the Scottish defender will be questionable for the Reds’ next game on April 4 away to the Chicago Fire. However, Caldwell told Sportsnet that he’s feeling much better and he hopes to be ready for the Chicago match.
NOTES: The addition of Simonin to the senior team means TFC’s roster now stands at 29 players, one over the league limit. The club will likely have to re-assign a senior team player to their USL club for the duration of the season in order to make room for Simonin… Real Salt Lake, like TFC, will also be missing important starters due to international duty. Starting goalkeeper Nick Rimando (U.S.) and midfielder Luis Gil (U.S. under-23) will miss Sunday’s contest, as will influential forward Alvaro Saborio, who has been called up by Costa Rica. However, U.S. national team veteran Kyle Beckerman, one of the best midfielders in MLS, didn’t receive a call up and will be available for selection by Real Salt Lake on Sunday.