Toronto FC was dealt a big blow this week upon learning that star player Torsten Frings would miss four to six weeks with a strained hamstring. With a stronger supporting cast than in past years, TFC will need all hands on deck to fill in for the German midfielder.
TFC followed an emotionally draining win over Los Angeles in CONCACAF Champions League with a dissaponting MLS season opener last Saturday in Seattle. With Frings out and five games in fifteen days for Toronto, it is vital for them to avoid yet another slow start to the MLS season.
Aron Winter’s club started last season with just one win in their first eight games, something they can not afford to do in a year where it’s playoffs or bust for TFC.
This will be Toronto’s home opener and the first game played at BMO Field this season (their CCL quarterfinal vs. LA Galaxy was held at the Rogers Center). The good news for Toronto, they have won four of their last five home openers. They will look to add to that come Saturday when they take on a San Jose team coming into the game with one win and one loss.
San Jose’s toothless attack will play into Toronto’s hands while Winter still tries to find the right combination of defenders at the back. Chris Wondolowski is the Earthquake’s most feared attacker and he has the club’s only goal in two games this season.
Toronto’s attack on the other hand has improved drastically since last season. They have managed five goals in three games this season, one of which came from Ryan Johnson’s wonder goal last weekend in Seattle. Just two weeks into the MLS season and Johnson’s strike is already a goal of the year candidate. If you have yet to see it, here it is:
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The goal was just a continuation of Johnson’s great start to the 2012 campaign. He has scored in each of TFC’s three games to start the season while also assisting on Nick Soolsma’s winner in the second leg versus the LA Galaxy. Johnson has all the tools to be an all-star, now if he can just find some consistency he is more than capable of doing big things for the club this year.
One player Toronto will need to perform at a higher level is Danny Koevermans. He is an extremely talented striker whose track record speaks for itself. However, he tends to disappear at times and his play on the ball needs improving. He is most valuable as a target man, but when the balls are not being crossed in his way, he seems to get lazy and do more bad than good for the team.
Completing the trio up front is the speedy Joao Plata. Or at least this is usually the case. Last week in Seattle Winter went with Soolsma in place of Plata. We are likely to see Plata inserted back into the starting lineup for the home opener. Although it would not surprise me to see Winter rest certain guys in preparation for their midweek CCL clash with Mexican side Santos.
Midfield will be the biggest question mark for TFC in the next few weeks as Winter will continue to tweak his starting XI until he can find the right combination. Rookie Luis Silva will continue to see plenty of playing time and will be relied on to create chances in the midfield, alongside Eric Avila, with Frings out. Terry Dunfield and Julian De Guzman will have increased roles in Frings’ absence as well. De Guzman did not see the field in last week’s loss but that will be sure to change this week.
At the back, Aceval and Eckersley will continue to anchor the defense. Ty Harden’s job should be safe for now although he will be on a short leash after a rough start to the season. Astone Morgan also sat out the last game, which should not be the case. He is a young, talented defender who will only get better with playing time.
San Jose is a strong team who play a tight knit game, frustrating opponents. They can be very dangerous on the counter so Toronto will have to keep focus for a full ninety minutes to ensure three points. As is always the case when these two teams meet, there will be extra motivation for San Jose to pick up three points for Canadian manager Frank Yallop.
It should be a close contest, but Toronto will have fans out in numbers as usual for their home opener and the team should rise to the occasion and pick up their first three points of the season.
Prediction: 1-0 Toronto FC
(image courtesy of torontofc.ca)
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