U-Sector – The Original Toronto FC Supporters Group

A Nice Distraction

Thursday, July 22, 2010

Photo courtesy TFCpics.com

That was fun.

The friendly last night between Toronto FC and England’s Bolton Wanderers was a light-hearted little distraction from the grind that is TFC’s season. And the fact that exactly zero of TFC’s regulars featured in the match, played just three days ahead of a crucial game against FC Dallas, made it that much more enjoyable.

There was little stress as a supporter, knowing that no key cogs — minus one new signee who needed match fitness anyway — would be at risk of injury/burnout as a result of the match. Instead, we got a collection of bench-warmers, TFC Academy players, and CSL trialists donning the red jerseys. And of course there was Mista, the newest addition to Toronto’s attack who, in his first ever appearance in a TFC shirt, wore the armband.

Bolton was playing the third match of their pre-season, making the match a decidedly easygoing affair in which the main goal for both sides was to work off the rust and get some time in for those who needed it.

While it was admittedly not an all-out competitive tilt, there were some bright spots for both teams. Bolton’s Martin Petrov, recently transferred over from Manchester City, looked incredibly lively during his time on the pitch, and he turned TFC right back Maxim Usanov inside-out before creating the Trotters’ lone goal.

On the TFC side, Mista had flashes of brilliance, culminating in a perfectly-weighted cross onto the awaiting head of Maicon Santos for the Toronto goal. Mista and Maicon looked to be forming the beginnings of a decent forward partnership, something that Preki will need to consider going forward.

The Academy kids looked good for TFC as well, namely defender Doneil Henry and midfielder Nicholas Lindsay. Third-string keeper Milos Kocic stood tall with a few good saves. Even the CSL guests players impressed, making it a near-perfect night for the players on the field.

With that out of the way it’s back to the grind, and a match against visiting FC Dallas. The Texan side is currently the hottest team in MLS, surging up the table (and past TFC) after a slow start to the season.

Lead by All-Star forward/midfielder David Ferreira, Dallas is a balanced side with many attacking options. Young Brek Shea, he of many different awful hairstyles, has come into his own this season, helping form a three-pronged attack with Ferreira and former TFC pout striker Jeff Cunningham. While Cunningham’s form has cooled off substantially as of late, the extra motivation of playing at BMO Field against the one club where he could not score consistently may be exactly what he needs to heat up once again.

Games against the likes of Dallas and other midtable MLS sides are the ones that TFC absolutely need to take advantage of, especially at home, if they want to make a run to the playoffs for the first time. This midsummer glut of games has been the downfall of the Reds in their short history, and if Preki’s wants his side to distinguish itself from previous versions of TFC, they’ll need to break the habit of dogging it throughout July and August.

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Pros and Cons for the Toronto FC versus Bolton Wanderers friendly match played on Wednesday, July 21, 2010:

PROS

• Mista and Maicon Santos looking impressive in their first outing as a strike partnership
• Academy players Doneil Henry and Nicolas Lindsay not looking out of place on the same field as an EPL side
• Bolton keeper Jussi Jaaskelainen acknowledging the “juicy” chants from the south end
• “Another save for Milos!!”

CONS

• Raivis Hscanovics continuing to look out of depth, even in a half-paced friendly
• The late-arriving Toronto crowd arrived even later, which seems almost impossible
• O’Brien White missing a total gimme of a chance in front of the wide-open Bolton goal
• Not that it matters at all, but this was the third edition of the Carlsberg Cup, and TFC has yet to win it

HIGHLIGHTS

Posted by Rudi Schuller