U-Sector – The Original Toronto FC Supporters Group

Time for Retribution

Monday, August 9, 2010

I try to block out the memory of October 24, 2009.

With monsoon-like conditions setting the scene for the final soccer game ever to be played at Giants Stadium, TFC’s hopes of a first ever playoff berth were washed away that night in a 5-0 drubbing at the hands of the godawful 2009 New York Red Bulls, one of the worst teams in MLS history.

All Toronto needed was a draw to advance, as they held the tiebreaker over Salt Lake, Colorado, DC and Kansas City. As it was, Salt Lake squeaked by the hapless Reds and proceeded to go on a hot streak that gave that side an improbable MLS Cup championship. The Utah side has arguably never come off that hot streak, as they are now sport one of the best records on the league nearly a year later.

The Red Bulls famously re-tooled, adding Barcelona rejects alumni Thierry Henry and Rafael Marquez to an already vastly improved side. New coach Hans Backe had already transformed the sad-sack Bulls into a respectable team before the recent arrival of the two superstars, and now with arguably two of the best players of their generation joining the New York side, the Red Bulls have to be in the conversation as genuine cup contenders.

Fortunately for Toronto, the timing is not quite there yet for New York. Not only have Henry and Marquez not yet had enough time to completely integrate themselves into their new club, but due to circumstances neither might be available for Wednesday’s match in New Jersey at all.

Henry, while giving glimpses of skill and a chemistry with fellow striker Juan Pable Angel that is sure to frighten the hell out of opposing MLS defences, is still working his way back into match fitness after having spent the better part of a year on the bench, both for Barcelona and for his national team. He seems to have overdone it, with a groin pull threatening his availability.

Marquez joined the Red Bulls less than a week ago and, while he did show superb vision and passing ability in his 60-minute debut versus Chicago yesterday, is also less than one hundred percent. Not that it matters, as the Mexican captain will be at Estadio Azteca this week with his national team.

In fact, as many as five NYRB players will be missing due to international play, with offensive catalyst Joel Lindpere of Estonia likely being the biggest loss after Marquez. New York will also likely be without goalkeeper Bouna Coundoul, defender Roy Miller and speedy attacker Dane Richards, all key cogs in New York’s turnaround season.

What that could mean for the Reds — who themselves will be missing Maicon Santos (knee sprain), Dan Gargan (suspension) Emmanuel Gomez and likely Ty Harden, Martin Saric and Amadou Sanyang — is that they could be facing a team featuring a backup keeper (former Red Greg Sutton) that has yet to play a single minute in MLS in 2010, along with a very makeshift attack.

Good news, indeed.

Given the impending schedule logjam that TFC is about to face a week from now, the time is now to take advantage of New York’s misfortune. Toronto owes the Red Bulls a bit of payback for that season-ending debacle last year, and the brand new Red Bull Arena is just the place to wipe the slate clean and take down the charging Bulls.

Posted by Rudi Schuller