Pre-Match/Match/Post-Match Thread - Toronto FC at Real Salt Lake - March 29, 2014 (R)

I'm predicting a 1-0 loss on a late goal scored by Joao Plata's transfer fee.

 

If forced to put down money, it would be on RSL. They will probably win. That said, with this year's TFC team, it is only probably, not certainly as would have been the case in the past. Perhaps a draw?

 

Plata is injured for the record, though not sure about how fit his transfer fee is

 

Even Mista is in better shape than...


....oh wait, nevermind.

 

That really sucks. While I think we might have some decent options to replace him, none of them provide the same energy and defensive cover. I think he's been a lot more important than a lot of people want to give him credit for. I think our top options for replacing him are:
INF is finally signed and plays (like for like swap, though not at all the same style players)
Oso moves out wide and either Hall or Bekker plays next to Bradley. It would be great if playing next to such a high quality player who works his tail off lights a fire under Bekker's ass.
Morgan plays LM and Rey moves back to the right (where I think he's better anyways).

Not sure I like the option of breaking up that midfield partnership of Bradley and Oso after just two games, but it also might not be bad getting some of the other CMs some experience playing next to Bradley. Because come WC time, we're going to have two CMs not playing next to Bradley, and they're going to have to pick up the slack.
I also think Hall gets a lot more hate than he deserves. He was a terrible fullback, but as a CM, he holds his own IMO. Sure he makes the odd mistakes and gets caught out of position as a result, but I think due to his bad reputation that he got as a fullback, people pick on his every mistake. Whereas Bradley has made his share of mistakes resulting in being caught to far forwards, but no one mentions it because no one has any reason to not like him yet. My point? I think Hall can cover a lot of ground, break up play, and is a pretty decent passer of the ball. Overall he's a decent CM option.

 

Agree with everything here except maybe the Morgan at LM part. I'll add that I think the INF signing is nowhere near as good as most people think it is. If he couldn't make it in the Australian league because of the physicality, how is he going to make it in MLS? I think people have been overly positive in part because in Canadian, and in larger part because he's replacing Lambe but I'm not at all convinced INF is an upgrade over Lambe. For all the stick Lambe gets plus his international status, he's been a dependably hard-working (but unfortunately toothless) player for us the last two seasons. INF, based off his training camp interview, looks like he thinks the league will be a cakewalk, which is kind of hilarious considering MLS would be by far the highest level he's ever played at

 

Plata out does move the odds a bit in our favour i think. he's been one of their bright stars up front

 

We played pretty ragged soccer last week and the pitch is still recovering from the winter. I'm not sure we'll see a beautiful game, especially with Toledo at the fore...

Then again we had a barn-burner last year - so who knows - hopefully more of the same without the melee.

Frankly I'm excited to see your rebuilt TFC side. Let's have a good match!

 

I didn't realize RSL's sick list was quite so long. That will help balance Jackson and (if he's out) Osorio to some extent.

 

I was more surprised to discover that someone still has aaron maund in their lineup.

 

If there is a full-back moving into mid-field I think you are far more likely to see Bradley Orr playing on the right side in front of Bloom and Rey playing primarily on the left. I think Rey is more effective on the right for about 10-15 minutes per match....depending on how long it takes his opponent to figure out just how weak he is with his right foot and that he is always gonna try and beat them inside. Whatever advantage TFC gets from that brief spurt on the right side is probably not enough for them to get over the difference in confidence level management has between Orr and Morgan.....I think Morgan has fallen pretty far in their estimations.

Another option, of course, is just to play DeRo wide left.....while it would be exciting to see DeRo/Defoe/Osario/Gilberto/Bradley on the pitch at the same time....it is probably far to aggressive/attacking of an approach to take in an away match against a very good/tough opponent.

 

Except Rey is right footed. Quite heavily so. That's why he's better on the right. When he plays on the left he constantly cuts inside, and it isn't nearly as effective.

 

If Osorio and Hall are no go's, then I wonder if Nelsen will opt to go with DeRo in more of a central attacking mid role with Bradley supporting him, and then start Orr on the right side of midfield to provide more of a defensive presence, Rey to go on the left. Is Nakajima-Farran available to come off the bench for this match or will he be in the press box?

 

I think the question is: does Nelsen want to give him a try?

 

I'd start Bekker in CM any day over DeRo. Bekker has quality, he just needs a bit of a kick in the ass. Playing next to Bradley could potentially do a world of good for him. DeRo in central midfield would just be a disaster. He doesn't have the legs for it, and would allow RSL to more easily choke off Bradley since he would be forced to stay back, and would be the lone player back. DeRo likes to stay high on the pitch and is unlikely to drop back much to be a secondary outlet when Bradley is covered. It'll result in us getting overrun in the middle.