3 Questions with Waking The Red
3 Questions with Waking The Red
Getting to know Saturday's opposition.
Fresh off an undefeated two-match home stretch, a shorthanded Atlanta United travel north of the border to take on a surprisingly improved Toronto FC on Saturday night.
To get you some insight from their perspective, I reached out to Thomas Hewitt, a writer for Waking The Red and Canadian Soccer Daily, for a little chat ahead of the match.
For more information and analysis on TFC, check out Waking The Red.
Here’s what he had to say.
Rob: What has been the early key to Toronto FC's turnaround?
Thomas: It has to be John Herdman and his coaching staff. It’s truly remarkable what the Englishman and his team have done in just a few months to bring positive vibes back to BMO Field. Recently inducted Canada Soccer Hall of Famer Robyn Gayle has helped instigate the culture shift as much as anyone, because it seems that the locker room relationships are, finally, healthy. Communication and direction were lacking under Bob Bradley, and conversely, those two values are pillars of a Herdman squad. Lorenzo Insigne bolting to the technical area following his banger versus Charlotte was no mirage, the Italian did it for a reason.
Rob: I don't think it's unfair to call this change in form a shock to anyone who watched TFC last season. Is this sustainable and can the team be contenders in 2024?
Thomas: The hot start to the season has certainly shocked many, but sustainability is a pressing question. Both Richie Laryea and Nicksoen Gomis have undergone surgeries, so the way TFC builds up on the wings and out of the back will be affected. Laryea is arguably the lifeblood of the team, a constant headache to opposing defenders going forward, while Gomis was natural in TFC’s setup at left-back. Throw in knocks to starting goalkeeper Sean Johnson and captain Jonathan Osorio, and the squad will be significantly shorthanded for the next few matches. Luckily for Toronto, some gaps can be filled. A promising sight in last week’s loss to New York City was Matty Longstaff’s progression. His 45 minutes as a double-pivot suggest that Longstaff’s on the final stretch of his recovery from an ACL tear.
Even though the strikers haven’t caught the injury bug, they are an area of concern. Prince Owusu’s game has been called into question due to being easy to contain for backlines. Owusu isn’t making charges into the box or dropping back to move the ball, he’s simply looked lost. Ayo Akinola hasn’t been much better. TFC’s No. 1 pick in the SuperDraft, Tyrese Spicer, was dangerous in the few minutes he played at Yankee Stadium, so there’s a good chance that Herdman turns to him potentially as soon as Saturday’s showdown.
The day that TFC starts competing for MLS Cups or Supporters’ Shields again isn’t here yet, although the Voyageurs Cup is a possibility. If Toronto makes it past their preliminary round clash with the Simcoe County Rovers (in April) and into the two-legged stage of the tournament, Herdman should go all-in on the Cup.
Rob: We all know about the DP Italians. Do you see both of them lasting the full season? And how is the club's flexibility to add another impact signing to make a playoff run?
Thomas: I do. Although both Insigne and Federico Bernardeschi are in good form (Bernardeschi hasn’t been praised as much, but he’s playing as a wingback these days), their respective price tags are still hard to justify. Until Lionel Messi arrived, Insigne was the recipient of MLS’ highest contract. Bernardeschi gets paid in large amounts, too. There’s also no reason to force an exit in the Summer during the season, if anything, they’d be more desirable for European clubs come next January if they can impress for a longer period.
When it comes to Toronto’s open DP slot, I wouldn’t think that they use it in the middle of the campaign, unless the wheels are starting to fall off and the side needs a boost. It’s not a Herdman type of move to make a sudden change, his loyalty to players on the Canadian men’s national team got to the point where it drew criticism. At the end of the day, expectations were never high for TFC in 2024, and ownership must abide by Herdman’s route to success and avoid another impulse signing.
Predicted Starting Lineup: Luka Gavran; Raoul Petretta, Kevin Long, Shane O’Neill; Kobe Franklin, Alonso Coello, Aimé Mabika, Federico Bernardeschi; Lorenzo Insigne, Matty Longstaff; Tyrese Spicer
Score Prediction: 2-0 Toronto FC