Match Day 3 @ Toronto

by Dave Clark on Apr 2, 2009 6:59 PM PDT in Sounders: MLS Regular Season

Toronto FC
Founded: 2006
Home Stadium: BMO Field
Record Since 2000: 16-31-17
All Time Scorer in MLS: Danny Dichio (11)
All Time Cups/Shields: 0
2008 Record: 9-13-8, 35 pts, 7th in Eastern Conference
2008 Leading Scorer: Danny Dichio (5)
2008 Keeper: Greg Sutton (1.46 GAA, 6 Clean Sheets)
Key Player: Dwayne de Rosario, if MLS had a Hall of Fame, this Center Mid would be a lock

Capsule: While this will be a beautiful game to watch on TV on Fox Soccer Channel at 1PM on April 4th due to the huge amount of life in the stands with the Red Patch Boys, U-Sector and others; TFC will likely for its first time actually have an offense that matters as they brought back hometown boy, and finalist for one of the best MLS players in league history - Dwayne de Rosario. De-Ro has multiple championships and will be featured as a center attacking midfielder in one of the league’s best midfields. Rookie Sam Cronin joins former Barnsley player Rohann Ricketts, Honduran national Amado Guevara in an attacking offense that has more players than slots. On defense though after Marvell Wynne the Reds will struggle and Sutton will likely continue to face a rain of shots. As you watch this game think if the atmosphere is justified by the team on the field.

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Further Depth: While the real competition will be the two stacked midfields, it will likely be the keepers that determine the day. Toronto has used rookie Stefan Frei in 3 halves and Sutton in the last half. Frei isn't likely to be 100% with a tweaked hip, and so I expect Sutton to start. That may be an advantage for Seattle as Sutton got beat out by a rookie, not something that happens often.

But the excitement is truly going to be the center third of the pitch. Seattle will start Freddie Ljungberg and Osvaldo Alonso, while Brad Evans, Sanna Nyassi, Sebastien Le Toux and Steve Zakuani compete for 2 or 3 slots. Why three? Because if Fredy Montero truly doesn't make the trip Seattle could implement of 4-5-1 with Ljungberg at the CAM and Evans/Alonso paired at the DM slots. Sigi holds a small card that could help sway the match. He can game the opposition with the Fredy/Freddie debate as well as juggle the idea of wing speed, or Evans as a second DM.

The Reds counter with De-Ro, Guevara and Robinson as certainities and then gets to play with having 1 or 2 of Sam Cronin, Rohan Rickets and Johann Smith. There formation won't change as they will play a classic 4-4-2, but they may push De-Ro up top to join former Fire striker Chad Barrett. Both coaches get to play the chess match with each having very flexible midfielders and forwards. Look for the players' zones to shift while the formations do not.

Toronto is playing a flat four in back these days. They stress discipline and structure, but Seattle should now the typical strategies of TFC with Sigi being on the other side of the C-Bus v Toronto battle and of course Tyronne Marshall. The Reds defense will be tested with the rapid shift to attack that Seattle practices post turnover. Toronto will also likely shift to test the Seattle defense similar to what RSL did in the 2nd half last week.

What excites me is that Toronto has the great atmosphere, but Seattle isn't a team to sit back and play for a tie. The Red Patch Boys and others will not be quieted when down on the scoreboard, but if Seattle gets up early playing their style the crowd won't matter.

This game can be watched on Fox Soccer Channel or CBUT at home, or you can join the ECS at one of their viewing parties. If you watch at home, make certain to invite your non-footie friends over, this match will have plenty of ball movement, should have scoring by both sides, and the 2nd best atmosphere in the league.

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Comments

Nice write-up, Dave.

I’m feeling like there is much pressure on TFC to win this game, after their 4 road points. They’ve got to prove themselves by taking a good team at home.

We’ve got no pressure, since we’re going into the 2nd toughest stadium in MLS. The haters would probably use a loss to discount our quality, but it would be a weak argument. A tie or a win and, well, our talent would be indisputable.

If Fredy can’t play, the pressure would be even less on us, and more on TFC.

My main concern not having Fredy isn’t scoring goals. We have others who can do that. It’s the space that he creates for others. We saw vs. RSL, and after his long range strike it’s likely to increase, that Fredy was often drawing two and sometimes three defenders, opening up a lot of space for Jaqua and others. It’s a nice advantage that we wouldn’t have if Fredy’s still under the weather. TFC seems unlikely to give that treatment to anyone else on our roster.

by Cornchops on Apr 2, 2009 7:22 PM PDT reply actions

If Fredy is not available, then at-least we have the other Freddy from the start. He also will draw defenders and open things up for some of the others. Also, it would be nice if we can win a game without Montero. No one can say that we are only good because of our crowd and the Montero signing.

by TL on Apr 2, 2009 7:47 PM PDT reply actions

I have just been introduced to this site by our friends at moltocalcio.com, and I have been impressed with the intelligence of this site. Many of my mates in Michigan are quickly joining the Sounder fanbase.

This match against TFC is early in the season, but some questions may be answered. As has been stated, how good will we be without Montero in the lineup? The fans in Toronto are known for their volume; how will that affect the team in its first regular season away game in arguably the loudest arena in the MLS? Sigi will handle the tactics, so it may come down to the will of the boys on the pitch, emotions can run wild. Of course, with 19-year-old Altidore (spelling?) lighting up in the last few US qualifying matches, young players are more than proving their mettle.

Man, these things can be analyzed to death, can’t they? Looking forward to Saturday!

by gkRpeople2 on Apr 2, 2009 9:42 PM PDT reply actions

BMO field is called the fortress for a reason even as a last place team they rarely give up a win to visitors. If your a Seattle fan hope for a draw as that would be a victory. Toronto was a true expansion team unlike Seattle, so it took a couple of years to get the pieces in order. I suspect they will only lose 2 or 3 times at home this year, if that and I don’t think anybody including Seattle is capable of beating them in their home opener. Seattle will lose this game with the final score being 3 to 1 in Toronto’s favour.

by Ken on Apr 2, 2009 10:36 PM PDT reply actions

Sigi’s the X-factor for me. His experience means that the Sounders should be prepped mentally for this game, so the atmosphere at BMO shouldn’t affect them too badly. The real issue is are the Sounders threatening enough without Montero to be able to impose their game.

Freddie will have to have a solid game for this to happen. He and the defensive mids will have to keep control of the center of the field and keep the play flowing, picking when to use the wings and when to send it up to Jaqua to hold so the team can position itself. If we’re going to be successful, then this game will be much more of a possession story than our first two games.

by CarlosT on Apr 2, 2009 11:21 PM PDT reply actions

Dave, instead of playing a 4-5-1, do you think they could move Le Toux up to replace Montero and play a 4-4-2? I didn’t pay attention to the Sounders last year, but isn’t forward where Le Toux won the USL MVP two years ago?

by Coug1990 on Apr 3, 2009 10:03 AM PDT reply actions

While yes Le Toux won the USL MVP as a classic forward in a 4-4-2 his skill set is more suited as a winger in MLS. I still prefer Freddie as a withdrawn forward and speed on the wings, it just seems the best way to get offensive threats.

I may consider running two D-Mids with Alonso and 1 of Sturgis/Evans.

by Dave Clark on Apr 3, 2009 6:15 PM PDT up reply actions

Hopefully the Sounders can use the absence of Freddy as a positive. Either “Lets win this one for Freddy” or “Lets prove this team isn’t just Freddy and 10 other guys”.

by Randy on Apr 4, 2009 8:20 AM PDT reply actions

They don’t show MLS in England anymore since the show flopped because of Beckham’s injury problems last year, so it’s harder to follow. I got to say what you are doing with this site is very impressive.

by The Brain on Apr 4, 2009 9:02 AM PDT reply actions