TORONTO – Is it possible to have too much of a good thing?
Not according to Toronto FC head coach Greg Vanney.
A quick glance at the Reds’ roster provides ample evidence of the team’s depth all over the pitch. Yet it is precisely that abundance of talent that creates a bit of a conundrum for Vanney and his coaching staff.
With quality littered throughout the squad yet only 11 spots to give out come match day, some players will inevitably be left out.
Managing minutes could present certain challenges for the coach throughout the year, but Vanney welcomes this type of test.
“Everybody wants to play and we’ve got a lot of guys that feel like—as do I—they’re capable of playing,” he told a group of reporters following Thursday’s training session. “I’ve said from preseason on that my biggest challenge this year will be to try to keep guys focused and give them the right minutes for our young guys to continue to develop and for our veteran guys to stay sharp.”
As for how Vanney determines each player’s minutes and usage, it’s never an exact science. Player form and tactical matchups help guide the coaching staff in their decision-making process. And while Vanney admitted that form is “typically the priority,” playing to the opponent can also make sense from time to time. Witness the changes Vanney made in last season’s playoff battle with the Montreal Impact.
“We came home [after the first leg] and instead of [Jonathan Osorio] I put Will [Johnson] in. That was to get a bit of a hard-nosed defender in there to compete with their guys. It can depend on the scenario.”
Currently operating “week-to-week,” Vanney still has his eye further down the road as he looks to ensure both the short and long-term success of his squad.
“I already have a plan laid out for May, June and the latter part of April,” he explained. “It’s about making sure we have the right guys ready to play and the right number of guys ready to play.
“In the end, you take in all the information you can and you make the decision you think will give the group the best chance to win.”
