Four Nutrilite Canadian Championship and 11 Major League Soccer matches later, all of those myths and uncertainties that clouded the skies over BMO Field in the early season seems to have disappeared, or at least dissipated.
It was only three months ago that some supporters and many in the media were saying that this is a rebuilding year, the new coach didn’t understand or care about the NCC and reporters were digging up testimony from former players vilifying his training ground tactics.
Before arriving in Toronto new head coach Preki, knew what kind of a squad he wanted and once at the helm of BMO Field, he quickly realized which players were past their best-before date in Toronto.
[inline_node:3889]Without going into details of offseason transactions, even the most hardened skeptic of his house cleaning approach at spring time has to at least grudgingly admit, that the Reds at present are probably the fittest, toughest and hardest working squad this club has ever had.
And they are winning too.
With a record of five wins and two draws from 11 league matches, Preki has debunked the idea that this is a “rebuilding year.” Toronto is third in the Eastern Conference, four points off first place and Preki is to be credited with a better 11-game start than any of the three previous TFC coaches before him.
Under Preki, Toronto locked up the three-year old NCC tournament quicker than any previous side. They proved to be a class apart from their lower division rivals for the first time, something that had been expected in the previous two campaigns but was undelivered.
Finally, the issue of training ground tactics has been put to rest by a team that plays a very cohesive and at times attractive football. Injuries, international callups and player rotation due to a busy schedule has caused Preki to deviate from the fluid passing game that he wants on a nightly basis, but they've shown their intent.
There was a tactical setback in Salt Lake on May 1 that armed the critics with new ammunition. But Toronto hasn't lost a match since, compiling an eight-game unbeaten streak over two competitions.
Despite the recent success, Preki insists the Reds are nowhere near a finished article.
The coach has never missed the playoffs as a bench boss, and now there is truly reason to believe as Toronto shapes to Preki's demands, the Reds may just host a postseason game (or two?) at BMO Field for the first time in a year when it also holds the 2010 MLS Cup Final.
