February 18 ... 29 Days to First Kick
Striker Shortage?
This preseason Toronto and Vancouver are showing to have more in common than merely being Canada’s two Major League Soccer teams in 2011.
On their official rosters, neither club seems to have a lot of strikers.
We know Toronto is changing its style. Instead of a direct approach to scoring goals that leaves the team vulnerable on the counter, TFC will build from the back, patiently hold possession and look to be more efficient going forward in a 4-3-3 formation favoured by head coach Aron Winter.
[inline_node:5941]Vancouver head coach Teitur Thordarson hasn’t quite as explicitly explained his style, but early indications are that he is pleased.
After beating Columbus in preseason (something that Toronto has yet to manage in league play), the VWFC bench boss told The Canadian Press, "I am surprised about how quickly we have gotten together as a team. That usually takes quite a bit of time.”
In the interview he also expressed that Vancouver may be looking at adding one or two new offensive weapons to its squad.
Long ago linked with Irish international Robbie Keane, the latest rumour associating Vancouver to an overseas striker comes in a more modest form in Hartlepool United’s Adam Boyd.
Presently in training camp for the ‘Caps are Brazilian striker Camilo, who previously played in Korea and Malta, and Long Tan, who spent the last two seasons in lower division U.S. teams.
Of proven MLS goal scorers, Toronto has a clear edge. Reds’ Dwayne De Rosario and Maicon bests the talented Atiba Harris on Vancouver.
Ideally, the first ever draft pick for the Whitecaps, Omar Salgado, would lead the blue and white attack, but FIFA rules restrict his ability to play for a club in a foreign country until he turns 18-years old in September.
Toronto is reported to be signing Dutch reinforcements to bolster its cause, but until there is confirmation, TFC supporters along with their counterparts in Vancouver will eagerly wait to see how their teams will take shape in coming days.
Preseason records as of February 18:
Vancouver - 2W (Salt Lake 2-1, Columbus 2-1); 2L (Seattle 0-1, Chivas 0-1)
Toronto - 1W (Red Star Belgrade 1-0); 1D (Partizan Belgrade 1-1); 1L (Dinamo Zagreb 1-3)
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February 17 ... 30 Days To Vancouver
It is exactly 30 days to MLS First Kick for Toronto FC. The 2011 opener is certainly more unique than any of the previous four, as it will be the first time two Canadian sides will feature in a Major League Soccer match.
Back in December, TFC digital producer Asif Hossain pondered aloud if Toronto and Vancouver are truly rivals. The answer to that question is now, yes.
We are rivals today because on March 19, just one national anthem will be played at an MLS match and two teams are eager to claim as many Canadian soccer hearts as possible.
Here in the red corner we have the Nutrilite Canadian Championship sewn up, but the idea now is to get some league bragging rights. In 2011, every TFC supporter openly dreads the possibility of Vancouver getting into the MLS Cup Playoffs ahead of Toronto. That is the kind of shame one will not live down easily, and you just know the blue and whites wouldn’t let us forget it, ever.
If sheer dread can create at least a temporary rival, count us in.
In Canada, we know Vancouver is nowhere near Toronto. We are 3300 kilometers apart but we can use these next 30 days to get a bit more familiar. And if familiarity breeds contempt, well, we will settle it on the pitch next month.
