Lucky Strike
04-26-2009, 07:03 PM
Another satisfying 1-0 win and a first (at least officially) for Cummins. As a bit of an editorial piece, I thought (and continue to think) it was CC who picked the team on Wednesday against Chivas. The first half the teams felt each other out and it was pretty even but the second half, TFC owned and it could have been 3 or even 4 goals to the good. On to the ratings:
Frei - 8: I said on Wednesday a clean sheet with more work to do would earn him a better score. He did have to be more active, and he did come through. He notably stopped the dangerous Lopez from close range with a great tip-over save and the key save before the end of the 1st half. Had either or those gone in, it would have been crushing. Just wow!
Wynne - 6.5: The usual good performance from him, was a bit positionally odd on an occasion or two but no shockers. Going forward, he did his usual bit and looked the part.
Serioux - 6.5: Much less solicited this time around, but solid when he had to be although maybe a bit less though than against Chivas. That shouldn't be a concern though as he played out of his mind then.
Velez - 6.5: Never thought I would write this, but two good games without clangers for Velez. I'll be the first to hold my hand up and say I've been very harsh with him last year, with good reason. But he's changing my mind: I'm not quite completely at ease with him yet but it looks promising.
Brennan - 7.5: Maybe his most important contribution was not even during the match. He had everyone on tenterhooks (it's a word, look it up) with his pre-game speech to the boys. Other than that, he was solid, making several important tackles.
Robinson - 7: A bit off the mark with some of his passes but otherwise always in the right position to cut off a KC attack and cleared many balls.
Cronin - 7: He and Robbo are making an excellent team and Cronin, yet again had a good match. Thumbs up!
Guevara - 6.5: Quiet first half save for that awesome volley stopped by Hartman. Became more involved in the second half with key passes. Subbed.
Barrett - 6: The usual herculean effort but a few more misses than last time out. Subbed.
Vitti - 8: You have no idea of my wish for him to have finished that excellent run; if only his shot had rolled a foot to the left. If you saw the game, you know what I'm talking about: this would have sealed goal of the year and that's no exaggeration! Had an excellent second half with other similarly dangerous plays. He does look like he's on a slightly different wavelength than his teammates at times. But I'm confident that'll work itself out over time. Subbed and booked.
Dichio - 7: Less involved in the play than last time out. Don't mistake this for criticism though; it's just that the play came to him less today. But he got the goal and got us the win, so you can't really complain.
Harmse - 6: Didn't do anything spectacularly good or bad, but looked a bit more technically skilled today. Maybe because he was playing in a more familiar position.
Ricketts - NR: An enforced change in the 83rd minute and held his own.
Attakora - NR: Puzzled to see him deployed in Vitti AMR role, didn't know he could do that. It showed somewhat on his incomplete run to the net.
Cummins - 8: Whether you believe today's line-up was just copied from Carver's last Wednesday or that Cummins was the mastermind behind the new formation we've been fielding since the Chivas game, Cummins performed well. He looked confident, composed and adapted to KC in the second half. If you watched the post-game presser, you'll have heard a few of the things he tried. Well it worked.
Referee - 6.5: Generally good, Toronto played a rough game and bowled over KC players quite a bit which naturally drew protests from them. They were mostly just whining, but in some instances, I thought they had a case. A few inconsistent calls (which fortunately screwed KC rather than us) and he missed giving KC a corner in the second half. I suspect I'd be more angry if those had gone against TFC and/or we lost. Seeing that Carver was gone, it was Curt Onalfo who attempted to fill the void by yelling about the described errors.
MOTM: Vitti. Just looked ever so dangerous, particularly with the afore-mentioned run. I hope this game marks the flourishing of Vitti. Frei comes in at a very close second.
Most impressed by opposition's: Tough one. No one really stood out here. I'll go with Arnaud, even injured he looked dangerous at times.
Hope you enjoyed; top of the East baby!
Frei - 8: I said on Wednesday a clean sheet with more work to do would earn him a better score. He did have to be more active, and he did come through. He notably stopped the dangerous Lopez from close range with a great tip-over save and the key save before the end of the 1st half. Had either or those gone in, it would have been crushing. Just wow!
Wynne - 6.5: The usual good performance from him, was a bit positionally odd on an occasion or two but no shockers. Going forward, he did his usual bit and looked the part.
Serioux - 6.5: Much less solicited this time around, but solid when he had to be although maybe a bit less though than against Chivas. That shouldn't be a concern though as he played out of his mind then.
Velez - 6.5: Never thought I would write this, but two good games without clangers for Velez. I'll be the first to hold my hand up and say I've been very harsh with him last year, with good reason. But he's changing my mind: I'm not quite completely at ease with him yet but it looks promising.
Brennan - 7.5: Maybe his most important contribution was not even during the match. He had everyone on tenterhooks (it's a word, look it up) with his pre-game speech to the boys. Other than that, he was solid, making several important tackles.
Robinson - 7: A bit off the mark with some of his passes but otherwise always in the right position to cut off a KC attack and cleared many balls.
Cronin - 7: He and Robbo are making an excellent team and Cronin, yet again had a good match. Thumbs up!
Guevara - 6.5: Quiet first half save for that awesome volley stopped by Hartman. Became more involved in the second half with key passes. Subbed.
Barrett - 6: The usual herculean effort but a few more misses than last time out. Subbed.
Vitti - 8: You have no idea of my wish for him to have finished that excellent run; if only his shot had rolled a foot to the left. If you saw the game, you know what I'm talking about: this would have sealed goal of the year and that's no exaggeration! Had an excellent second half with other similarly dangerous plays. He does look like he's on a slightly different wavelength than his teammates at times. But I'm confident that'll work itself out over time. Subbed and booked.
Dichio - 7: Less involved in the play than last time out. Don't mistake this for criticism though; it's just that the play came to him less today. But he got the goal and got us the win, so you can't really complain.
Harmse - 6: Didn't do anything spectacularly good or bad, but looked a bit more technically skilled today. Maybe because he was playing in a more familiar position.
Ricketts - NR: An enforced change in the 83rd minute and held his own.
Attakora - NR: Puzzled to see him deployed in Vitti AMR role, didn't know he could do that. It showed somewhat on his incomplete run to the net.
Cummins - 8: Whether you believe today's line-up was just copied from Carver's last Wednesday or that Cummins was the mastermind behind the new formation we've been fielding since the Chivas game, Cummins performed well. He looked confident, composed and adapted to KC in the second half. If you watched the post-game presser, you'll have heard a few of the things he tried. Well it worked.
Referee - 6.5: Generally good, Toronto played a rough game and bowled over KC players quite a bit which naturally drew protests from them. They were mostly just whining, but in some instances, I thought they had a case. A few inconsistent calls (which fortunately screwed KC rather than us) and he missed giving KC a corner in the second half. I suspect I'd be more angry if those had gone against TFC and/or we lost. Seeing that Carver was gone, it was Curt Onalfo who attempted to fill the void by yelling about the described errors.
MOTM: Vitti. Just looked ever so dangerous, particularly with the afore-mentioned run. I hope this game marks the flourishing of Vitti. Frei comes in at a very close second.
Most impressed by opposition's: Tough one. No one really stood out here. I'll go with Arnaud, even injured he looked dangerous at times.
Hope you enjoyed; top of the East baby!