The Throw-In: False positives of First Kick week
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2. Vancouver are an offensive juggernaut. The Caps’ 4-2 win over Toronto FC was epic – a picture-perfect afternoon for their first game in MLS. But they’ve got TFC’s disorganized back line to thank for the scoring outburst.
Three of Vancouver’s four goals against TFC were off defensive breakdowns – both Eric Hassli goals were basically tap-ins and Atiba Harris’ was off a bouncing ball in the box. Hassli was essentially unmarked for both of his goals, and no team in the league is going to leave the 6-foot-4, 200-pound Designated Player that open for the rest of the season.
To me, the Caps still haven’t answered where the goals will come from in 2011. As of right now, their best creative force is clearly Davide Chiumiento, whose gorgeous through-ball to Terry Dunfield produced Vancouver’s second strike of the afternoon. That pairing has the most potential on the roster.
Hassli is far from 90 minutes match fit – head coach Teitur Thordarson told ExtraTime Radio last week that may take months – and Vancouver have no other players on the roster with established MLS scoring reputations. Don’t be deceived by a magical day at Empire Field.
4. Toronto FC are an utter disaster. So much has been made about Aron Winter installing a possession-heavy Dutch-style system. And so far, it appears to be working. Against Vancouver, TFC held the ball over 64 percent of the game. That’s after a preseason full of concentrating on holding the ball. It’s the mistakes that are killing them.
Assume Winter will reorganize the defense, starting this weekend at home against Portland. And then realize that he’s integrating at least three new players into his starting lineup, and working with almost an entirely new bench. And that will take time.
Real Salt Lake, the reigning kings of possession in MLS were not built in a day, either. More than half their 2009 Cup-winning team was around two years prior when RSL finished second-from-bottom in the league table.
TFC may not have made the postseason yet, but they’ve been more competitive in their first five years in the league than RSL were. Toronto may not be headed for a title yet, either. But it’s only fair to give Winter time to install his system – even if it is admittedly befuddling for some of the players.
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