So this part week Toronto FC were taking on the New York Redbull in what was always going to be a tough test for TFC but what they did on the day was prove that they are still a long ways from reaching the levels of the top teams in the MLS. This game almost made the match against the Union seem like a close match since at least TFC were able to find the net on that occasion.
I have to be honest and say that despite the Red Bulls poor form coming in to the match, 3 draws and a loss in their 4 game road trip, I still felt that they were primed to crush TFC who would be unable to up their game from the level it had to be to defeat the Whitecaps twice last week. That was mostly because of the fact that TFC are on an even worse run of form with Vancouver being the only team that they seem capable of beating. Toronto have only that one win in the MLS since May 7th and in that time they have been shut out 5 times. We all know by now that TFC have an anemic offence but it is even worse when they don't even have Gordon or Santos in the starting lineup like they did midweek.
When the lineups were announced and there was no Gordon or Santos it felt like the best that TFC were going to be able to get was a 0-0 draw since they just don't seem to have anyone else who can step up and score. I don't even think that Gordon and Santos are great strikers or great goal scorers but the fact is that they are clearly the best options that the club has. Compare Toronto having Soolsma, Plata, and Martina as their attacking options with the fact that New York had Henry, Rodgers, and Agudelo leading their line. I guess there is no surprise that Toronto FC struggled to create any sort of attacking chances and New York had them in abundance. The 5-0 final score was by no means flattering to the Red Bulls but I don't even want to get into the match itself more then that.
What I feel is the most worthy element of this game is the fact that this game once again illustrates how for behind Toronto FC are in terms of skill and experience. I know that they are a side that is slowly being destroyed by injuries and that their two new signings are yet to be eligible to play for the team but I can't help but notice the gap in skill between the two sides. The Red Bulls two designated players are Thierry Henry and Rafael Marquez who both have loads of experience on the world's biggest stages and despite being a bit advanced in age they still have the kind of quality that allows them to be stars in the MLS. The Red Bulls third spot is still empty since they traded De Ro but chances are that when they do fill that spot it is going to be with a player who is better then any of the three designated players in Toronto's roster. Toronto, having recently signed a pair of DP's, now have De Guzman, Frings, and Koevermans on its roster. I do like all three of those players and think that when they were at their very best they were all world class but now none of them seem good enough to be dominant players in the MLS which is what you should expect from such players. You can only have three of these players so you really are going to have to make them count which New York is clearly doing a better job of then Toronto is. It may not be fair to expect TFC to go out and sign their own Beckham or Henry since Toronto is not the most appealing city and the team just does not have the same kind of budget but what I want to see is this gap starting to close down. That would be the point of this rebuild that the club is going through after all. Maybe we can will even one day see the club make a move for a world class player who is still in their prime and can be a real difference maker for the team.
So what is the point of all of this? The point is that I do understand that TFC are going to lose games like this from time to time. They are a side that is messed up by all kinds of injuries right now and even when they are completely fit they still would not be as good as the top teams in the league. But what I need to start seeing is that TFC are making the kinds of moves that are going to help them close down this skill gap. Frings and Koevermans are a start but with them taking up two of the DP spots the club is limited in that kinds of moves it can make to get better unless they go out and make some big trades. Since I do understand that these kinds of defeats are bound to happen for this team I will just keep on hoping to see signs of progress from the team since the playoffs are not going to happen unless they start beating anyone not named the Whitecaps!
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