March 24, 2008 MLS Toronto FC expected lineup at start of 2008 season (from MLSnet.com)
03/24/2008 5:07PM
Quick Hits: Toronto FC
By Mark Polishuk / MLSnet.com Staff
•Toronto FC eager for fresh start Toronto FC BMO Field (MLS Capacity: 20,000) 2006 Record: 6-17-7, 25 points (7th in Eastern Conference) GF: 25 (13th in MLS) GA: 49 (13th in MLS) Finish: Did not make MLS Cup Playoffs Head Coach: John Carver (1st year with club) Key Departures: Ronnie O'Brien, Kenny Stamatopoulos, Chris Pozniak, Adam Braz, Marco Reda, Srdjan Djekanovic Key Additions: Kevin Harmse, Julian James, Pat Phelan, Marco Velez, Jarrod Smith
PROJECTED STARTING LINEUP
GOALKEEPER
Greg Sutton: After having his season abruptly ended in June after suffering a concussion at a Canadian national team training session, Sutton is back to full health and ready to reclaim his place as Toronto's top man between the posts. Sutton recorded a 2-5-1 record and a 1.88 goals against average in his eight starts in 2007.
DEFENDERS
Todd Dunivant: Dunivant's nine shots on goal for the Reds and 11 overall in 2007 tied a career-high for the defender-turned-sometimes midfielder thanks to injuries. The Colorado native is better suited to being an occasional attacker from left back rather than a featured offensive threat.
Tyrone Marshall: Marshall proved to be an effective stabilizing force in central defense after being acquired from the Galaxy in midseason. The defender's greatest asset might be his league experience -- he and fellow 10-year MLS veteran Jeff Cunningham have played more MLS games than virtually the entire rest of the roster combined.
Andrew Boyens: With Jim Brennan possibly moving to the midfield, this starting position nominally belongs to Boyens. The New Zealander showed flashes of quality in his rookie season, but was far from stable in TFC's central defense. Boyens will be quickly pushed for the starting job by rookies Julius James and Pat Phelan, taken ninth and tenth overall respectively in the 2008 MLS SuperDraft.
Marvell Wynne: There was no sophomore slump from the 2006 MLS Rookie of the Year, as Wynne's speed turned him into an offensive threat from the right back position. Wynne's dashes up the wing created many playmaking opportunities for TFC, and with a little more work on his crossing, it is probable that Wynne will increase his three assists from last year and maybe even score his first MLS goal.
MIDFIELDERS
Jim Brennan: TFC's captain will likely see a move back to his natural left back position after spending most of 2007 filling a hole in the Reds' backline as a central defender. His positional versatility aside, Brennan's greatest asset might be his leadership and toughness. The Canadian led the club in minutes (2430), playing through fractured ribs, a broken wrist and a knee injury.
Kevin Harmse: TFC hope they've acquired another Jim Brennan in Harmse, a defensive-minded Canadian midfielder who can also play on the backline. Harmse is looking to bounce back from a knee injury that limited him to 17 games with the LA Galaxy in 2007, his first year in MLS.
Carl Robinson: The Welsh international was a rock for Toronto in 2007, starting 26 games and being one of the few healthy bodies throughout the entire season. Robinson is the glue that holds the midfield together defensively, and while his passes aren't flashy, they usually prod the attack forward.
Maurice Edu: The No. 1 pick of the 2007 MLS SuperDraft could hardly have asked for a better first year. Edu started 25 games for Toronto, scored four goals and was named the 2007 MLS Rookie of the Year. With a professional year under his belt, Edu will be expected to take on a larger role in the TFC midfield and hone both his offensive and defensive skills.
FORWARDS
Jeff Cunningham: If TFC wants to shake its scoring woes in 2008, the club will need Cunningham to return to his 2006 MLS Golden Boot-winning form. Cunningham's six goals in 2007 (three each with Toronto and Real Salt Lake) represented his lowest total since 2003. A sports hernia nearly ended Cunningham's season in July and greatly limited his effectiveness afterwards. The forward enters the season with 96 career goals, the fourth-highest total in MLS history.
Danny Dichio: The English striker became an immediate fan favorite at BMO Field after scoring the first goal in TFC history and leading the club with six goals in 2007. Now fully healthy and rested after playing the equivalent of back-to-back seasons with Toronto and England's Preston North End, Dichio will look to continue being a physical presence and a potent finisher in front of the opposing net.
OUTLOOK
TFC is hoping for fewer visits to the trainer's table after an inaugural year in which nearly every Toronto regular had injury problems. If the Reds can stay fit and overcome their lack of depth, the club could be able to surprise some opponents and ride the best home-field advantage in MLS into the playoffs.
GRADING THE SEASON
A playoff berth (or even a .500 record) would be a huge step up for Toronto FC in its second season. A continued lack of scoring that keeps the team near the bottom of the league table would be a disappointment.
NEWCOMER(S) WITH THE BIGGEST IMPACT
Julius James was rated by some pundits as a potential No. 1 overall pick in January's MLS SuperDraft, so the Reds feel like they got a steal when James surprisingly fell to Toronto with the No. 9 overall selection. The University of Connecticut star defender might well make it back-to-back Rookies of the Year for TFC.
-- Mark Polishuk
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