April 7, 2008 MLS Toronto FC Coach Carver promises team will improve (from Toronto FC Media Relations)
04/07/2008 4:13PM
Carver, Reds work hard to improve
Toronto FC Media Relations
Toronto F.C. coach John Carver is promising to work hard with the team in training this week as he looks to improve defensively following Saturday's 4-1 loss at D.C. United.
Carver wants to eliminate the errors that cost the team in Washington: "When any team starts a game like that you have an uphill task. No matter what your game plan is, you can't win games defending like that. The only way to address the problems is on the training ground. We will edit the video and go through it with all of the different units of the team."
"We were making the same mistakes through the game, but it won't take too much to put it right. We worked on trying to squeeze higher up the field but there is a time to do that. We have to squeeze to the ball when we are putting pressure on the opposition. When there is no pressure we have to drop off and be the first to turn. It is getting the players to realize how we want them to play."
One of the positives to come from the defeat was the performance of goalkeeper Greg Sutton who was recalled to the starting team after being a substitute in Columbus. "Deciding who would be the goalkeeper was the hardest decision I had ahead of the opening game in Columbus. Brian Edwards did well, but for the D.C. game I wanted to go with Greg's experience. Sutts was outstanding," said Carver.
"He played like Captain Marvel. Some of the saves were world class, like the one before the second goal when he tipped it onto the crossbar. After a performance like that he'll be the first name on my team-sheet. It will be his place to lose."
TFC scored their first goal of the season in the dying minutes at RFK Stadium as Maurice Edu headed in a cross from Jim Brennan. Carver was pleased the players kept on battling despite the score. "The pleasing thing is that we didn't throw the towel in. We stayed with it, and I thought our goal was the best taken goal of the game," said Carver.
"After the game I was down, but it's my responsibility to pick the players up. It's no good being miserable. We have to be upbeat and positive and get ready for L.A. Every morning we have a meeting with all of the coaches and we talk things through. As soon as we open the office door and are in front of the players we have to be positive."
Kevin Harmse will now face a suspension after his sending off at D.C. "I was very disappointed in what happened," said Carver. "I had made it clear to the team and the player that it was key for us all to keep our discipline. I can't defend the tackle, the referee made the right decision. It came just at a stage in the game when I thought we were getting into it."
Following the signing of Laurent Robert last week, Carver expects more players to be added to the squad soon: "We have the window closing on the 15th so I'm sure there will be activity in the next few days," he said.
TFC reserves beat United Soccer League team Cleveland 2-1 on Monday. Andrea Lombardo and Jarrod Smith scored the goals.
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