May 13, 2008 MLS Toronto FC coach John Carver comments on team depth (from Toronto FC Media Relations)
05/13/2008 5:09PM
TFC's depth makes for promising summer
Unlike 2007, Reds prepared for attrition of injury, international play
By Mark Polishuk / MLSnet.com Staff
TORONTO -- Between Euro 2008, the Olympics, World Cup qualifying matches and various friendlies, it will be a hectic summer in the soccer world. This season, Toronto FC fans can enjoy these competitions with the added comfort of knowing that the busy international schedule isn't wreaking havoc on their domestic side. In 2007, TFC had its injury-plagued roster stretched even thinner by the absences of several players to international commitments. The CONCACAF Gold Cup and the FIFA Under-20 World Cup took several of TFC's Canadian-born players away from MLS action, and since the U-20 World Cup held several matches in Toronto, the Reds were forced to play six consecutive road games from June 23 to July 22 and couldn't even practice on their home field.
Acquiring the depth to withstand the international schedule was a top offseason priority for the Reds, and to this point in 2008, it appears as though there will be none of the skeleton crew lineups that Toronto was forced to field at times last season.
"Last year if two or three players went missing we were in trouble because we didn't have enough guys to get on the bench," said defender Jim Brennan. "This year if players go on international duty we have guys on the bench hungry and ready to come in and do the job."
Several prominent TFC players have seen limited playing time or in some cases have yet to take the field. Jeff Cunningham and Todd Dunivant, regulars in 2007, have played just 315 minutes combined in TFC's six games. First-round MLS SuperDraft picks Julius James and Pat Phelan are both still waiting for their first taste of MLS action, as is recently-signed defender Olivier Tebily.
With so many notable names in reserve, midfielder Carl Robinson feels the Reds are well-prepared for the inevitable summer absences that will arise.
"You can never have enough good players on your squad," Robinson said. "Last year I don't think we were strong enough after the first 11 players, and this year we are.
"Obviously you know when you go into a season you know players will be called for international duty, and what you do is build a strong squad -- not just the starting 11 players, but the other seven players on game day and the younger lads on the roster. All of those boys have been raring to go for chances if they're called upon when players go away. There will be four or five [gone] at a certain time, so it's crucial for them to stay ready for when they get the chance."
Robinson himself will be missing some MLS play in upcoming weeks. The TFC co-captain has two upcoming friendlies with his native Wales: on May 28 against Iceland in Reykjavik, and on June 1 against the Netherlands in Rotterdam. These two games come in the midst of a busy stretch for the Reds, who play five games in 15 days starting May 17.
The arrangement that has been tentatively worked out between Robinson, Toronto head coach John Carver and Wales head coach John Toshack is that Robinson would miss the Iceland game and play in Toronto FC's May 27 CONCACAF Champions' League qualifying match against the Montreal Impact. Robinson would then play for Wales against the Netherlands, which would keep him out of TFC's May 31 game against the LA Galaxy.
Robinson's long international career has made him well-experienced in juggling club and country, and he said the complications are well-worth the glory of playing for his national team.
"I want to play as long as I can for my country," Robinson said. "I want to get up to 50 caps. I've got 45 at the moment, and then [I want to] play even beyond that. I feel I've got a lot to offer."
Carver said he wished that the fixture congestion could've been avoided by having the Montreal match scheduled in early May, as Toronto is in the midst of a 16-day break after a May 1 game against New York. Still, the TFC coach is well aware that he will be forced to make changes to the stable Reds lineup that has stayed relatively injury-free and is currently on a four-game unbeaten streak.
"I'm one of these guys who don't look beyond the next game but unfortunately I've had to start looking at the international matches that are coming up and I'll have to make decisions," Carver said. "That's why we said all along at the start, and everybody knows they're in the same situation, we have to make sure we have enough depth."
In addition to Robinson, the summer's internationals will cost TFC several more of their most prominent players. Maurice Edu and Marvell Wynne will be playing for the United States' under-23 national team in the summer Olympics in Beijing, with Edu also a possible candidate for the USA roster for its first-round World Cup qualifying tie with Barbados in June.
Midfielder Amado Guevara and striker Jarrod Smith could play for their native Honduras and New Zealand, respectively, in their summer qualifying ties. Brennan, midfielder Kevin Harmse, and goalkeeper Greg Sutton are candidates to make Canada's World Cup qualifying squad.
Carver said he recently met with Canadian national coach Dale Mitchell to discuss the upcoming schedule, and while no details came from this meeting, Carver said it was a positive encounter.
"He hasn't said who he's going to use yet," Carver said. "[Mitchell is] sensible enough and I'll be sensible and I think we can develop a good relationship there."
Brennan withdrew his name from international consideration in 2007 due to a stated desire to commit himself to Toronto FC and to play himself back into full fitness after several injury-plagued seasons in England. He did play for Canada in a friendly against Puerto Rico last September, however, and said he would be proud to be selected for Canada's World Cup qualifying effort.
"Everyone wants to play in the World Cup," Brennan said. "As a kid kicking a ball, that's what you're always playing in the park, the World Cup finals. One thing I would love to do in my career is play in the World Cup with Canada. We've got a great chance this time around and I'm excited for it and hopefully I'll get selected and have a chance to do it."
Mark Polishuk is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
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