Reds looking for their best at Gillette
Toronto FC eager to shake poor road history against Revs
With Saturday's match in New England looming as an important battle for positioning in the Eastern Conference playoff hunt, Toronto captain Jim Brennan knows his team can't afford another letdown against the Revs.
"Last year they thumped us, but this year will be a lot different," Brennan said. "They're a very good side. They're a club that's always there at the end and always up at the top of the table. It's a tough place to go and get a result, but we'll get things right this week, work hard and go in there and look to get something.
TFC's road woes have continued into 2008. The Reds notched a win against Western Conference-leading Los Angeles last April 13, but have lost their other four games away from BMO Field. Their last road defeat, a 3-1 loss to Houston on June 8, left coach John Carver so frustrated that he and his staff reviewed the team's road itinerary in order to find anything that could be changed to help the Reds be better prepared away from home.
One difference to this weekend's planning, Carver said, involves the training time. The normal routine for previous Saturday road games has seen TFC train on Friday morning at BMO Field, then head to the airport, fly to the opposing city, have dinner and then relax at the hotel until a walk-through on Saturday morning.
This weekend, however, Carver said the Reds will forego the Friday morning training and instead practice on Friday evening after they arrive and get settled in New England.
"It's closer to the time when we're actually going to play the game, so that's another positive thing," Carver said. "We'll see if that affects people's mental attitudes and physical attitudes."
The change in training time is meant to combat the team's habit of starting slowly away from home. Toronto has allowed six first-half goals in road games this season, which partially accounts for the club's 0-3 record when trailing at the half.
"The last few road games we've come out with a lackluster effort and put ourselves behind the 8-ball early," said goalkeeper Greg Sutton. "This weekend we have to make sure we come out focused and determined to translate our game onto them, and not let them dictate the game."
Things like time spent at a hotel and what is eaten for a team meal may seem like minor details, but Brennan said the players appreciate how the coaching staff looks for every possible edge to make the team better.
"All the small things add up to big things," Brennan said. "J.C. is looking at all the little bits and pieces, trying to get them right for the final puzzle. He'll be on top of that. He's been on top of everything so far. He'll get things right and then we have to get things right on the pitch."
TFC is coming off of what Carver described as a "disappointing" 0-0 draw with last-place Kansas City last Saturday, but the coach said that his team will try to emulate K.C.'s well-planned, defense-first road mentality as the Reds head into a hostile territory of their own.
"[Kansas City were] a great example of how if everybody sticks together and everybody is prepared to work for the team and do things for the team, then you can get a result in a tough stadium," Carver said. "We're going to go to New England with the same attitude. They're coming off the back of a defeat [a 2-1 loss to Real Salt Lake last Saturday] so they'll be pumped up as well, but I've got a good feeling about this game on the weekend."
One of Carver's biggest on-field decisions for Saturday will be to decide who gets the start in goalt. Sutton has been one of Toronto's star performers this season, but while he has been absent training with the Canadian national team, rookie 'keeper Brian Edwards has stepped in and recorded a 2-0-1 mark in three games, including two clean sheets.
Carver has been vocal about letting reserve players keep spots in the lineup if they have performed well. He said he will let the week's training decide which goalkeeper plays against New England, though he thinks TFC will be in good shape regardless.
"It wouldn't bother me whether I pick Sutts or Brian Edwards for next weekend," Carver said. "If Greg doesn't play on the weekend, then he'll get a game for the reserve team straight afterwards, so I'm not too worried about [lack of recent playing time]. He's a great trainer, he's got a fantastic attitude, I've watched him this morning, he's been first class."
The veteran Sutton has been in his share of duels of playing time, and said he knows that the only way to get back into the matchday squad is to keep up the effort.
"All I can do is support the guys as best as I can, and whatever happens happens," Sutton said. "I had a good camp with Canada, trained hard there and I feel sharp right now."
Mark Polishuk is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
