TORONTO – Toronto FC might be short-staffed along the back line, but the team is feeling more than ready to test its depth up in Utah.
TFC head coach Greg Vanney provided an injury update ahead of Toronto's match on Sunday against Real Salt Lake, confirming that defenders Steven Caldwell, Mark Bloom and Eriq Zavaleta are all out. The squad will also be without wingback Justin Morrow (red-card suspension).
But, there was some good news for Reds supporters: Damien Perquis is recovered and ready to go. And the team has signed ninth overall SuperDraft pick Clement Simonin.
When asked who else could potentially slot into the back line, Vanney took a humerous approach:
“Our whole coaching staff!” joked Vanney, who enjoyed a 12-year career as a left back, including 36 caps for the US national team. "We have other guys at this point. If we have to go deep, then we have defensive midfielders or outside backs who would be sliding into a position. We have guys who seem comfortable in it if we have to go in that direction, but I don’t think that’s going to be an issue.”
While the defense is an obvious point of concern, there are also questions in the attack. Box-to-box midfielder Michael Bradley and striker Jozy Altidore are both away on international duty, which only ups the pressure on Italian playmaker Sebastian Giovinco. Vanney says he wants the forward to not shy away from shooting.
“I told him about three minutes after the [last] game that he could be a little more selfish," Vanney said. "But that’s a little bit of who he is. He gives of himself for the whole of the group. I wasn’t totally surprised, but, again, I encouraged him that if he sees the opportunity, please, take it.”
For his part, Giovinco says he's ready for that challenge.
“Yes, I have to be more selfish when I play," he said through an interpreter. "That’s how I played when I was in Italy. I prefer to let teammates score. I’m working on it, but for me it’s difficult because I’m generous by nature on the field.”
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Most likely, Giovinco will line up behind English forward Luke Moore, who has made one appearance so far this season. For Vanney, Giovinco must wear different faces when playing off of Moore or whoever is lined up as the target man. It's in versatility that Vanney sees the most potential for Giovinco and the entire team.
“At the end of it all, his primary role is that of a second forward,” Vanney said. “That’s what he does. He likes to play a little higher up the field. He likes to be engaged and receive balls higher up the field. As he’s learning the league, he’s adapting and finding where he’s going to get spaces. At times he will pop up and look like a second forward and at times he will drop in and look like a playmaker.
"Every week, for me, he progresses and gets better within our group," Vanney continued. "Guys learn to use him more and to play into him more and to run off of him when he gets ball in."
