New York City FC will take on Toronto FC at Yankee Stadium on Saturday.
For this edition of 'The Away End' presented by Berkeley College & Rennert International, we spoke to Tom Nightingale, Managing Editor for Canada Soccer Daily.
Hi Tom, thanks for speaking with us. How long have you been covering Toronto?
I’ve been following Toronto FC for almost the whole of the last decade and covering them on and off for the last seven years. My arrival in Toronto coincided with their rise to MLS Cup contention in the latter half of the 2010s, although I don’t claim credit for that.
What are your thoughts on Toronto’s start to the season?
Let's be honest, it's been better than anyone could have reasonably expected. This team were the worst in MLS last year. They scored far fewer than any other team in the East, conceded far more, and won less than half as many as the next-worst Eastern team.
Now, to start 2024, they have seven points from nine, three clean sheets in a row, and have matched last year’s away points tally after just two road games. TFC president Bill Manning and head coach John Herdman are hoping to precipitate "a culture reset" and that's what Herdman looks to be bringing already, with his familiar Canadian international midfielder Jonathan Osorio as his on field deputy and new club captain.
Herdman's two biggest achievements so far - other than completely changing the tide - have been getting a full buy-in from mercurial Italian Designated Players Lorenzo Insigne and Federico Bernardeschi and turning the East's worst defence into the only team yet to concede a goal in the entire league this season, an idea that would have been not just unthinkable a few weeks ago but laughable.
The club are riding a wave of positivity the likes of which had been long forgotten on the shores of Lake Ontario and it's down largely to Herdman. Whatever Torontonians may think of him tactically, it's undeniable that he knows how to foster an all-in, highly committed, all-encompassing atmosphere.
Herdman was very candid in preseason - if a player does not fully buy into the work required for this club's revival in 2024, they aren't the kind of character he wants or needs. So far, he's getting that buy-in from this squad as a whole, and the early results have been remarkable.
What are your hopes for the 2024 season?
It's still very, very early. But the signs so far are that this is more than just new-manager bounce; it could be the start of a complete transformation in this club's fortunes. Seasons aren't made in three games but Herdman will have playoff qualification as his foundational goal this year. On the evidence so far, that's highly achievable for this group.
What do you think will be the deciding factor in Saturday's game?
Herdman's primary emphasis will be on keeping things tight at the back. This New York City FC side haven't been scoring many goals but they concede every game. Coming into the Bronx with three clean sheets from three, TFC have no reason not to be confident of shutting out their hosts if they play with the same solidity they've shown so far, and they have the differential players to win the game at the other end.
On that topic, it's difficult not to point at Insigne as the potential deciding factor right now. The former Napoli man has taken all the headlines, scored the stunning winning goals, and looks more like the player TFC always hoped they were getting. In truth, outside of his breathtaking game-winning contributions, he's been pretty quiet, but his magic is enough to win any game. A key storyline to watch will be how much time he gets. Eyebrows were raised when Herdman suggested Insigne's minutes will have to be managed carefully, but that approach and a tight relationship of mutual respect between player and manager is paying off handsomely so far.
Insigne got 62 minutes at Cincinnati and just the first 45 at New England in the Reds' first two away games but in that latter match on the Gillette Stadium turf, 45 was all he needed to win the game for TFC. How the first half at Yankee Stadium pans out may well have a say in how much time he gets, but he's unlikely to be on the field for more than an hour. The game may well be decided on what he can do in that time.
And for anyone that may be in Toronto for a game are there any spots you would suggest they check out?
Assuming that many New York City FC fans will situate themselves pre-game in the Liberty Village neighborhood that is adjacent to BMO Field, check out The Crafty, a sprawling pub and brasserie with a huge beer selection that caters to every taste. The Brazen Head pub is a favorite pre-game haunt for Reds fans, while the Liberty Commons bar and the next-door Big Rock Brewery are worth a pint too.
