Hudson River Blue asked Tomas Karageorgos of Waking the Red to give us some friendly insight into Toronto FC, New York City FC’s opponent tomorrow night. Toronto are having a slow start to the season, but they have a history of making things difficult for NYCFC. Read on to see what Karageorgos had to say.
Hudson River Blue: Let’s cut to the chase: How’s it working out with Sean Johnson?
Tomas Karageorgos: Sean Johnson has been one of the standout players for the Reds thus far. If it wasn’t for some of his heroic saves during numerous matchups, TFC would have a lot more losses than draws. He has already equaled the clean sheet total of last season (three) in just nine matches. Adding a veteran MLS goalkeeper to your squad who has recently won the MLS Cup is a big upgrade in net compared to last season.
HRB: Toronto didn’t make the playoffs last year despite adding some big names such as Lorenzo Insigne and Federico Bernardeschi. This year’s squad seemed to be built to make a run at MLS Cup, but the team have only one win in eight games. What’s the state of the club right now?
TK: The current state of the club is in a difficult period, not just because of the recent 4-2 loss to the Philadelphia Union, but a number of factors have contributed to what seems to be a less-than-ideal vibe both within the roster and amongst the fans. One win from nine games is not what everyone envisioned when the season kicked off, and Bob Bradley has only been able to field his best Starting XI for about 35 minutes due to numerous injuries which players have suffered — most notably, Lorenzo Insigne.
HRB: Who is Toronto’s dangerman, the player NYCFC should fear?
TK: On paper, Toronto’s dangerman is arguably Italian attacker Federico Bernardeschi. Richie Laryea is the one to watch because the right-back has an attacking prowess that other teams just cannot keep up with. It helps that Laryea and Bernardeschi play on the same side of the pitch, the chemistry these two players have is unmatched. Watch out for lots of link-up play between them.
JRB: What’s the X-factor that could decide Saturday’s game?
TK: As of right now, the X-factor that could decide Saturday’s game is the weather. Rainy conditions are in the forecast for Toronto on Friday and Saturday, and the wind could also play a factor as well.
HRB: Prediction time: Starting XI? Final score?
TK:
Score prediction: 1-1
