The Future Is Now

Posted on 9/12/2011

The future is now for Toronto FC, the future is also months from now. The past is what it is, behind them. With the rebuild settled down somewhat, at least for now, Toronto FC is still searching for, but genuinely closer to a new identity.

The 4-2 win in Columbus Saturday night to win the Trillium Cup, gave this version of The Reds it's second trophy of the season. Toronto had never beaten Columbus (first in the east) until this past Saturday. Toronto had never fielded a team that had this much depth, or leadership in my opinion. Good leaders have come and gone within the walls of BMO fields dressing rooms, but a great leader? Torsten Frings is setting the bar where is needs to be set for TFC going forward.

I spoke with Julian de Guzman on our Sportsnet Radio FAN590 pregame show in Columbus Saturday about Torston Frings impact on his own game. Julian admitted Frings presence and leadership has taken some of the DP, well lets be honest, a lot of the DP load from the Canadians shoulders. As a result, Julian is playing his best soccer since he joined Toronto FC. deGuzman scored his second goal of the MLS season, with an "I won't be denied a shot on goal effort". Julian followed up his goal with a lovely pass up the pitch to Danny Koevermans, who rounded Williams Hesmer, who came well out of his 18 yard area to challenge for the ball.

There was a time when TFC fans were saying they had seen enough of Julian de Guzman, and they would not have shed a tear if he was not a Red much longer. The way Julian is playing right now since Torsten arrived to take the holding midfield role over, it might be a good idea to find a way to keep the Canadian around to be part of the future, which is seemingly well beyond what has been an interesting past to say the least.