The Reds Must Get Younger

Following on from Frank Doyle’s column on the retirement of Torsten Frings, Al Dannity says now is the time for Toronto FC to hit the reset button and develop a younger roster.

The biggest impact Torsten Frings ever has in Toronto could be his departure. With Danny Koevermans the lone designated player (DP) left on the Reds’ roster, they have an opportunity to get younger. A lot younger. As Frank Doyle pointed out yesterday, Frings never materialised as a serious presence for Toronto. Injury played a part but his age did equally. In his mid-thirties when he arrived with the Reds, Frings was surely past his best. Koevermans is no spring chicken either but the Reds have options with the striker.

Optimally Toronto will get one good, healthy season out of the Dutchman who is recovering from an ACL injury. Come the mid-point of the year they may find Koevermans can’t cut it anymore. If they do, it’ll be time to cut ties with him too. Realistically the Reds are not going to the post-season but they are going to have to start thinking about catching up with the teams around them. Even their rivals in Canada, the Impact and Whitecaps, look light years ahead in roster management. The Caps however should be seen as the benchmark for how to use a DP slot. By bringing in Nigel Reo Coker, Vancouver have strengthened their roster with an experienced player still in his prime. At 28, the Englishman is in his peak years and has the nous required to work in Martin Rennie’s grind it out system.

A big name is not what Toronto needs. The Reds must start looking at younger signings that can be industrious and make an impact. Kyle Bekker is promising but he needs to be the start of the movement. The one area where Toronto can quickly overtake Montreal is in age-profile, because it sure won’t be in results this season. While Marco Di Vaio and Alessandro Nesta are great talents, both will turn 37 by the end of the summer. There are positive signs for Toronto, chiefly in the shape of Darren O’Dea. With the Ireland international coming into his peak years, O’Dea has an opportunity to show real leadership as a centre-back this season. Using the DP spot freed up by Frings on another defender or a defensive midfielder could add real toughness to Toronto’s spine. I’ve just one request; sign somebody younger than me.