The question on the lips of soccer fans from Toronto to Tottenham is whether or not David Beckham is healthy enough to play when the LA Galaxy visit BMO Field to face Toronto FC on Sunday. The only question that Toronto coach Mo Johnston is worried about is that if Beckham is fit to play, will any of Toronto's squad be left standing to face him?
Jeff Cunningham, Danny Dichio, Ronnie O'Brien and Marvell Wynne are all out of action for at least the next two games, and in Cunningham's case, perhaps until late September. Defender Andrew Boyens will likely join them on the sidelines recovering from a concussion and a broken nose. Even team captain Jim Brennan -- the iron man who has played every minute in club history -- may be out of action due to a pair of broken ribs.
A ravaged Toronto side looked outmatched in a 3-0 loss to Chicago last Sunday, and that was even with Dichio, Boyens and Brennan all in the Starting XI. The sudden rash of injuries has left Johnston reeling.
"You take seven or eight stars from [league-leading] Houston, and they ain't winning many games," Johnston said. "You look down our bench, the bench is very very slim. It's a huge challenge for our team with or without David Beckham."
A veteran of the larger rosters in England's Football League, Carl Robinson is new to a situation where a team can barely field a lineup. The midfielder sees the injuries as a setback, but also sees it as a chance for the TFC bench to make its mark.
"Soccer isn't about 11 players, it's a squad of 18 players plus the younger boys," Robinson said. "You wait a while to get your chance and you sometimes don't think it's going to come. What you've got to make sure is when it does come, you grab it by the scruff of the neck. The kids are working hard in training, which you've got to every day."
Amongst Toronto's reserves, the only one who has seen significant game action is striker Andrea Lombardo. The 20-year-old Canadian under-20 international has made an impact as a mid-game substitute and will likely start at forward on Sunday. Eighteen-year-olds Gabe Gala and Joey Melo have each gotten a bit of playing time, and thus are the favorites to see increased minutes against the Galaxy.
Robinson and Johnston both singled out Melo as having a good week of training. The young Canadian said his intensity has greatly improved from his time practicing with the starting squad, and he is hopeful that he can be a silver lining to Toronto's cloud of injuries.
"Of course it's a blow to our team, but at the same time you get to step up and hopefully get a chance to show what you can do," Melo said. "It's what we wait for."
While young players like Melo are trying to get their first chance in MLS, Adam Braz is looking for a second chance. The defender has played just 24 minutes for the Reds and hasn't appeared in a game since May 16. Part of that stretch included a call-up to Canada's team at the Gold Cup, but Braz is looking forward to getting some more MLS action.
"I've been 100 percent the whole time and training hard," Braz said. "I'm waiting for an opportunity, so if Mo decides to play me, I'm ready for it. You never want to see anyone injured and it's been tough seeing so many guys hurt at the same time. But that's why you have a deep squad, so if this situation arises, the coach is comfortable putting other guys in the lineup."
After Sunday's loss, Johnston criticized certain members of his club for not putting forth an appropriate effort in filling in for the injured players, saying, "these other guys need to step up or else they shouldn't be in this league."
On Wednesday, Johnston said that some of the players he targeted in his post-game comments had improved their effort during the week's training. With as many as six starters out of action, the coach's hand is somewhat forced in terms of who he can put in his lineup, but Johnston has made it clear that the players who can't help Toronto salvage its 2007 season won't be around in 2008.
"We've experienced so many injuries then you're asking these younger guys to step up," Johnston said. "If they don't step up ... then come end of the year, they won't be here.
"Hopefully these younger guys gain the experience, and then move forward from that experience."
Some semblance of help is on the way for Toronto FC. Johnston announced that the club is signing a new goalkeeper, who is flying into Toronto on Thursday and will be formally introduced on Friday. Johnston has been light on details about this new 'keeper, though the coach did reveal that he is Canadian and has European experience.
The two names most often bandied about on the rumor mill are Kenny Stamatopoulos of Tromso of the Norwegian League or Josh Wagenaar of the Dutch club ADO Den Haag.
Johnston said that he hopes the paperwork with MLS will be finished in time to allow the new 'keeper to play on Sunday. Starting goalkeeper Greg Sutton, yet another member of TFC's injured list, is out for the season due to lingering effects of a concussion suffered in early June.
Mark Polishuk is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
