If Toronto FC hope to make the playoffs for the first time in club history, they’ll have to answer a question that has dogged them from day one.
Four years in and amid a 2010 season full of new coaches, personnel and philosophies, the club still has no answers for why it can’t win away from raucous BMO Field.
“I don’t know, that’s a good question,” coach Preki told the media after training on Tuesday. “I certainly felt like we’ve been in every game that we’ve played so far on the road, but it’s just the mental mistakes. Sometimes maybe a lack of confidence and sometimes you need to get one result to start believing that it’s doable. Right now we’re one of those teams that’s having a tough time away from home and, hopefully, pretty soon we’ll get better.”
This season, the Reds are an unimpressive 0-4 on the road with three goals for and 11 against compared to a 2-0 record at BMO Field.
Some divine intervention may be necessary to exorcise this demon, but what’s interesting is that teams have gone far without having respectable road records.
Real Salt Lake proved it last season. The defending MLS champs won only twice on the road and barely squeaked into the playoffs before going on a surprising run in the playoffs to win its first title.
Sports commentators and analysts often say perennial playoff teams win at least 60 percent of their home games and are .500 on the road. Toronto haven’t even come close to that. Since their inception, TFC have amassed a putrid road record of 6-33-10. Their best year was in 2008 when they won three of 15 games on the road.
“I don’t know, I hope we can find out the answer pretty soon to that one,” said goalkeeper Stefan Frei when asked about the road woes. “I don’t know, to be honest with you. Maybe it’s a mentality, something we definitely have to work on. We’ve gotten zero points so far and it’s not going to get us in the playoffs.”
It’s that lack of mental toughness, along with poor defense, that’s been the culprit in Toronto’s case.
They’re critical to winning on the road, but have been major shortcomings for the club. While TFC have had some good individual athletes on the backline over the years, including the likes of Marvell Wynne and Adrian Serioux, they've never had a solid unit that has played consistently well.
May is one of the club’s busiest months with seven total matches between league play and the Nutrilite Canadian Championship. With five of those games coming on the road, the team will have to find a way get some points if it hopes to contend for a MLS playoff spot and repeat as NCC champion.
After facing Chicago at home on Saturday, Preki’s side travels to Montreal, Los Angeles and Vancouver.
