TORONTO – It's been a week since Aron Winter's departure from the helm of Toronto FC, and on Saturday, fans will get a chance to see the first tangible change instilled by new manager Paul Mariner. If the indications from training are to be believed, Winter's trademark 4-3-3 will be thrown out the window in favor of a 4-4-2 formation for the team's trip to Sporting Kansas City (8:30 pm ET, watch LIVE online).
Striker Danny Koevermans, whose goal on May 26 at BMO Field against the Philadelphia Union gave Toronto their first league win of the season, says the change is just fine by him.
“It doesn’t matter which formation we play as long as we’re winning,” he said after Thursday’s training session at Downsview Park.
And despite playing under Winter for the past year, Koevermans is plenty familiar with the 4-4-2.
“I had my best season in soccer in the 4-4-2,” Koevermans told MLSsoccer.com. “I’m familiar with the system.”
He's referring to his 22-goal haul in the 2006-07 edition of the Dutch Eredivisie, during which he starred for PSV Eindhoven under Louis van Gaal, a campaign that also earned him a call-up to the Dutch national team.
Mariner, however, was a little less candid. When asked about the formation that would be used in Kansas City, he told the media that they would find out on Saturday. Toronto FC have not played since defeating Philadelphia for their first league win after opening the season with nine consecutive losses, the worst start in MLS history.
Koevermans said he has already filed the goal away in the memory bank as he gets on with the task of dragging TFC out of last place.
“That’s already history,” he said on Thursday. “It was perfect for that day. We finally got the points in the league, and we’re off the zero points and now it’s history.
“Of course, it was a big relief that we won the game, and of course, it was nice also that I scored my first goal at home this season and I hope there will be more.”
For Koevermans at least, the formation shouldn't hinder him from doing just that.
