Toronto FC feeling better about where team is, but not about where it has to train

Toronto FC coach Bob Bradley is feeling pretty good about where his club is right now, though he doesn’t feel particularly good about where his club is in terms of where they have to train on occasion.

The weather — and the fact that there has been snow and ice on the field at the BMO Training Ground many days this winter and spring — has forced the Reds to train inside the bubble, on turf, which is not ideal.

Frankly, Bradley would rather have his team train on the grass outside, even if there’s some precipitation. But because the fields at the training ground aren’t heated, they’ve had to retreat inside into the bubble.

“There have been talks,” said Bradley, when asked if there has been movement in terms of having underground heaters installed on the fields at the training ground. “(But) how do you fit it in the budget? From a coaching stand-point it’s one of the first things I mentioned (when I came to Toronto). I absolutely think we need heated fields. But it comes at a cost and (president) Bill (Manning) recognizes that we think it’s something that needs to be on a priority list.

“In this kind of climate, you need the ability to get out on grass. And hopefully at some point here that’s something we can get done.”

Going from training on turf to playing on grass is not a great situation, as players tend to suffer from sore backs and knees more often on turf. There’s also the matter of the difference in the way the ball moves on turf compared to grass. It’s an adjustment for the players when they’ve trained on turf for days and then play on grass.

In any event, on turf or on grass, the Reds — after losing the first match of the year at D.C. United on Feb. 25 — are on a bit of a roll — unbeaten in four straight matches (W1 D3). They’ve also recorded clean sheets the past two games.

“We’re making progress,” Bradley said. “The mentality of the group’s been good — I think overall more balanced in the way we go about every game. More solid. What comes next? We can still be sharper. We can still find more ways to create big chances. There’s little details — when we lose balls, is it a pressing moment? Is it more reorganization? But overall I think the guys have worked in a really good way.

“I think definitely things are moving in the right direction,” goalkeeper Sean Johnson added. “Our goal, as I stated at the start of the year, was that every game we would take to get stronger as a team, to analyze moments and continue to be more cohesive and continue to define our identity as a group. I think we’ve done that.

“Are we satisfied with where we are? No. We have a lot of guys that are super-ambitious and we want to strive to be the best and continue to climb and be at the top of the table. I think we can be happy with our progression but we’re definitely continuing to improve game by game.”

Charlotte has one win, one draw and three losses, sitting second-last in the MLS Eastern Conference, though ‘The Crown’ did come back to record a 1-1 draw last Saturday against the New York Red Bulls.

1. For Toronto FC, nothing would be finer than beating the team from Carolina

2. Impressive win for Canada in Concacaf Nations League tournament

“Typically they’re 4-3-3. (Forward Karol) Swiderski was such a big player in the past, now they bring in (Enzo) Copetti. He’s more of a real nine (striker). He’s strong, he likes to play with people around him. He brings guys into the game, he works hard,” Bradley said. “I think they’re still trying to figure out, ‘OK, what are we doing with Swiderski? And then what does the attack look like?’ So they’ve changed a little bit along the way. (Kerwin) Vargas still gives them something when they play him on the left. He’s still an interesting player.

“They’ve tried Swiderski on the right, I don’t know if that’s something they’ll continue. Can they switch the 4-2-3-1 and play Swiderski underneath Copetti? Yes. That’s possible, especially on a day when they’re down some guys in the midfield with the suspension. (Charlotte midfielder Brandt Bronico was issued a one-match suspension for serious foul play that occurred against the New York Red Bulls). And at least one out injured. So we’ll see.

“In different ways (Charlotte) has been challenged. In pre-season the unfortunate passing of (midfielder) Anton Walkes (who was killed in a boating accident on Jan.18). And as a team and an organization, in terms of what that feels like and how you have to deal with that, that’s really hard,” Bradley continued. “There’s good players there and they have good ideas. So I think like many teams early in the year they’re still to figure out exactly what they’re about right now.”

The Reds, without 5-6 starters because of international duty and injury, earned a hard-fought point in a 0-0 draw at San Jose last Saturday.

INSIGNE, DIOMANDE STILL OUT

TFC winger Lorenzo Insigne has not played since opening day at D.C. United, when he hurt his groin. He was seen training on his own on Wednesday at the BMO Training Ground, which is usually an indication that he is getting better, but is not quite ready for match action.

First-year TFC forward Adama Diomande (lower body) also is unlikely to be available for Saturday’s match.

“In terms of the time line with Lorenzo, I think we are seeing progress,” Bradley said. “(But) we need to wait until we start to see him back on the field in training. We’re getting there but not there yet.”

The coach said left back Raoul Petretta is back training and should be available against Charlotte, though defender Cristián Gutiérrez, whom the club claimed off waivers from the Vancouver Whitecaps earlier this month, is still out with a non-COVID illness.