INTERVIEW: Orlando City UK chats to Toronto FC blog Waking The Red

/ Taylor Williams

INTERVIEW - Orlando City UK chats to Toronto FC blog Waking The Red

Here at Orlando City UK, we love reaching out to fans of other Major League Soccer clubs to gauge their thoughts ahead of forthcoming meetings with Orlando City SC.

With the Lions embarking on a crucial Eastern Conference clash at Toronto FC on Saturday, we recently interviewed Benedict Rhodes of leading TFC blog, Waking The Red.

A website part of SB Nation, the largest independent sports media brand, Waking The Red has 6.2k followers on social media and has been one of the foremost TFC blogs specialising in news, transfers, analysis and interviews since 2011.

A Toronto FC supporter since 2014, Benedict Rhodes (pictured) is an editor and matchday columnist for Waking The Red.

We caught up with Benedict to tell us more about Toronto FC’s 2019 campaign so far, why he loves The Reds and what his pre-match score prediction is for Saturday’s huge Eastern Conference meeting at BMO Field.

Is the current Toronto FC season exceeding, matching or failing to meet your expectations?

After the off-season that Toronto FC had, expectations for this season weren’t too high, but I think many people expected The Reds to at least make the 2019 MLS Cup Playoffs.

With that in mind, I’d say that at the moment they are failing to meet expectations.

After bringing in a few new signings recently, anything less than a playoff berth would be a failure.

No MLS club has defeated Orlando City SC more than TFC. What do you put this down to?

I’m not sure if this is down to any one factor, or if it’s just a crazy stat.

It probably doesn’t help for Orlando City SC that they joined MLS just as TFC finally got good, though.

Richie Laryea is now a first team starter for TFC. Tell us more about how Greg Vanney has used him this season?

When Richie Laryea first signed, many people brushed it off as a depth signing.

Laryea started training as a right back and when Auro went down with an injury, Richie Laryea took his chance and ran with it.

I’m not sure that he’s taken the starting job yet, but he’s definitely challenging Auro for it, which can only be a good thing for both players.

Toronto FC failed to make the MLS Cup Playoffs in their first eight seasons as an MLS franchise. How difficult was this to take? And at what moment did your fortunes turn?

I’ve actually only been a Toronto FC fan since Jermain Defoe showed up in 2014. I was 13 when he signed, and hadn’t paid much attention to anything other than the Premier League up to that point, so his arrival sparked my interest.

While I can’t speak on a personal level about the pain of the first few seasons, I know it was painful for a lot of fans to watch the revolving door of players and managers.

Defoe’s arrival was definitely a turning point in the sense that after his arrival, more great players soon followed, beginning the creation of the legendary 2017 side that won the treble.

Toronto FC is one of the better supported clubs in all of Major League Soccer. What makes the club so special for you?

For me, what makes Toronto FC so special are the fans. The fanbase is unlike any other in MLS.

Because Toronto is such a multicultural city, there are people from all over the world and all walks of life, making for a truly unique atmosphere.

Rate Alejandro Pozuelo’s debut season out of 10 so far?

So far, I’ll give Alejandro Pozuelo’s season an 8/10. When he’s good, he’s very good, which he’s been more often than not, but occasionally he’s drifted out of games.

We all know about Jozy Altidore, Michael Bradley and Jonathan Osorio’s talents but tell us about a lesser known TFC player who could hurt Orlando City SC on August 10?

One player who could burn Orlando City SC if he plays is winger Jacob Shaffelburg.

At just 19 years of age, his transition into the first team has been nearly seamless. His pace can cause problems for defenders and opens up space for his teammates if a defender follows him.

He might not start on Saturday, however, as Toronto FC have just signed two new wingers, Erickson Gallardo – who could make his debut against Orlando City SC – and Nicolas Benezet.

I wouldn’t be surprised to see Jacob Shaffelburg come off the bench at some point though, which could destroy the tired legs of defenders.

From the outside looking in, what are your honest impressions of Orlando City SC since entering MLS in 2015?

Orlando City SC has always had some quality players with the ability to change games such as Nani, Kaká and Cyle Larin.

However, they just seem to go through dry spells where something goes wrong, or someone gets hurt, and they end up at the basement of the Eastern Conference, missing the MLS Cup Playoffs.

I think once they finally get that first playoff appearance, they’ll be able to finally turn a corner and string a few good years together. They just need to get over that hump, just like TFC needed to do a few years ago.

Off the pitch, Orlando City SC‘s fanbase and stadium are both among my favourites in Major League Soccer.

Alejandro Pozuelo was TFC’s sole representative in the 2019 MLS All-Star Game. Honestly, did any other TFC players deserve a call-up?

I’m not sure that anyone on TFC deserved to be there ahead of the players who went to Orlando for the 2019 MLS All-Star Game.

However, Jozy Altidore probably would’ve been the closest TFC player to cracking the roster.

And last but not least… what is your score prediction for Toronto FC vs Orlando City SC?

I think it’ll be a close game, so I’ll go with a 1-1 draw.

Nani and Jozy Altidore to score for bonus points.

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Don’t forget, Orlando City UK will be attending Toronto FC vs Orlando City SC live.

Find out what we’ll be getting up to on matchday by clicking here.

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