Toronto FC stars, Ronnie O'brien and Jeff Cunningham are officially done for the year, as they prepare for season ending surgeries on knee and sports hernia injuries respectively.
Where does this leave TFC? Cunningham is an important cog in the Reds attack, and is the perfect compliment to Dichio's holding play at centre-forward. Neither Colin Samuel nor Andrea Lombardo have the same explosiveness to their game that has allowed Cunningham to rack up 98 career goals. To make matters even worse, Toronto is yet to score a goal without all-star midfielder Ronnie O'brien in the lineup. The importance of his play on the wing is no secret to anyone who has followed this team.
To make matters even worse, it has been reported that much-maligned winger Andy Welsh picked up a groin injury and is doubtful for Saturday's match vs. DC United. If TFC is to win any match from this point onward, they need to get performances from underachievers such as Welsh and Samuel, and have their youth such as Andrea Lombardo, and Joey Melo (who needed 7 stitches to close a gash on his finger a few days ago) to start fulfilling their potential. With Kenny Stamatopolous shoring things up in goal we at least have a chance, but with key cogs Jim Brennan and Danny Dichio playing through injury, just how much of a chance remains to be seen.
I really do hope we score within the first 5 minutes. I really don't want the dubious distinction of the longest scoring drought in MLS history.
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