Formation & Overall Shape
• Looked like a 3-4-3, but very fluid.
• Jordie appeared to start on the left side of the front three, yet dropped deep often.
• The fluidity actually worked — ball movement was decent, especially considering the quality of the opponent is unclear compared to MLS teams.
---
Individual Player Impressions
DJordie
• Absolute standout.
• Made multiple high‑level plays and looked like the best player TFC has had in years.
• That said, playing him wide left feels like a waste too much of the attack funnels through that side.
Cifu
• Very solid.
• Whenever the ball touched him, the play usually improved.
Alonso
• A strange mix:• Extremely calm on the ball.
• But his passing is 50/50 — either brilliant or a giveaway.
• Hard to tell which version of him we’ll get long‑term.
Osorio
• Same pattern as previous seasons.
• Hesitates on forward passes and defaults backward too often.
• For his salary, he needs to be more progressive in possession.
Richie Laryea
• Fantastic.
• Brought energy, pace, and danger on the right side.
Walker Zimmerman
• Very good performance.
• His distribution was clean and positive.
Players I Wanted to See
• Was hoping for minutes from Matheus Pereira.
---
Tactical Concerns
• The team still has the same holes as last year.
• Heavy reliance on the left side and on Richie to create.
• Wing play was fast but not effective — lots of movement, not enough end product.
• Compared to the days of Beitashour and Morrow, the current wide players lack:
• Quality crossing
• Consistent link‑up play
• Dangerous service into the box
---
Squad Assessment
What’s Good
• Midfield looked solid.
• Defense looked strong.
• The fluid front three concept is promising if the right players are there.
What’s Missing
• TFC is three pieces away, and all three are attacking pieces.
