Toronto FC: 3 things we learned from 2019 season
By Marko Babic
2. Grateful for Gonzalez
The addition of Omar Gonzalez in June was critical to Toronto FC’s successful season. The 31-year-old center-back formed a formidable partnership with Chris Mavnga since his debut against the Montreal Impact on July 14th, resulting in the Reds becoming more difficult to breakdown. As TSN’s Kristian Jack pointed out, TFC conceded 1.8 goals per game prior to Gonzalez’s arrival and just 1.1 with the American international in the line-up.
By comparing Gonzalez’s stats to fellow full-time center-backs selected to the MLS All-Star team and the MLS best XI, we can see why he compliments Mavinga so well:
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The Dallas native ranks last in attempted tackles (0.4 per 90) and interceptions (0.73 per 90), yet he has been dribbled past the least (0.4 per 90). Although it might appear as though Gonzalez is too passive when compared to his peers at first glance, his patience has been an asset for the Reds. Mavinga is an aggressive ball-winner who can get caught out of position at times. The fact that Gonzalez contains his direct opponents and refrains from stepping out of the defensive line to pick off passes unless he has a clear path to the ball is ideal for the collective Toronto defense.
Gonzalez also puts himself in position to thwart threats in and around the penalty area by staying behind the ball, placing second in blocks (1.5 per 90) and third in clearances (4.5 per 90) relative to MLS’ top defenders.
He may not be particularly assertive, he may not put forth dominant, eye-catching displays, but he stabilized Toronto FC’s defense like few other players could have. He changed the Reds’ prospects for 2019. Now, he must replicate that in 2020.