Lorenzo Insigne’s winner against Charlotte FC was stunning enough, but even more remarkable was the Italian’s celebration. He immediately sprinted over to the touchline where he jumped into the arms of John Herdman. Insigne has clearly bought into the project of Toronto FC’s new head coach. That could be a game-changer for the Canadians.
“I didn’t realise he was that heavy. He nearly took us right off our feet,” joked Herdman after the 1-0 win at BMO Field on Saturday. TFC have taken seven points from their first three fixtures of the new Major League Soccer season and Insigne has delivered twice – in matches against New England and Charlotte.
Last season, Insigne failed to make much of an impact. He scored just four goals in 20 league appearances for Toronto FC and clashed with head coach Bob Bradley. At the end of 2023, most assumed Insigne would be pushed out the exit door with fellow Italian Designated Player Federico Bernardeschi also expected to return to Europe.
Instead, both remained at Toronto FC and are now delivering. The roster rebuild many predicted ahead of the 2024 season never materialised and so Herdman is having to work with what he inherited from the previous regime. Fortunately for him, talent was never TFC’s issue. Insigne’s impressive start to the campaign proves that.
“He’s a real character, he’s starting to enjoy the club and enjoy his football,” said Herdman after Insigne’s sensational match-winning performance against Charlotte FC on Saturday. “He knows that we’re trying to get the best out of him. Every player’s committed to try and get Lorenzo in and around the ball.”
Herdman has focused on making TFC hard to beat over the early part of the season. 2023 saw Toronto FC concede more goals than any other team in the Eastern Conference and so it made sense for the new head coach to prioritise the defence – and Herdman has achieved success in this regard. TFC have kept three clean sheets through their first three games.
With this approach, though, Toronto FC need an attacking difference-maker who can produce something out of nothing every so often and Insigne has been that player for them. Without him, they would have laboured to back-to-back goalless draws against New England and Charlotte FC. Instead, they took six points from a possible six.
While there were some concerns over Herdman’s ability to adapt to club soccer after so many years in the international game, he has so far effectively recycled his Canada blueprint as TFC head coach. As Canada manager, Herdman forged a strong locker room spirit. That belief carried the national team to the 2022 World Cup – Canada’s first World Cup for a generation.
Belief is clearly growing at BMO Field after a disastrous 2023. Most thought it would take a complete rebuild of the TFC squad to point the team in the right direction again, but Herdman – whether by choice or not – is taking a different tact and achieving genuine progress. Toronto FC are finally making a recovery.
This isn’t to say TFC will necessarily be competitive near the top of the Eastern Conference this season. While they have certainly made an encouraging start to 2024, they have yet to truly impose themselves on a match, only scoring two goals in three games. Insigne won’t be able to produce a moment of magic in every match. Herdman needs other members of his team to step up.
Some squad surgery will almost certainly be required for Toronto FC to be the Supporters’ Shield and MLS Cup contenders they want to be with a lack of depth an issue. TFC could also use an injection of creativity in the centre of the pitch to truly get the best out of their attacking difference-makers.
Nonetheless, there are signs that Herdman is starting to put in place the foundations for a more successful period at BMO Field. Insigne was signed two years ago to be one of the best attackers in MLS and it’s only now that the Italian is beginning to live up to his billing. Toronto FC are shaping up to be the surprise package of the 2024 campaign in MLS.
