SoccerAnswer to defensive problems right under TFC's nose

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Torsten Frings has looked sharp when he has played in defence for TFC this season. (Getty Images)

Maybe Aron Winter is just being coy and has already made the decision.

Or, just as likely, Toronto FC's coach needs more time and evidence before deciding to make the switch. If that's honestly the case, the Dutchman should give serious and long thought to moving Torsten Frings from the heart of midfield to the centre of defence on a full-time basis.

The current MLS table has the Reds sitting seven points out of the playoff race with four games remaining. But even though the club is still mathematically alive, any realistic chance it had of qualifying for the post-season has since long passed.

Toronto has been plagued by a myriad of problems this year, first and foremost among them being its meagre defence. TFC has conceded a league-high 52 goals this campaign - and this with goalkeepers Stefan Frei and Milos Kocic being consistently solid between the posts for the Reds.

Needing to shake things up, Winter recently began experimenting by slipping Frings, the club's German captain, into the back line, both as a central defender and as a sweeper.

The results, while premature to be conclusive, have been very encouraging. Wins over Salt Lake and Columbus in league play, and Tauro FC in the CONCACAF Champions League, suggest Frings could be the long-term solution to the Reds' defensive woes.

Against Colorado and Tauro especially, Frings was a calming and stable presence in a five-man defence, acting as a sweeper behind Ty Harden and Andy Iro. TFC's central defensive duo have had problems gelling, so it was hardly a surprise to see them both benefit from the tutelage of the former World Cup star.

Even from the stands, Frings could be heard over the crowd barking out instructions to his defensive cohorts, handing out marking assignments and serving as the defence's chief organizer. Iro and Harden, for the first time since being put together in the summer, looked composed and steady - no small feat considering the calamitous nature of their partnership.

Sweeping to success

After the Colorado win last weekend, Harden left no doubts as to what the difference was in his and Iro's improved play.

"It helped because we were never one-against one. We always had an extra man in the back. We all look to [Frings] to be a leader back there," Harden admitted.

To his credit, Frings did not moan about being played out of position, and assumed the role of the defence's quarterback with great ease.

"That's my role as a defender. I try to talk to the players. I see that the team is playing better and better every week," Frings said through an interpreter.

Again on Tuesday, Frings acted as the sweeper against Tauro and the Reds earned a crucial 1-0 win to bolster their chances of advancing to the group stage.

In the post-match press conference, the query came from the assembled media members: why not play Frings as a defender all the time?

"Torsten is a midfielder," Winter answered, almost blowing off the question as though it was ridiculous to even ask in the first place.

To be fair, the Dutchman later softened his position somewhat, explaining that he would continue to use Frings in defence depending on the situation and the opponent.

On the one hand, Winter is absolutely correct to take such a firm stance on the German. Frings is a great asset for TFC to have, his ability to play both as a box-to-box midfielder and as a defender giving Winter greater flexibility and more options when he fills out his team sheet.

But the cold, hard and sobering reality is that quality defenders are few and very far between in this league.

Not every team has a Chad Marshall on its roster. The NCAA ranks aren't swelled with players such Omar Gonzalez who can jump from the college game and make an instant impact. Proven central defenders with European experience, even past-their-prime stalwarts as the recently retired Fabio Cannavaro, aren't beating a path to the doors of MLS clubs.

Frings has a wealth of international experience. He's an expert tackler. He displays good vision on the field. He is a team leader. All qualities of a first-rate defender.

With veterans Julian de Guzman and Terry Dunfield and youngsters Eric Avila and Matt Stinson, TFC has genuine quality and depth in midfield that the German can be spared in order to bolster the defence.

Furthermore, his impeccable distribution gives Toronto, really for the first time in club history, the ability to create and build the attack from out of the back line.

When he signed Frings to a designated-player contract in the summer, Winter was getting someone who he thought could anchor the midfield. Thus far, the German has done it with aplomb.

Finding someone from abroad or elsewhere from MLS to anchor the defence this upcoming off-season will be a lot harder.

Fortunately for Winter, he doesn't have to search far. The ideal candidate is right under his nose.

Follow John F. Molinaro on Twitter at: http://twitter.com/#!/JohnMolinaro

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