TFC’s Morgan enjoying life at the top
Few MLSers have experienced more pain and anguish and defeat than Ashtone Morgan.
Toronto’s homegrown defender has outlasted five coaches and captains while playing alongside 10 different Designated Players since debuting for TFC club in 2010.
Few realize Morgan has been with Toronto FC — or its Academy — almost as long as club legend Danny Dichio.
In a sense, he’s as much of a club legend as anyone despite being just 25 years old.
At the midway point of his professional career, Morgan has experienced so much bad with Toronto FC that he can reflect back further than anyone, to a time and place or moment when the Reds hit rock bottom as an organization — a time when they were mocked and minimized almost to the point of extinction by fans and Toronto media.
“It got to a point where it was harder to play at home than away,” Morgan said.
He recalls the 2011-13 seasons when TFC supporters chanted “Let’s go Blue Jays” and made a mockery of the situation. But who could blame them? The Reds followed up a six-win 2011 with a simply putrid start to the 2012 season, losing an MLS record nine straight games, prompting Danny Koevermans to refer to TFC as “the worst team in the world.”
Morgan described it as “walking on eggshells.”
The Reds weren’t just bad four seasons ago, they internalized it. The culture of losing was epidemic inside a dressing room that Morgan likened to a “graveyard.” In the stands, meanwhile, the few fans that remained could only be described as mourners.
“Those years were tough for us,” Morgan added. “We weren’t winning on the pitch. At the end of the day, we needed to win. We weren’t getting results. From us being frustrated to the fans being frustrated to the city being frustrated, it was a tough time. It was a really tough time.”
Yet, Morgan recalls the mood changing last season under the direction of coach Greg Vanney during a game in Washington.
Upon finding themselves down after six minutes, the Reds scored on both sides of halftime to escape RFK Stadium with a full three points. In that moment, things felt different.
The mood inside the dressing room wasn’t one of achievement, but rather expectation.
Adding Sebastian Giovinco and Jozy Altidore didn’t hurt matters, Osorio added.
For once, however, Jonathan Osorio said the team had a “mindset” and credited Vanney, who is enjoying this run.