Carver Relies on Robinson As Toronto’s ‘Anchorman’

In the name of MLS success, Toronto FC coach John Carver has been forced to put aside his die-hard fandom of Newcastle United and place his faith "into the hands of a man who once played for Sunderland, the Toon Army's hated Northeast rivals," writes Paul Attfield. But EPL allegiances aside, it's Carl Robinson that "Carver looks to dictate the flow of play, mop up at the back when required, and distribute the ball."

Filling the "holding role as Toronto's midfield anchorman," the two-time TFC MVP is "very important to what I'm trying to do," says Carver, who added that he knew early in the season that he'd again be "building my team around him." As Robinson goes, so go the Reds, who were outclassed by Seattle when "an exhausted and jet-lagged Robinson was a shadow of his normal self" after returning from his final international stint with Wales (much to the delight of TFC team and fans).

With Carver offering that the team's starting roster will soon be settled, TFC expects to return to winning ways behind a rested Robinson embracing what he knows "may not be the most glamorous position." But the 32-year-old also knows his responsibilities are essential, modeling his play after modern-day midfield marvels like Claude Makelele and Patrick Vieira.