Lambe: Toronto teamwork is key

Reggie Lambe’s MLS season gets under way this weekend with Toronto FC’s new manager Ryan Nelsen’s “All for one” motto ringing in his ears.

Toronto FC travel to Vancouver tomorrow (7.30pm) for the opening match of the Regular Season, looking for a huge improvement from last year when they were statistical the worst team in the MLS. 

The off-season saw the sacking of boss Paul Mariner and the arrival of former Blackburn, QPR and Tottenham Hotspur defender Nelsen in his place.

The club, as a result, is undergoing major changes.

Former Germany midfielder Torsten Frings, 36, has been forced to retire after a failure to recover from a hip injury, while winger  Hogan Ephraim has arrived on loan from QPR and ex-Wales forward Robert Earnshaw and former Spurs attacking midfielder John Bostock are at the club on trial. New Zealander Nelsen’s playing style was as a no-nonsense centre-back, and Lambe’s description of the new-look Reds suggests the team is taking shape very much in that mould.

Lambe told Toronto FC TV: “I think we’re very disciplined at keeping our shape and pressuring high and making sure we don’t give away too many chances for the other team.

“We have to stay in our shape and work together as a team.

“All for One’ is our motto, and as long as we keep doing what we’re doing we can go to Vancouver and get a win.”

Nelsen, who only took charge on February 1, believes Lambe & Co are ready to take on Vancouver, although he admits he would have liked more time to prepare.. 

He said: “I think the guys are really looking forward to it. It’s been a long pre-season. 

“For me I wish the pre-season could go for another five or six weeks but the guys are organised and ready for it.”