John Herdman: 'The scars are still open' at Toronto FC

Herdman's main observation from watching TFC's last two games is that standards have dropped, and permissiveness has settled in.

John Herdman: 'The scars are still open' at Toronto FC

John Herdman has only been in charge of two practices this week since taking over the reins at Toronto FC, and he has yet to be on the touchline for a game.

But he learned a lot from just being a fly on the wall while interim bench boss Terry Dunfield oversaw TFC during their last two outings. Herdman travelled with the team and watched both matches, a pair of humbling 3-0 losses away to Charlotte FC and the New York Red Bulls, from the comfort of a private box inside the stadium.

His major takeaway?

Herdman didn’t mince words when asked by TFC Republic after Thursday’s training session about how the failing franchise he inherited performed in those two contests. Instead, the former Canadian men’s and women’s team coach laid the brutal truth about an anaemic side that sports an 0-17-1 record when conceding the first goal of the game in MLS this season.