Toronto FC’s Beitashour the right back for the job

Toronto Sun – TORONTO, Toronto FC’s search for an everyday right fullback has been just as tedious as watching no-talent singers get laughed off stage.

Since 2014, the Reds have rotated 10 different bodies through the right side of defence.

“Who’s counting?” TFC bench boss Greg Vanney joked following Tuesday’s training.

It has been a positional crisis akin to the Cleveland Browns’ quarterback situation.

So, when the opportunity to grab a tried-and-true fullback arrived this winter TFC GM Tim Bezbatchenko traded for Steven Beitashour, a cap casualty in Vancouver.

Long story short, through seven games the Reds have the best defence in the league. The Whitecaps, meanwhile, have conceded twice as many goals as TFC.

On the inside, the Whitecaps might regret letting Beitashour walk for a second-round draft pick. Their fullback situation is dire to say the least.

“(Vancouver coach Carl Robinson) didn’t want to get rid of me,” Beitashour told the Toronto Sun following Tuesday’s training. “I don’t think anyone in Vancouver wanted to get rid of me.

“We started off (negotiating) on the same page. They could have taken my option. But they said they were going to decline it. It opened up the door.”

Enter Toronto FC, a club whose defensive frailties were well-documented last season after conceding a league-high 58 times.

“I knew we’d get better defensively in terms of our personnel and I knew we’d enter this year with the right mindset,” Vanney said.

Along with a host of off-season upgrades, Beitashour has been a revelation on the right side of the pitch.

Although his contributions — last-ditch tackles, blocks, clearances — don’t make highlight reels, the 29-year-old has been near flawless this season.

“His level of overall engagement is off the charts,” Vanney said of Beitashour. “He makes the right decision 99% of the time.”

For his part, Beitashour, an Iranian international, believes the trade-and-sign deal that brought him to Toronto was the right decision at this point in his career.

While a half-dozen MLS franchises were interested in acquiring him, Beitashour said Toronto had the most appeal.

“They were headed on the right path,” Beitashour added. “I wanted to be part of that path.”

He phoned up teammate and long-time buddy Justin Morrow before finalizing the move.

“One of the biggest factors was talking to him, seeing what the organization is about,” Beitashour recalled. “Toronto FC is serious about winning championships.

“I’ve been on teams that just wanted to make the playoffs. I wanted to have a goal of winning a championship.”

Just making the playoffs won’t be enough following Toronto’s embarrassing playoff exit last October.

The fans, the media and ownership expects more for the money spent on TFC’s roster — including the $1 million poured into the team’s veteran defence.

“The mindset going into pre-season was that our entire team would defend together,” Beitashour said.

“We knew it would take some time, but the guys have been through it and are experienced.”

Part of Beitashour’s experience comes from his time with the Iranian national team. His solid start this season hasn’t gone unnoticed in the Middle East.

As he put it, there are “rumblings” — newspaper articles, radio spots and more — hinting he could be in line for a recall next month.

“They follow us,” Beitashour said of media in Iran. “Even at Montreal (last week) there were Iranian fans.

“You see how intense it is. How much they care about their soccer team. It’s great.”

It’s one special occasion after another for Beitashour and the Reds the next few weeks.

Toronto FC next travels to Portland on Sunday for a match featured on ESPN. Six days later, they’ll open the new BMO Field in front of a sellout crowd.

“That’s one of the things that’s driving us through these road games,” Beitashour added. “(May 7) will feel like the first game of the season. Hopefully we pack the place and it’s loud.”

Providence Park this weekend should be a good dry rehearsal in terms of atmosphere.

The defending champs host games inside one of the most boisterous environments in the league.

“This weekend comes first,” Beitashour said. “We need to get a good result (in Portland) and come back with momentum.”