With 4 players signed to USL-Championship clubs so far this offseason, another Owl could soon leave the nest and be on there way to another club. This time, the player involved is Damià Viader.
In late December, Union Omaha announced the re-signing of Damià Viader for the 2022 League One season. The 23 year-old Spaniard was named League One Defender of the Year in 2021, as well as Most Valuable Player in the Championship Match, so it shouldn’t come as any surprise that his efforts turned the heads of those at larger clubs. The most recent suitor is Toronto FC, the winners of the 2017 MLS Cup.
Earlier today, Toronto FC announced a 34-player roster for a preseason camp in California. Viader’s name was included among the names released to the public, but only as a “Trial” player. When he laces up and hits the field, he’ll be joined by likes of Michael Bradley, Sebastian Giovinco, Alejandro Pozuelo, and newly-appointed coach Bob Bradley. The camp is expected to extend into early February, as the club continues to prepare for its first preseason match, scheduled for February 26th against FC Dallas.
After “The Reds” finished the 2021 MLS regular season ranked 13th in the Eastern Conference (26th overall), the club currently finds itself in rebuilding mode. The club is filled with veteran experience, but the aging presence wasn’t the best fit for then-coach Chris Armas, who preferred to play a high-pressing, fast-paced style. After Armas was fired, Javier Pérez filled in for the remainder of the season. Upon the conclusion of the season, Toronto FC opted to bring in the well-established Bob Bradley for the 2022 season.
So how will Viader fit into the system at Toronto? Well, the Reds currently have glut of attackers ready to make Bradley’s style of play work in the East. While Bradley coached Los Angeles FC from 2017 to 2021, his team often displayed a healthy balance of pressure, possession, and flashy play. In fact, the 2021 LAFC squad possessed many 1st and 2nd-placed rankings in year end statistics, including goal differential, passing, and shots. This style certainly plays to the strengths of Viader.
As Union Omaha fans saw time and time again, Viader has the abilities and determination to make plays on both ends of the field. He spent almost all of his time along the left sideline, but exercised good judgement in floating toward the middle to support his teammates during the run of play. Viader also showed exceptional ability to produce chances in the box with his efforts along the sideline. With his passes and crosses, he was able to create a league-leading 61 chances, resulting in 6 assists. [editor’s note: Dami generated a league leading 8.33 xAssists over the last two seasons #datadump]
Bob Bradley’s style has evolved a bit over the course of his career, but with the offensive weapons available at Toronto FC, especially with Viader’s possible inclusion to the roster, he could end up with a high-powered offense. Make no mistake: Bradley likes to press, but it’s not the all-out blitz type of press that Armas tried to employ during his short tenure at the club. Bradley has a more patient press, if that makes any sense at all. His LAFC squad forced a lot of turnovers and quickly moved up the field on the counter-attack. Another prominent note from his time in Los Angeles was how much time the ball spent in the middle of the field, right outside of the 18-yard box. Viader would be a valued member of the distribution team, especially from the point of the turnover to assisting the goal at the other end of the field.
Of the 11 defenders invited to the preseason camp, only three players have a history of playing on the left side: Rohan Goulbourne (19 years old, Toronto FC II (and one time IWCC player)), Luca Petrasso (21 years old, Toronto FC II), and Damià Viader. While Petrasso is a true left-back, Goulbourne has also spent time as a left-wing. As for the 2022 Toronto FC roster, there are already two left-backs on the payroll: Kemar Lawrence (29 years old, Jamaica, contract ends in 2024) and the already-mentioned Luca Petrasso (21 years old, Canada, contract ends in 2023). Lawrence made 25 appearances with the Reds last season, while Petrasso earned 28 appearances with TFC2. On January 11th of this year, Petrasso signed a Homegrown Player contract with Toronto FC that will last through 2023. Viader will have some competition at the camp, but he should be able to impress players and coaches alike.
The left-back position doesn’t seem to be very high on the scale of importance for Toronto FC at the moment. Being that the club is in the process of rebuilding, the Reds are looking to possibly re-sign forward Sebastian Giovinco, after selling him to Saudi Arabia’s Al-Hilal FC in 2019. Giovinco would have to enter the MLS Allocation Order and Process, of which Toronto FC occupies the third position. The club is also focused on opening a Designated Player spot, as well as money, for the incoming star forward Lorenzo Insigne. Another big-name player that could potentially make the move up north is center-back Carlos Salcedo. In doing so, the club would likely have to release players like midfielder Yeferson Soteldo and forward Jozy Altidore. With all of these moves, the club could very easily find comfort in the way of Lawrence at left-back and keep Petrasso as his backup, in order to avoid any additional financial moves (i.e. Damià Viader). Of course, there are ways in which Viader could be brought into the club, while keeping the books in order, but that’s a matter for their financial officers to handle.
Obviously Búhos Nation would appreciate Viader’s presence on the field, but he deserves to reach high and strive for his full potential. Even though that potential may not be reached while playing in Omaha, he can rest easy knowing that he made a huge impact on the club and will have plenty of fans supporting him from afar. Once an Owl, Always an Owl. So from those of us here at Who Gives A Hoot: best of luck at the preseason camp, Dami. [editor’s note: Don’t be afraid to show them your greatness!]
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