USL Feature
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. – It’s not often you see former Orange County Blue Star standout Luis Silva without a smile on his face.
After a solid 45-minute performance for his new club, Toronto FC, on Tuesday at the Disney Pro Soccer Classic against Swedish club BK Hacken, the smile was again on Silva’s face. After being taken with the No. 4 pick of the MLS SuperDraft in January, Silva is excited to get going in his first season in Major League Soccer.
“I mean, I was surprised, but at the same time I was very happy,” Silva said about hearing his name called. “It’s a privilege to go fourth, especially for Santa Barbara and for myself, and it’s definitely something that I always dreamed of, and it came true. Now I just have to keep working hard and go from there.”
Thought of principally as an attacking midfielder, Silva played in a central midfield role against the Swedish side in Toronto’s 3-4-3 system. That gave him not only the freedom to push forward and create, but also drop into space to pick up possession. At one point, Silva dropped far enough that he was almost alongside center backs Miguel Aceval and Ty Harden to pick up possession and start a move upfield.
For Silva, getting the freedom to find space wherever he can and help Toronto play the fluid style that coach Aron Winter has tried to instill since becoming manager. Silva also showed some good defensive discipline, but it was his work rate that stood out in particular on TFC’s opening goal, where he ran down a through-ball on the right side and chipped to the far post for Ryan Johnson to make a fine finish.
“It’s been good, I think it’s a great system and it fits me well,” Silva said of his role. “I’m around the ball most of the time and just trying to make my players look good and get some assists, and if I can I can score as well. The system is easy to learn, so I haven’t had any trouble with that.”
Toronto has a major contest looming before the MLS season starts, hosting the Los Angeles Galaxy in the first leg of their CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinal next Wednesday at Rogers Centre. Whether he plays or not in that contest isn’t of too much concern at the moment, with Silva focusing on enjoying himself during his rookie season.
“For me as a player, and as a rookie, I’m trying to enjoy it,” he said. “The most important thing is to have fun, in my mind if I’m having fun, everything goes along with that. Obviously, I’m a hard-working player and I’m going to do whatever it takes for the team to win.”
That work ethic is one of the reasons Silva has a chance to make an immediate impact in MLS. Add in the vision and movement off the ball that Winter alluded to in his post-draft comments, and there’s a chance he could find long-term success.
For Silva, though, just getting the opportunity to play for Toronto is something that keeps a smile on his face.
“It’s a pleasure, and it’s an honor,” he said. “I honestly couldn’t be happier. I’m just looking forward to playing and to keep playing for this team.”