Toronto comes off nightmare weekend

• by Ridge Mahoney  @ridgemax, Mar 25, 2008

Building depth is one of Toronto FC's tenets for its second MLS season but based on results and the comments of Coach John Carver at the Carolina Challenge Cup just having enough bodies doesn't mean you have a deep squad.

With several players on duty at the CONCACAF Olympic qualifiers and midfielder Carl Robinson in Britain tending to personal matters, TFC failed to win a game in South Carolina and ended its stint with a 2-0 loss to the host Charleston Battery Saturday.

A Jeff Cunningham goal was waved off for offside, but Cunningham did net Wednesday in a 1-1 tie with Red Bull New York. Toronto lost to San Jose, 1-0, in its CCC opener that was cut short in the 77th minute because of lightning.

Carver tore into his players after the loss to Charleston and bemoaned the absences of Maurice Edu and Marvell Wynne, who were playing for the U.S. U-23s.

Andrea Lombardo, Tyler Hemming and Tyler Rosenlund were on duty for Canada, so Carver didn't have many options.

The signing of right back Marco Velez was announced last week and he played the full 90 minutes against Charleston and the Red Bulls.

He'll add depth behind Wynne and also gives Carver the option of pushing Wynne into midfield, as Mo Johnston - head coach last year and manager this season -- did at times in 2007.