Offseason Outlook: Toronto FC
/By Kieran Doyle-Davis (@kierdoyle)
After finishing the 2019 regular season on a hot streak Toronto FC were comprehensively dominated in every playoff game (except DC United) but somehow found their way to MLS Cup. Losing the best two out of three to Seattle hurt, but making the final was a surprise for a team that didn’t quite look like putting it all together until the end of the season. Before the playoffs I think it would be fair to say most fans were fixated on the team being headed for a rebuild. However, with most of the departures being fringe players or squad reclassifications, Toronto looks ready to re-tool rather than rebuild for 2020.
Reserve Roster
With third choice goalkeeper Caleb Patterson-Sewell having his option declined (potentially freeing him up to return to his home state of Tennessee?), this is a pretty boring one to be filled. Traditionally TFC have opted to fill this spot with a slightly older USL level goalkeeper, meaning TFCII’s Eric Klenofsky will probably find his way there. Usual reserve roster fillers like Aidan Daniels, Jon Bakero and Ryan Telfer also had their options declined. On a more positive note, Richie Laryea’s continued explosion for both Toronto and Canada means he is almost certainly going to get paid… in 2021, but with his option being picked up for 2020 he will remain on a *very* team friendly deal. Expect these spots to be filled by some of the more promising USL prospects looking to be tied down for the longer term.
Supplemental Roster
With Jay Chapman being shipped off to Miami for $100k in GAM and Ashtone Morgan having his option declined, TFC have some wiggle room here. It is possible Morgan returns on a more team friendly deal, given his international status for most of the league and his ties to home, but as of now he is off. One of these spots is probably going to be taken by the first round SuperDraft pick, much like Griffin Dorsey last year, while the other may well find its way to academy product Jayden Nelson. While I think he is still a little ways away from being impactful in MLS, he just won youth player of the year for Canada Soccer and was electric at the U-17 World Cup in Brazil.
Senior Roster
In by far the biggest move of the offseason, Michael Bradley returns, but on a TAM deal. TAM winger Nico Benezet had his loan option declined, given the allocation fund crunch due to Bradley, and Drew Moor leaves as a free agent to return to Colorado. With one open senior spot last season, the Reds will have three spots available to fill, two available international slots, and a big whopping DP slot question mark.
Presumably, one spot will be filled by Juan Agudelo after his selection in the second round of the re-entry draft, but at a much more team friendly number than the TAM deal he was on in New England last season. But after that, filling out this roster is anything but straight forward.
How do you fill out this squad?
Off the bat, I’m not sure how much Vanney and Ali Curtis will look to touch the back four. Towards the end of the season it looked like their first choice backline of Morrow-Mavinga-Gonzalez-Laryea/Auro was reasonably solid, but a Bradley-Delgado-Osorio midfield offered virtually nothing defensively if the initial press/counter-press was broken. But beyond that first choice, it drops off quickly. Laurent Ciman was impressive in the playoffs but regularly showed an inability to defend anything in behind and was equally reckless around the penalty area. Eriq Zavaleta also remains reasonably uninvolved after another lackluster campaign. Even with the numerous chops and changes here, I still think a mobile depth center back is a priority add for this team, while fullback is still absolutely a position of strength. I don’t think there is the TAM bandwidth to add a center back in that salary range, but don’t be surprised if they go for a center back in the draft or look to trade for someone like UNC’s Mauricio Pineda’s HG rights. My recommendation: take a flyer on Hilliard-Arce. Definitely still something there, and it costs you virtually nothing.
Replacing Michael Bradley’s Legs
While MB4 is returning on a TAM deal, his 25 year old legs unfortunately are not. While Bradley started to accept that he is aging last season, mostly by being much more conservative with his positioning in the attack, he still just can’t quite get through the volume of defensive work he needs to. Marky Delgado offers a lot of energy, but most of his work comes in the press and down the right channel. Similarly, Vanney hasn’t shown any interest in playing Liam Fraser with Bradley to cover some of his ground for him.
There aren’t many in league options for TFC to look at here, but an 8 who can get through a pretty significant volume of defensive work is something I would expect to be quite high on the wishlist. My recommendation: splash the cash and go get Lucas Robertone as a DP from Velez. He’s a do it all eight who scores goals, great tackler, and has an Italian passport for some easy resale value. In a similar vein, Tomas Belmonte from Lanus is out of contract this summer.
Yes, all of ASA’s writers think Katai should go to the team they wrote an article about. Probably because he’s good?
Bye Bye Benezet
While the nation grapples with finding a suitable left winger stateside for 2020, Toronto FC are doing the same. Jonathan Osorio has spent some time there, so have Alejandro Pozuelo, Nick DeLeon, and a host of others; but with Nico Benezet gone, this is definitely an urgent hole to fill. It is plausible that Osorio becomes a full time left winger, but even then he is much more of a wide 10 who floats inside for Justin Morrow to overlap. Vanney, at least publicly, has spoken about the desire to find someone who adds a bit more of a goal threat and an option to stretch teams in behind. If you aren’t keen on buying a DP midfielder, it has to be a winger. There’s a million and one options here and TFC have been much tighter lipped in the news about this one than they were with Pozuelo, but that dynamic threat is definitely a need. A quiet one that would be very interesting? Aleksandar Katai. Peak age, scores and creates, could be TAMmable with some trades.
Attacking Depth
While there remains question marks over Jozy Altidore’s health, Toronto found a solid balance over the back end of the season making it work between Pozuelo floating freely as a nine, and Patrick Mullins as a true focal point. With the potential contract agreement of Agudelo, that is a really solid striker core. Altidore plays when fit, Mullins or Agudelo are totally fine rotation options when you play a weaker opponent at home midweek, and Pozuelo gives you interesting tactical wrinkles. Expect many DP rumors here (a la Mario Balotelli), but it would be very surprising to see that money get spent here.
Parting Thoughts
With Bradley coming back, Toronto FC looks prepared to pretty much run it back with some minor additions here and there and a gigantic looming question mark over the third DP spot. Devin Pleuler, Tim Bezbatchenko, Ali Curtis and the whole recruitment team are 5/5 on their last five DPs, but making it 6/6 would make this a whole lot spicier. Otherwise, expect more of the same. A lot of good, a lot of bad, but certainly nothing boring. On the other hand, maybe Vanney throws out another game breaking tactical wrinkle like 2017’s 3-5-2 and none of this preview means anything.