2009 MLS Preview: Toronto FC
By: travis | March 18th, 2009
Starting March 4, and continuing up until March 19, I’ll be previewing every team prior to the First Kick of the 2009 season. I’m going in alphabetical order, with a final season prediction coming at the end of everything. My goal? To make sure that every team is covered here at MLS Offside, with each team blog going into much further detail than I will.
I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. The end of the multitude of words and writing relating to the MLS teams cropping up everywhere. Before jumping into my last preview, I just want to thank everyone for reading and for contributing. It’s been a long and arduous process at times, with the Internet occasionally deciding to devour hundreds of words at a time. And then there’s the small matter of trying to get people in America to care about soccer. I’m here just trying to throw out even more into cyberspace, hoping to reel some more fans in.
Moving away from things America (sorry to the Toronto fans out there, but I am a Yank), today’s last preview is on the boys from up north. Toronto FC has quickly made a name for itself in the league, boasting a boisterous and spirited group of supporters. The waiting list for season tickets is rumored to be at somewhere north of 6,000 and BMO Field has quickly become the most difficult venue for the away team — especially if you throw in the fact that it’s a turf field. A few offseason moves have left this team with a decidedly more Canadian flavor, something that John Carver will have to rely on in order to finally reach the postseason. For a further in depth preview, check this post out from the main page from last week.
2008: 9-13-8, 35 pts, last in the Eastern Conference
Services acquired: Dwayne De Rosario, Pablo Vitti, Sam Cronin, Stefan Frei, O’Brian White, Adrian Serioux, Emmanuel Gomez, Amadou Sanyang
Left the building: Hunter Freeman, Julius James, Tyrone Marshall, Jarrod Smith, Carlos Ruiz, Todd Dunivant
Coach: John Carver is entering his second year in charge of Toronto.
All Eyes on Me: The homecoming of Dwayne De Rosario is the biggest headline entering the 2009 season. Arguably one of the best players in the MLS right now, his presence in the midfield could be the extra spark that Toronto has lacked to push them over the hump. A lot will depend on how he and Amado Guevara coexist will determine the offensive flow of Toronto. I can see things working out with the two of them, although there may be the occasional fist fight over who gets to take a free kick. I see De Rosario winning those pretty frequently.
Player(s) to Watch: Newly acquired Pablo Vitti will be a key component to the offense that hasn’t been retooled too much. Vitti, on loan from Independiente, made a name for himself as a member of the Argentinean side that won the U20 World Championship in 2005, playing alongside the likes of Lionel Messi and Sergio Aguero. Vitti has struggled to establish himself as of late and a quality stint in MLS will not only be a boost to his career but also TFC’s playoff chances. Providing support to De Rosario and Guevara in the midfield will be Rohan Ricketts, who enjoyed a steady 2008 north of the border. Ricketts should have plenty of room to operate under the radar, with defenses keyed on Vitti (hopefully), DeRo and Guevara. At the back, Adrian Serioux remains one of my favorite players because of this tackle on everyone’s least favorite English footballer. Serioux is a much needed veteran presence, who should combine well with Jim Brennan. The pacy fullback Marvell Wynne is definitely one of the fastest players in the league. And while that doesn’t make you necessarily the best defender, Wynne is on his way up, earning a cap against Sweden during the offseason. If he’s called upon by Bob Bradley again, it could hurt Toronto badly, although the fact that Canada did not advance into the final stages of WCQ could be a blessing in disguise.
Young Guns: Leading the young players is the trio of first round picks from the ‘09 draft class — Sam Cronin, O’Brian White and Stefan Frei to be on the look out for. Of the three, Cronin is expected to be ready to contribute the soonest. White is rehabbing an ACL injury he suffered last fall and Frei will be either second or third fiddle to Greg Sutton. Cronin had scouts drooling all over themselves the past two years while at Wake Forest and could have easily been the first overall pick. Nothing is guaranteed, however, and he’ll have to prove that he can compete on this level. Nana Attakora-Gyan is worth mentioning for the name alone. He could supplant Wynne in case FIFA dates intersect with TFC’s schedule. And with a name like Attakora-Gyan, he deserves to be on the pitch quite frequently. Recent acquisitions from The Gambia, Emmanuel Gomez and Amadou Sanyang will help push the first teamers and provide a boost to the depth. Both are young and untested with a promising upside.
Bottom Line: Like so many teams in Major League Soccer, the defense is a major concern. Just typing that makes me think that I’m repeating too much, but it is the simple truth. They do have some quality at the back in Brennan, Wynne and Serioux. Kevin Harmse does not inspire confidence in me and the other options are quite young. Up front, the play of Vitti will be important as TFC lacks a traditional goal scorer. Chad Barrett is a decent option but has yet to prove himself as a go-to-guy. I like Toronto a great deal and they do boast a lot of quality. The biggest question that John Carver will answer is how does he pull it all together? If he can come up with a consistent way to do that and inspire some wins away from BMO Field, then perhaps this team can crack the playoffs for the first time in club history.
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