With MLS clubs close to beginning the regular season, teams are starting to have a better idea of the make-up of their rosters. Ashley Cole should be starting to learn that playing in MLS isn’t the beach he envisioned it to be, as he has probably been the victim of a few physical challenges.
While Nigel De Jong isn’t making any friends with his “mean girls”-esque comments about European players being able to “teach” his lesser teammates, Jozy Altidore has been putting in a shift this summer to get in better shape.
Isn’t it refreshing to see highly paid athletes actually put in a shift?
I mean, have you seen Andrea Pirlo defend set-pieces for New York City?
Thumbs up, Jozy!
Here are five storylines to watch so far for Toronto FC.
- A leaner, faster, and determined Jozy Altidore
Last season Altidore spent large parts of the season injured, suspended, or simply not looking settled in the line-up. Coach Greg Vanney once started Altidore as a winger against New York City.
I guess somewhere, somehow, everyone thinks of a powerful, strong target man with good finishing skills as being a winger?
Due to missing so many games, Altidore was not viewed as a vital piece of the team last season. When he did return from injuries, he had to fit into a position that was not occupied by in-form players such as Sebastian Giovinco. Even though Altidore scored 13 goals–good enough to lead about 10 other MLS clubs–there was a sense of disappointment surrounding him. Toronto faithful hoped for him to be the prime attacking threat, and Altidore spent the season being a bystander in the attacking picture.
Altidore spent this off-season losing weight and becoming leaner in hopes of reducing the injury risk and getting faster. He has always been a physical beast, and he’s never looked better than he does now. A faster Altidore will be able to keep up with the tempo that Giovinco and Michael Bradley like to play with. Throw in his finishing, and you’ve got the potential to have a successful season.
Altidore has been accused of having a sense of entitlement and not working for his chances. His off-season training and diet changes prove otherwise, or it proves he is motivated to silence the critics this season. Whatever the reason, it is only good news for Toronto.
- Vanney likes the 4-3-3
Going into pre-season, much of the talk has been surrounding what shape Toronto FC will have. Thus far, Vanney has preferred playing in a 4-3-3 system. This leads us to believe that reigning MVP Giovinco will likely play as a winger and Altidore will feature as the central striker. Bradley and Benoit Cheyrou look poised to be members of the three-man midfield.
It will be interesting to see if Vanney tinkers with the dynamic formation, which can lack width at times. This was visible when he expressed frustration after a game against the New York Red Bulls last season, mentioning the team’s inability to press opposing fullbacks due to the lack of wingers as being the source of failure.
- Who rounds out the first team?
Amongst the six attacking positions, three will be occupied by the designated players (Bradley, Altidore, Giovinco). Who has the inside track to supporting the main cast? Will Johnson has fit in well; Benoit Cheyrou was an absolute revelation last year and surely cannot be benched. If there is no space for him in the midfield, where will Toronto native Jonathan Osorio fit?
More importantly, who will be given the opportunity to form the three-headed strike force alongside Giovinco and Altidore? In preseason thus far, youngsters Mo Babouli and first round pick Tsubasa Endoh have impressed in that position. Can Toronto count on these rookies to make significant impacts with the first team? The final line-up isn’t clear and that makes for some exciting storylines.
- This year brings more chemistry
Last season, Toronto FC were a newly formed team. Altidore, Giovinco and Cheyrou had just joined and there was next to no chemistry between the attacking group. Misplaced passes, sloppy movement, and bad results were prevalent for a team that was struggling to get on the same page. The beginning of the season saw Toronto struggle to get any rhythm down due to the lack of chemistry and understanding.
With an entire year spent together, fans should expect to watch a team that understands each other’s tendencies better. The passing should be crisp and the movement should be dynamic. One shouldn’t expect Toronto’s players to be very rusty to begin the season.
So what I’m saying is, this should be exciting.
- Who leaves?
Toronto FC have made it clear they are not salary cap compliant to start the season. With the addition of Drew Moor’s $300,000 salary, the team needs to off-load players before the start of the season.
Luke Moore had been training with a team in England, and Toronto would be open to letting the player go in order to shed his salary. Another individual who could leave Ontario could be Nick Hagglund. Hagglund was a favourite to former head coach Ryan Nelsen and played fantastic football in his rookie season. Last season was a struggle for Hagglund as playing time was hard to come by, and midseason pickups of Josh Williams and Ahmed Kantari, along with Eriq Zavaleta, kept him further down the depth chart.
It is not often that a Toronto team goes into the off-season with specific needs, and then actually fills those needs. Toronto sports fans know the story (sorry, Leafs fans). But Toronto FC has done just that, leaving us confused.
Should Toronto be excited? The signs definitely say so.
