MLS Multiplex
Fansided

MLS: Every team’s best starting XI for 2019

By Joshua Bowers

ATLANTA, GA - DECEMBER 08: Atlanta United players celebrate with the Philip F. Anschutz Trophy after winning the MLS Cup against the Portland Timbers at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, GA. Atlanta won 2-0. (Photo by Austin McAfee/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA - DECEMBER 08: Atlanta United players celebrate with the Philip F. Anschutz Trophy after winning the MLS Cup against the Portland Timbers at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, GA. Atlanta won 2-0. (Photo by Austin McAfee/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
23 of 24
Next
Panama’s Independiente Jorman Aguilar (L) vies for the ball with Canada’s Toronto and MLS’ Laurent Ciman during their Concacaf Champions League football match at Agustin Muquita Sanchez Stadium, in La Chorrera city, Panama, on February 19, 2019. (Photo by Luis ACOSTA / AFP) (Photo credit should read LUIS ACOSTA/AFP/Getty Images)
Panama’s Independiente Jorman Aguilar (L) vies for the ball with Canada’s Toronto and MLS’ Laurent Ciman during their Concacaf Champions League football match at Agustin Muquita Sanchez Stadium, in La Chorrera city, Panama, on February 19, 2019. (Photo by Luis ACOSTA / AFP) (Photo credit should read LUIS ACOSTA/AFP/Getty Images) /

Toronto FC

5-4-1

GK Alex Bono

RWB Auro

CB Drew Moor

CB Laurent Ciman

CB Chris Mavinga

LWB Justin Morrow

CM Michael Bradley

CM Marky Delgado

RM Nick DeLeon

LM Jonathan Osorio

ST Jozy Altidore

Boy. I’m writing this article after the disastrous 4-1 loss in the CONCACAF Champions League opener. Toronto looked nothing like the team that took that tournament by storm a year ago. Sebastian Giovinco is the best player in MLS history (in my opinion, I will not argue against Robbie Keane though). Toronto have yet to replace him. Wait…

[I Check twitter at 11:33 pm EST 2/25/19. Sees tweet from Duane Rollins of sportspodcastingnetwork.com which says Alejandro Pozuelo’s deal to TFC is “99% complete.” Checks Toronto FC’s official account. Nothing yet. I continue writing article as is].

The defense was terrible in CCL last week. Laurent Ciman was supposed to solidify the defense. However, he got caught too far up the pitch. LAFC fans would confirm this may be a problem for him. My answer is simple. Return to a three center-back line-up. Ciman would have more freedom to get forward playing with Moor and Mavinga. Plus, Auro and Justin Morrow are both more natural wing-backs than full-backs.

Toronto have an abundance of central midfielders; they need dangerous players who can operate on the wing. With the cast of characters at my disposal, those wide players are going to have to be Nick DeLeon and Jonathan Osorio. Osorio is possibly Toronto’s most important player. He broke out at in the Champions League last year, winning the Golden Boot, but he needs to continue developing into a star player. I have him on the left in this line-up, but he will cut inside and play like a second forward. DeLeon will provide width on the right and cover for Auro at the back.

Bradley and Delgado will be the central midfielders. They are obviously accustomed to those roles. Jozy Altidore becomes the key player in this formation. This team lacks attacking quality and he will have to do a lot of work holding up play and finding opportunities.

Home/MLS News