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MLS stock report and preview: Eastern Conference

By Joshua Bowers

HARRISON, NEW JERSEY- October 28: Sean Davis #27 of New York Red Bulls, Alex Muyl #19 of New York Red Bulls and Aaron Long #33 of New York Red Bulls celebrate with tame mates after the team won the Supports Shield during the New York Red Bulls Vs Orlando City MLS regular season game at Red Bull Arena on October 28, 2018 in Harrison, New Jersey. (Photo by Tim Clayton for the New York Red Bulls)
HARRISON, NEW JERSEY- October 28: Sean Davis #27 of New York Red Bulls, Alex Muyl #19 of New York Red Bulls and Aaron Long #33 of New York Red Bulls celebrate with tame mates after the team won the Supports Shield during the New York Red Bulls Vs Orlando City MLS regular season game at Red Bull Arena on October 28, 2018 in Harrison, New Jersey. (Photo by Tim Clayton for the New York Red Bulls) /
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Toronto FC, Sebastian Giovinco
TORONTO, ON – SEPTEMBER 19: Sebastian Giovinco #10 of Toronto FC looks on during the first half of the 2018 Campeones Cup Final against Tigres UANL at BMO Field on September 19, 2018 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images) /

Toronto FC — 36 points

Stock Up

Key Additions: D L.Ciman, D/M N.DeLeon, M G.Dorsey, F T.Boyd, [M Alejandro Pozuelo]

Key Losses: F S.Giovinco, M V.Vazquez, D G.van der Wiel, D N.Hagglund, F L.Janson

Toronto had a historic 2017 campaign and followed it up with a thrilling run to the CONCACAF Champions League final. Then they had an abysmal 2018 MLS season, finishing with just 36 points. That is a 33-point drop from their, then, record-setting 69-point season of 2017.

This offseason, Toronto FC has lost the best player in MLS history (in my opinion, although I won’t argue if some suggest Robbie Keane instead), Sebastian Giovinco, in addition to several other starters and contributors. Toronto have a lot of production to replace. To add insult to all this injury, they were dispatched from CONCACAF Champions League in embarrassing fashion this week.

Despite all the players headed out, I have to believe Toronto will score more than 36 points this year, and that is all that is required for their stock to rise. Jozy Altidore has signed a new extension and a healthy season from the striker would be a big addition for the team (he is not currently match fit though). Behind Altidore will be Terrence Boyd, who was added this offseason. Boyd is basically Altidore-lite (or extra-lite may be more accurate).

Laurent Ciman was the big addition on defense this offseason. He was acquired using TAM and the top spot in the allocation order. Ciman has had a very successful MLS career with Montreal and LAFC. He is one of the best ball-playing center-backs in the league. However, time may be catching up to him. He charges forward often and attempts to force passes into tight windows.. That’s fine. He plays a good ball. Unfortunately, Ciman gets caught out of position at times and makes the team susceptible to counters. This was on display during the first leg of the CCL. I think Ciman would fit better in a back-three. That would give him the freedom to get forward and provide the team more cover at the back as he does.

Toronto also still has a number of good starters already on their squad. Jonathan Osorio was a breakout star just a season ago. Mark Delgado is an above-average box-to-box midfielder. Chris Mavinga is a potential plus center-back, and one of the very best tacklers in MLS. Justin Morrow and Auro form one of the better full-back pairings in the league. Of course, Michael Bradley is back and he’s still sitting in front of the center-backs, pulling strings.

It would be a mistake to judge Toronto solely based on what their roster looks like today. They still have an empty Designated Player slot. However, there are reports saying a deal is confirmed for Spanish playmaker, Alejandro Pozuelo. Pozuelo would reportedly join the team once Genk’s season is finished on March 17th in the Belgian league. Pozuelo seems like a traditional number-10; he is a younger, upgraded version of Victor Vazquez rather than a true Giovinco successor. Toronto still have plenty of allocation money at their disposal after receiving transfer fees for Giovinco and Vazquez, plus the TAM from the Nick Hagglund trade. Not to mention, Toronto have the top allocation spot again.

It may take thrm a month or more to settle the roster, and to find out how best to use the talent they have, but they have too much talent and room for growth to be kept down, especially once they complete a DP and TAM signing in the next week or two.

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