By Luis Martinez (Twitter @canadaluis)
Toronto, ON – Toronto FC had an amazing 2017 MLS season culminating in the maximum feet has The 2017 MLS Champions. Let’s look back at a couple of important facts from the past season and then what we can look forward for the new 2018 season
2017 Record : 2017 MLS Cup (December 9, 2017); Eastern Conference Championship (November 29, 2017); Supporters’ Shield (September 30, 2017); Sixth Canadian Championship – Voyageurs’ Cup (June 27, 2017)
20-5-9, 1st place in the Eastern Conference
TFC’s 69 points is an MLS record, surpassing LA Galaxy’s previous record of 68 points in 1998.
TFC equalized the record of most wins of 20 with Seattle Sounder’s 2014 season
2018 Preview
Coach : Greg Vanney
Key Additions : FWD Ayo Akinola (Toronto FC Academy), MID Liam Fraser (Toronto FC II), DEF Gregory van der Wiel (Cagliari, IT), GK Caleb Patterson-Sewell (Jacksonville Armada), MID Ager Aketxe (Athletic Bolbao), DEF Auro Alvaro Da Cruz Junior (Sao Paulo), GK Drew Shepherd (Draft – Western Michigan Boncos ), DEF Tim Kubel (Draft – Louisville Cardinals)
Key departures : MID Raheem Edwards (LAFC), MID Steven Beitashour (LAFC), MID Benoit Cheyrou (Retired), MID Armando Cooper (transfer option declined), MID Sergio Camargo (transfer option declined), DEF Oyvind Alseth (transfer option declined), DEF Brandon Aubrey (transfer option declined), GK Mark Pais (transfer option declined), FWD Tsubasa Endoh (transfer option declined), DEF Jason Hernandez (contract expired)
The Big Question: Where does coach Greg Vanney want to go?
The strategist from Virginia demonstrates that he has the knowledge to bring a team until the last steps and win a competition.
This 2018, can be another successful year for him, named the coach of the year in 2017 in MLS and also at CONCACAF level.
Every single time he faces the media, he is always the most calm in the place and his personality and humility can be of Vanney the perfect candidate to be in charge of the United States National Team.
With his record, Greg Vanney can change the face of the the United States in every competition, a quality that was recently lost after the last elimination tournament to qualify to the 2018 World Cup to be celebrated in Russia.
Area to keep an eye on: Forward
In the previous season, everyone wanted to know: “Who will replace this position in case the two icons, Jozy Altidore and Sebastian Giovinco, are absent?”
Greg Vanney always knows how to rotate his players and do the correct replacements in response to those absences.
Outcome: First Position
TFC is obligated to win again the National (Canadian) championship and the MLS trophy. It isn’t just a compromise for Greg Vanney, but for the full roaster, including the newcomers who were hired to provide a surplus of talent on a team that have reached another level then the rest of their rival MLS teams for it’s quality as indisputable champion and having the possibility to participate in the clubs World Cup.
The CONCACAF Champions League is a good opportunity to measuring the force of the Canadian team, trying to end the domination of the Mexican teams.
Toronto FC
MLS
