TORONTO – If you had told Maple Leafs Sports and Entertainment CEO Tim Leiweke in April that Toronto FC would miss the playoffs again in 2014, he probably wouldn’t have liked that. After all, he had just been instrumental in committing nearly $100 million on two player contracts.
“Mark it down, write it down, film it,” Leiweke announced nearly one year ago. “We’re going to turn TFC around and we’re going to make the playoffs next year.”
But seven months later, after all the money and showmanship, TFC once again sits outside the Eastern Conference playoff picture at 11-14-8. Only one match remains before it’s time to clear out the lockers.
WATCH: Toronto FC captain Steven Caldwell was blunt Tuesday when he said his club “let the city down” after missing the MLS playoffs for the eighth consecutive season.
On the bright side, TFC experienced its most successful season on the pitch with 11 wins – five more than the previous season. But a terrible stretch that included a World Cup break curbed any chance of arriving at the promised land.
After threatening to lead the eastern conference in the early going, former head coach Ryan Nelsen guided the club to a 1-1-1 record in June, followed by a nightmare July that included one win, three losses and three draws.
Nelsen was replaced by academy boss Greg Vanney – the club’s ninth coach in eight seasons – at the end of August.
“I think everyone would agree – the coaches, the players – that over the last 12 or so games, it hasn’t been good enough, at least for making a run in MLS,” general manager Tim Bezbatchenko said at the time.
But the bleeding never stopped – it only got worse.
Vanney, despite his best efforts to affect change, could only squeeze two more wins out of the players before a draw to rival Montreal officially eliminated the team from playoff contention.
WATCH: TFC coach Vanney had a long answer when asked how he thinks the club can find success and earn a playoff berth in the future.
Better luck next time, as it were.
However, unlike previous woeful seasons, there are some bright spots to look forward to and one gleaming off-season issue that Vanney wants to solve.
BMO FIELD EXPANSION
Toronto FC’s all-time record in MLS is 62 wins, 119 losses and 74 draws. Despite that, MLSE and the City of Toronto have decided to go ahead with a massive expansion that will add a second level to the east grandstand and nearly 8,000 more seats.
It remains to be seen whether or not those tickets will be sold. Toronto FC consistently announced sellout crowds of 22,591 throughout 2014 despite large swaths of empty seats.
If the MLS side does manage to figure out a recipe for on-field success, a “new” BMO Field could be one of the most exciting stadiums in the league. It also creates a better home for both the men’s and women’s national teams.
ACADEMY IS WORKING
Although still in its relative infancy, the Toronto FC Academy based at the KIA Training Ground is beginning to produce talent needed to take TFC to the next level.
Brampton native Doneil Henry, 21, was the first-ever graduate to make the leap to the first team. Outside of some memorable lapses, he’s been a rock in defense, earning multiple calls from Benito Floro and Canada’s national squad.
But Henry’s literally the tip of the iceberg.
Another Brampton native, goalkeeper Quillan Roberts, and Toronto natives Manuel Aparicio and Jordan Hamilton are turning heads. All three were sent on loan to USL-Pro affiliate club Wilmington to aid in their development. Hamilton did well enough to be recalled, score for TFC in a friendly against Tottenham Hotspur and days later fly to Portugal to join second division club C.D. Trofense for another loan stint.
Last week, Aparicio and Hamilton earned their first caps for the national team – albeit in a 1-0 friendly loss to Colombia.
Meanwhile, down the ladder in third division League 1 Ontario, the TFC Academy team went undefeated (10 wins, 5 draws, 0 losses) over the summer to clinch the title in the league’s inaugural season.
The champions were helped in scoring by Molham Babouli’s league-leading 25 goals and the leadership of captain Chris Mannella, who has since been promoted to the MLS squad.
More players are in the pipeline. Some will sign MLS contracts, while others won’t be so lucky. Regardless, a professional soccer organization is finally capitalizing on the wealth of athletic talent in Ontario. With more children playing soccer rather than hockey, according to Statistics Canada, it has truly been an untapped resource until now.
WILL THEY STAY OR WILL THEY GO?
Aside from the coaching carousel, Toronto FC has an alarming history of high roster turnover during the off-season. To be fair, it’s not uncommon in MLS. However, no club has been as consistent as TFC at introducing new faces after a failed campaign.
According to Vanney, much of the senior team is expected to return for preseason in January. Others, like star strikers Jermain Defoe and Gilberto – both linked to transfer speculation – may or may not return.
WATCH: Toronto FC Brazilian striker and designated player Gilberto denied rumours of a transfer in the off-season, saying he loves the city but that his fate was “out of his hands”.
“It’s not even up to me. It’s up to the club, the GM and the coach about next season and what they want to do with the team.”
The club insists the high rate of off-season turnover experienced in the past will be reduced this time around.
“We need to start getting people who are in this for the long haul,” the 40-year-old added.
WATCH: Toronto FC head coach Greg Vanney replied Tuesday to transfer speculation by insisting he only wanted players at the club who were committed to the future of the team.
Once the season ends, Major League Soccer will brace for the expansion draft to welcome both Orlando City SC and New York City FC to the fold. After that, it will be a roster-building race to the opening of training camp in early 2015.
Toronto FC’s ninth season awaits. How it plays out is up to the club.
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