MLS Canadian Preview: Toronto FC

Toronto FC

Toronto is coming off a league-worst 23-point season and are in the midst of an overhaul both on the pitch and in the front office.  The retirement earlier this week of former German National and team Captain Torsten Frings may have freed up some salary cap room for the club to work with but it has yet to be utilized.

Kevin Payne was hired as the clubs new president and general manager, and has begun the process of making his mark in Toronto.  His biggest move to date may be the hiring of head coach Ryan Nelsen.   Nelson was still under contract as a player with English Premier League club QPR at the time of the hiring leading to some questions about his availability, but any concerns have since been answered.

Key off-seasons acquisitions for Toronto FC include,  M Kyle Bekker, F Emery Welshman, D Danny Califf, D Gale Agbossoumonde, M Júlio César, GK Joe Bendik, F Justin Braun.  The biggest personell loses losses for the club on the pitch are Frings,  F Ryan Johnson (traded to the Portland Timbers),and F Eric Hassli (traded to Dallas FC) .

Toronto are trying to build the club into “Canada’s team” and are building around young Canadians such as Kyle Bekker and former Sigma FC youth academy teammate Emery Welshman.  Both should play heavy minutes in their rookie campaigns and both have the versatility to show up on different parts of the field.

How well Nelsen transitions from a player to his first coaching job will be a key for Toronto this season, and any success the club may have will depend on it.

The clubs defense should be much better in 2013, but that probably wont  be enough to keep them out of the Eastern Conference basement and out of post season play yet again.