2023 MLS Season Preview: Toronto FC

Win or bust in 2023

Photo by Zia Syed on Unsplash

2022 record: 9W 7D 18L -17GD 34Pts (13^th in East)

Playoffs: Did not qualify

Notable additions: GK Tomás Romero, MF Víctor Vázquez, DF Matt Hedges, FW Adama Diomande, DF Raoul Petretta, GK Sean Johnson, DF Sigurd Rosted, MF Brandon Servania

Notable subtractions: MF Luca Petrasso, GK Quentin Westberg, GK Alex Bono, CB Doneil Henry, Noble Okello, CB Chris Mavinga, Auro Jr., FW Achara, LW Jacob Shaffelburg, DF Domenico Criscito, MF Jayden Nelson, FW Jesús Jiménez

2022 NextPro: 12W 2SOW 1SOL 9L 41pts (2^nd in East) – lost conference final

2023 Elevator Pitch: A team unlikely to be mediocre – this will either be a glorious success or a complete tire fire. Anyone that tells you that they know which way it will go is lying to you.

Why it will go right?

This team has talent. Lots and lots of talent.

That’s especially the case in the attack, where the Italians showed flashes in 2022 of what they might be. And what they might be is a double headed, MVP-calibre attack.

Federico Bernardeschi was arguably better than Lorenzo Insigne last year and, well, we’re talking about Insigne. There’s a belief in MLS circles that big MLS signings tend to play better in their second season. If that’s the case with these two then watch out.

Underrated in 2022 was the defensive improvement TFC had after the big signings arrived. I mean, there was only so much that they could do on what was a bad team, but it wasn’t just on the attack that they added to TFC.

Ultimately the back-line wasn’t good enough last year though. That led to an overhaul. MLS veterans were brought in to add some predictability to the proceedings. Sean Johnson is likely the most important of the additions. TFC was horrendous at the keeper position for the last two seasons so any upgrade is good, but in Johnson they have added one of the league’s best.

In short, Bob Bradley has the high end talent he needs to take this team back to the top.

Why it will go wrong?

The talent runs very thin.

Very.

No, very. Like, non-existent. It seems impossible that TFC can compete on more than one front in 2023. This is not likely a Shield team and the faster they can get out of the Leagues Cup the better. Even the Voyageurs Cup might be an ask too much.   

They simply cannot afford to risk an injury to one of the key players.

Key players that are mostly on the wrong side of 30, it should be noted.

The depth issue is particularly evident at full-back. They barely have any. One, Ritchie Laryea, is probably leaving in June, and the other, Raoul Petretta, is unproven in MLS and coming off a bad year in Turkey.

They need someone unexpected to step up. And the team doesn’t have a great history of that.

Key player

Jonathan Osorio.

Oso is often forgotten, but always missed when he is injured. Which he has been way too much the last couple years. However, no one can argue that when he is in the line-up he helps TFC win.

He did in 2022. Really. TFC was playing at a playoff pace last year when Oso played. They were a Wooden Spoon team without him. If he’s healthy all year – a big if – he could have a career season.

Unsung player

Lukas MacNaughton.

He had an inconsistent rookie season in MLS, but seemed to grow into his role as the season grew longer. Yes, the defence was horrible last year, but there is a theory out there that a lot of that had to do with Alex Bono’s complete inability to marshal a back-line.

No one expects anything from MacNaughton. He’s not a starter. However, if TFC’s depth issue is addressed you would imagine that it will be because players like MacNaughton took a step.

The kid can head a ball off a set piece too.

The Ceiling

It’s MLS Cup. It’s absolutely not hyperbole to say that this TFC team could win the championship. The top end talent is that good. Also, goals win games in MLS. The top attacking teams win championships. That’s not a theory, it’s backed up by results. It’s a league that rewards attacking power.

As I said above, I can’t see them going for a Shield – they will probably rest players at times to try and hit October healthy. But, if they role into the playoffs as a 3-4 seed and get hot they will be dangerous.

The Floor

With nine teams making the playoffs now it’s difficult to see TFC not getting in, but the depth issue could make the playoff run difficult.

If no one steps up to give the team depth, I could see them limping into a low playoff seed and crashing out in the first round while high profile players sulk there way to the bank to cash their enormous paycheques.  

The non-Canadian MLS preview will be available to Patreon supporters and paid Substack subscribers on Feb 23.