As the 2007 Major League Soccer season draws to a close, Toronto FC's reign as expansion darlings comes to an end as well. TFC won't even be the youngest club in MLS, as the revived San Jose Earthquakes club will take over as the new kids on the North American soccer block.
Toronto FC will be just another club in the league -- and this introduction to normalcy is something the team's players and management are probably looking forward to after a wild season both on and off the field.
Any discussion of TFC's inaugural campaign has to begin with the extraordinary support shown the club by the Toronto fans. Professional soccer exploded into the city's consciousness to the tune of record merchandise sales and 301,947 fans (the third-highest attendance total in MLS) through the turnstiles at BMO Field.
The supporters showed their mettle all season long by turning every home match into a near-playoff level atmosphere replete with songs, banners, and raucous celebration of the hometown Reds. Players all around MLS were unanimous in their praise of Toronto as one of the league's top destinations.
"[The fans are] best in the league, best I've ever been in front of," said TFC defender Marvell Wynne. "It was something special. I never really realized how much fans could boost you going into the game before I came here to Toronto."
The Reds were clearly boosted by the home support. Though the team finished with a league-worst 25 points, 17 of those points came at BMO Field as TFC managed a 5-7-3 record on their home turf. Four of those wins came against playoff teams (New York, Dallas, Houston, Chicago), thus showing that at their best, Toronto could compete with any team in the league.
Unfortunately for the club, there were very few times in 2007 when the team was close to 100 percent. Injuries ravaged the Toronto roster, with several top players forced out of the lineup for extended periods of time.
Starting goalkeeper Greg Sutton and midfielder Ronnie O'Brien had their seasons ended by a concussion and a knee injury, respectively. Strikers Jeff Cunningham and Danny Dichio made a combined six starts after August 1 due to a sports hernia for Cunningham and a variety of hip, back and foot ailments for Dichio.
These injuries devastated a roster already thinned by international absences caused by the Gold Cup, Euro 2008 qualifying matches and the FIFA Under-20 World Cup. The U-20 Cup, hosted by Canada, featured several games at BMO Field, which meant that Toronto FC had a six-game road trip over the summer and couldn't even train at their home pitch.
The end result was an MLS-record 824 consecutive minutes without a goal and a 12-game winless streak that ended any hope of postseason play.
Still, Toronto gave its home fans something to cheer about in the last month of play. The Reds snapped its winless drought with a 2-1 win against New York on October 4, and the final match at BMO Field on October 20 featured the club's most exciting finish of the season. Dichio scored two minutes into stoppage time to cap off a comeback from two goals down as TFC battled back for a 2-2 draw with New England.
Head coach Mo Johnston hopes to build on this exciting conclusion as the Reds enter into their second winter of preparation. Johnston, whose contract for next season was confirmed last week, has said he is looking forward to signing just six or seven players, rather than the full roster he had to assemble last offseason. Given the team's fitness and scoring woes, it is no surprise that adding depth and goals are the coach's top priorities.
"Two backs, I need two midfielders and I need two quality strikers," Johnston said about his offseason wish list. "I think this club and its supporters need different kinds of players to excite them, and I think it will be wonderful if we can get certain guys through the door next year. We're looking and we're looking strong."
In addition to acquiring new players, TFC is also focused on developing its own talent. Johnston has said that the club will continue to build its scouting and development operations, with an eye towards developing an academy for up-and-coming Canadian players.
The Reds also have two first-round picks in the 2008 MLS SuperDraft -- the second straight year Toronto has had two first-round selections. Last year's top pick, Maurice Edu, blossomed into one of the top young players in MLS, scoring four goals and establishing himself as a favorite for the Rookie of the Year award.
Toronto FC's next season may not have the U-20 World Cup or any of the trappings that come with an inaugural season, but they can look forward to simply concentrating on the game on the pitch. If things go as planned and Johnston's offseason plans come to pass, Toronto may have just one more new event to deal with --- the MLS Cup Playoffs.
Mark Polishuk is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
