2022 Schedule
Armchair Analyst's Breakdown
- Strength: Their high-end attacking talent, especially when Lorenzo Insigne arrives in July, should be off the charts.
- Weakness: Literally everything else – goalkeeper, center backs, fullbacks, d-mid, depth – has a massive question mark.
Key Departures
- Jozy Altidore: Jozy Altidore’s time in Toronto has come to an unceremonious end with a contract buyout following seven memorable seasons. The highly-decorated USMNT center forward was integral to lengthy success, with his best season coinciding with their treble-winning 2017 campaign. He is TFC’s second all-time leading scorer, though has struggled with injuries lately.
- Yeferson Soteldo: Unlike Altidore, Yeferson Soteldo did not have a long, storied career in Toronto. The talented Venezuelan international winger put up half-decent numbers – three goals and 10 assists in 24 games (19 starts) – but wasn’t a fit tactically or off the field. Soteldo originally arrived from Brazil’s Santos and is now at Mexico’s Tigres.
- Richie Laryea: Canadian national team defender Richie Laryea was transferred to Nottingham Forest in England’s Championship for $1 million this winter. The right back was a revelation after signing with Toronto in 2019 and rode that form into a long-desired career aim.
- Omar Gonzalez: Part of Toronto’s mass exodus, former USMNT center back Omar Gonzalez departed this winter. He reunited with former national team coach Bruce Arena in New England. Gonzalez is gone, Auro is gone, Laryea is gone, Kemar Lawrence is about to be gone… TFC’s backline is completely revamped for 2022.
Key Acquisitions
- Lorenzo Insigne: Perhaps the biggest signing of the offseason across the league, Italy national team starter Lorenzo Insigne will join Toronto on a free transfer in July when his contract with Napoli expires. He’s still a bonafide star in Europe and will be 31 when he debuts for TFC, at the tail-end of his prime. Insigne has been at Napoli his entire career, even captaining them during a Serie A title race in 2021-22.
- Carlos Salcedo: Toronto’s other DP acquisition, Mexico international Carlos Salcedo, will be key in Bob Bradley’s complete overhaul of TFC. The center back will be a defensive pillar, partnering either Chris Mavinga or Shane O’Neill in a completely new-look defense. Salcedo was with Mexican giants Tigres UANL, acquired in essentially a straight-swap for Yeferson Soteldo. The 28-year-old has also spent time with Fiorentina and Eintracht Frankfurt in Europe.
- Full roster
Projected Starting XI
- Note: Insigne arrives in July and will assume a starting position, likely at wide forward.
Predictions
- Charles Boehm: 9th in East
- Tom Bogert: 9th in East
- Matt Doyle: 8th in East
- David Gass: 8th in East
- Sam Jones: 7th in East
- Joe Lowery: 7th in East
- Greg Seltzer: 5th in East
- Andrew Wiebe: 10th in East
