Like your local late night Chinese restaurant, we continue our grand opening with a wide-eyed variety of menu items.
Tonight, we start a way too long look at the state of each MLS franchise in a power ranking format. In this piece I’ll rank each MLS franchise (including the introductory PNW teams) based on their roster, coaching, administration, resources, youth academy and support to analyze who is in the best shape in the coming 5-7 years. This is content laden so lets get to it:
18. Toronto FC - Bouncing Checks Since 2006
Thank you Toronto. We were worried for a while.
When you were first introduced to the league with bombastic sellout crowds at your back, it looked like a Canadian team might finally become a powerhouse in an American league.
You had the sponsorship off the bat, local media truly interested in your success…and the makings of some genuine hooligan thuggery. The combination of resources and communal excitement seemed to be the foundation for sustainable success.
However, now the Reds are going into their sixth season still without a playoff appearance. The front office is in transition. The ownership is crumbling. The team has 14 players under contract for a 30 man roster…and the great eye has moved onto Portland, Salt Lake, Seattle and Vancouver.
The sellouts continue thanks to Toronto’s romantic relationship with self-pity and cheap beer (I only say it because I know you’ll like it)…but the team doesn’t seem to be accountable to the fans.
Winter Sets In
Toronto FC was certain to make their first playoff appearance in 2010 on the shoulders of Canadian stars Dwayne De Rosario and Julian De Guzman.
De Guzman’s shoulders were too thin for the MLS, and DeRo was more concerned about his back pocket.
So what will Toronto do? They’ll finally turn to a man who has cut his teeth in the MLS, a man who can find the diamond in the rough and whip his flailing roster into shape…
…Ruud Gullit?
No it’s Aron Winter, former Oranje teammate of Gullit who, like Ruud, lacks any knowledge of MLS infrastructure. At his back? German cock tease Juergen Klinsmann. On the field? Well, not much…no new players of note and a mass exodus of role players.
Hope for Spring?
No. Welcome to your future, Northern Chicago Cubs.
The academy is admittedly somewhat impressive. Kevin Aleman, Toronto academy star, looked very good for Canada in the CONCACAF U-17 tourney…and TFC already have multiple signings from the academy.
However, on the roster end of things, TFC remains too stubborn. The fact remains that the MLS is an American league where American role players are vital. Sam Cronin, Marvell Wynne and Chad Barrett are the types of players a team must have on their roster.
This is a franchise that needs to crawl before they walk. That means MLS veterans on and off the field who can eventually give way to bigger catches from opposing leagues.
Unfortunately TFC seems stuck in a early Chivas USA like mindset. Players from Europe are consistently over valued as are their administrators. With less of a connection to South America (the much more lucrative source for talent for MLS), TFC has to hold strong to their proven players and hit the mark consistently when they sign incoming talent (Pablo Vitti? Mista?).
The TFC academy and the local support are good pieces for Toronto. However it remains irrelevant as long as MLSE doesn’t adapt to the league they’ve joined. Paul Mariner is a start but that could be overshadowed by Klinsi and Winter’s names. As such Toronto will be wading in Dutch rejects until the fantastic support at BMO park begins to fade away.
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