Toronto has emerged as perhaps the best all-around team in MLS. At the very least, they look to be the best in the East. Their defense has only permitted seven goals in eight matches and while the offense has only scored nine, the second fewest, we all know what their offense is capable of. Between Sebastian Giovinco, Michael Bradley and Jozy Altidore, Toronto FC has enough creativity and firepower to hang with the best of them. We saw it last year.
Just last year – and in previous years – the team lacked defensive support. For as many goals as they scored, they surrendered more. This off season they shored up that defense, from the back line to the midfield, where they added Will Johnson. The new-look Toronto team has the same firepower and now one of the best defenses in MLS
And they’ve done it all away from home. That’s the amazing thing. With renovations to their home ground, Toronto has played their first eight matches on the road and they have done quite well. If building off of last year is any indication of what we can expect, then Toronto is only going to improve.
For instance, last year Toronto went 11-1-5 with a +12 goal differential when at home. That’s goal differential was one of the best in the conference and they were tied for second in home wins.
Meanwhile, in away matches, they were equally as bad as they were good at home. with a record of 4-3-10 and a -12 goal differential, it was clear that they were a different team on the road then they were at home. This year, if Toronto can continue this trend, like they have every other trend, then all of MLS should be afraid. Very afraid.
Toronto returns home this week and they face FC Dallas, who are supposed to be one of the better teams, but they are also prone to the occasional implosion. It’s the perfect test to judge just how real both of these teams are, particularly Toronto, who have had so much potential these past few years but so much go tragically wrong as well. They have found so little MLS Cup successes when each season they come in as a heavy hitter.
This could finally be their year. If eight road games has gotten them in this good of a situation, then returning home will only strengthen their claim. Watch out MLS.