TORONTO – A penalty shootout loss to the Seattle Sounders in the 2016 MLS Cup final underlined one of Toronto FC’s weaknesses.
The Reds dominated and dictated the pace of that championship game, but they couldn’t break down the Sounders’ stout defence through 120 minutes of regulation and extra time. General manager Tim Bezbatchenko knew TFC was only a few moves away from making the transition from MLS contender to MLS Cup champion in the aftermath of that heartbreaking loss. If he could find a creative playmaker – a traditional No. 10 who could unlock defences – that might prove to be the difference.
In the off-season, a midfielder by the name of Victor Vazquez – a product of Barcelona’s famous La Masia youth academy – was languishing with Cruz Azul in the Mexican first division after a successful stint with Belgian outfit Club Brugge. Bezbatchenko had been tracking Vazquez, and when he heard the Spaniard was unhappy and looking to leave Mexico, he pounced and signed him to a contract prior to the 2017 MLS campaign.
We all know what happened next. Vazquez proved to be one of the greatest signings ever made by TFC, scoring eight goals and finishing second overall in the league with 16 assists last season – he added another two goals and an assist in the playoffs. That he was somehow overlooked as a finalist for the MLS newcomer of the year award didn’t change the fact that Vazquez quickly established himself as one of the best midfielders in the league, playing a starring role in the Reds’ historic treble-winning campaign that included a 2-0 win over Seattle in the MLS Cup final at BMO Field.
So, what kind of player tops Bezbatchenko’s shopping list this off-season?
“There’s not this target position like last year [with Vazquez],” Bezbatchenko told reporters during a Wednesday conference call.
“This year it’s more about looking at a variety of players who bring something different to our team, whether that’s an ability of a player to attack 1-v-1 on the dribble … [or] whether it’s a player who can get out wide and provide better service for our team.”
The Reds are a little short on the right side after free agent Steven Beitashour signed with LAFC this month. Bezbatchenko would like to add some depth at that position, as well as sign another attacker to complement starters Sebastian Giovinco and Jozy Altidore.
“We’re pleased with our group,” Bezbatchenko said. “The question is, is there someone who can push our group to be better? Hopefully that comes with sources from within [the current roster] – Jordan Hamilton and Ben Spencer continuing to develop, and [fellow forward] Ayo Akinola breaking into the first team and getting some minutes.
“But we are looking for possibly one additional piece that can provide a different look and variation than our group that we currently have.”
With Beitashour gone, Nico Hasler, for the time being, will start on the right side. But TFC’s GM admitted he is looking for another right-fullback in the international market. Bezbatchenko declined to comment on media reports linking Toronto to Dutch defender Gregory van der Wiel, who currently plays in Serie A with Cagliari.
“We’re targeting a number of players, and I don’t want to confirm or deny who were looking at,” Bezbatchenko said. “Hopefully over the next two to three weeks we’ll have an update on where we’re at.”
While TFC travelled to Los Angeles on Monday for the opening portion of their pre-season training camp, Bezbatchenko remained in Toronto in order to continue to working on tweaking the roster. He said he’d like to have new recruits in place before Feb. 20 when the Reds play the first leg of their CONCACAF Champions League Round-of-16 series against the Colorado Rapids. He cautioned, though, that he’s in no rush to sign new players.
“I don’t think [there’s anything] imminent in terms of the next few days. Things tend to accelerate quickly, though. There’s a lot of transfer windows that are closing in South America and Europe, and I think things will begin to crystalize next week as options for players maybe become fewer and less,” Bezbatchenko explained.
Reds re-sign Ben Spencer
TFC announced Wednesday morning that they re-signed forward Ben Spencer.
A 22-year-old native of New Mexico, Spencer had his contract option declined by TFC after last season. But the club still retained his MLS rights and negotiated a new deal with him in the off-season.
Spencer spent most of the 2018 campaign with the TFC 2 farm club, scoring one goal and tallying three assists in 13 appearances in the second-tier USL. He also played in three MLS matches, collecting two assists.
“We’ve still yet to see the best of Ben Spencer, and we brought him back because we think he has a lot to prove, and he has something a little bit different in the way he plays. He has things to work on, in terms of being a target [man], but he does provide a different look than our other forwards,” Bezbatchenko said.
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