TORONTO – The wounds are open and the emotions raw, but Toronto FC is already planning for the 2017 Major League Soccer season.
TFC held its end-of-year, locker clean out day on Tuesday morning at their training facility in north Toronto with the memory of Saturday’s MLS Cup final loss to the Seattle Sounders at BMO Field still fresh. Before heading off on holidays, several players, coach Greg Vanney, general manager Tim Bezbatchenko and club president Bill Manning talked to local reporters one last time.
Here are the highlights from Tuesday’s media availability.
TFC gets Irwin back, but loose Bloom
This story developed after the press event, and it can be a bit confusing, but we’ll do our best to explain it.
On Tuesday afternoon, TFC lost starting goalkeeper Clint Irwin to Atlanta United FC in the league’s expansion draft. A native of North Carolina, Irwin was one of several players left unprotected by the Reds ahead of the draft and Atlanta, who alongside Minnesota United FC begin play in MLS next year, and was duly scooped up by the team from Georgia.
But later in the day, Toronto announced it reacquired Irwin in a trade with Atlanta in exchange for defender Mark Bloom and general allocation money. Obviously, TFC had a contingency plan and worked out a deal beforehand with Atlanta (and possibly Minnesota) regarding Irwin, who originally lost out due to a numbers game—TFC was only allowed to protect 11 players, and they had to use a certain amount of those spots on international players.
Bloom, a 29-year-old native of Georgia, made 44 appearances and registered four assists in all competitions since joining Toronto in 2013.
"It is really bittersweet. We fell in love with this city … But ultimately Atlanta feels a little like home, too," Bloom’s wife Emma said in a message to Sportsnet.
Getting over the hurt
Saturday’s loss was a bitter pill to swallow for TFC. The Reds dominated and dictated the pace for most of the 120 minutes of regulation and extra time. They didn’t even allow Seattle to register a single shot on target, so coming out on the wrong end of a 5-4 penalty shootout decision was especially cruel.
It was clear from the way players and staff were talking on Tuesday that it’s going to take some time to get over the hurt.
"It was sad. We felt we were the better team on the day. We felt in front of our home fans we could win. … I’d almost rather lose in regulation [than in a shootout] because then you say they were the better team than us and we lost. It’s a tough way to lose," Manning admitted.
Vanney was even more blunt.
"I thought we were the best team in the playoffs. I thought we deserved better based on our performance, but the game can be difficult and cruel sometimes if you don’t execute in key moments," TFC’s coach stated.
Canadian midfielder Jonathan Osorio looked especially emotional and as though he was fighting back tears while fielding questions from reporters.
“What else could we do in that game to win? The ball just had to go in the net. They had zero shots [on goal] and they’re the champions. What can we do?" a sombre Osorio said.
Jozy Altidore had a chance to win the game in extra time with a header off a cross from Tosaint Ricketts, but the forward was robbed on a highlight-reel save by ex-TFC goalkeeper Stefan Frei. Altidore admitted he’s still coming to terms with how Toronto lost to Seattle.
"It’s tough to come to grips with. You look at the game, the way we played, everything we put into it—maybe you can say that we just ran out of gas. … It’s really hard to accept, especially when we created so many chances," Altidore said.
Captain Michael Bradley was very philosophical about the loss.
"The thing about sports is that nothing is guaranteed. You come in every day and the only chance you have is to put everything you have on the line. There’s no promises. There’s no guarantee that just because you do that you get something in return. That’s not the way it works. But that’s also the beauty of sports," Bradley offered.
Only minor tweaks needed for 2017
So, what does Toronto FC have to do to improve next season?
The message from management and players on Tuesday is that there is a solid core in place, and that there’s no need to blow up the roster or make major changes. It’s all about making a few small tweaks.
"We’re talking about a couple of pieces that we think can enhance our group, and not necessarily change our group," Vanney stated.
Bradley echoed his coach’s sentiments.
"Even if we had won on Saturday night, you always have to find the right ways to improve, you always have to find the right ways to strengthen yourself. We feel very good about the foundation that has been laid. I think in terms of [this] group we have the mentality, the balance in terms of experience and young players, and quality. It’s all been taken in the right direction," Bradley stated.
Bezbatchenko explained he’ll have a better idea of what specific moves he might make come January.
"I feel like we have a complete roster this year in a lot of ways. … There are some areas where we’re stronger and deeper than others; I think we’re going to have to wait through the expansion draft, the re-entry draft and the free agency process [and] through the winter period … until we really know what type of holes we have," Bezbatchenko said.
Altidore already has a request.
"To be completely honest, I think we could use a little bit more of a creative player. That will take us a little bit higher than we are right now. We’re a very good team but if we have another piece who is creative, whether it be a winger, or a creative player who can in his own way help us decide games, that would be great," Altidore offered.
He might get his wish, as it sounds as though TFC have a bit of salary cap space and allocation money with which to work.
"In the off-season, we have some additional [targeted allocation money] now that we’re going to use, and we’ve gone out on a couple of scouting trips this year already. [Bezbatchenko] was over in Europe an down in South America, so there are some targets we’re going to look at to try and improve the team," Manning explained.
Giovinco takes aim at the Argos
Star striker Sebastian Giovinco raised the issue over the quality of the pitch at BMO Field adversely affecting his performances late in the season and in the playoffs.
Giovinco was subbed off the last two home playoff games, including Saturday’s MLS Cup. The Italian pointed out that one difference between the 2016 campaign and last year was that TFC now shares the ground with the CFL’s Argonauts. The Grey Cup was also staged at BMO Field in late November.
Speaking through a translator, Giovinco talked about why he wasn’t as productive at home, and suggested that the Argonauts moving into BMO Field this season changed the condition of the pitch and might have caused him to cramp up. The Italian said he took his complaints to management, who responded that they were confident they could improve the playing surface for 2017.
Giovinco scored six goals and added four assists in six playoff games (all as a starter) this year. Three of those goals came at Yankee Stadium in a 5-0 win over NYCFC, and two of his assists came away from home.
The Italian, who just completed the second season of his five-year contract, stated he has no interest in signing with a European club until he wins an MLS Cup with TFC.
Manning: Bradley will be back
Like Giovinco, Bradley is often the focus of transfer speculation, and European clubs have in the past reached out to TFC about buying the American international.
The winter transfer window will open again in January, which means teams can make inquiries and field possible transfer offers for TFC’s captain. Manning, though, said he expects Bradley to return.
"Michael, I’m sure, is going to draw interest, as is [Jozy Altidore and Sebastian Giovinco] and other players. … You never know, but yes, of course, our plan is that he would be here. He did have some interest [before] but as of right now I haven’t got a phone call," Manning said.
Future of Bez and Vanney
Both Vanney and Bezbatchenko have one year remaining on their current deals, but Manning has already spoken to them about signing contact extensions, and will continue those talks next week.
"All of us collectively want to be here, and we want to see this thing through for a long time. … I’ll sit down with those guys and absolutely make sure they’re still here," Manning stated.
Johnson and Cheyrou could return
Canadian Will Johnson is out of contract and an unrestricted free agent, while fellow midfielder Benoit Cheyrou had his contract option declined by TFC earlier this week—although the club still retains his rights and is free to sign him to a new deal at a lower salary.
Bezbatchenko said there’s a chance that both players will return to Toronto next year.
"Will is in a unique position in that [he can test the free agency waters], so we’re talking to Will. We had our meeting today, and I’ll continue talking to his agent," Bezbatchenko offered.
TFC’s GM also met with Cheyrou on Tuesday, and said the Frenchman is someone they want to bring back.
"We didn’t pick up [his] option, but there’s a lot of things we can do to discuss a new contract and what that looks like. Hopefully, we can move [talks with Johnson and Cheyrou] forward over the next days and weeks," Bezbatchenko said.
Cooper a full-time member of TFC
Bezbatchenko confirmed that the club now owns midfielder Armando Cooper.
Cooper joined TFC as part of a mid-season loan from Arabe Unido in his native Panama. As part of the loan deal, Toronto had the option to buy him on a permanent basis from the Panamanian club at the end of the MLS campaign.
"We exercised the option on Armando’s loan, so he’ll be back next year. Armando is here to stay," Bezbatchenko said.
"He brought something that helped our team mid-season that is rare in our league, so we’re excited to keep him and have him as part of our roster next year."
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