TFC Republic Weekly: August 4-10
After a week off, Toronto FC returns to action this weekend when it visits the best team in MLS in the Philadelphia Union.
Welcome to the latest edition of TFC Republic Weekly, an email newsletter that will land in the inbox of both paid subscribers and free members of TFC Republic every Monday.
This newsletter will look at what's in store over the next seven days for Toronto FC, and also get a glimpse of what to expect at TFC Republic in the coming days.
So, without further ado...
10 games left in the season for desperate TFC
Toronto FC appears destined to miss the playoffs for a fifth straight year.
TFC (5-13-6, 21 points) currently sit in 12th place in the Eastern Conference, three spots and 14 points behind the Chicago Fire who hold down the ninth and playoff berth in the East.
Charlotte FC clinched the final post-season berth in the East in 2023 with 43 points. Atlanta United booked its playoff ticket last year with 40 points. This means the ninth-place team has averaged 41.5 points over the last two campaigns.
Taking this number into account, Toronto would have to collect 22 points from now until the end of the season in order to qualify for the playoffs. To get those 22 points, the Reds would have to win seven of their remaining 10 games with one draw, while only suffering two losses.
It's a near impossible task, yet coach Robin Fraser refuses to throw in the towel.
"I think unless you can show me mathematically that it's not, I always think it's attainable. And it comes down to preparation, effort, determination, concentration and some luck. Don't discount the fact that you need some luck as well, but we can create some of our own luck based on some of the things that we do. But I'm the type who never thinks it's unattainable until it's unattainable," Fraser recently said.
John Molinaro
Toronto FC trades Tyrese Spicer to Orlando City
Last Friday, Toronto FC acquired up to $550,000 in general allocation money (GAM) from Orlando City in exchange for Tyrese Spicer. Additionally, TFC retains a sell-on percentage in the event of a future permanent transfer.
This is an interesting trade as it marks the exit of one of TFC's most promising young players. Spicer's departure to Orlando does, however, signal that another roster move is likely to follow before the MLS secondary transfer closes on Aug. 21, as Toronto has gained a sizeable amount of GAM and opened up an international roster slot with this deal.
From the sounds of it, the Reds decided to trade Spicer away and cash in on a player who wasn't keen on staying unless he received a better contract this summer. Spicer, a 24-year-old from Trinidad and Tobago, was under contract until the end of the season with club options for 2026 and 2027. Because he was on Toronto's supplemental roster, his modest wages ($83,122 US) didn't count against the team's salary cap.
“As our MLS SuperDraft pick, our intention was to continue working and growing with Tyrese. However, it was communicated that the player only wanted to continue with the club if certain contractual commitments and conditions were secured this summer. Unfortunately, the terms proposed were not acceptable to the club at this time," “GM Jason Hernandez said in a media release.
"Hence, we decided to find a mutually beneficial transaction for all parties involved. We wish Tyrese all the best in his future endeavours, and we will prepare to utilize the assets received in our future roster transactions.”
In this context, getting over half a million in GAM for a player who's been dogged by injuries and had just six goals and two assists in 42 games in all competitions for the Reds isn't such a bad piece of business.
John Molinaro
TFC vs. Philadelphia Union on Saturday
Toronto FC returns to action when it faces the Philadelphia Union at Subaru Park on Saturday (7:30 p.m. ET/Apple TV).
Philadelphia (15-5-5) sits atop the Supporters' Shield table and is in first place in the Eastern Conference, 11 spots and 29 points above Toronto. The Union are unbeaten in four league matches (three wins) and are coming off a 3-1 home win over the Colorado Rapids on July 26.
Israeli forward Tai Baribo ranks among the league's top scorers with 15 goals (accounting for 35 per cent of Philadelphia's 43 goals this season), while Kai Wagner (nine assists) and Quinn Sullivan (eight) ranks as the team's top playmakers. With just 24 goals against, Philadelphia boasts the league's best defensive record.
Toronto leads the all-time regular season series against Philadelphia with 14 wins and nine draws in 34 matches.
This is the second and final meeting of the regular season between the clubs. Toronto suffered a 2-1 home loss on May 28.
Note: I will be at Subaru Park in Philadelphia to cover the game on Saturday, so be sure to visit TFC Republic that weekend in order to check out our special on-site coverage.
RELATED READING: Newsletter || Features || Match reports || Opinion || Q&As || Videos || News || Transactions || TFC 2 ||
Stories to look out for at TFC Republic
After earning only one appearance for Toronto FC over the last two seasons, Adam Pearlman was in desperate need of regular playing time in 2025. The TFC youth academy product and TFC 2 standout was sent on loan to Halifax Wanderers back in February and thus far the centre back is impressing in the Canadian Premier League. I recently chatted with Pearlman about his experiences in the CPL and his future with Toronto FC. Look for an in-depth feature later this week.
Other stories that will be published later this week include:
- A TFC notebook column after Tuesday or Wednesday's training session.
- A piece on the four stories to watch for this week.
- An audio interview piece with Matthew De George of Daily Times Sports about Saturday's road game vs. Philadelphia.
- In-depth pre- and post-game coverage of Toronto's match vs. the Philadelphia Union.
- A special video travel blog from Philadelphia.
- A new TFC Random Thoughts column.
- A new TFC Talk interview with beat reporter James Grossi.
- Regular "TFC Tidbits" stories throughout the week.
- The reader mailbag.
- The weekly TFC 2 report.
- And much more!
TFC Republic mailbag
TFC Republic will feature a regular reader mailbag column where I answer questions from subscribers about Toronto FC and Canadian soccer in general.
I'll answer the best questions submitted to me by TFC Republic readers, so feel free to drop me an email at jmo1897@gmail.com. You can also reach out to me via Twitter.
(Top photo by Lucas Kschischang/Toronto FC)
TFC Republic has a comments section! At the very bottom of every story, there is a feature where you can post your comments, so be sure to share your thoughts and views.
TFC Republic subscribers can get up to a 20% discount on ticket prices for Toronto FC home games during the 2025 MLS regular season and the Canadian Championship.
To receive the special promo code, email me at jmo1897@gmail.com
(Please don't share promo code with non-TFC Republic subscribers).
