TFC Republic Weekly: June 9-15
Toronto FC has dug itself into a very big hole through the first half of the MLS season and might not be able to climb out of it.
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...
Toronto FC has dug itself into a very big hole
Toronto FC is in serious danger of extending its playoff drought after earning just three wins and 13 points through the first 17 matches of the 34-game MLS campaign. A 2-0 home defeat to Charlotte FC on May 31 was the Reds’ third in a row and fourth in five games. Not a good way to end the month just before going on their break.
“We have some work to do and we're going to do some work in this break, and I would like to think that we'll be a different group when you see us again,” coach Robin Fraser said after the Charlotte loss.
A quick glance at the table reveals that Toronto has the third-worst attacking record in the Eastern Conference with just 18 goals in 17 games. That’s an average of 1.06 goals per game. The Reds have been shut out on seven occasions in league play, or 41 per cent of the time. TFC ranks fourth from the bottom in the entire league in total shots (165) and is tied for sixth-worst in terms of shots on target (56), per fbref.com.
TFC (3-10-4, 13 points) sit second-last in the Eastern Conference, propped up only by CF Montreal, the second-worst team in the overall standings. Toronto occupies 14th place in the East, five spots and 12 points below the Chicago Fire who hold down the ninth and final playoff berth in the conference.
Can the Reds make up the ground over the second half of the season? Sure. Anything is possible, especially in MLS. Teams have been known to go on very hot runs in the back half of the campaign after a stuttered start to the season. But the hole that Toronto has to dig itself out of is a big one.
In 2024, Atlanta United had to win 10 games and earn 40 points to secure the final playoff berth in the East. In 2023, Charlotte won 10 games and collected 43 points to lock down ninth place. Based on an average of 41.5 points over the past two years that the ninth team in the East needed to qualify for the playoffs, TFC would have to earn at least 29 points from now until October to book a spot in the post-season.
John Molinaro
TFC now off until June 25 thanks to postponement
TFC's hiatus is going to be a bit longer than expected.
The Reds were originally scheduled to be off until playing away to Los Angeles FC on Friday, June 13. But MLS announced last Friday that TFC's visit to Los Angeles has been rescheduled for Wednesday, October 8 at 10:30 p.m. ET. The new date is due to LAFC’s recent qualification to the FIFA Club World Cup
Due to the postponement, Toronto FC now returns to action on Wednesday, June 25 when it welcomes the New York Red Bulls to BMO Field (7:30 p.m./TSN & Apple TV).
The rescheduling of the LAFC road game benefits Toronto FC. Forward Deandre Kerr and fullback Kobe Franklin were dealing with high ankle sprains prior to this break. Defender Henry Wingo has been battling injuries all season and missed the Charlotte contest with a lower body issue. Italian DP Federico Bernardeschi also sat out the Charlotte game due to a minor muscle strain. The postponed match now gives those players some extra time to get fully fit and healthy.
The postponement also means fewer games missed for players away on international duty. Captain Jonathan Osorio and wingback Richie Laryea have been called up by Canada for the Concacaf Gold Cup. Midfielder Deybi Flores will also represent Honduras and winger Tyrese Spicer will play for Trinidad and Tobago at the tournament.
Although the Gold Cup doesn't kick off until June 14, the aforementioned players more than likely would have been expected to be in camp with their national teams and would have missed TFC's originally scheduled match in Los Angeles.
John Molinaro
Lazar Stefanovic now part of supplemental roster
Centre back Lazar Stefanovic reached a bit of a special milestone in Toronto FC’s 2-0 home loss to Charlotte FC on May 31.
Stefanovic's 77-minute performance marked his seventh league appearance of the season. In doing so, Stefanovic, an 18-year-old from Oakville, Ont., was officially moved onto Toronto's supplemental roster, a club spokesperson confirmed to TFC Republic. Stefanovic was previously designated as an “off-roster homegrown player.”
Just as a refresher: An off-roster homegrown is a player who has signed a first-team contract as a homegrown player but does not occupy a regular roster position (within roster slots 1-30). Off-roster homegrown players used to be ineligible for MLS competitions, unless they signed a short-term agreement – and they could only be signed to four short-term deals per season. This unique rule let teams continue to cultivate young talent without having it cost them a roster spot or salary cap room.
Under the changes introduced by MLS in January, off-roster homegrown players became eligible to play in as many as six MLS games this season. A player has to be 21 or younger during a calendar year to be eligible for an off-roster homegrown player slot. Once he is moved by the club to its senior or supplemental roster, he can’t move back to being an off-season homegrown.
So, when Stefanovic exceeded his six appearances by playing in the Charlotte game, the club placed him on its supplemental roster into an open slot.
Had the youngster remained as an off-roster homegrown, he would have been ineligible to play in any more MLS matches for the rest of this season. Now, as a member of the supplemental roster, he can play in as many games as needed. Considered one of the club's brightest young prospects, Stefanovic will get a chance to continue his development with the first team now that the restrictions on his appearances have been lifted.
As a member of the supplemental roster, Stefanovic’s modest wages (he made $83,307.00 US in 2024) don’t count against the salary cap.
John Molinaro
CanMNT vs. Ivory Coast in Canadian Shield
The Canadian men's team opened its Canadian Shield campaign with a bang in earning a 4-2 win over Ukraine at BMO Field on Saturday.
Jonathan David bagged a brace, Promise David scored in his national team debut, and Tajon Buchanan had a goal and two assists for Canada who put forth its finest performance since Jesse Marsch took over as coach last May.
New Zealand beat Ivory Coast in Saturday’s other game
The inaugural Canadian Shield sees Canada, Ukraine, Ivory Coast and New Zealand compete in a four-match tournament with all games at BMO Field, one of next year’s World Cup venues. Canada takes on Ivory Coast on Tuesday in its final match of the competition. It's also the first ever meeting between the two nations.
Marsch said after the Ukraine win that he could roll out “an entirely new group" for the match against Ivory Coast, so it'll be interesting to see who starts and which players will be rested ahead of this summer's Concacaf Gold Cup.
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Stories to look out for at TFC Republic
A product of TFC’s youth academy, centre back Lazar Stefanovic signed his first professional contract with TFC 2 on June 30, 2023. The next day the youngster joined the senior side on a short-term loan and made his MLS debut in the Reds’ 1-0 loss to Real Salt Lake at BMO Field. Considered one of Toronto FC's brightest prospects, the 18-year-old Stefanovic is now a full-fledged member of the first team and has seen regular action in MLS this season. I recently chatted one-on-one with Stefanovic. Look for my feature story in the coming days
Other stories that will be published later this week include:
- A feature story on TFC defender Zane Monlouis.
- 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.
- In-depth pre- and post-game coverage of the Canadian men's team's match vs. Ivory Coast.
- 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 Casey Telford)
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