Running Through the 6 With my Woes

Toronto FC's Defensive Troubles

Despite making the playoffs for the first time in franchise history, Toronto FC’s 2015 season can hardly be viewed as a success. In a league where 60% of teams qualify for the postseason, merely making it there doesn’t cut it. Their regular season record wasn't spectacular, either. TFC spent more on wages than any other MLS team and had a perfectly average record to show for it (15 wins, 15 losses, 4 draws and a goal differential of zero.) 

On the bright side, Toronto tied for second-most goals scored in MLS with 58. Unfortunately, TFC posted the joint-worst goals against total in the league, also with 58. Their defense clearly weighed down their prolific attack. Placing the blame solely on the Toronto’s back four, however, would be unfair. The unstable shape and composition of the midfield lead to as many conceded goals as the shaky backline. Individuals and Greg Vanney's fluctuating tactical plan are both to blame for the team's unsound midfield. Here I will look at some of the team's disorganization and what they can improve on heading into the 2016 season.

When operating as a 4-4-2 - TFC’s most common formation - the central midfield pairing of Michael Bradley and Benoit Cheyrou often left the back line exposed. Though a skillful passer and dribbler, Cheyrou lacks the athleticism to cover Bradley and the fullbacks while they’re pushed high up the field. Here’s the first goal in that began the rout in Toronto’s first ever playoff game:

Clearly Cheyrou isn’t exclusively at fault here but his indecision and lack of pace put his centerbacks in a nearly impossible situation. Miscommunication between Cheyrou and Jackson caused neither player to make a serious challenge on the ball or track their respective runners. Ultimately, they are both taken out of the play when Reo-Coker plays a simple pass out left to Piatti.

With how high up Toronto had pushed, Williams and Kantari shouldn’t have dropped so deep. Doing so left them disconnected from the midfield and allowed Piatti and Bernier ample room to operate. This is indicative of poor communication between the centerbacks and the rest of the team while in possession and left them vulnerable to a counterattack before they had even turned the ball over. Without a wider view of the field it’s impossible to tell where they were when the play started so this criticism may not be fair.

Collen Warner, Toronto FC’s other primary defensive midfield option, played as more of a prototypical #6 than Cheyrou. Warner was more willing to get stuck in a hard tackle or forcefully break up a potential counterattack. Despite playing only the ninth most minutes on the team, he lead Toronto with seven yellow cards. This is not to say Warner completely solidified TFC’s defense. His poor marking and positioning often lead to quality scoring chances for the opposition. Here, Warner loses Oduro when the striker simply holds up his run to open himself up for a cutback in the box from Romero:

This goal came with Toronto leading 2-0 and 20 minutes remaining in the match which explains their lack of initial pressure on the ball. They were sitting deep to try and sure up their defense. After a simple switch, Montreal easily bypassed TFC’s midfield and ran at their backline. Findley fails to track back which leaves Morrow on an island against Oyongo. Concerned about Oyongo’s quickness, Morrow gave the leftback space to pick out a pass. Romero then catches Josh Williams flat-footed and finds a wide-open Oduro who calmly tucks ball into the net. Amidst these early breakdowns, Warner appears to have Oduro tightly marked. It’s not until Kantari leaves Jackson-Hamel to close down Romero that Warner loses track of the Impact striker.

Though Toronto hung on to win that game 2-1, giving up such a soft goal while defending a lead late was indicative of the squad's defensive troubles in 2015. Miscommunications between defenders and midfielders like these were all too common throughout the season. The lack of a consistent starting eleven and midfield shape prompted these breakdowns.

Injuries and international call-ups may have forced some of the instability, but Greg Vanney’s team selection did the side no favors. By my count, Toronto FC lined up in no fewer than nine different formations to start games through 2015. Most MLS teams rarely stray outside the three or four formations standard in modern soccer. There’s nothing wrong with tinkering but after the revelation to play Giovinco up top with Altidore these experiments yielded few results. Rather, Vanney’s lack of a clear tactical plan squelched any chance at the midfield and defense developing chemistry. So how can Toronto become a more consistent team in 2016 and make a deeper run into the playoffs?

Toronto has upgraded at several positions this offseason but the concern is that their woes run deeper than personnel. The recent trade for goalkeeper Clint Irwin, who anchored Colorado’s stingy defense, should keep the backline more organized and contribute more shot-stopping. Steven Beitashour represents a large upgrade over Jackson at rightback. Drew Moor will undoubtedly improve their centerback situation. Will Johnson's role on the team is currently unclear but certainly would be far more useful defensively than, say, Robbie Findley. 

Ultimately, though, unless Greg Vanney sticks to one coherent identity and structure for the team, any combination of eleven players he puts on the field are doomed from the start. If 2016 sees another rocky season full of defensive breakdowns, inconsistent squads and an early playoff exit, I believe Toronto FC's front office should look in a different direction for a head coach.