Too much too soon?

Hopes were high for Toronto FC earlier this year. In Ryan Nelsen they had an exciting new manager, one who many believed capable of taking Toronto to the MLS title. Then there was the $100 million makeover the club underwent. Maple Leaf Sport & Entertainment decided to inject some cash into the club, which in turn saw Michael Bradley, Julio Cesar and Jermain Defoe all arrive at the BMO Field. Sadly these hopes were misplaced

Nine wins from 24 matches compounded Nelsen to the managerial scrap heap, becoming just another casualty of the high pressure environment. Greg Vanney came in and was even worse than his predecessor. Nonetheless, it seems like he will be given another crack of the whip next year. 

Nelsen’s gone and it looks ever more likely that Jermain Defoe’s time in Canada is coming to an end, his former Spurs teammate was the only reason he choose Toronto.. His 11 goals in 19 games proved that he can still cut it in the competitive leagues, and at just age 32 there is plenty left in his tank. He has experienced the MLS and realised it is not yet for him, whether he returns to the league when it is older is unbeknownst. 

The problem is that next season more teams will be joining the MLS, most notably the Manchester City financed New York City FC, who will have both David Villa and Frank Lampard in their ranks. Combine their arrival with sides like Seattle Sounders, LA Galaxy – the favourites with http://www.bet365.com/news/en/betting to win this years MLS Cup – DC United and New England Revolution, and it looks even more unlikely that Toronto are going to make the playoffs let alone claim an MLS Cup.

So what can they do?

• Build around Bradley
  • Keeping Michael Bradley is imperative. The midfielder showed just how good he was at this years World Cup, and Telecharger Metatrader 4 where alongside Jermaine Jones he was an immovable object in the centre of the park. Here is a guy with experience and talent, Toronto need to exploit that. Let Bradley know how important he is, a happy footballer is a better footballer.
• Make the most of the draft
  • Toronto are in a very fortuitous position when it comes to the 2015 Draft. They have the sixth, ninth and eleventh pick of the first round. Hopefully, and if this is a soccer club worth its salt they should, the scouting team already know who to go for. If Toronto pick the correct youngsters in this draft they can build from the ground up, rather than what they did this year which was to throw cash at the problem and hope it fixes itself.
• Keep Defoe
  • Although unlikely it is not to far away from the realm of possibility. Toronto don’t have any obligation to get rid of Defoe and could force him to stay. Granted he will be unhappy, but a player of that quality in a league somewhat lacking in competitiveness it doesn’t matter, he’s still going to score a nice amount of goals.

It was definitely too much too soon for Toronto FC but there is a bedrock in place for improvement.