An Eastern Exodus?
Much of the focus this offseason has rightfully been on the March 7 & 14 Champions League clashes against Los Angeles Galaxy. Win or lose, Toronto FC will eventually have to come down from its CCL high and face the realities of the 2012 MLS season.
Here Toronto might find a pleasant surprise.
Changes to the MLS Cup Playoffs format in 2012 allows five teams from each conference to reach the postseason. The consensus weaker division – Eastern Conference – has experienced a mass exodus of star players this offseason and that is one of the external reasons Toronto supporters might feel encouraged heading into the regular season.
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In Trillium Cup country, Columbus winger Robbie Rogers outsourced himself from Ohio to Leeds United.
Over in New York, Red Bull gave Tim Ream wings and he used them to trade his New Jersey address for Bolton.
On Monday, while Toronto was announcing the signing of a third defender in less than a week, Faryd Mondragon left Chester for Colombia, leaving Philadelphia without a goalkeeper that featured in 27 games last year.
Then on Tuesday morning, Philadelphia lost another fan-favourite in Sebastien Le Toux. The popular attacker announced that he had been traded to Vancouver and didn’t seem too pleased about it.
Elsewhere in the East, Chicago and D.C. haven’t made a big splash over the winter but both had a good run at playoff places last season, while Montreal and New England seem the least threatening in the conference.
That leaves Houston and Kansas City as the favourites in the East. If they are locked for postseason, the question is which three teams will join them from the conference?
A lot can happen between now and MLS First Kick on March 10. This league is full of surprises. New York using deep pockets, Columbus under a crafty coach and Philadelphia with its youthful talent could fill the void left by their respective parting players and move forward.
Given how close Chicago and D.C. were to the postseason in 2011, they can’t be counted out.
Before we see what happens in 2012, this offseason has been a welcome change in that squad uncertainty is a greater issue with Toronto’s rivals than it is with the Reds.
NOTES: Toronto FC held a closed practice session Tuesday ... The Reds are off on Wednesday and will resume training Thursday ... For an updated list of 2012 Toronto FC training camp participants, click here.
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