TORONTO – With Decision Day looming, Toronto FC are closer to determining who they will meet when the Audi 2017 MLS Cup Playoffs kickoff next week.
All eleven matches on the final day of the 2017 MLS regular season will be played at 4 pm to determine which twelve teams will enter the race for the MLS Cup.
In the West the top five spots have been claimed, with three teams – the San Jose Earthquakes, FC Dallas, and Real Salt Lake – battling for the final berth. Additionally, with just five points between first and fifth, no side has locked down a position, meaning plenty is at stake come Sunday's action.
The Eastern Conference is a little more set with all six spots taken, TFC locked into first and New York Red Bull ensconced at sixth, but with three points separating second from fifth, much is left to be decided.
This will be the third edition of Decision Day, instituted ahead of the 2015 season, ensuring whiplash for fans across the continent as action in one stadium affects placement in another.
Of all those qualified for the post-season, only two need not concern themselves with events elsewhere: the New York Red Bulls and Toronto FC.
“It's fun, especially for a team like us who doesn't have to worry about anything,” smiled Eriq Zavaleta. “Any team would switch to be in our position and not have a dramatic Decision Day.”
“It's fun for the league, for the fans. I don't think MLS couldn't ask for more in terms of how much there still is to be decided, how many story lines there are out there,” added Zavaleta. “I'm happy we're not one of [them] and we can focus on ourselves.”
Toronto face what Zavaleta called, 'a good test', away to Atlanta United on Sunday; a preview of one of those potential match-ups.
Even when the dust settles, Toronto will still not have a clear window on who their opponent will be come the Eastern Conference Semifinals. For that, they must wait until the Knockout Round, set for next Wednesday and Thursday, concludes.
With the field in the East set, it is known that one of New York City FC, the Chicago Fire, Atlanta United FC, Columbus Crew SC, and the Red Bulls will lie ahead.
Possibilities in mind, Greg Vanney and his staff are hard at work in preparation.
“A little bit,” said Vanney of advanced planning. “Now, given the standings, it's tough to predict.”
“One of my exercises was looking at all the teams, we know the five [that are in],” continued Vanney. “Going back, looking at our previous games against them, scouting reports before and after, what similarities do each have, what differences do they have, and starting to calculate a program of each team.”
“We'll have a better sense at the end of this week and then have nine [or] ten days to work through those details,” added Vanney. “We've seen each of these teams a fair amount of times, some more recently than others. We're trying to do our homework as early as possible and be prepared for whichever we face.”
The last two matches, against the Red Bulls and the Montreal Impact, and this one remaining against Atlanta on Sunday build nicely into the playoffs for TFC, offering varying styles, high intensity, and heightened atmospheres.
“We've played against a [variety of formations]. We've played against teams that are going to come out and press us, sit back,” recounted Zavaleta. “We're going to see all those things in the playoffs, whether it be for 90 minutes or in spells.”
“It's important for us to be confident in how we're going to attack those different styles,” added Zavaleta. “Ever since we've had clarity on where we're going to be, we've [tried] to use these experiences as learning [ones] and confidence boosters going into the playoffs.”
Vanney refuses to be drawn into a fool's errand: ““I don't get into predicting or preference; you always get bitten in the rear when you start choosing.”
“There are differences and similarities amongst the teams we could face. We have to be prepared for those,” said Vanney. “We have to know what we're going to do against a team who wants to press us, what we're going to do against a team that wants to sit back and play us on the counter. We have a lot of experience through both over the course of this year.”
“You look at Atlanta and New York Red Bulls specifically, two teams that like to really press you and press you high. Columbus and Chicago are teams that can oppose you high, but also sit off a little bit, not as all out as Red Bull and Atlanta,” explained Vanney. “And New York City is a little similar to Columbus and Chicago, in terms how they see the game, of tempo, more than anything.”
“The Atlantas and Red Bulls really like to push the tempo, like it to be fast, which suits us. I like the tempo to be fast. We've evolved this year against teams that want to sit back on us, [we're] better with the ball, better breaking teams down, but we like when the game is fast,” said Vanney. “That means space opens up and we've got guys who can really hurt teams.”
