TFC ‘went for it’ and got the Supporters’ Shield
TORONTO — In Michael Bradley’s words, Toronto FC “went for it” every weekend this season in locking up the Supporters’ Shield.
The Reds didn’t take nights off. They didn’t look at cross-conference games as having any less value. Toronto FC looked at every point as necessary.
“We talked about this idea of going for it every single weekend and not taking any nights off and not tossing any games away and not thinking that we can coast through parts of the season,” Bradley said.
“We looked around at each other and said the only way to really grow and improve and take the team in the direction we wanted was to treat every game like it was the most important.
“We wanted to go for it every single weekend. We wanted to win the Supporters’ Shield badly.”
In talking about going after every point, Bradley left out a key piece to the story: The Reds are one of the few teams in MLS history deep enough to do it.
Toronto FC didn’t need to “take nights off” or concede ground because its bench players have so much quality.
There’s no other way of explaining how the Reds remained unbeaten against Western Conference playoff teams this season.
The Reds’ bench Saturday night featured four players who started in last year’s MLS Cup. It also contained a French league veteran. That’s before mentioning the absence of Sebastian Giovinco.
Yes, TFC “went for it” every weekend. But that’s a little less daunting when you’ve constructed a roster with that much quality.
THE BIG NUMBERS
The Reds could become the first team in MLS history to do “the triple”: Win a domestic Cup, the Supporters’ Shield, and MLS Cup in the same season … Toronto FC (195-8, 65 points) stands alone with the fourth best record in league history with two games to go. The Reds need four points from their final two fixtures (vs. Montreal and at Atlanta) to top the L.A. Galaxy’s all-time record of 68 points in a single season … One team in MLS history, the 2014 Seattle Sounders, have won 20 games in a season. With two games remaining, the Reds are threatening to reach 21 … Toronto FC’s four-goal performance Saturday night pushed it to 71 goals scored on the season, joining four other teams that have scored 70-plus goals in an MLS season … At plus-41, the 1998 L.A. Galaxy hold the MLS record for final goal-difference in a season. The Reds are at plus-36 with two games to go — and with a beleaguered Montreal set to return to BMO Field … TFC has scored three or more goals in nine of its previous 11 games … The Reds have been shut out just once in their previous 18 games. They’ve been shut out just there times this season.
AND ANOTHER THING
Critics of TFC in 2014: “TFC is overpaying for its Designated Players.” Critics of TFC in 2017: “TFC is only good because it paid for good players.” … Chicago’s Nemanja Nicolic has scored 21 times for the Fire this season, which leads the league. He doesn’t deserve to be anywhere near the MVP conversation. He didn’t score or assist on a goal for nine straight games between July and early September … Victor Vazquez scored another gamewinning goal on Saturday night — from the penalty spot. Toronto FC’s Spanish midfielder continues to lead MLS in game-winning goals/ assists: 11. Vazquez (8g, 16a) has to be in the conversation for league MVP. The best team in the league wouldn’t be where it is without him … Toronto FC celebrated its Supporters’ Shield-clinching win in front of fans, many of whom wanted coach Greg Vanney fired in 2015 and again in early 2016. Many also wrote off Jozy Altidore very early in his TFC career. Just saying … Red Bulls goalkeeper Luis Robles said he’s “looking forward” to playing TFC in the playoffs. That’s not something TFC should be looking forward to. Toronto FC continues to struggle against high-pressing teams — Sporting KC, Atlanta and New York Red Bulls.