Form Guide: Toronto looking the real deal beyond Giovinco's genius

There’s a certain stigma attached to Toronto FC. Renowned as North America’s most tediously tragic club, failing to deliver on big objectives and big promises time and time again, the Canadians were MLS’s easiest of easy targets. Until this season that is.

Greg Vanney led TFC to the play-offs for the first time in franchise history last season, backing that up by securing a place in the post-season once again this year. The challenge was to take them on a genuine play-off run and that’s precisely what he has done, with Toronto FC preparing for their first ever conference final next week.

Toronto FC have been anything but tediously tragic in recent weeks, with the 7-0 aggregate win over New York City FC in the Eastern Conference semi-finals underlining their credentials as bona fide challengers for the MLS Cup. Anyone who watched that game at Yankee Stadium left in no doubts over the quality of Vanney’s side.

Of course, Sebastian Giovinco has long been considered the best individual talent in the league by quite some distance, something he demonstrated with his hat-trick in the Bronx last week. His statistics this season are quite remarkable, scoring 17 times and notching 14 assists in 28 regular season appearances, as well as four goals in just three play-off outings.

He is TFC’s one-man attacking hub, averaging more shots per game than anyone else in MLS (6.5) and generally facilitating everything his team does well. With him in the side Vanney always has a chance of masterminding a win. Giovinco has been the difference-maker for Toronto FC more times than one cares to count since making the move to Canada two years ago.

But it’s unfair to label TFC as a one man team, even if that one man is undoubtedly the best in the land. The BMO Field outfit average more shots per game than any other side in MLS (14.1 per game), making them the most potent team left in the play-offs. Of course, that is largely down to Giovinco, but as the 5-0 second leg win over NYC FC showcased, he has a number of supporting acts to count on.

Take Jozy Altidore, for instance. The US international and renowned Sunderland flop has struggled to find consistency this season, spending more time in the treatment room than he would have liked, but he has three goals in his last three games, also contributing two assists over that stretch. Altidore has recently become the man for the big occasion, and in MLS occasions don’t come much bigger than the conference finals.

Then there’s TFC third Designated Player, Michael Bradley. He is the midfield lynchpin around which everything revolves. He sets and dictates the pace of the games they play. When he is on form Toronto FC tend to be on form as well. He averages more passes than any of his teammates (72.3 per game, with Drew Moor TFC’s second most prolific passer with an average of just 42.8 per game). Bradley also averages 1.4 key passes per game, second only to Giovinco in that regard.

But consider that Toronto FC boast one of the stingiest defences in MLS, conceding just 39 goals in 34 regular season games, and it becomes apparent that their success is down to more than just attacking prowess. Drew Moor has enjoyed a successful season, averaging 2.8 interceptions per game as a pro-active centre-back presence. Bradley has played his defensive role from the centre of the pitch, making 3.1 tackles per game, with Moor also charting 3.8 clearances per game.

Vanney opted to deploy three at the back in the second leg against NYC FC, packing the midfield and asking Steve Beitashour and Justin Morrow to act as wing backs down the flanks. That allowed them to take a grip of the game in the centre of the field, despite the hosts claiming more of the possession (64% to 36%).

However, TFC understand that possession or even territory doesn’t equate to control. They have the structure and personnel to go all the way in the play-offs this season. Toronto FC might not be derided for being Toronto FC any longer.