TFC Republic Weekly: August 5-11
With four wins in five games, Toronto FC has a bit of momentum going. But a tough midweek game away to Inter Miami looms large.
Welcome to the latest edition of TFC Republic Weekly, an email newsletter that will land in the inbox of both paid subscribers and free members of TFC Republic every Monday.
This newsletter will look at what's in store over the next seven days for Toronto FC and offer a glimpse of what to expect at TFC Republic in the coming days.
So, without further ado...
TFC clinches 1st place in Leagues Cup group
Make it four victories out of five games in all competitions for a resurgent Toronto FC.
TFC received goals from Derrick Etienne Jr. and substitute Kobe Franklin to defeat Mexican outfit Pachuca 2-1 in their Leagues Cup group stage finale at BMO Field on Sunday night.
Franklin's first career goal sealed first place in East Group 6 for Toronto (five points) ahead of Pachuca and the New York Red Bulls (both two points). TFC will play away to Inter Miami on Thursday in the Leagues Cup’s round of 32, while Pachuca faces fellow Mexican club Tigres.
Curiously, had Toronto lost on Sunday, it would have hosted Tigres at BMO Field. But due to the archaic scheduling rules of the Leagues Cup, the Reds were punished for winning against Pachuca with a road game against Miami, the defending Leagues Cup holders.
"I think it was pick your poison really. We were watching Tigres against Miami and they looked very good. It was difficult because you've never gone into a game to ever think 'Let's not win, to get a home match,'" TFC coach John Herdman said after Sunday's win.
Canada Soccer says Herdman started spying practise
Canada Soccer told FIFA that the Canadian national teams’ use of drones to spy on its opponents’ training sessions was started by Toronto FC coach John Herdman. An official FIFA document that has been published online quotes Canada Soccer as pointing the finger at Herdman for beginning the practise.
“… We suspect that the practise of using a drone stems back to John Herdman when he was the head coach of the women’s national team,” Canada Soccer wrote to FIFA on July 27, according to the FIFA document.
“In other words, this was a practise started by one person – John Herdman – and continued by Bev Priestman. It was not facilitated by the federation. New Canada Soccer administration is supporting a full independent investigation of this issue and has already taken steps to ensure that this scouting tactic does not happen again.”
That correspondence from Canada Soccer came one day after Herdman told reporters his national teams never spied on opponents during the Olympics or at the World Cup during his tenure in charge of both the Canadian men's and women's sides. Herdman also said he will cooperate with Canada Soccer during its investigation.
"The integrity of the [Canada Soccer] investigation is the most important piece now, and as part of that I'll be supporting with as much evidence as I can offer, or support I can offer, through that investigation. So, until that concludes I won't be able to comment on those matters specifically," Herdman told reporters last week.
He later added: "Anything I say at this point will be scrutinized and could jeopardize the investigation. I have to maintain the integrity of the investigation that's going to come and then be ready to speak on all of those matters at the right time. The time is just not now."
Transfer deadline closes this week
GM Jason Hernandez was pretty busy during last summer's MLS secondary transfer window, bringing five newcomers into Toronto FC's squad.
Goalkeeper Luka Gavran was promoted from TFC 2, forwards Prince Owusu and Cassius Mailula were signed from abroad, and midfielder Latif Blessing came in via a trade with the New England Revolution. In addition, midfielder Franco Ibarra was secured on a loan deal from Atlanta United.
Hernandez hasn't been nearly as busy during this summer's transfer window. The recent signing of free agent American defender Henry Wingo is the only piece of business that Toronto's GM has concluded thus far.
The MLS secondary transfer window for TFC and the other two Canadian MLS clubs closes on Aug. 8, which means Hernandez has until then to make trades within the league and sign players via transfer deals in order to strengthen his roster.
Hernandez recently said he has little salary cap space available, which means bringing in new players depends on him being able to first move some out.
It was a sentiment echoed by John Herdman when recently asked directly by reporters if he expected any new recruits by the Aug. 8 summer transfer deadline.
“The work from the front office is just ongoing. We came into this season with a reality check on our [salary] cap. For the summer, we’ve made our move with Henry Wingo; I think that was a great move… But that’s sort of limiting the options and opportunities we have. We may have to move people out before we can bring people in. And if we’re bringing people in, it may be done [by] taking some risks on certain players," Herdman explained.
“All I know is that the front office, the cogs are turning every day trying to find a solution for us. But, if we can strengthen, we will.”
TFC Republic subscribers can get up to a 25% discount on ticket prices for Toronto FC home games.
To receive the special promo code, email me at To receive the special promo code, email me at jmo1897@gmail.com
(Please don't share promo code with non-TFC Republic subscribers).
TFC vs. Inter Miami on Thursday
Toronto and Miami will meet for the second time this season when they square off in the round of 32 in the Leagues Cup at Chase Stadium on Thursday (8:00 p.m. ET/Apple TV).
Miami (16-4-5) currently sits atop the Eastern Conference and MLS overall table, seven spots and 23 points above Toronto. The Florida-based club has suffered just two defeats in its last 19 league games since March 30, but is coming off a 2-1 loss to Mexican side Tigres UANL in the group stage of the Leagues Cup.
Despite finishing second in East Group 3, Miami will still host Thursday's contest against Toronto, the East Group 6 winners.
With 56 goals in 25 games, the Herons boast the best attack in MLS. Lionel Messi and Luis Suárez lead the way with 12 goals apiece, or 43 per cent of Miami's offensive output this season. Messi also has a team-high 13 assists, followed by Julian Gressel (12). Goalkeeper Drake Callender has started all but one of Miami's 25 league games this year with four clean sheets.
Miami leads the all-time series against Toronto with seven wins and two losses. Miami has won all five of its home games vs. TFC by a combined score of 15-3. These sides previously met on July 17 when Miami earned a 3-1 home win.
These two teams will meet again on Oct. 5 at BMO Field in Toronto's final match of the regular season.
RELATED READING: Newsletter | Features | Match reports | Opinion | Q&As | Videos | News | Roster moves | TFC 2 | Podcast
Stories to look out for at TFC Republic
We'll have an in-depth feature recapping Toronto FC's activity during the MLS secondary transfer window. Look for that story to run on Friday.
Other stories that will be published later this week include:
- My piece looking at the key storylines to watch from TFC this week.
- My Random Thoughts on TFC column.
- Regular "TFC Tidbits" stories throughout the week.
- My weekly state of the union feature
- The latest instalment in our "MLS rules explained" series.
- A new audio interview piece with Alex Windley of The Heron's Nest looking ahead to Thursday's game vs. Inter Miami.
- The TFC 2 report with James Grossi.
- The reader mailbag
- And much more!
TFC Republic mailbag
TFC Republic will feature a regular reader mailbag column where I answer questions from subscribers about Toronto FC and Canadian soccer in general.
I'll answer the best questions submitted to me by TFC Republic readers, so feel free to drop me an email at jmo1897@gmail.com. You can also reach out to me via Twitter.
(Top photo courtesy of Sean Pollock/Toronto FC)
TFC Republic has a comments section! At the very bottom of every story, there is a feature where you can post your comments, so be sure to share your thoughts and views.
