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MINNEAPOLIS — It makes sense that Michael Bradley can’t put a finger on one specific thing that has ailed Toronto FC in this season gone oh so wrong.

If there was only a single red flag, it would have been corrected by now and Greg Vanney’s once-dominant side wouldn’t find itself looking down only at D.C. United in the Eastern Conference standings at the halfway point of the season.

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Nope, there are a lot of things to be concerned about. Big picture, it starts with how the team has defended. The answer is not very well. After only conceding rarely on the way to three cups last year, TFC has given up 34 (two per game), the second-most in Major League Soccer.

It’s been commonplace to see opponents cruising with all kinds of space, often following a Toronto turnover.

Vanney lamented after Wednesday’s dispiriting 4-3 road loss against Minnesota United FC that part of the issues is the team (notably one that has missed its regular starting centre backs Chris Mavinga and Drew Moor for many weeks now) has become too easy to play against.