Five reasons not to panic after TFC's loss to the Galaxy:

1. BEEN HERE BEFORE

Talking with TFC staffers last week, I offered this tidbit: “This team will hit a skid again.”

Every MLS club has multiple lulls during season. The Galaxy won just three of the its first 12 games this season. Toronto FC, you’ll remember, lost four of five games to start the season.

Looking back, supporters briefly turned on TFC following an embarrassing showing in Dallas, where the Reds trailed 3-0 heading into halftime.

While disappointing, Toronto FC’s 4-0 loss at StubHub Center Saturday night was very likely an anomaly, similar to the shellacking the Reds took in Dallas at the start of the season.

After that, the Reds rattled off back-to-back road wins. All was forgiven.

Let’s not forget Toronto FC was considered one of the best team in the Eastern Conference just 10 days following a comprehensive 3-1 win over visiting Montreal.

Even some of the club’s harshest critics claimed it was the best they’ve seen from Toronto FC.

So, which is it? The Reds can’t be the best and worst in a matter of weeks.

Like every team in this league, TFC has been here before. They’ve been on the wrong side of lopsided performances only to bounce back with a solid performance.

Truth be told, last month’s loss to NYCFC at BMO Field was far more disappointing than losing to the defending champs away from home.

“It’s important for us to have a good performance and to go in and compete better,” head coach Greg Vanney said of next week’s game at NYCFC. “We never gave ourselves a chance to get a result (in L.A.).”

2. MISSING CRITICAL PIECES

The lineup Greg Vanney trotted out was unrecognizable compared to the everyday lineup that’s on course to earn TFC its first post-season berth.

The Reds were missing four starters — Michael Bradley, Jozy Altidore, Jonathan Osorio and Ashtone Morgan — in addition to Luke Moore, who was away due to a death in his family.

It forced Vanney to make five changes to his starting lineup, with Justin Morrow moving to left fullback and Warren Creavalle replacing him on the right side of TFC’s defence.

In midfield, Bradley’s absence pushed Benoit Cheyrou into an unfamiliar attacking role after he’d settled in nicely as TFC’s holding midfielder.

Jay Chapman, in his first start, entered as a one-for-one substitute for Osorio. And Robbie Findley struggled up front to fill the massive void left by Altidore and Moore, who would have been a like replacement for the U.S. international.

The L.A. Galaxy was missing players too, you say? Not really.

While Omar Gonzalez was a fairly big miss there’s really no comparison.

The Reds were without two of the best players in the league in addition to a midfield piece that’s quietly having his best season.

Despite the roster shortage, however, it’s fair to say that didn’t cause the Reds to give away two goals.

All of the roster movement in the world isn’t an excuse to concede a cheap penalty and literally hand Robbie Keane his second goal of the game.

3. PREDICTABLE RESULT

The Reds lost a game they are supposed to lose.

While Toronto FC could be an Eastern Conference contender, its not yet a championship-calibre team. The Galaxy is.

Considering the Reds haven’t won an MLS fixture in L.A. since the days of Danny Dichio, it was unlikely they were going to get a result.

When you factor in the Galaxy recently topped the Philadelphia Union and Portland Timbers 5-1 and 5-0 at home, respectively, L.A. is undoubtedly in top form at home.

The defending MLS champs might not lose another home game the rest of the way after they add Steven Gerrard and Giovani Dos Santos in the coming weeks.

Following this month’s Gold Cup, the Galaxy will likely be the favourites to win a third-consecutive MLS Cup if it continues to push up the table.

Meanwhile, Toronto FC remains second tier team with a roster that’s still in transition. The Reds have the horses up front but don’t have the supporting cast to tip the odds ever in their favour.

It’s as simple as this: The Reds can literally win any game they’re in with Bradley, Altidore and Giovinco in the lineup. They can lose — badly — to anyone when two of the aforementioned three aren’t present.

It’s the risk you take by putting most of your eggs in three baskets. It’s a reality the Reds will face until August.

4. AWAY DATES GALORE

At the end of the day, an MLS club’s points per game average is all that matters.

The Reds, despite exhausting a front-loaded schedule of road fixtures, remain firmly in the playoff picture with the second best points per game average in the Eastern Conference (1.44).

Considering MLS has historically been a league where road teams struggle to collect points, the fact the Reds are where they are bodes well for the rest of the season.

Following next Sunday’s match at New York City, Toronto FC will play two out of every three matches at BMO Field the rest of the way.

The Reds have been talking that up as one of the “advantages” of playing seven games on the road to begin the season.

Travel plays more of a role in MLS — a league spanning two of the world’s biggest countries — more than it does anywhere else.

The positive aspects of the Reds regularly sleeping in their own beds down the stretch can’t be overstated.

“We have to take advantage of what has been given to us,” MLSE CEO Tim Leiweke told the Toronto Sun in L.A. “We have a very good schedule coming up.

“We have to get through the Gold Cup. Once we get through the Gold Cup, we’ll have everyone in place for the rest of the season. That’s where we’ll make some hay.”

5. ADDING PLAYER(S)

Alleged salary cap genius Tim Bezbatchenko is cooking up at least one midseason signing, his boss said Saturday night.

Toronto FC’s general manager toured parts of Europe earlier this season in search of players to add this summer.

The Reds know they aren’t good enough at certain positions — something head Vanney said post-game on Saturday.

“We have a good sense of what we have and what we need,” Vanney said. “As we approach this (transfer) window if the right opportunity comes up we’ll be looking at it. We have a good sense of where our group is at and where we can be stronger.”

In a sit-down with the Sun prior to Saturday night’s match, Leiweke hinted the Reds were in the market for at least one player the club believes will help solidify things.

The player, he added, could arrive thanks in large part to how “creative” his general manager is.

A lot changes in Toronto FC’s favour if it can add a competent right fullback who’s a two-way player.

The Reds have depth fullbacks in Warren Creavalle and Mark Bloom who can step in on short notice, but the club doesn’t have a playoff-level fullback to lock things down while adding a different dimension to TFC’s attack.

“We’re going to add another guy,” Leiweke said. “We’ve got some things coming up here. We’re going to add another piece. We just have to be a little more clever … Nobody is better at figuring that out than (Bezbatchenko). He’ll figure that out.”