TFC and Michael Bradley must decide: Momentum or Rest? (Photo Courtesy of Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports)

Before I enter into the discussion regarding the issue Toronto FC currently face, let me state that they are in an enviable situation in the eyes of any other team in the league. Even after suffering back-to-back losses for the first time all season, they still sit ten points above their closest competitor (NYCFC) and can clinch the Supporters’ Shield with a win in their next game against the Red Bulls this upcoming Saturday. A Supporters’ Shield trophy would be huge for the Toronto organization. The Reds are in the midst of their 11th season in MLS, and have never won a major trophy (besides Canadian Championships). In fact before the arrival of Sebastian Giovinco, Toronto had never even reached the playoffs before. Because of all this, a Supporters’ Shield would be a momentous achievement for the club. But following the stinging loss at BMO Field after over 120 minutes on a chilly night last December, Toronto fans have their eyes set on a bigger prize as well.

Toronto FC and their fans desperately want retribution for their heartbreaking loss last season, specifically in the form of an MLS Cup. With the Supporters’ Shield essentially locked down due to their recently snapped six game winning streak, Toronto head man Greg Vanney now has an interesting decision to make: he must balance the health of his key players with the desire to remain sharp heading into the postseason. This is what is described as “a good problem to have,” as it means that the season has been outstanding so far. But it is a conundrum that has plagued successful teams for years on end, and has even been to blame for the derailment of some of the top teams across various sports. Whether it be in the NFL with 2009 Indianapolis Colts resting their players after a 14-0 start and eventually losing in the Super Bowl, or FC Dallas as recently as last year losing centerpiece Mauro Diaz at the tail end of the season, the wrong move in these circumstances can prove disastrous.

Leading up to this past week, Toronto FC had been absolutely rolling. They had won six games in a row, and were unbeaten in 11 straight. They were dominating their competition and had a ton of room to work with standings-wise. As a result of this, Greg Vanney made his first move in the rest department for their road trip to Los Angeles to play the Galaxy. He decided to not even have Giovinco or Jozy Altidore make the trip, and the Reds still easily dispatched of the hapless Galaxy 4-0. Vanney then built on this model the following Wednesday, when they headed home to host their Canadian rivals in the Montreal Impact. On top of Giovinco and Altidore, Vanney also sat midfield maestro Victor Vasquez. And finally on Saturday vs the New England Revolution, Vasquez returned, but Chris Mavinga, Eriq Zaveleta, and Alex Bono all joined Giovinco and Altidore on the bench. Consequently, this strategy these past two games has forced Toronto to pay the (albeit a small) price. They saw their winning/unbeaten streaks come to an end, and endured consecutive losses for the first time all season.

The question can boil down to a simple risk/reward analysis in the eyes of Greg Vanney: he feels the importance of saving the legs of his main players is worth dropping points and even a dip in current form. He has good reason to think this. His team last year was not nearly this good and entered the playoffs only winning one of their final six games, and regardless still managed to reach (and nearly win) MLS Cup. I am assuming that Vanney has a similar plan in mind to cap off this season. Mixing in rest for his key contributors, while at least getting them some game minutes down the stretch will be crucial to keeping players like Altidore and Giovinco fresh but still in form as the biggest games of the season loom. I also think he would like to get Michael Bradley a rest at some point as well, as he has already surpassed his career high with 27 starts this season.

That’s not to say this path does not come with a few risks. Although it seems like the sensible and obvious route, there is always the fear that you could run into a team that has been firing on all cylinders and is in great form come playoff time. TFC saw this firsthand last year vs Seattle in that fateful final, and could possibly run into the same issue again this year, with the current threat seeming to be Atlanta United. Greg Vanney will have some important decisions to make in the coming weeks as he tries to balance fitness against form. Back in July of this year, Greg Vanney was given a multi-year contract extension, the first coach to ever receive one for Toronto, in order to make the right calls in moments such as these. And although the Supporters’ Shield is basically wrapped up, if the Reds sputter at some point in the playoffs Toronto fans will be left wondering what could have been, and specifically what could have been done differently down the stretch.

Luke Benigno