10 things on Toronto FC

Once again, here comes the rival. For the second time in less than a month, the Impact and TFC face off, this time in Ontario. This is a delicate trip for the Bleu-blanc-noir, who needs points to carry on in the playoff race. Here are 10 things on the enemy of the 401 Derby, the Canadian Classic, the Two Solitudes Derby… of the rivalry with 1,000 names.
Context
Unbeaten in 11 and on a six-game winning run, the Reds are the top dog in MLS at the moment. Bradley’s gang is, up to this day, the only one in MLS to have clinched a playoff berth and has an 11-point cushion atop the league’s general standings on New York City FC, whose coach Patrick Vieira has already conceded the Supporters’ Shield is out of reach. But without Giovinco and Altidore, injured, and possibly Vazquez, fighting a virus, will the Torontonians continue on their irresistible roll against an Impact team that will have the bit between their teeth?
Current form (across all competitions)
W-W-W-W-W-W
Head coach
Greg Vanney (49-35-23 all-time as Toronto FC head coach and in MLS) became TFC head coach on August 31, 2014. He is also the club’s technical director. A professional player for 13 seasons in the United States and in France, Vanney then worked on youth development, most notably at Real Salt Lake and at Chivas USA, before joining TFC in December 2013. After taking on jobs as assistant general manager and TFC Academy director, he became the ninth head coach in club history, replacing Ryan Nelsen.
Current top scorer
Sebastian Giovinco (15)
Players to watch

1.Víctor Vázquez (#7) – The 30-year-old Spanish recruit, who arrived this winter from Cruz Azul, in Mexico, already registered 13 MLS assists. If he plays, he is a danger on set pieces as well as on crosses, and he breaks defensive lines with his passes to the forwards.

2.Tosaint Ricketts (#87) – The 30-year-old Canadian veteran has gotten the job done while Giovinco and Altidore were out. In his first start since May, he scored a brace in his team’s 4-0 victory.

3.Jonathan Osorio (#21) – The Torontonian midfielder is a good friend of Samuel Piette, as the two young men grew up together in the Canadian national team system. But tonight, it will be business first in the middle of the park. Osorio, in his last two games, has registered a goal and an assist.

Team profile
In a similar fashion to last year, TFC looks to crowd the middle and to lean on a very potent attacking trio, comprised of Giovinco, Altidore, and Vázquez. The first one is there to run at the defense and dribble, winning free kicks for his many falls, the second works hard with his back to goal to win physical duels and allow his team to move up field, while being a damaging presence for the centre backs, and the third is like the oil in the engine, with dangerous crossing ability. Further behind, Michael Bradley dictates the tempo and the direction of Toronto’s attacks, often patiently, all the while stopping the opponent’s progress with tackles or interceptions. And if the defensive line is mostly solid, its Achilles heel is found between the lines, where space can be found to quickly combine, either in the middle or on the right.
In 2017 :

*Source for all data is Opta
Tactical formation
It does not matter if the attacking DPs are available or not, Vanney only rarely betrays his 3-man defence. Lineup against LA Galaxy (September 16): Bono, Morrow, Mavinga, Moor, Zavaleta, Hasler; Vázquez, Bradley, Delgado; Osorio, Ricketts.
Most recent games against the Impact
The first derby in MLS in 2017 took place at Stade Saputo. Giovinco, with a brace, and Altidore once again hurt the Montreal squad, who replied through Nacho Piatti in stoppage time.
Injuries, absences and call-ups (as of August 26)
D Nick Hagglund (knee)
M Benoit Cheyrou (calf)
M Víctor Vazquez (fever)
F Sebastian Giovinco (thigh)
F Jozy Altidore (“lower body”)
Upcoming games
New England Revolution vToronto FC (MLS, September 23)
Toronto FC v New York Red Bulls (MLS, September 30)
Toronto FC v Montreal Impact (MLS, October 15)