Toronto FC’s Captain Michael Bradley,
who is considered by many the heart and soul of the club has been ruled out for
months due to ankle surgery. There is
also fierce competition expected from rivals in the MLS Eastern conference and
beyond, and a worrying on-the-road record.
All made Toronto FC drop from
previous odds of winning the 2020 MLS Cup (previously sitting at +550).
Many US legal sports betting website and apps that are offering MLS betting legally and safely online and via mobile phone are now giving Toronto FC odds over +900.
On the opening day of MLS side
Toronto FC’s training camp, General Manager Ali Curtis told the press that team
captain Michael Bradley will be unfit to play for about four months after ankle
surgery. This comes right after the
sides signed a contract for Bradley to stay with the Canadian MLS club.
“Obviously it’s a big blow,” said
Toronto FC’s head coach Greg Vanney. “Michael
is one of those omnipresent guys in the defensive midfield. It’ll be time for somebody else to step up.”
With Michael
Bradley being the heart and soul of Toronto FC, the US international is also an
inspirational figure to the MLS and Soccer in America at wide. Now being out of commission until May at
least, Toronto FC will need to find someone else to step into Bradley’s
boots. Not only in the lineup, but off
the field as well.
But Bradley’s absence
is not going to be the only challenge the Canadian soccer reds will be facing
this 2020 season. They will also need to
beat some pretty strong MLS Eastern Conference Rivals that have a lot to prove
in beating Toronto early in the season.
New York City FC to
start with, who will be travelling to Toronto FC’s BMO Field on March 7th,
lost last year to the reds in the MLS Eastern Conference Semifinal, after coming
to the playoffs as top seed. NYCFC’s
squad comes in pretty good shape, and had only one home loss last season. So in terms of 2020 MLS Cup Odds, the sky
blues are sitting at +800 in current odds.
Atlanta FC was also
punished by Toronto FC last season with an early playoff exit. So the Five Stipes are also seeking
revenge. With attacker Josef Martinez
still leading the charge, and a not-too-difficult schedule at the beginning of
the season, Atlanta United are starting the 2020 MLS season as the second
favorites to win the 2020 MLS Cup with odds at +550.
But even if Toronto
will manage to do OK in the Eastern Conference, on the long road to the MLS Cup
Toronto FC will also probably need to face LAFC with 2020 MLS Cup odds of +350
(before Bradley’s injury, Toronto was second only to LAFC at +550), and
reigning champions Seattle Sounders which are now at +700.
There’s also Toronto
FC’s on-the-road record that doesn’t predict good news if continues into this
season. Last season, Toronto’s away
record was 4-6-7, and in the past two years, the reds managed to post only 6
wins on the road.
So will Toronto FC be able to make it? A favorable
early season schedule against Nashville, Cincinnati, Columbus and Inter Miami,
some away wins and the ability to focus and perform without Bradley will
possibly enable the Canadians to gain an early momentum and improve their
chances for success.
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