Toronto FC coach says his club was overlooked in end-of-season honours

TORONTO — Despite a franchise-best season, Toronto FC didn’t garner much attention in the end-of-season awards.

Star striker Sebastian Giovinco, last year’s MVP, Newcomer of the Year and Golden Boot winner, made a repeat appearance in Major League Soccer’s Best XI. But the Italian danger-man, despite leading the league in combined points (32) for the second year in a row, finished fourth in MVP voting with New York City FC star David Villa taking the trophy.

Toronto fullback Justin Morrow, arguably the best left back in the league, did not make the Best XI. Neither did veteran centre back Drew Moor, who some thought deserved Defender of the Year mention.

“Yes our group is, in my opinion, overlooked,” Toronto coach Greg Vanney said Tuesday as his team trained for the MLS Cup final against Seattle. “But our most important goal is to be the best team, that’s what we’re vying for on the weekend.” 

Vanney thought Giovinco’s chances at repeating as MVP were hurt by injuries. The same for strike partner Jozy Altidore, who has been red-hot the second half of the season after being hampered by injuries early on.

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“Obviously the way Jozy’s finished the season, if he would have started the season in the same capacity, I think he would have been very high up in that discussion of MVP candidates as well,” Vanney said.

Altidore scored 10 goals over the last 15 games of the regular season and has scored in all five playoff matches.

As for Morrow, Vanney said he quietly did important things for Toronto all season.

Voters opted for offensive talent on the Best XI with just three defenders included.

“That best 11 team wouldn’t win many games in the grand scheme of things,” Vanney said. “They might score a lot of goals but I’m not sure they’d win many games in terms of balance.”

Villa got an average of 25.9 per cent of the MVP vote in balloting by players, club officials and media. Bradley Wright-Phillips was second at 19.3 per cent, followed by fellow New York Red Bull Sacha Kljestan (17.6), Giovinco (16.3) was fourth and Montreal’s Ignacio Piatti (7.7) fifth.

Seattle’s Jordan Morris won rookie of the year honours while teammate Nicolas Lodeiro was named top newcomer. Sounders defender Chad Marshall was a finalist for the MLS Fair Play award. 

Seattle and Toronto were runners-up to Columbus for the team Fair Play award.

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Neil Davidson, The Canadian Press