Now that some of the visceral emotions have worn off - Toronto with its why can't we have nice things and Vancouver with its I love my new car smell - lets take a step back and look at what worked and what didn't with Toronto's Total Football approach.
As a refresher: total football is intended as a group of players, moving into positions and the holes they create are fluidly replaced by their teammates (If you need a deeper explanation of it you can go back to this tactics column here).
What we saw from Toronto Saturday was a hybrid of that attacking style but mostly total confusion coming out of the back.
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What didn't work
Two things.
1) The Toronto back four were clearly uncertain of when they were supposed to move the ball out of the backfield and to the feet of an onrushing midfielder.
And 2) when the midfield did properly receive the ball, they didn't receive enough support by either the wings or the defenders as fall back positions.
The first one will come over time. Getting a sense for the rhythm of movement on the pitch is a big challenge for many of the players at the MLS level. They are inexperienced compared to leagues that traditionally play the more complicated systems and it's one they're still learning. Several times Nana Attakora looked to force passes into places that were never going to find their mark. But as he, and they, get more comfortable playing the unpopular style across the back - through the goalie, defenders and back again - they will draw impatient opponents out of position and the holes they're looking for will open up.
Also, regarding the back four, if you're going to play the trap, you abso-freaking-loutely have to be sure everyone understands what's going on. Ahem...Mr. Harden
The second is more concerning. As there are clearly no established starters on the wings and players will likely be moving in and out of that position all year long, it's hard to imagine those players finding the cohesiveness they need to properly lead the attack. If this is going to be a re-building year - and clearly it is - the best thing to do now is pick your starters soon and stick with them. The familiarity will mask any lack of quality
What did work
Whether this was by design, or the result of an opponent using a high back line, playing a receive and slash style with their forwards did work on occasion. The Dwayne DeRosario goal came as Maicon Santos tracked back to receive the ball and DeRo darted in behind the defense. Vancouver got caught in a daze of possession. As Toronto moved the ball umpteen million times across the back, on umpteen million and one they suddenly moved DeRo into a slashing attacking position and the result was, obviously, their first goal.
But traditionally, with Total Football, the attack will be moved piece-by-piece down the pitch, then moved around the box until a shooting or crossing opportunity presents. Toronto spent next to no time in the attacking corners, and I'm not even certain if they did find themselves in that position, they'd have the personnel to manage a proper cross. But DeRo's ability up front does give them an additional dimension, at least until they can get their wingers sorted out.
Speaking of which, I know Mikael Yourassowsky wasn't very popular in the pre-season but he was the only player I saw, patrolling the wing, who looked confident and capable enough to carry the ball forward into the attacking end. The way he ran at players and moved into the open channels with ease is encouraging.
The final question
Can possession oriented football work in the smash, grab and counter attack league that is MLS?
The answer probably begins and ends with Julian de Guzman. He was the player last year who struggled the most with the physicality of MLS. Despite displaying a good ball winning ability when he was with Deportivo, too often since joining the league has his 5'5 frame been knocked off the ball.
What he lacks in physicality, he makes up for with pitch vision and strong distribution - foundations of any successful Total Football team.
Julian's performance - whenever he returns - will be an indicator or how successful this system can be.