A wealth of attacking talent at Johnston's disposal

Editor's note: This is the last of 13 MLS team previews by ESPNsoccernet for the 2007 season.

2006 record and finish: First season in MLS

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Alecko Eskandarian is expected to be a source of goals for Toronto.

Key additions: F Edson Buddle, F Conor Casey, F Alecko Eskandarian, M Richard Mulrooney, M Ronnie O'Brien, M Carl Robinson, GK Greg Sutton, M Andy Welsh.

Key questions facing the team

1. How much did Mo Johnston learn from his last head coaching job?

It is hard to argue with the notion that Johnston was run out of New York by Red Bulls ownership eager to add a high-profile coach, but Johnston did make his share of mistakes in his first career head coaching job before being let go.

Johnston has said that he learned some valuable lessons from that first job, and the fact that he hired former Kansas City Wizards coach Bob Gansler (as an assistant coach) shows that he knows he still has his share to learn as a coach.

The Scottish legend prefers a wide-open attacking style, and he now has the weapons to play it. Whether he has the tactical acumen to make the most of those weapons remains to be seen.

2. How will all these attacking options fit together?

Johnston went on a spending spree and managed to get his hands on more attacking options than most established teams boast. He has four forwards capable of scoring goals in MLS and some truly skillful midfielders with the ability to deliver assists in bunches.

The first order of business is figuring out which forwards will be at the top of the pecking order. Casey joined Toronto from German club Mainz and figures to be the top target, but Buddle has enjoyed a stellar preseason. Eskandarian should serve as the second forward, though Togolese forward Abbe Ibrahim could emerge once he gets his visa issues cleared up.

Johnston must also sort out a crowded central midfield that includes Welsh veteran Carl Robinson, Uruguayan playmaker Jose Cancela and Richard Mulrooney, who is reportedly unhappy with having been dealt to Toronto. If Johnston can convince Mulrooney to stay in Canada, that threesome gives TFC a quality central midfield triangle.

The arrival of English winger Andy Welsh has also given Toronto a surplus on the left flank with Jim Brennan there, but Johnston appears ready to move Brennan to a defensive role.

3. Are the Canadian defenders good enough for MLS?

For all of the MLS veterans Toronto added in the attack, it chose to go the Canadian route in defense by signing Marco Reda, Adam Braz and Chris Pozniak. The result is a collection of defenders that is untested in the American league and a defense that hasn't exactly stood out this preseason.

Johnston bolstered the defense by moving Brennan to the back line, where he should settle in at left back. Reda, the most experienced of the Canadian defenders, has missed time this preseason due to a thigh injury, but he has recovered and should settle into a starting central role.

One player who could emerge to help the back line is rookie Andrew Boyens. Widely regarded as the best defender in the 2007 MLS draft, Boyens slipped to the No. 10 pick because he will count as a senior international in 2008. The New Zealand international has good size and could emerge as a starter by season's end.

Toronto isn't done trying to bolster the defense. Reports out of Poland have linked TFC with a move for Polish national team captain Jacek Bak. The World Cup veteran would certainly solve the club's need for a center back, but he may wind up costing more than the club is willing to pay for a defender.

4. What kind of impact will the home-field advantage play?

One of the best stories of the offseason has been Toronto's successful ticket sales, with the club having to cut off season ticket sales at 14,000. Combine the anticipated large crowds with the advantage of playing at the yet-to-be built BMO Field, and you could have an environment that provides a tangible boost for the expansion club.

Biggest X factor: Jose Cancela

A 10-assist man for New England in 2004, Cancela has struggled to match that productivity since despite consistently showing the flashes of brilliance that make him one of the league's more entertaining players when he's on. Toronto needs him to be at his table-setting best, because if he is, Cancela could easily deliver a dozen or more assists with the forwards he will be delivering to.

Welsh midfielder Carl Robinson and English left winger Andy Welsh will be vital to the team's success, even more so now that right winger Ronnie O'Brien has been sidelined by a knee injury that will keep him out for up to six weeks.

Breakout player to watch: Abbe Ibrahim

Few folks outside of the New York area know much about the Togolese striker, but followers of the 2005 MetroStars will remember a speedy striker who showed a boatload of potential and who could have been a star if not for his poor finishing. Two years later, Ibrahim has shown up with an improved finishing touch to go with the speed.

After an impressive preseason with Toronto, Ibrahim appears poised to challenge the more well-known forwards on the roster for playing time, but a visa issue is keeping Ibrahim from entering Canada so it may take a while before he truly breaks out.

Outlook:

There is certainly reason for optimism up north. The expansion club has a new stadium about to open, a large fan base ready to support the new team and a large stable of quality attacking talent that definitely looks good on paper.

Will it all translate into success in year one? It may be a bit optimistic to expect a 1998 Chicago Fire-like success story, but Johnston has the offensive pieces to put together a dangerous attack that can entertain the potential sellout crowds in Toronto.

What will it take for the newcomers to actually reach the playoffs and finish ahead of at least three established Eastern Conference teams? Toronto must convince Mulrooney to stay in Canada, find a quality defender to anchor the back line and have at least two of its forwards emerge as reliable scoring threats. That may be too much to ask for, but if Johnston finds a way to make it all happen, we just might see an expansion miracle season on the 10th-year anniversary of the Chicago Fire's remarkable title run.

Ives Galarcep covers MLS for ESPNsoccernet. He is a writer and columnist for the Herald News (N.J.) and writes a blog, Soccer By Ives. He can be reached at Ivespn79@aol.com.