Head coach Mo Johnston has promised that Toronto FC will be competitive in their first season in Major League Soccer. (Frank Gunn/Canadian Press)

After a year-long wait, the beautiful game has finally arrived in Toronto.

Toronto FC officially became Major League Soccer's 13th franchise last spring, and the first team outside the United States since the league officially kicked off in 1996.

The expansion club, owned and operated by Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment, follows in the footsteps of the Toronto Blizzard, who captured the hearts of soccer fans in the city during the glory years of the now-defunct North American Soccer League.

Led by coach Mo Johnston, a former Scottish national team player, Toronto FC have a tough task ahead in their first season: putting a winning product on the field and silencing critics who are predicting the team, like so many previous pro soccer clubs in Toronto over the years, will go under or fold.

There's plenty of reason for optimism that this time will be different, though, as the city is abuzz (over 14,000 season tickets have been sold) and interest in the team from the local sports media is growing.

With Toronto FC set to open the 2007 MLS campaign on Saturday against Chivas USA in California, CBC Sports Online has broken down the expansion franchise in five key categories, and gives an outlook on how the league's only Canadian team will fare in its inaugural season.

GOALKEEPING

One of the best moves that coach Mo Johnston made was signing Canadian national team goalkeeper Greg Sutton.

During his five seasons with the Montreal Impact of the United Soccer League, one level below MLS, the six-foot-six Sutton was named USL goalkeeper of the year four times, as well as league MVP in 2004. In addition, he set club records for all-time regular-season shutouts (67), wins (72) and games played (132).

Sutton is hungry for success after washing out in his first MLS stint seven years ago with the Chicago Fire.

"There's definitely something for me to prove … I think I've done fairly well [with Montreal], and now it's time for me to push myself to a new level. I think this is the perfect opportunity to do that," said Sutton.

He'll have to be sharp at all times, especially behind a collection of defenders who are playing together for the first time, but the sure-handed Sutton has a knack for organizing the defence.

"He has everything," said Johnson. "He has the height. He's very agile. He communicates well with his defenders. … He's a great captain-like player to have on your team. It was vital that we got him."

Toronto will be up the proverbial creek without a paddle if Sutton gets injured or has to leave the club for any length of time to play for the Canadian national team. Backup goalkeeper Tomer Chencinski, from Thornhill, Ont., played for Fairleigh Dickinson University last year and has no pro experience.

DEFENCE

A serious lack of quality, experienced defenders makes this a major problem area for the club.

The heart of the defence is comprised of Canadians Adam Braz, Chris Pozniak and Marco Reda. All three have played in leagues scattered across Scandinavia, which, with all due respect, aren't known for the highest standard of soccer - in fact, some could even argue, with a great deal of success, that the standard is higher in MLS than in Norway, Sweden and Denmark.

Also, Braz, Pozniak and Reda are members of the Canadian national team, which means they'll likely miss three games (and possibly four) if they are called up to play at the Gold Cup in June, not to mention in the odd exhibition match for Canada.

"It'll be interesting to see how it plays out," MLS deputy commissioner Ivan Gazidis said earlier this week of Toronto FC's potential national team predicament.

When you look beyond the Canadian trio, the picture is even bleaker.

Canadian Richard Asante and Andrew Boyens of New Zealand join the team straight out of college - they were Toronto FC's second and third picks overall in this year's draft. Canadian Under-20 team member Stephen Lumley also has no pro experience.

Veteran midfielder Jim Brennan will likely be called upon to fill in at left-back, but it would be a waste of his talents not to play him in midfield.

MIDFIELD

Ronnie O'Brien, shown playing for FC Dallas last season, will lead the attack in midfield for Toronto FC. (Victor Decolongon/Getty Images)

For an expansion franchise, the team has a great deal of depth in the middle of the field.

The club's first signing was Jim Brennan, an industrious midfielder who has played the last 10 years in England with such teams as Nottingham Forest and Norwich City. A veteran of the Canadian national team, Brennan will provide Toronto with plenty of grit in midfield, and will be looked to for his leadership skills.

Ronnie O'Brien, a two-time league all-star with Dallas, is considered one of the best right-footed players in MLS. Unfortunately, the Irishman partially tore a ligament in his right knee during a practice this past week and is expected to be out for four to six weeks. When he's healthy and ready to play, look for him to lead the attack from midfield.

Richard Mulrooney, like O'Brien acquired in a trade with Dallas, is a veteran player who will be a stabilizing presence in midfield.

Another experienced veteran is Carl Robinson, who mostly recently played for Norwich City and is a regular for the Welsh national team. Expect to see Robinson fill in for O'Brien until the Irishman returns.

Scottish winger Andy Welsh, formerly of Sunderland and Leicester City, is a dangerous and creative player who is quick and tricky, and loves to challenge opposing defenders.

"He's a top-quality left winger with Premier League experience and he brings that to our team," said coach Johnston.

American Maurice Edu, the first overall pick in this year's draft, is a bit of a question mark because he has been injured most of the pre-season, but the club thinks he can contribute when he's healthy.

FORWARDS

Toronto is a little thin up front depth-wise, but the club's top two forwards, Alecko Eskandarian and Edson Buddle, should provide the expansion franchise with some firepower.

After missing most of the 2005 season because of injury, Eskandarian, the No. 1 pick in the 2003 draft, responded by scoring seven goals in 22 games for D.C. United last year and was named an MLS all-star. The 24-year-old scored 20 goals over four seasons with United, and Toronto will be relying on him to lead the offensive charge, while at the same time setting up teammates with scoring chances.

Buddle, acquired by Toronto in a trade with New York, scored a respectable 48 goals over his six previous seasons - and it could have been more had a slew of injuries not slowed him down. The 25-year-old scored six times last season for New York and will try to recapture the form he showed in his sophomore season in 2002, when he established himself as one of the league's brightest young talents by scoring nine goals for Columbus.

Toronto took a bit of a gamble by signing Conor Casey. The 25-year-old American arrives in MLS after spending the past few seasons in Germany. He ended up tallying an impressive seven goals in 19 appearances for Hannover 96 in 2001-02, but scored only two goals over two seasons with FSV Mainz 05.

Andrea Lombardo, 19, is a key member of Canada's youth team and isn't expected to see much action for Toronto as he prepares for this summer's Under-20 World Cup. Still, he's a promising prospect.

COACHING

Coach Mo Johnston expects big things from starting goalkeeper Greg Sutton. (Ian Barrett/Canadian Press)

In Mo Johnston, Toronto FC has a passionate coach who knows how to get the best out of his players.

Johnston enjoyed a 21-year pro career, playing for such teams as Rangers, Celtic and Hearts in his native Scotland, English side Everton and Nantes in France. The former attacking midfielder was also a standout with the Scottish national team, scoring 14 goals in 38 games, and played for his country at the 1990 World Cup.

He retired in 2001 after a five-year stint with Kansas City in MLS. From 2003 to 2005, he was an assistant at New York before taking over the coaching reigns on an interim basis in 2005.

Johnston led the team to the playoffs that year and was hired full time after the season, but was let go by the club after it got off to slow start the following season.

The likable Scot has the respect of his players, and his pure passion and exceptional motivational skills are a big asset for the expansion franchise.

Johnston will be supported by assistant Bob Gansler, who was Johnston's coach when the Scot was captain of Kansas City in 2000.

"I am very excited to be working with Bob again," said Johnston. "He is a big part of why I went into coaching, and to have him here in Toronto is tremendous."

Gansler has a wealth of experience, having managed the U.S. national team at the 1990 World Cup, the team's first appearance at the tournament in 40 years. Gansler also coached Kansas City from 1999 to 2006, winning the MLS Cup in 2000, the same year he was voted the league's coach of the year.

OUTLOOK

Toronto FC haven't even kicked a ball yet, but the team has to be considered a qualified success after selling 14,000 season seats in five months. The new 20,000-capacity BMO Field near Toronto's lakeshore is expected to be filled on most game days, meaning the expansion franchise will be one of the best supported teams in MLS.

"Without doubt there's more buzz and anticipation with this team than any other in our history," MLS commissioner Don Garber told reporters during a conference call earlier this week.

The defence is a troublesome area for the club, but overall, Johnston has built a fairly solid side comprised of promising young prospects and experienced veterans. The Scot is full of confidence and he has imparted it to his players who feel they can be competitive in the Eastern Conference.

Johnston has also said that he is committed to fielding a team that plays attacking and attractive soccer. If nothing else, Toronto FC should be entertaining to watch in their inaugural season.

At the risk of CBC Sports Online sounding like complete homers, we think Toronto FC will be fairly competitive in MLS's Eastern Conference and have an outside chance of sneaking into the playoffs.

Backed by the stellar Sutton in net and a solid core of midfielders, and inspired by coach Johnston from the sidelines, we foresee the club finishing ahead of New York and Columbus, and fighting it out for fourth place in the East with Kansas City.