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No awards for Toronto FC

October 27, 2009 01:17 AM | Posted by   Nigel Reed  

I checked the forecast. It’s going to be a long, cold, harsh, bitter winter in Toronto.

There will be no halcyon days on which to reflect while shovelling the driveway, no glorious recollections to force a smile as the wind chill bites at your face and brings water to your eyes.

In those short days and long nights, will you risk the ridicule of co-workers and friends by wearing your TFC scarf and toque in broad daylight to protect yourself from the ravages of Mother Nature?

The recriminations are in full flow as the wailing and gnashing of teeth rises to a crescendo among those who admit to being fans of Toronto FC.

In truth, there many thousands of loyal fans who do their job; sadly for them another year has passed with precious little to shout about from a team which, in the final analysis, did not do theirs.

When the regular season finally drew to a close on Sunday, I spent part of my evening completing an MLS Awards ballot.

It took a while – there’s a gong for just about any category you can imagine. I’m fine voting for Player and Coach of the Year (and I’ll even stretch to Rookie of the Year).

But when the ballot has to explain to me what constitutes a Comeback Player of the Year, I start losing the will to live.

You will not be surprised to learn that neither Toronto FC’s playing nor coaching staff figured highly in any of my decisions.

Bare cupboard

I’ll admit Dwayne De Rosario (11 goals, six assists) made my Team of the Year as part of a five-man midfield, but other than that the cupboard was bare from a TFC standpoint.

I blame all this on the choice of awards. If only the suits at Major League Soccer had some imagination, TFC could have swept the board.

Why wasn't I allowed to vote for “Own Goal of the Year” or “Worst Defence in the Last 15 Minutes” or even the cherished “Most Profligate in front of Goal” accolade?

I cannot for the life of me understand why I was denied the opportunity to vote for Chris Cummins as “Scapegoat of the Year.”

He wasn’t the best or most experienced coach in Major League Soccer – far from it – but I believe he did his best to develop what he inherited. Nana Attakora, the most improved young player at the club, credits Cummins directly with giving him a chance to prove his worth.

In fairness, he should never have been offered the position – interim or otherwise – in the first place.

Cummins has a track record or discovering and developing raw talent, a position vital to any successful club but a million miles away from managing a senior squad full of fragile, professional egos.

Master and Commander

What Toronto FC needed, and in my opinion continues to need, is a proven head coach with winning credentials who commands the respect of his players from the minute he sets foot in the dressing room.

General manager Mo Johnston should have given this team a father figure. What he gave them was an older brother.

Johnston cannot afford to make the same mistake again.

If this club is to fulfill its potential before it is dismissed as just another profitable but failing franchise of the Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment empire, he must hire a coach who knows MLS inside out, understands what it takes to raise the bar and how to put together a team – rather than a collection of individuals in matching jerseys.

There’s been talk of Johnston’s former Scottish international teammate Steve Nicol leaving New England for pastures new, and I’m hearing whispers Stephen Hart, the Canadian Soccer Association’s technical director, may also be a candidate.

That would make sense in terms of his relationship with TFC’s Canadian contingent, but his lack of day to day club involvement would make such an appointment a calculated gamble at best.

Talent, but no depth

There is talent in this team – De Rosario, De Guzman and Guevara could expect to be starters on any MLS franchise – but the lack of depth remains a huge concern.

Three years down the line, there is still frustratingly little competition for places which has inevitably led to a culture of complacency among some of the players.

In addition, if Guevara is still around in 2010 he’ll be gone for at least three weeks during the World Cup.

No one would deny him his place in the sun with Honduras, but his absence will do nothing to help the team advance any closer to the playoffs. Some would have you believe he’s already mentally checked out.

By the time Toronto FC returns next spring, there will be a plush grass pitch awaiting them. Let us all hope the playing surface is not the only improvement on show.

Until then, bundle up!

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