SoccerDown to the wire for Toronto FC

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Long after the final whistle has sounded and the deserted stadium is left to the management of the cleanup crews, the post mortem endures.

No qualification is necessary to join the debate. The die-hard supporter who attends every game may appear more knowledgeable than your neighbour who only heard the result on the radio but his/her opinion is just as valid as the season-ticket holder, simply because it’s his view and he’s entitled to it.

Varying opinions on Toronto FC

Fans of Toronto FC have spent weeks opining over the chances (realistic or otherwise) of their team finally reaching Major League Soccer’s playoffs at the end of the third year of operation. Some wrote them off weeks ago, some believe the 1-1 at home against San Jose last wekeend was the final nail in the coffin, while others reckon the post-season remains a remote possibility.

Who’s right and who’s wrong, only time will tell, but all the fans and players I’ve spoken to believe, without question, 2009 should be the year in which this team cracks the playoffs. On that objective we can all agree, right?

Really? Honestly?

It’s only natural to want success for your team, otherwise why bother making the emotional commitment in the first place? But let’s look at this from a slightly different and dispassionate standpoint, which might make TFC fans think twice about the relative merits of an extension to this season.

Let’s firstly consider the ‘magic number’. Where’s the cut off between the haves and have-nots? A little research reveals, and this is fact, not opinion, that no team in MLS history has ever needed more than 40 points to qualify for the play offs from a 30 game regular season.

Dream is still alive

Toronto FC is one of four teams for whom the dream is still alive despite the huge disappointment of the Earthquakes’ heartbreaking injury time equalizer last time out. Everyone’s chasing New England for the final playoff spot and the Revs are certainly vulnerable. TFC coach Chris Cummins reckons 42 points will do it - that is to say his players must win their final two games, at home to Real Salt Lake and at New York the following weekend.

Blessing is missing the playoffs?

But are the playoffs all they’re cracked up to be? Is making the post-season the Holy Grail or can it do more harm than good? Recent history suggests it might.

Last year New York somehow staggered into the playoffs despite winning only one of its final six games. The Red Bulls, under the guidance of Juan Carlos Osorio, then rode their luck, first against Houston, then against Salt Lake all the way to the MLS Cup. Columbus finally gave them a football lesson in Los Angeles, but an appearance in the finale was hailed a great success by New York fans, lavish in their praise of the experienced Osorio on the bench and DP striker Juan Pablo Angel scoring the goals.

Less than 12 months on, Osorio is out of work and New York is the worst team in MLS. Angel remains the team's leading scorer, though his 10 goals to date makes 2009 his least effective campaign. The Red Bulls’ reward for finishing MLS Cup runners-up was a place in the CONCACAF Champions League. They fell at the first qualifying hurdle to cap a torrid year and though a new stadium is under construction, the franchise is little short of an embarrassment to the league in what should be one of North America’s biggest soccer markets.

Kansas City is another team apparently suffering from the post-playoff blues. As the eighth seeds, and remember this is what TFC is aiming for, the Wizards made it to the Conference Championship game in 2007 before bowing out to Dwayne de Rosario’s Houston Dynamo. Last year Curt Onalfo’s team won its final three games to sneak into the post-season only to come unstuck against the Crew.

There will be no post-season for the Wizards in 2009, and Mr. Onalfo is in the same position and Senor Osorio.

My point is this: if Toronto FC does actually make the playoffs this year my concern is that all the deficiencies will be conveniently swept under the carpet in the ensuing euphoria. Surely prudence suggests it would be beneficial, in the medium to long term, for this team to spend the winter taking a long, hard look in the mirror and addressing the clear and present problems.

Building a sports dynasty takes time, patience, money and vision. In the world of professional soccer, three years is, in truth, no time at all. It took Manchester United sixteen years to become English champions for the first time. And Toronto FC will never be relegated.

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