SoccerToronto FC must learn from history

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Imitation, they say, is the sincerest form of flattery. Not in the world of journalism. If you copy someone else's work it is called plagiarism and the punishments can be severe. But what if you copy your own work? Is that also illegal or merely laziness on the part of the writer?
 
A third of the way through the 2009 MLS season, I penned a blog entitled: "Is TFC on track for the playoffs?" A year ago, I mused that after 10 games, with 13 points on the board, Toronto might finally accumulate 39 points. The prediction proved accurate - one point short of the post-season.
 
Twelve months on, it is time to take stock. I have long since jumped the gun and there is no turning back. Despite the disorganized start to the 2010 campaign, my hunch has always been - and remains - that this is the breakthrough year.
 
By no means am I attempting to pat myself on the back. After all we have been here before. Despite the current wave of optimism borne of a four-game unbeaten streak, this is NOT Toronto's best start to a season.
 
Cast your mind back to the spring of 2008. John Carver's colourful, but ultimately short-lived tenure was at its height. By the end of May, with the benefit of a lengthy home stand and an unbeaten six-match sequence, TFC had bagged 17 points from its first 10 outings.
 
All was rosy in the garden but the dog days of summer would take their toll. The next 20 games yielded a mere 18 points as Carver desperately, but unsuccessfully, attempted to keep the ship on course and prevent it from running aground.
 
In the end it was mutiny. Carver's own crew turned against their skipper and the vessel was doomed. Jeff Cunningham was banished to the brig while Laurent Robert and Olivier Tebily jumped ship and set sail for home.   
 
Insubordination will not be a factor in 2010. Everyone knew Preki was a taskmaster coming in. He demanded, and continues to demand, a work ethic befitting a roster of professional athletes. Those unwilling or unable to meet the standard are of no use to him.
 
He makes no excuses and why should he? The shelf life of a soccer coach is dependent solely on results. He is employed to produce a team which wins more than it loses. Ten games into 2010, he has finally achieved the goal.
 
But Preki, it turns out, is more than a mere slave driver. He is also showing us a glimpse of his human side. Don't ever expect him to let down his guard, but this driven individual understands the importance of man-management.
 
His mission can only succeed if he keeps most of his players content, most of the time. One of the challenges facing any leader is how to keep everyone onside and engaged. Preki currently has 23 players at his disposal of which only 11 can be happy at any given moment.
 
He has rewarded those who have bought into the project. Starters have been rested and squad rotation, difficult to achieve in MLS due to a general lack of depth, has been tried and tested. Those on the fringes are desperate to grab their chance and make the right impression.
 
Essentially a coach will only ever be as successful as his team allows. The coach must direct with a firm but fair hand while the players must respect his leadership and regard playing for him as a privilege not an entitlement. When they want to play for him to results will follow.
 
Let us not kid ourselves that Toronto FC is the finished article. We're talking about a team merely a third of the way through the season and, as the summers of 2008 and '09 have proved beyond a shadow of doubt, there is never a comfort zone.  
 
Glitches are still evident. Dwayne De Rosario still tries to do too much when there are alternate options; de Guzman must learn to stay on his feet longer in this league; Barrett must make more of his chances and Saric can ponder his decision making while serving a suspension at the weekend.  
 
We are, however, discussing a team that is finally showing signs of being just that; a team rather than a collection of individuals in matching jerseys. The rudiments of the game such as commitment, possession and patience are beginning to bear fruit.
 
It could, and probably has, fallen from Preki's lips: "If we all work as a group we will get results." The telling quote was actually part of Jose Mourinho's introductory speech at Real Madrid.
 
Two very different coaches sharing one identical philosophy. The group is everything and in soccer, as in life, there really is no substitute for hard work. Even if it involves copying one's own.
 

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