SoccerCanadian rivals set for grand opening

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The Vancouver Whitecaps host Toronto FC on March 19 to kick off the 2011 MLS season. (Canadian Press)

For some, including my sister, Christmas is akin to a military operation. In order for her and her family to fully enjoy the celebration, everything must run like clockwork. Accommodating guests, timing meals and arranging traditional festive games must all be thought out in advance.
 
Without the forward planning, chaos would ensue. Small children, without structured focus, would run amok. Christmas may be all about the little ones, but the big ones need a break, too. Chasing noisy kids around a freshly vacuumed house is not my sister's idea of relaxation.
 
This does not mean my sister doesn't know how to enjoy herself. Far from it. She is never happier than when she is the centre of attention and the life and soul of the party.  It's just her way of surviving Christmas the best way she knows how.
 
Essentially, she has to be ready for anything and everything. Being prepared for all eventualities allows her to let her hair down. As long as everyone is fed and watered, from the dog up, my sister feels confident in dealing with any of life's little 'surprises'.
 
Readiness, they say, is a state of mind. Mental fortitude, though, is only acquired by being properly equipped for the task ahead. Winging it would not work in my sister's home anymore than it works on a professional soccer field.
 
In less than 90 days the Vancouver Whitecaps and Toronto FC had better be ready. Canadian soccer history will be made when the two go head to head on the opening weekend of Major League Soccer's 2011 season.

Whitecaps enter MLS
 
They've met before of course, but never like this. The rivalry has grown steadily in recent years following the introduction of the Nutrilite Canadian Championship. But on March 19th next year the expansion Whitecaps will want to enter MLS with a statement victory over their compatriots.
 
Many believe the 'Caps will achieve that and more in 2011. Vancouver is a city with soccer in its blood. This may be a new MLS franchise but it is a football club with a history. It is run by people who know and love the game.
 
Vancouver is no MLS off the shelf operation. By their own admission, the Whitecaps are run like a European team and have no plans to radically change their structure. Clearly they must play by MLS rules, but the club was around a long time before the League it is about to join.
 
It is owned by wealthy investors, is coached by experienced personnel and has a potential fan base to rival any in MLS. Players have been identified and signed and corporate sponsorships agreed. On the surface, at least, the Whitecaps are ready.   
 
The same cannot be said of Canada's original MLS team. Toronto FC has had four years to fly the flag and make inroads into a hitherto exclusively American market. Its fans have put it on the map in no uncertain terms. Its ownership, players and coaches have blown it.
 
Toronto is virtually back to square one. It is approaching its fifth year without a General Manager or Head Coach in place and without the know-how to solve the problem. Hiring Jurgen Klinsmann as a consultant is an admission of ignorance.
 
Engaging the German World Cup legend to find the right leadership is a smart move. Indeed, it is the only move possible for an ownership group which knows how to sell tickets but lacks inside soccer knowledge. Klinsmann has the global contacts to identify a suitable candidate.

TFC remains stagnant
 
Whether or not he can find a candidate who is also available and attracted to the position remains to be seen. The business of football management dictates the best are simply not accessible, and those who are, are generally out of work for a reason.
 
In the meantime TFC remains stagnant. An assortment of players have been let go but their replacements are nowhere to be seen. The MLS re-entry draft, which gave every team the chance to restock its roster, passed the club by as if it had never happened.
 
For Toronto FC, the 2010 season finished more than two months ago. Other than the unseemly backtracking of management to pacify disillusioned season seat holders and the hosting of a forgettable MLS finale, all appears too quiet at BMO Field.
 
Unlike its west coast cousin, Toronto FC is demonstrably unready. The fans want some Christmas cheer. They want someone, or something, they can believe in. Many have renewed their season tickets more in hope than expectation.
 
What none of us yet know is how this will translate onto the field of play. Vancouver, with home advantage, will have every right to feel confident. Toronto has won only once in four attempts on opening day and a pitiable road record has shown little sign of improvement.
 
In one respect the outcome is unimportant. The very fact two Canadian teams will line up in opposition in 2011 is a positive result in itself. It won't make global soccer headlines, but here at home we'll understand the significance of the occasion.
 
It won't cure the inadequacies plaguing Canadian soccer. But it's a start.

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