I’m afraid the only thing we know for sure in the wake of Ali Gerba’s public scolding of Mo Johnston and Preki is how the ex-TFC striker feels about his former general manager and coach.
I don’t want to say Gerba isn’t a reliable witness. He spoke earnestly for 17 full minutes in an interview with Kristian Jack at The Score. There’s no question he feels Preki and Johnston were needlessly blunt in sending him home from training camp, and subsequently buying out his contract.
But what do we really know?
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Gerba has now come and gone from 11 different pro soccer clubs. His two longest runs anywhere – 25 and 32 games – were both with the Toronto Lynx.
He was clearly and badly out of shape for most of his brief 11-game run with the Reds.
He claims injury, and says he was in very good shape in training camp. He cites Canada coach Stephen Hart as a witness. I had the chance to be part of an interview with Hart on “It’s Called Football” on Monday night, and all he would say is that Gerba will need to play regular first-team soccer before he’ll be considered for another cap for his country.
Not exactly confirmation. And there was no shortage of witnesses during camp who thought the big, strong striker was not fit.
Going deeper, Gerba accused both Johnston and Preki of unprofessionalism, saying 80 per cent of TFC’s players are unhappy. He accused the coach of lacking strategy, and capped it by accusing both his former bosses of “fraud.”
Here’s what I can tell you:
Johnston has lost the press. The majority of working scribes in the BMO Field pressbox are deeply sceptical of pretty much everything he says. But Johnston is a master of creating reasonable doubt. Anyone who still wishes to defend the TFC mastermind can say there’s a new coach and a bunch of new players in town, and it will be weeks before we know how good this 2010 team is – or isn’t.
And, of course, that’s true.
Just like it’s true that signing Dwayne de Rosario raised hope. Just like it’s true that signing Julian de Guzman raised hope. Just like it’s true hiring Preki raised hope.
Gerba paints a picture of players lured to Toronto by sweet talk, then thrown to the triple wolves of dressing room discord, inefficient coaching and vague management.
That squares with what most of us are seeing, but it’s really hard to shed light on things. Prominent ex-players Danny Dichio and Jim Brennan were bought off with organization jobs. Ali Gerba is hollering his head off, but his claims of peak fitness and past tendency to get outright released by multiple clubs tend to undermine his credibility.
But…!
Gerba’s comments will be extremely useful should other ex-TFCers follow his lead, and start granting interviews. Carl Robinson, Adrian Serioux, Marvell Wynne, Greg Sutton … call home, guys.
There are plenty of reporters watching this team who can see very clearly how bad and ugly the backroom situation truly is. But speculation won’t convince Mo Johnston’s bosses. Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment have always had their own unique take on sports management theory. Johnston’s smoke screen couldn’t have a better atmosphere for success.
We need more former players to speak. Back Gerba – or disagree with him. Anything on the record is a big improvement over the fog, evasion and double-talk Toronto’s sports media is having to wade through now.
Onward!