Globe and Mail: Canada's Soccer Shame

[DoyleG]

Jeff Blair

Canada's soccer shame

Oh when the Reds go marching out: GM Mo Johnston won't be the scapegoat for his team's failure to make MLS playoffs

What a shambles. What an utter embarrassment.

And look what was wrought by Toronto FC’s staggering 5-0 loss to the New York Red Bulls Saturday night: the head coach essentially said he didn’t care whether or not he came back next year and said that management made promises to him it didn’t keep. Sam Cronin – a rookie – said pointedly that the team needed “a culture change and a psychological overhaul,” and it was a statement that was not disputed by Dwayne De Rosario.

“I want to see more heart on this team,” De Rosario said, then asked: “How do you teach that? You tell me. I could have came in here and kicked everything down but what’s that going to prove. I’ve done it many times and there’s been no response. Been there and done that.”

“Karma is a funny thing,” said De Rosario. “If you work hard every day and train hard every day, your mind is 100-per-cent focused and chances are things are going to go your way. And I just don’t think we have that.”

In the end they didn’t even need to bother with the math or tie-breakers or any of that drivel. Down 1-0 after just two minutes in a game that was delayed for 16 minutes by a series of thunderstorms that rolled through the region, Toronto FC stayed true to form and blew a much-needed playoff berth. They had possession. They did nothing with it. And in the end it was two goals in the space of eight minutes in the second half – Juan Pablo Angel’s second of the night and Macoumda Kandji’s second of the night – that buried TFC for good. Matthew Mbuta added the fifth goal from the spot.

And when D.C. United drew 2-2 with the Kansas City Wizards later in the evening, their hopes were buried.

It was the final soccer match at Giants Stadium – the Red Bulls didn’t make the playoffs and will open a new facility in nearby Harrison, N.J., next year.

The recriminations will commence and change need to start at the back, where TFC’s slow-footedness has been a weakness opposing teams have used to their advantage all season long.

Saturday night it was Adrian Serioux’s turn to be a pylon and he filled that role well, especially on the Red Bulls’ first goal when Kandji took Angel’s one-touch ball and sent it past goalkeeper Brian Edwards, on a pitch that was drenched for most of the night. Nothing wrong with De Rosario and Julian de Guzman and Cronin.

O’Brian White is a keeper up front, but Chad Barrett took himself out of the match and he and Ali Gerba, frankly, haven’t shown enough to be back in 2010.

TFC has drafted well and made some decent acquisitions and added two premier Canadian-born players in de Guzman and De Rosario. But there’s no evidence that Mo Johnston, manager of soccer, has what it takes to lift TFC to the next level and dissatisfaction with Johnston is rampant not just among the fan-base but also around the team.

Yet, according to Maple Leafs Sports and Entertainment executive vice-president and chief operating officer Tom Anselmi, one change will definitely not be made: Johnston will be back. Please keep the cheering down to a dull roar.

As for Chris Cummins? Cue the tape. Asked if he even wanted the job, Cummins – who took over for John Carver in April - chuckled and said: “Listen, I was asked to come in and do a job until the end of the season and that’s what I’ve done. I’ve made mistakes all the way, the same as everyone else. Will I be here next year? Listen, there’s a fair chance I won’t be. My family’s back in the UK and I need to be near my family. They came out with me when I first came out and unfortunately there was things promised me that I didn’t get at the end of it.”

Cummins wouldn’t say what those promises were, but the fact he would be so bold suggests that something’s not entirely right with the way TFC does things. Johnston’s lucky, frankly, that the Toronto Maple Leafs and Raptors have serious issues of their own.

“We didn’t make the playoffs not because of tonight - we’ve been inconsistent all season,” said Cummins. “Don’t get me wrong. We’re so disappointed to lose the way we lost. Giving up the early goal hurt … but I just don’t think we had enough character.

“When there’s a little bit of pressure on, we haven’t dealt with it,” said Cummins. “We needed a result and I felt they (Red Bulls) showed a lot more hunger than we did. We need to have a good look at ourselves.”

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/soccer/canadas-soccer-shame/article1337253/

[Grizzly]

quote:“I want to see more heart on this team,” De Rosario said, then asked: “How do you teach that? You tell me. I could have came in here and kicked everything down but what’s that going to prove. I’ve done it many times and there’s been no response. Been there and done that.”

My favourite player with my favourite attitude once again! Rookie goalie Edwards says something along the lines of, "I played bad and my teammates played bad." From DeRo we get "I did what I could, nobody listened to me, it's not my fault." When have we ever in over a decade of following this guy ever heard him say, "I play poorly today" or "I accept responsibility for my part in the defeat." Yes there are big problems in attitude and in the locker room on this team, one of the biggest apparently stemming from DeRo's displeasure in his current salary and jealousy over JDG's salary. According to DeRo, in WCQ it was the coach's fault and at TFC it is the fault of his no heart teammates. I don't think we have to look very far to see the source of the attitude problems in both the TFC and Canada locker room.

[piltdownman]

Canada's soccer shame ??? Montreal just beat Vancouver in the USL final, in the first all Canadian Final. Toronto != Canada. No matter how many articles Nigel Reed writes about how TFC is Canada's team, it will never be true.

TFC however, is a disgrace.

[Vic]

Last time I checked Greg Ryan spent the last two years coaching a college team with about 4 wins a year, and anyone who watched Beijing last Summer knows Hope Solo is the reason her teammates are wearing Olympic gold medals and ranked #1 in the world.

If I had a penny for every person that called her selfish and egotistical I'd be a millionaire. And if I had a dollar for every person who understood her level of commitment and professionalism, I'd be a poor man.

Not beyond the realm of possibility that you do not understand him.

[Massive Attack]

Today's article by Jeff Blair is even better. He calls for Mo Johnston to pay the price for TFC's collapse.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/soccer/pointing-the-finger-at-mo/article1337774/

[VPjr]

^ wow....it takes the 1 reporter who probably pays the least attention to TFC (but who actually understands the sport) to see what is clear to every right thinking observer of TFC. Lack of leadership, from top to bottom (including the dressing room) is killing TFC. The oganization needs a new management culture, right at the top. Mo Must Go!

When it comes to the players, Grizzly, I've got to agree with you....you've got to start looking at DeRo and asking hard questions about what type of influence he's got on that team (is he a leader or part of the problem?). He has talent, undoubtedly. But is he a true team guy? His play on the field often makes me question who team oriented he really is. I've never really paid alot of attention to Dwayne because he wasn't on TV all that often and the only snippets I saw were of his highlite reel goals. He's definitely a play of the day type of player. However, now that I've had a full year to watch him, it's clear to me that on the field, he like a black hole out there alot of the time. I never understood why Houston was happy to trade him for next to nothing in return but after watching them manage to thrive with the relatively inexperienced Stuart Holden taking his place, I can see why.

I'm not prepared to lay all of TFC's problems at DeRo's feet. I think he is part of a larger issue. How they repair a fractured dressing room is going to be interesting to watch over the offseason and into next season.

[tmcmurph]

Funny how the 1 person who delivered this year as per expectations (goals & assists) is a "problem"? Sorry but I don't buy it. Of all the players who've been brought in how many have lived up to their billing? Where would you be without him?

So far 1 and only 1. I'll give JDG a full season before I pass judgment and I'm sure he will be a great addition (he will be the second to live up to his billing IMHO). Adrian has had a injury filled year. If he can stay healthy we'll see. Nana/Gomez are coming along great but a lot more to learn.

I don't know how things are in the dressing room and yea Dero gets stripped of the ball way too much but the same could be said of lots of others on the team. 2 games ago he was right in front of the net he passes to Cronin because a defender was in the way and Cronin had a better chance. One of many plays he has setup when a selfish player would have just shot. Maybe in the dressing room you can call the guy selfish but on the field? No.

Lets see how serious MLSE is about fixing the things they can (GM, coach). They have addressed the grass issue so one less excuse for players and coaches. I'm a big believer in taking away all excuses as a management style.

TFC has the players to be competitive in MLS. Yes they could use a few more but by and large they have the players. They need to all buy into an coach's system and execute it, keep concentration late in games and they will be in the playoffs.

[RJB]

De Rosario has proven with his comments that he is interested in only himself. I guess he knows that it can't be taught, because he's having a tough time learning it. Congratulations on all your hard work Dwayne, too bad others couldn't be as great as you[]

What this all proves though, is just how disfunctional TFC is. As fans, let's be honest: Even if they made the playoffs, by squeaking into the eighth spot, this is still a team that isn't good enough on a nightly basis. They are boring to watch, lack creativity, and frankly finished higher than their disfunction should have allowed them to.

[SoccMan]

Serioux is crap, always has been, he should never see the field again for TFC and for the CDN National team. Yes he looks good at times because of his work rate,however, looks can be deceiving. He makes critical mistakes time after time. The last game versus N.Y. I can blame him for about 4 out of the 5 goals N.Y. scored.

[Richard]

quote:Originally posted by RJB

De Rosario has proven with his comments that he is interested in only himself. I guess he knows that it can't be taught, because he's having a tough time learning it. Congratulations on all your hard work Dwayne, too bad others couldn't be as great as you[]

What this all proves though, is just how disfunctional TFC is. As fans, let's be honest: Even if they made the playoffs, by squeaking into the eighth spot, this is still a team that isn't good enough on a nightly basis. They are boring to watch, lack creativity, and frankly finished higher than their disfunction should have allowed them to.

My son knew him a some years ago, I won't repeat his opinion of deRo the man. Suffice to say I doubt he is a very constructive influence in the dressing room, never mind on the field.

[Grizzly]

quote:Originally posted by SoccMan

Serioux is crap, always has been, he should never see the field again for TFC and for the CDN National team. Yes he looks good at times because of his work rate,however, looks can be deceiving. He makes critical mistakes time after time. The last game versus N.Y. I can blame him for about 4 out of the 5 goals N.Y. scored.

There is no denying he had a poor game against NY. He played quite well earlier in the season but his form dipped near the end. It is possible that injuries played a part in this. For Canada though he has always played well and was one of the few players who was good throughout the last WCQ. I wouldn't write him off for Canada or TFC just yet.

[SoccMan]

I have been following Serioux since his Toronto Lynx days, and he is the sort of player that is prone to make those big mistakes that will cost you goals. He looks good to the naked I because he works hard,however, he lacks good soccer sense and it's this soccer sense that causes him to make critical mistakes. I'm sorry but if people thought Garcia is bad Serioux is not that far behind.

[Gian-Luca]

quote:Originally posted by tmcmurph

Funny how the 1 person who delivered this year as per expectations (goals & assists) is a "problem"?

Plus, it begs the question why wasn't he a "problem" the 4 years that he's won the MLS Cup, and if he was a "problem" then, how much of a "problem" could he have been?

TFC has been inconsistent the whole year, not just this game, so I too don't expect that DeRo should have to be the one to come out to say "It's my fault, I should have done more, I should have scored more goals" etc. He got 14 goals in all competitions for TFC this year - a total of 8 more than any other TFC player had got in a single year, and without playing as an out and out striker either. Not forgetting he set up a number of goals and set up even more chances that other players would whiff on completely. I do think that De Ro was guilty of hanging on the ball too much at times, but that has always been the case with him. So while I agree with the criticism that he under-performed during WCQ, I'm not sure that I do here with respect to his time at TFC thus far.

[Grizzly]

^^The DeRo situation can be summed up like this:

At the lower level of MLS he plays well and has an attitude problem.

At the higher international level he plays poorly and has an attitude problem.

[jpg75]

quote:Originally posted by SoccMan

He looks good to the naked I

Geez man, whatever turns your crank []

[Richard]

My own assessment of deRo is that he is unable to deliver on the big stage when it really matters, never mind personality issues off the field. And he is not alone.

[amacpher]

quote:Originally posted by Gian-Luca

Plus, it begs the question why wasn't he a "problem" the 4 years that he's won the MLS Cup, and if he was a "problem" then, how much of a "problem" could he have been?

Right but he could've at least admitted that he didn't play well on Saturday.

[Gian-Luca]

quote:Originally posted by amacpher

Right but he could've at least admitted that he didn't play well on Saturday.

Even assuming that was the case (and I'm not sure it was), my point is that TFC didn't miss the playoffs because of one game, but because they've been inconsistent for the whole season, especially in the areas of the field DeRo doesn't play in. By contrast De Ro delivered the offense throughout the year that was expected. Singling himself out for yesterday's game (or the season in general) would be silly - he would have had to have played out of his skull to help TFC overcome giving up 5 goals like that, on just 5 chances and on just 5 shots, the first of which was a minute into the game.

[Gian-Luca]

quote:Originally posted by Richard

My own assessment of deRo is that he is unable to deliver on the big stage when it really matters, never mind personality issues off the field. And he is not alone.

I take it by "big stage" you are not referring to MLS play then, given his 4 MLS championships & two MLS Cup MVP awards. Which would be a fair enough assessment, although if somewhat off-topic to this part of the forum.

[Richard]

It takes a team effort (players and management) to succeed through the season, bad influences can always be balanced by good ones but it takes strong, smart characters to do so.

[BearcatSA]

There was much inconsistent play from many players and questionable tactical decisions from the coach throughout the season which contributed to this team falling short, so there's plenty of responsibility to go around. Improvement has been very slow over the three years. Too slow.

[SthMelbRed]

^for somebody who clearly has a high appreciation of his own abilities, it still surprises me that when given the opportunity to prove himself at the highest level possible, DeRo didn't even make the effort.

[Grizzly]

quote:Originally posted by Richard

It takes a team effort (players and management) to succeed through the season, bad influences can always be balanced by good ones but it takes strong, smart characters to do so.

Yes to elaborate on Richard's point, on Houston he was on a veteran team and surrounded by other good players many of whom had good characters and leadership ability. On TFC and Canada he was expected to be both one of the leaders and a dominant player. As far as being a dominant player he has to some extent delivered at TFC at least if goals scored is the sole consideration while with Canada he was basically a washout in WCQ once we got past the minnow. Both teams seemed to have failed not because they didn't have as much talent as their competitors but because of attitude problems and rifts within the team. Some of this can be placed on the fact both teams had weak and inexperienced/underqualified coaches but an equal amount of blame needs to go to the players themselves. Whenever, one looks at which players names come up as having a bad attitude and not taking things seriously enough, DeRo (as well as Brennan and even to some extent JDG) is always one of the first that seems to get mentioned.

[Richard]

You can take a group of highly talented, even brilliant individualists and put them together on a football team and the team will stink. Take a group of players of average technical ability but able to work together as a team with a cooperative, supportive spirit and good chemistry that is willing to follow a coach whom they look up to and is a true leader and they will be a winning team.

[dbailey62]

In fairness to Barrett, saying he pulled himself out of the game means that Blair wasn't paying particularly close attention considering the heavy collision between Barrett and the RBNY keeper. Barret was injured and he was injured because he fought hard to get to a ball that was 50-50 at best.

I just wanted to get that off my chest as on a night that TFC lacked effort, lacked commitment, lacked spirit and lacked just about everything else you can probably think of, at least Barret put in an effort.