Anselmi lost the plot

Interesting comments from TFC executive Tom Anselmi the other day. There is no doubt that he and his and his MLSE cronies should be credited immensely for bringing first class professional soccer back to the City of Toronto. On a business level they have done a wonderful job. Engaging fans in the way they have proves they are in touch with modern day fan appreciation and cultivation. How about including fan representation on the MLSE board which is what happens in many parts of Europe? Would help diffuse some of the frustration with not winning. They need to be heard!

Back onto the technical side of things though. Ouch, cannot help concluding that Anselmi is a little out of his element when he begins talking about all things technical. From 'but sometimes young guys have to lose together so that they can learn how to win together' to "Our expectation was to not make the playoffs the first three years. We didn't think we would," Anselmi stated.…to name a few.

Well, show me a fan that would want to support a team if that was the message when the franchise was originally launched. Apparently Seattle took a different approach. The point with players is simple: TFC have collectively the wrong group mentality - end of story. Losing together does not help you win together if the mentality is wrong in the first place. Digging into the team with a pitch fork and clearing out the poor stock is what is required but generally to do that you need to be able to see it. Better Anselmi sticks to all things business-related and delegates technical comments to his technical staff. BTW: The Vision should be thus: To be the best professional soccer team in CONCACAF, not just MLS!!

Final Word On: so close to the playoffs

It is easy to get fed up listening to the fact that TFC had more wins and points than in all previous seasons and they were only one point out of the playoffs. Fair enough, but it lacks complete credibility when you lose your last game in the way you did, when it was so vital. It highlighted inadequate coaching, poor mentality yada, yada, yada. What is the point in making the playoffs anyway if when you get there you are then going to get beaten, stuffed, or humiliated?

Tommy Soehn

Interesting to see D.C. United moving Tommy Soehn away from the coaching ranks. Talk about dealing with something in a classy way. The comments from the club clearly indicate he was well liked and respected by everyone (including players), which tends to be a rarity these days. TFC could do worse than hire Tommy maybe not as the head coach as he needs a break from the grind. He would be a fantastic resource for player recruitment and academy direction. He actually has a Canadian connection, having played professionally for the Ottawa Intrepid and Hamilton Steelers of the old CSL. Comparing both eras highlights the great strides professional soccer has made in North America! Referring to the day when Tommy heard about being traded away from Hamilton Steelers. He was not informed personally by anyone from the club - no, he was sitting on the toilet reading the morning newspaper when he saw the headline "Soehn traded back to Ottawa."

Spot on Nigel Reed

Nigel Reed, who has been a breath of fresh air on the media landscape since his arrival a few years ago from England, got his assessment spot on for what TFC need in a coach. The most important criteria really is the ability to coach: to maximize the talent resources you have available to you. It takes talent to be able to do this and while foreign soccer cultures can be an impediment to immediate success, talented coaches/managers will eventually get the job done!