TFC have made the decision to not renew the contract of Scarborough native Adrian Serioux. A few people are scrambling for a reason or reasons as to why the club would make the decision, especially considering he is a Canadian player, playing as a defender, in an area of real concern for the team.
Not too many people seem to consider that Serioux is not good enough for the role and the purpose of new TFC head coach Preki, which is the more realistic reason.
Career-ending injury? If so, then say it. Makes no sense to not state this.
Contract negotiations breaking down? If so, then say so.
When a contract of a player is not renewed it is generally because the player, in the eyes of the head coach, is not good enough. Preki has a 3-year track record as a head coach in the MLS and a wonderful playing background. He is a competitor and task master. But he appears also to be smart. Coaches with these traits are not in the business of making mistakes and so TFC fans rather than being alarmed about the Serioux decision, should instead, feel relieved. They finally have a coach with the gumption and wherewithal to get the team on the right path to success.
It is very likely that Preki since taking over at TFC has reviewed the game tapes of each and every match they played last year. In doing so, he would have seen that for all the athletic promise Adrian brings to the table as a player, he first and foremost cannot defend sufficiently for the level he was competing at. No point being “flashy” on the ball if you give it away at crucial times. No point being “tough” if you get sent off, give away penalties, and get beat too often in one v one situations.
Consider also, the TFC team culture from last year, needs an overhaul. To single out Adrian for a poor team mentality would be a little unfair. Nevertheless, when a team loses in the way that TFC did last year, changes abound when a new coach comes in. Expecting a complete shift in team culture without some significant personnel changes is totally unrealistic.
Preki can and will implement his philosophy on the team and can influence the team attitude to a certain point but without personnel changes there are limitations. This is not about building a team to be average. This is about building a team to win and eventually to WIN BIG. Expect therefore, that other personnel changes are on the horizon.
