The State of Toronto FC - Same Old, Same Old

Been a while since I did something like this, but there are some pressing issues concerning Toronto FC that I really need to address.

Now that I am back from school for good, I am able to go to matches at BMO Field again, and I finally make my return this Saturday, May 18th against the Columbus Crew. There are a couple of reasons why I am going back to BMO Field this Saturday. As much as I like to talk about how MLSE is ruining the club, I do miss going to TFC matches at BMO Field. My love for TFC is much stronger than my hate for MLSE. The other reason why I am going to the match on Saturday is that I want to see how the atmosphere is nowadays, compared to previous years. I've been hearing from fellow supporters about how bad the atmosphere is at BMO Field these days, and it is something that I want to see with my own eyes. I want to see what 7 years of bad results, dumb management, and MLSE ineptitude and greed has done to this club.

I also want to use this blog post to address a couple of quotes made by a couple of TFC staff. After the Voyageurs Cup 2nd leg loss to the Montreal Impact, TFC VP of Business Operations Paul Beirne sent this tweet:

"Congratulations @JoeySaputo and @impactmontreal on advancing to the Final. Now do the right thing and keep that trophy in the east."

Are you kidding me, Paul? I am disappointed at your lack of consideration for the Toronto FC supporters in publicly congratulating the Montreal Impact on their blowout 6-0 victory over Toronto FC. I'm sure you and the Impact staff are friends behind the scenes, but if you are going to congratulate OUR HATED RIVALS, then so do in private. That tweet you made created negative publicity for the club. Ironically, you share the responsibility of trying to market the club in a positive light and promote good PR. Us TFC supporters were absolutely gutted for that embarrassing loss, and you had to go and say that? I'm surprised you weren't fired. You will never understand what it is like to be a supporter of Toronto FC.

Okay, next order of business, it seemed like TFC has signed Tal Ben Haim on loan from QPR (it has actually been announced by TFC), but as of today, it looks like it hasn't happened yet. The obvious question here is that why would TFC announce something has happened when it hasn't yet? The quote that had me hollering with laughter is when TFC President and General Manager Kevin Payne said this about the defender:

"Tal Ben Haim has been one of the top defenders in the EPL for nearly a decade"

What? No, he hasn't. Tal Ben Haim has been one of the worst EPL defenders for nearly a decade. Dumb, relegation-threatened EPL teams trust in him to try to help save the team, but ultimately, they go down (Portsmouth, West Ham, QPR). I genuinely do not know why Kevin Payne would say something like that.

With Ben Haim (and Steven Caldwell), it seems like Kevin Payne is trying to steady the back line and add some much needed experience, especially in the last minutes of matches. He is relying on over-the-hill, thirty-something players to try to make the difference for TFC, after he said he wouldn't. This will be interesting summer for TFC. Who knows what will happen...

Actually, I'm pretty sure TFC will continue to lose...

My Thoughts: Sir Alex Ferguson's Retirement

If you haven't heard by now, Sir Alex Ferguson is retiring as manager of Manchester United at the end of this season. We all knew that this day would come, but it came as a bit of a shock to me that today would be the day that he would announce his retirement. Honestly, what can I say about him that hasn't already been said by countless other Manchester United supporters. The only thing I can truly offer differently is to share my personal connection to watching Sir Alex.

Alex Ferguson has been the manager of Manchester United since before I was born. When I began to follow Manchester United a very long time ago, he was that iconic figure for me in that club. To me, Sir Alex Ferguson IS Manchester United, and to have him leave after all these years, it feels like, as a Man United supporter, a part of me is lost. You can't just simply say goodbye to a long and illustrious 26 and a half year career where he turned a struggling club into one of the world powers of football and the biggest brand in all of sport. He knocked Liverpool off their fucking perch. He made Bayern Munich weep in 1999. He turned the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Roy Keane, and Ruud van Nistelrooy into world stars. He made use of the academy and out came more world class players like Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs, and the Neville brothers. He gave his absolute everything to the club, and saying a simple thank you and goodbye just doesn't seem enough for me.

Now the obvious question with his retirement as manager of Manchester United is, well, who will be replacing him. Well, there are two obvious candidates that were identified: Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho, and Everton manager David Moyes. One of them seems like the great short-term hire, and the other seems like the great long-term hire.

Jose Mourinho is the best manager in world football right now. His teams consistently go deep in the Champions League and he can motivate a team like no other. But Mourinho can't seem to stay at a team for more than 3 years, and he has a tendency to make things all about him, rather than the club itself. This would be bad for a team like Manchester United, as the club itself is bigger than any player or manager. If Manchester United wants to be assured of consistently performing well in Europe, and focus more on short-term goals, then hire Mourinho. I don't agree with this, though.

David Moyes has built a very good Everton team on a strict budget, constantly punching above its weight. He doesn't have much experience in continental football, but he is a commanding individual, similar to that of Sir Alex. If he is hired, my fear is that Man United will not perform as well as when Sir Alex is in charge, especially in Europe. But what eclipses that fear is the potential long-term stability that may occur if Moyes is hired. Moyes has been Everton manager for 11 years, so it is possible that he can be the Man United manager for many years to come. Moyes made big moves despite being on a tight budget at Everton, imagine what he can do with a lot more money at his disposal. If I had to choose which manager should succeed Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United, it would be David Moyes.

No matter which manager will be the next manager of Manchester United, it is pretty safe to say that it will be impossible to fill the shoes of Sir Alex Ferguson. He is the greatest manager in football, there's no question about it, and probably one of the greatest managers/coaches in all of sports. He is irreplaceable. He is more than a legend, more than an icon, and more than anyone can ever hope for.

I hope that bronze statue of Sir Alex outside Old Trafford is always shining, even in the darkest days.

It isn't much, but thanks for everything...