Quick Post-Game Thoughts: Honduras vs. Canada

That could have very well been one of the worst matches I have ever seen the Canadian National Team play. They didn't even show up in that 8-1 thumping Honduras put on them.

Where do I start? I start off with the appalling finishing by Tosaint Ricketts in the early stages of the game. He missed a couple of great chances to get Canada some early goals in this match, and it very well could have changed the dynamic of the match. But terrible play in the final third for Canada wasn't even the biggest issue. The defense, normally pretty dependable for Canada, completely fell apart. Simple defensive errors and marking issues really did this team in. Add in the constant loss of possession in the midfield and you've got a concoction of disappointment. With a spot in the final round of CONCACAF World Cup Qualifying, you would expect the Canadian team to show some sort of fight, right? Instead, the players completely let themselves, the supporters, and the entire country down with the joke that they call a performance. It reminded me of when Toronto FC played the New York Red Bulls on the last match-day of the 2009 MLS Season. TFC played terribly, lost 5-0, and missed out on the playoffs. I was reliving that pain when watching this Honduras/Canada match.

The players deserve the brunt of the blame, but some of the blame must be passed to Head Coach Stephen Hart, and the rest of the coaching staff. In my opinion, Stephen Hart has made some big mistakes in this match. He failed to motivate the players in the importance of this match and the implications along with it, and his team selection and formation was a bit questionable. I think it’s time for him to part ways with the Canadian Soccer Association. I don’t see how he can keep his job after that debacle. It was nice knowing you, Stephen Hart.

Canada’s elimination from World Cup Qualifying has some other effects as well. From a business point of view, there will be no more games in Canada, missing out on potential revenue for the CSA. Also, the elimination is a hindrance on the growth of soccer in the Canadian sporting landscape. It will now be harder to attract fans to soccer in Canada. Having 17000+ fans in BMO Field for Canada matches is very nice, but imagine if Canada actually made it to the hex? More people will definitely take notice of Canadian soccer if Canada made a decent run to the World Cup.

I’ll touch on one last point. Does Canada have the talent to at least make it to the hex? Perhaps, they were one point away from qualifying for it. But do they have the talent to COMPETE in the hex? My answer is no. Canada is not as talented as some of the Central American countries, and they are nowhere near as good as the USA or Mexico.

Maybe it’s time for the Canadian Men’s National Team and CSA to give a long, hard look at themselves and find out what it takes for them to get to the Hex, and eventually, the World Cup.

Some Tips for College/University First-Year Students

It’s almost that time again. People are enjoying the last of summer and are getting ready to go back to school. For upcoming first-year college and university students, this is a major step up from what they were used to in high school, and the change may be overwhelming for some. I am going to offer my wisdom by listing some tips and advice for upcoming college and university students on their first year of their studies. I strongly insist that you all take this advice and apply it.

One of the most important things you should ever do when in college or university is to attend all your classes. I have a couple of idiotic friends who rarely go to class, and they have mostly failed their courses, which mean that they have to retake them, thus costing more money for them in tuition. Skipping class isn’t cool, and you only screw yourself. Also, don’t make excuses for not going to class, such as your schedule or the weather. Go to class.

Merely showing up in class isn’t enough; you have to listen in class. I don’t advise taking notes with your computer, because more often than not, people get distracted on their laptop or tablet by going on Facebook, Twitter, or some other website. I suggest taking your notes with the classic pen and a notebook.

If you start having trouble with one of your courses, go find help. Professors always have office hours, so it doesn’t hurt to go see the professor for guidance. They also have e-mail addresses, as well as other ways to contact them, so don’t hesitate to do so. There are other places to seek help, such as tutors and academic advisors. If you need it, seek help sooner rather than later.

With all this stuff about the “studying” part of school, I’m not saying that shouldn’t go out and have fun. In your first couple weeks of college and university, make as many new friends as possible, and have some fun. But don’t lose sight of what you actually came to college or university for, and that is a degree. Moderation is the key, between studying for your courses, and going out with friends.

Some other minor thoughts:

- For many people, this will be the first time that they will be living by themselves. Learn to clean up after yourself and take care of your body.

- Join some clubs in and around the college or university. It is a great way to make some new friends and explore your interests.

- Try to participate in some campus events. Once again, great way to meet new people.

- If you need to sell textbooks, try to sell them to fellow students instead of the campus store. You may get more money that way, and it also saves the other person some money by buying it directly from you instead of buying the textbook from the campus store.

- Don’t procrastinate! Do your readings! And do your work!

- Nobody cares about what you did in high school or your high school achievements. Use your time in college or university to change yourself for the better. I thought of my first year of university as a fresh start at life, and that has certainly helped me.

And there you have it. That is all I can think of when it comes to going to college and university for the first time. For all the upcoming first-year students going to college or university, I’ll say this. Good luck in your studies, and don’t do anything stupid, such as miss class, or impregnate a girl (use protection!). But most importantly, have fun. College and university is a learning experience about who you truly are.

The Current State of Toronto FC: My Thoughts - Part 2

With all the issues in Part 1 (and more) surrounding the team, many TFC supporters feel hopeless that anything is going to change for the better. Other TFC supporters have taken the “hope and pray” approach and are eager that the team will get some positive results. But there are some TFC supporters, including myself, who are pressing for drastic change at the club. I may not agree with some TFC supporters’ way of supporting the team, but you have every right to support the club whichever way you see fit.

I don’t like how some TFC supporters are constantly blindly positive about the team and follow the team around like a bunch of sheep. But if that is the way you want to support your team, then so be it. I also don’t like how some TFC supporters think that this team will never succeed and are always pessimistic about them. I admit that I still think this way at times, but if you want to think this way about the team, then go ahead. I prefer to be realistic about this team.

I have seen Toronto FC go through some half-assed changes over the 6 years of their existence. Year after year, coaching change after coaching change. When coaches weren’t the target, general managers were, as was the case of Mo Johnston in 2010, and the team still performed poorly. Now there are TFC supporters (including myself) who want the Toronto FC front office fired and held accountable for Toronto FC’s failures. Tom Anselmi, Earl Cochrane, and others in the front office have been the only people who have been a part of Toronto FC since the beginning.

It’s time for a change at the top. Kill the virus at the source, I say. There needs to be a new, proper long-term vision and strategy at the club. Tom Anselmi had 6 years to fulfill his vision for the club, and he has failed at it. Letting Jurgen Klinsmann do the work for you was just weak.

Now don’t let people tell you that you are hopeless in trying to make a difference in this team, because you certainly can. I wish there can be more active dissent towards the Toronto FC front office from the Toronto FC supporters. The banners at BMO Field are a good start, but I wish there is a way to make Tom Anselmi really feel what we are really going through. He mentions that he is “fully aware” of the frustrations of the supporters, but I don’t think he has any idea what we are really going through. There are other ways of expressing dissent to the Toronto FC front office, such as boycotting games and protests (these are merely suggestions). My main problem with active dissent is that I don’t think that enough Toronto FC supporters will be up for it, because I have heard many varying opinions on the current state of Toronto FC. They can think whatever they want to think.

As for me, I am tired of seeing this team go through losing season after losing season. I am tired of Toronto FC being labeled as the embarrassment of Major League Soccer, and of North America for that matter. I am tired of the lack of accountability for Toronto FC’s failings in the front office, and of the lack of leadership. I dream of a time where BMO Field is once again filled to the rafters supporting the team they love. Seriously, it’s time for a change at the top.

I want to see this team succeed for once, and I will do what I can to make it happen. Don’t you?

The Current State of Toronto FC: My Thoughts - Part 1

Oh Toronto FC, you have existed in the MLS for almost 6 years now. You have had 7 different coaches during that time. None of them have taken this team to the MLS playoffs.

I know this is an often repeated fact, but it needs to be repeated some more. This fact needs to be repeated just so that people can understand the futility that has plagued this club for its entire existence. It seems that no matter who the coach is, or which players have been brought in to improve the team, this team has failed to be competitive in the MLS. There are many issues with this team, obviously.

With the players, it’s always constant issues with the defense, such as poor marking (especially in set pieces), failure to push high up the pitch to challenge the opposing team’s midfield, and generally running around like chickens with their heads cut off. TFC have signed Darren O’Dea to try to organize the defense, but it will take some time for the defense to be on the same page. The midfield fails to keep possession most of the time and spends that time chasing the ball. The forward situation is a bit unfortunate, with Koevermans’ injury keeping him out for the rest of the season.

The coach, Paul Mariner, also has some blame to share, such as making questionable substitutions when Toronto FC is leading which leads to TFC conceding late, and switching around the defense so that defenders would be playing out of their natural position. Mariner, like the coaches before him at Toronto FC, is at least trying to sort out the issues on the field, which I can’t fault him for. With the recent results for Toronto FC, some are asking for the firing of Mariner, but I think that is a mistake. At least give him a real chance to try to work things out with the team. Give him until the end of this season, and probably give him the off-season too.

I don’t think the players or the coach are the real reasons why this team has been tanking so much. I think the majority of the blame lies on the Toronto FC front office, MLSE, Tom Anselmi and company. There is no question that they have spent a lot of money in order to try to make this team competitive in the long run, such as the new training ground in Downsview. But more often, they have shown that they are truly incompetent in running a football team. One can look at the negotiations between them and players such as Dwayne De Rosario and Joao Plata as black marks in Toronto FC management. Did I also mention the constant rising of ticket prices at BMO Field since Year 1, while the team keeps getting worse? It has gotten so bad with the rise in ticket prices that buying season tickets in certain sections now is more than triple the cost than in Year 1.

Yes, MLSE has spent the money, but I’m not so sure if their hearts are actually vested in making this team a success, particularly Tom Anselmi. My evidence of this is the press conference where Paul Mariner was hired as Toronto FC’s new head coach after Aron Winter was fired. I constantly saw Anselmi sitting back in his chair, with a smug smile at times, almost like he didn’t really care about what is happening. I know this might not seem like much to some TFC supporters, but from a human resources perspective, I think it told a lot about how Anselmi views this team. I don’t think Toronto FC is an important priority for him, and if the person at the top shows a lack of interest, then it reflects poorly on the people working below you, which leads to lower morale and motivation. Factor in the constant losing, and you’ve hit rock bottom.

It can be argued that there is a serious lack of leadership in the front office of Toronto FC. Why is it that we have Tom Anselmi trying to pull the strings from the Toronto FC front office when he has absolutely no experience running a football team from a business perspective, other than watching a few games here and there? From the looks of it, Anselmi shouldn’t have been the COO of Toronto FC, because he simply wasn’t qualified, but I don’t think MLSE knew that at the time. No point dwelling on that though. It is what it is for now.

I wouldn’t be writing this article if Toronto FC was at some point during their existence winning games regularly, because it kept the actual team, and the front office politics separate. But with Toronto FC’s constant futility, and the mistakes made by Toronto FC front office, I’m afraid the actual team operations and the front office politics are inseparable, and I don’t think they can be separated again for a long time. You can’t have one without the other.

To be continued in Part 2

Everton vs. Man United: Post-Game Thoughts

I really didn't want to do this, but I must. Everton won the match 1-0. Here's my thoughts...

Everton were far and away the better team, especially in the midfield where Neville, Gibson, and Fellaini ran rampant on Man United's midfield and defense. Everton also made David De Gea work, peppering him with shots and free-kicks. Everton definitely exposed United's defensive midfield problems, and there was no question that they deserved to win this match.

Now on to United, and I'll start with the positives. Kagawa looked really good out there with his vision and his passing. I am really excited to see what he can really do in the following games. David De Gea was also very good as well, making some brilliant saves.

Now the negatives, United had a lot of possession but they didn't really do anything with it. It looked like watching Arsenal out there, with trying to walk the ball into the net and stuff. They didn't really test Tim Howard with shots, they just seemed content with knocking the ball around the outside of Everton's 18-yard box with no real tenacity.

Wayne Rooney had a terrible display today, though you can argue that he wasn't very match fit. I think that is a bit of an excuse. I'm sure Rooney will improve as the games happen. He can't be this bad for longer, can't he? Nani was also very poor, with his low point being his crossing, which was abysmal.

Man United's defense was also a bit shaky, but you would have to expect that if you only have two regular defenders starting in the match (Vidic and Evra). It doesn't help that Evans, Ferdinand, Jones and Smalling are all out injured, which left the defense a bit short. That meant that Carrick had to come in as cover as a center-back. He was sorely missed at the midfield. Valencia also had to go at RB as well, and he did an okay job.

I always thought that if United stayed relatively healthy, then they would be winning the league for sure. But with these injuries, especially in the back, I'm not so sure. This is not doom and gloom, but the performance from United today was a bit worrying. This is only the first game of the season though, and the performances will be better. Everton away is always a tough place to go and get points. 37 games left, let's go.