October 18, 2012
News of the Day - Toronto FC + Stephen Hart
If you all haven't heard the news this morning about Toronto FC and their ticket prices today, then let me sum it up for you. Tom Anselmi has announced that season ticket prices for the 2013 season is being rolled back to 2007 prices for all existing season ticket holders. Also, any newcomers looking to buy season tickets will also experience drastic reductions.
First off, I'll say this. This is an incredible gesture of goodwill from MLSE to the season seat holders. I was at a loss for words when I heard the announcement, because MLSE is a sports organization known for gouging its customers with high ticket prices and overall incompetence in managing their sports teams. But when I heard that announcement, I got the feeling that MLSE was at least aware of the supporter unrest at Toronto FC, and felt pressure from those who expressed their concern about high ticket prices.
An issue I had with ticket prices is that (according to the media) 2013 Single Game tickets will still be at 2012 levels. I still think single game tickets are a bit too high and it could have done with a slight reduction at the very least. I think Tom Anselmi and MLSE missed an opportunity to address the supporters who don't have the time or money to go to all the Toronto FC matches. They also missed an opportunity to address the casual crowd who are now apathetic on going to Toronto FC matches, because even though the die-hard supporters will always be there for the club, it is the casual crowd who can help market the club to new fans. If you can reduce the prices for them, some may come back.
While the ticket price reductions have been very good news for the club, MLSE's work is not done. For many supporters, season ticket prices isn't the issue as to why they won't be coming back to BMO Field. These supporters would like to see a new direction for the club, and I would as well. MLSE needs to remove those in the front office and they MUST hire a new club president with relevant experience in North American soccer. Whether MLSE will actually do that can only be decided by time.
With the failure to reduce single game tickets, and the potential lack of addressing the actual direction of Toronto FC, I fear that there will be a continuation of empty seats on match-days at BMO Field and general supporter apathy.
I'll end on a positive note. MLSE are on the right track to winning over the supporters again, but they have a lot more work to do.
Quick Thoughts: Stephen Hart has resigned as Canadian Men's National Team Head Coach. I respect him for all he has done for the men's program, but Hart made the right decision by resigning, which I applaud him for. I can only imagine how he felt after the 8-1 loss to Honduras, and I can only imagine how he feels now. I wish him all the best on his future endeavors.
October 17, 2012
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.
August 29, 2012
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.
August 26, 2012
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?
August 25, 2012
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
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