Everything?
OK, that was cheap. Not far from accurate, but cheap. As we wrote in part I, there were a few good things about 2013. However, in a season that was only marginally better than 2012 (which was widely understood to be the bottom) it's difficult not to see negative everywhere.
All of TFC's issues in 2013 can be summed up by one overriding issue -- a complete lack of stability. It has been a major issue since the Mo Johnston days and it remains so today.
[PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]It was supposed to be different. When Kevin Payne was brought in a little less than a year ago that's what was promised.
"Don't worry, TFC fans," it was said. "This time we get it. We understand that we need to bring in a solid, young core that we can build around."
Not long after, the annual 12-player dump occurred. "No worries," management said. "The reinforcements are coming soon."
Then we waited. And waited. And waited some more. Soon the season was weeks away and some of us started to think that the management team hadn't really learned any lessons and that maybe we were in for more of of the same.
Sure enough the Reds scrambled to bring in a bunch of "plan z" signings -- this time loan signings under the guise that it was better to go short-term than be burdened by bad contracts.
Bad contracts are, well, bad, but the answer to that problem is to not sign players to bad contracts. Playing the first three months of the season with what seemed like half the players on trial was every bit the disaster anyone with any sense would have assumed it would be.
It created more instability and did nothing to identify the young core we were promised. It wasn't until the season was already toast that the club finally started to lean on the kids in an effort to find that core. Even then, players like Kyle Bekker sat rotted to the bench deep into the season.
And, all this is just the tip. We haven't touched on the biggest self-handicap.
They changed management direction. Again. Toronto FC seems determined to become a particularly absurd Kids In The Hall skit.
Anyone that read this space this year knows that I was not a big supporter of Kevin Payne. In fact, I was pretty convinced he was both arrogant and incompetent--not the best qualities in a manager. However, even I was stunned by how quickly TFC pulled the trigger.
And, although I do think it was the best move for the long-term health of the team, I can't yet see how the Reds are better off now. Not with Ryan Nelsen and Tim Leiweke looking to once again change direction, which will once again necessitate wide-spread changes.
(Deep breath)
(OK. That's better)
Sadly, It's becoming exceptionally difficult to find any hope in the eternal mess that is TFC.
Which sets up tomorrow's Part III nicely -- What went really wrong.