If any one word could perfectly describe TFC's 2011 MLS season, it's "inconsistency."
In fact, the Reds have been "consistently inconsistent" for much of Aron Winter's ambitious rebuild, as players got familiar with the in and outs of the famed "system" and coaches learned the intracacies of this crazy little league.
Players were shipped in and out at a rate that would have made Mo Johnston look positively steadfast in comparison, as the technical staff tried to find the right pieces for their vision. Whether you agreed or disagreed with the philosophy, the system took precedence -- and that led to some very ugly moments for a franchise that was way too familiar with them.
And while things appear to be turning around for Toronto now, it's far too early to call the rebuild a success.
It could be worse, though. They could be Chivas USA.
[PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
It's a harsh statement, especially when a quick glance at the standings shows Chivas two points above TFC. But a deeper look tells a different story, one of a club whose history is not too different from Toronto's.
Both clubs entered MLS with tons of promise, both on and off the field. Granted, TFC has largely outshone Chivas on the business side of things, but on the field they've been pretty similar over their short histories in the league.
Just like the Reds, the LA-based club had a putrid time out of the gate, and haven't really done much since. Sure, they've had a cup of coffee in the playoffs, something that TFC supporters would kill for at this point in time, but they've hardly done anything of note otherwise.
This year, the Goats looked to revamp under rookie head coach Robin Fraser, just like TFC did with Aron Winter. Chivas actually looked half-decent for much of the first half of 2011 -- "half-decent" in the MLS world where even mediocrity challenges for a playoff spot --and as of a month ago looked far beyond Toronto in the rebuild race.
Led by former Red Nick Labrocca, Chivas played attractive, attacking football. Sometimes it worked, sometimes it didn't, but for the most part it was sufficiently middling to create visions of the post-season for hard-suffering fans of LA's other team.
Then August hit. One early win aside, the Goats were godawful from then on out, bringing back memories of 2005 when they were the doormat for all challengers. Fraser's troops are mired in a six-game winless streak, the most recent four games of which they've lost.
Even Labrocca, the MLS All-Star and feel-good story of 2011, has gone cold.
And now they host a resurgent TFC side who have worked their way up to middling -- a meteoric climb from the bottom-feeding sieve of a team that were shamed on so many occasions earlier in the season.
While neither will seriously challenge for a playoffs spot this year, the way the teams are ending their respective seasons may give us all a glimpse of what to expect from them in 2012.
Or, they can lay a stinker that neither set of fans will want to remember. This is TFC and Chivas USA, after all.
--
Notes:
- Despite having to cross the continent to play in this match, Toronto may actually have the travel advantage over their hosts on Saturday night. Both sides played mid-week fixtures -- Toronto against Tauro on Tuesday, and Chivas at DC on Wednesday, and both flew out to Southern California on Thursday afternoon.
- Chivas have very few injury concerns at the moment, with only Heath Pearce and Paulo Nagamura hobbled with ailments (and Pearce should be good enough to go).
CD Chivas USA v. Toronto FC
Saturday, September 24, 2011. 10:30pm EDT.
Home Depot Center. Carson, CA.
Watch: GOL TV Canada, MLS MatchDay Live
Listen: Sportsnet Radio FAN 590, FAN590.com
Rudi Schuller contributes Toronto FC and Canadian national team content to the 24th Minute. He is MLSsoccer.com's beat writer for all things concerning Canada's men's national teams, and has contributed to Goal.com and other soccer media. Follow Rudi on Twitter, @RudiSchuller.