Wait, the MLS season is still going on?
I’m being facetious, of course, but there is a sense of just that in Toronto as TFC prepares to kick its first ball in anger in the Paul Mariner era. Between the Euros and Canada’s World Cup qualifying campaign there isn’t a lot of TFC hype. Even with the coaching change, there simply is very little chatter about the Reds.
Out of sight, thankfully out of mind, is the typical thinking of the typical TFC fan. 1-0-9 will do that to you. It was a nice break not having to think about the mess that is the Reds.
The break’s over. It’s time to put World Cup dreams on the backburner and to put down the TV remote to get back to supporting the local game – however painful it may be.
Re-motivating yourself to watch TFC may be difficult, but it isn’t impossible. There are a few things to look out for. Here are a few:
[PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]1. THE PUSH FOR THE PLAYOFFS!1!!1!!!
Ok, that’s a bit insane, but there are examples of teams that have overcome 15 points with 24 games to play – especially when that team has three games in hand (and as many as five games in hand to some teams).
There are a lot of reasons to suggest it’s not even close to possible. It would be one of the all-time great comeback stories in MLS history if it did, but it’s the fan’s prerogative to believe in the impossible.
Do yourself a favour and believe a little bit in the impossible.
2. The push for the faux playoffs
The far more realistic goal is for TFC to press reset today and use the rest of the way to evaluate whether its sixth head coach is finally the right choice. A very easy way to evaluate that is to see if TFC can finish in the top 10 on the basis of results the rest of the way.
It isn’t a small sample size – there still is more than half the season left – so it would not be false hope either.
Would that satisfy many fans? God, no. But, it might satisfy those that are paying extra close attention.
3. Formation geek watch
Is the 4-3-3 dead? The 3-4-3? Hopefully, the 5-0-5 is. Regardless, it will be interesting to watch to see what Mariner’s tweaks will be. At the introduction press conference he said that the changes would only be small. However, those that have watched his early practices have said that the formation and the direction is totally different.
Notably, it’s been said that the Reds are set-up in a 4-4-2. What will that mean for some of the players that were brought in with the offensively minded 4-3-3 in mind? How will Julian de Guzman be used? What about Torsten Frings?
All are interesting questions that the true soccer geek will be interested to see.
4. Champions League we’re having a laugh
It’s a tough draw, but at least they are in with a chance. TFC isn’t down 15 points in its group and all is to play for.
Bring it on.
5. Playing for the contract
As the season progresses it’s likely the only thing left to play for in the standings, but the games will matter for next year.
It’s imperative that the Reds find out quickly who on that roster is worth keeping and who needs to move on.
At the press conference Mariner said that he needed to pick the team not based on the name on the back of the strip, but rather on the form that the player is demonstrating. Fans need to do the same thing.
It’s becoming increasingly clear that the Reds were an unorganized mess under Winter. Our opinions of where players stand should be thrown out the window.
The start of the season was forgettable, so forget it when evaluating players.
6. Catch Montreal
Please.