Do you really want to talk about this?
Toronto FC went into Montreal and only needed not to get blown out to advance to the final of the Amway Canadian Championship. A fifth straight Voyageurs Cup was that close.
Instead, the Reds made history. The 6-0 loss is the worst in franchise history and is now on a short list of games in the discussion for the TFC game that most made you want to take up a new hobby.
The 5-0 loss to New York, the game that would have seen TFC through to the playoffs with just a draw, still probably tops the list, but last night was damn close.
They played without shape, talent, desire, talent, intensity, talent, organization and talent.
[PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
It wasn't pretty. And, it illustrates just how misguided notions of TFC's turnaround having started are. They sit 16th overall with less than a point a game. Now, they are out of the Voyageurs Cup. The reality of what this summer might look like is starting to dawn on even the most optimistic fans.
And that's hard. No one expects a complete turnaround overnight (although talk of 5-year rebuilding plans are silly in a league like MLS). What fans want is a good effort and a bit of hope.
TFC gave us neither last night. That's shameful and no one's fault but the players and managers involved.
Hopefully the result is the reality check the club needs: Losses like that can't happen again. They've lost the trust of the fan base. If you can't win every game you at least have to compete. They didn't last night. Again, shameful.
Compete: That's all that the fans (that still remain) ask. It's not asking much. At all.