By: Nathan Terlesky
It is now obvious to the most casual of observers, Montreal has FC Edmonton’s number this season. The game on Saturday afternoon was dominated by Montreal, and Edmonton should have lost by 4 or 5 goals again. The effort turned in by the Eddies was perhaps the most uninspired this year. However, this is the game of football; not every game will be the best. Edmonton should not have been expected to go on a tear for the whole season; that type of play is reserved for Carolina.
Perhaps the most positive news out of Saturday’s game was the continued play of Paul Hamilton, and the straight red against Rein Baart. The straight red will forced Coach Henry Sinkgraven to play Lance Parker again.
For those unaware, this will be the second time this season that Parker will take over for Baart after Baart faces a suspension. Baart has continued to look shaky over the past few wins, and with any luck, Parker can demonstrate the play that won him “NASL Defensive Player of the Week” and be given more of a chance by the Dutch coach.
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Edmonton plays the Carolina Railhawks on Friday night. Carolina is a team in possession of one of the best strikers in the NASL right now in Etienne Barbara. A match up of (in my opinion) one of the better defensive sides in the league against the unquestionable dominate offensive side should make for an excellent game, as well as a chance for Edmonton to demonstrate more than what they showed against Montreal. I am hopeful that instead of Barbara taunting the ESG as he taunted Ralph’s Mob in Tampa Bay, the ESG will be able to send a few choice words his way.
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On another note, and away from the pitch, as a new supporter of pro soccer in Canada I continue to be impressed with the class that many of the supporter groups around Canada demonstrate on a regular basis. The fact that an ESG member can go to both a Vancouver bar and spend time with supporters of the Whitecaps, then travel on to Toronto the same week and be actively sought out due to his FC Edmonton scarf, or that a group of fans will band together to help a fellow supporter who is unable to be away from his family attend a game, shows the quality and class of those here. In addition to this Canadian support, the recent donation from the Dark Clouds (supporting the NSC Minnesota Stars) to the Slave Lake fire victims is inspiring to say the least.
Too many people view supporter groups as violent hooligans or people looking for a fight rather than fans that are incredibly passionate about the sport and their club or country. While the press in Edmonton has been positive for the Edmonton Supporters Group so far, the positive that supporters groups do across the board is largely ignored by the press and the mainstream public. I may be preaching to the choir, but occasionally it is important to promote our own selfless acts to show the country that you don’t need to be obsessed with the game to be a member.