Cycling, civics and scoring droughts...

TFC Free Press

After head coach John Carver finished his media briefing following TFC's 1-0 win over Real Salt Lake, team officials ushered everyone down the hallway, past the locker room to the strength and conditioning room we would be able to interview players as they pedaled their post-game blues away on stationary bikes.

As I mentioned in the entry directly below this one, it's a routine the sports media in Ottawa know well thanks to the Senators, but was foreign to local folks until yesterday.

And once security let us into the room and we saw the starting XI pedaling away on the bikes lining the far wall, a lot of people did what sportswriters do best.

They complained.

It's highly ironic because just about everyone who covers soccer complains about complaining readers. We all know there are some soccer fans out there that we'll never EVER please. If we don't write about soccer we're ignoring the world's most popular sport. When we do write about it we're just jumping on a bandwagon, or worse yet, part of a sinister conspiracy to drive soccer out of Toronto for good through bad publicity. For some soccer fans, enough is never enough, and we know that.

So after a year spent corralling players as they straggled in and out of the locker room, we finally had a captive audience and still a few folks weren't satisfied.

The fan's too loud.

There's too much echo.

The bikes are too close together so we can't swarm people like we usually do.

Personally, I had no problems, but it's not about me. Seriously. I've learned that since Thursday's post.

It's about you guys and people like you. Readers. Sports fans. Consumers. The soccer junkies who read four sports sections and 40 soccer web sites every day.

You guys stand to benefit most from the new interview format, and here's why.

Last year Danny Dichio shows up at his locker after a game and 20 reporters shove mics in his face and ask him to start talking. Read the stories that come out of that media scrum and you'll find most of them have the same quotes.

Boring.

It also homogenizes the news, defeating the purpose of turning to different sources for different perspectives on the same event.

This year Dichio hops on his bike and talks to reporters in small groups. He might get bored answering the same questions over and over, but it's not like he's got anywhere to be. He's on his bike. Coach's orders. And more reporters have to craft their own questions instead of depending on a few strong personalities to carry the conversation.

So now 20 different reporters have 20 different sets of quotes.

Now you actually do have different perspectives on the same event.

Break away from pack journalism and you increase the chances that any one reporter has a meaningful quote or anecdote that nobody else will have. Doing that gives readers a reason to look around. Finally they can consult different publications without seeing the same stuff recycled in story after story.

That's diversity.

That's democracy.

That's the free press at work.

I've got no complaints.

Back to Soccer

Civics lessons aside, I'm pretty sure some of you visit this blog to talk soccer, so let's do it.

Let's talk Marvell Wynne.

If you've seen him play you know he's been one of TFC's most exciting players since Mo Johnston traded for him last spring. I can't think of another player in MLS that can match his flat-out speed. Combine that with his mean streak and I'm sure most wingers think twice about challenging him on balls played deep into TFC's zone.

But check that stat line again.

Fifty-four career games, no goals.

I understand that he's a defender, but it's not like goals never come from the back line. Jim Brennan, Andrew Boyens, Kevin Goldthwaite. All defenders, all had goals for TFC last year.

You can't say Wynne's not trying to contribute on offence. I know you hardcore TFC fans will remember last year's Colorado game, when he nutmegged some guy to set up Danny Dichio's goal. He almost scored against New England, too.

Then today, a minute before halftime he did to an RSL defender what Eddie Johnson did to Kevin Goldthwaite in last year's home opener -- which is to say he faked the guy out of his socks and gave himself a chance to score with his left foot.

But while Johnson unleashed a changeup that dribbled past Greg Sutton's outstretched arms, Wynne's fastball hit Nick Rimando square in his hands.

** Before any of the "football" purists reading assail me for talking baseball on a soccer blog, understand that the references is valid here because Wynne's dad spent eight seasons playing major league baseball...so there.**

In the middle of his post-game bike ride Wynne planted his tongue in his cheek and conceded that he's made peace with not scoring.

"I'm never going to score, and I know this," he said. "That's why I don't shoot. And I'm not going to get an assist for a loooooooooooong time."

Maybe, maybe not, but check out this highlight reel from last Sunday's game against L.A. Specifically, watch Wynne come from nowhere to track down Landon Donovan about 40 seconds in.

If he keeps making plays like that I don't think anyone will even notice, or care, that he hasn't scored in a looooooong time.

Fifty-five games now.

Not that anyone's counting.

-- Morgan Campbell

Comments

[James]

I, for one, don't expect goals from left backs...that way when they happen, I'm pleasantly surprised and when they don't happen, I don't feel any disappointment.

Besides, I'll never forget his run and cut into the area last year against Colorado when he set up a Dichio goal. Probably the sweetest move any TFC player has put on a defender (rolling the ball through Niko Hernandez's legs).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JDru6RwT8Cs

Enjoy him while he's here, folks...a little more time to develop, and he'll be off to a "bigger" club (i.e. one that pays better).

[Steve]

Real Salt Lake? Seriously? I can't wait until the expansion Waco Hotspur or Portland Saint Germain come to town in a few years. I'm all for having a good time, but is anyone else surprised how quickly Teachers Pension Fund FC have been adopted by a burgh that otherwise steadfastly refuses to support anything it doesn't think is 'world class'?

[Morgan Campbell]

James, thanks for posting the nutmeg link. I'm a little upset I didn't find it myself. My research skills must be slipping....As far as Wynne's concerned, I don't expect him to score, either, but he's come so close so many times. I kinda feel for the guy, y'know?

[Troy Kolar]

Right on Morgan. Wynne was unstoppable yesterday and only lacks a little experience and finishing skills to be an unmitigated terror to the opposition. The only thing you're forgetting is that he's just 21 and in the 2nd year of pro footie (and it's not like he's Micah Richards who's been planning at a higher level than MLS for the past 5 years, but the comparison is intriguing don't you think).

Best of all, he's final got a talented right side midfielder or two who now how to link up with him and are just as eager and ornery. This is going to be a break out year for Marvell and Rohan (at long last) and all of TFC. Mark my words ...

[alex]

I'd never expect him to score, but he should keep shooting when he gets a chance. His shot is usually on target despite not finding the back of the net as of yet.

Nothing wrong with picking your spots.

[James]

I definitely feel for him, Morgan...and believe me, when he scores (he may have resigned himself to goallessness, but we all know it's coming), I'll be hauling ass down the 17 rows of section 115 to celebrate with him.

How can you not love a guy whose surname is a homophone for victory?

[Mike Laba]

Wynne has a mighty boot and he will definitely score. As our midfield continues to push, create chances and maintain possession, Wynne will come in on the tail end of a run, catch a flick at the top of the box and crush it.

Possession and attacking runs will continue TFC's streak and snap Wynne's drought.

[oliveira]

Interesting comment. However, wish there was more comment about the game itself. Why did TFC let Real put the pressure on the 2nd half? This was a paltry , though much needed, victory for the club. SHouldn't the coach have subbed Dichio a lot sooner?

[Steiner]

I'm with you on doing the interviews on the bike. It is nice to be able to read more than one story the next day. Pack journalism is ruining sports coverage.

Marvell Wynne shows great hustle. The Raptors could use a defender like that!

[doug]

yeah, wynne and ricketts are going to be a handful down the right hand side .... looking forward to a lot of exciting rushes! hopefully ricketts and wynne can develop some finishing instinct though or it could get frustrating quickly!

hey - last year all anyone did was complain about the turf at BMO field - what do the new guys (robert, guevero, ricketts) think about it? and what will happen when the two biggest whiners (beckham and donovan) come to town?

[Keano 16]

Morgan, I am interested in your take on this move by our 3rd round draft pick - Joseph Lapira.

Apparently, he has signed with a division 2 Norwegian team...can you comment on this?

I have followed Lapira throughout his stellar University career and was ecstatic when he played for the Republic of Ireland.

I really thought we landed the perfect player in Lapira, when we signed him.

Looking forward to your comments!

[gt]

Wynne doesnt have to score , he is a defender, as long as he can be a good stopper he is doing his job. Defenders usually dont get much credit they do the dirty work. But some of the greatest defenders to ever play the game has scored very little and probably wernt very good finishers.

Paulo Maldini one of the greatest defenders to ever play scored 33 goals in 848 appearances, Gary Neville has scored 5 goals in his entire career. (ACCORDING to wikipedia). SO i dont think Wynne should be that worried about a goal drought, thats not what he is there for :) Hope he gets one though.