Post-game thoughts

In no particular order....

1. Where were they going?

About 80 minutes in I noticed people leaving the game.

A tie game.

Huh?

Granted, Saturday's game was just a little dull, especially early on. After the first half I turned to Mark Polishuk from MLSnet.com and told him I was having a Homer Simpson moment -- like that episode where he gave up drinking for a month and went to a baseball game sober.

"I never realized how boring this game is without beer...."

Now before people go complaining to my bosses that I'm getting tipsy in the press box, understand that I take my job kind of seriously, so I don't drink and write. And it's not about the beer anyway. My point is that until Amado Guevara came on (more on that later), the game was dull.

Still don't know if that justifies leaving early, especially when you've paid to be there.

If it's a 3-0 game and you've got to get home by 7 to catch the first pitch of the Blue Jays game, then leave early. The outcome is clear.

But if I spend money on tickets and the game's still undecided I'm sticking around. Even if it's boring.

MICHAEL STUPARYK/TORONTO STAR

John Carver points out the area of the field where streamers require double-coverage.

2. Streamers

Fans booed last week when the PA announcer gently reminded them not to throw streamers at players or officials, but I'm sure I'm not the only one who has noticed a steep decline in streamer use at BMO Field these last couple of weeks.

If I remember correctly, out of three first half corner kicks, KC's Claudio Lopez only had to stop once to disentangle himself from tissue paper.

Guess folks are getting the message.

3. Streamers II

Anybody else notice about 17 minutes in, when John Carver stepped out of the technical area to retrieve a stray streamer, then rolled it up and tossed it in the back of the dug
out?

I thought that was cool.

4. McBride

Because some people can never get enough...

He was NOT at the game Saturday and neither were any of the Chicago players reputed to be headed this way in exchange for him.

Nothing new has happened. I understand the rumours (trade complete and awaiting league approval) are seductive, and some of them may come true someday, but that's not what's happening right now.

I've spoken to people who should know about these things and they're all telling me that neither side has budged in the bargaining process.

Toronto still wants a LOT in return for McBride's rights, and Chicago still thinks Toronto is asking way too much.

Friday I spoke to McBride's agent, his brother Matthew McBride. He too had heard the rumours and said they were "news to us."

So I don't know what else to tell you guys right now. Can't report on progress until their actually is progress, and Mo Johnston, for one, says he's not speaking to the media about McBride until there's...progress.

Sigh.

In the meantime I think folks need to remember a few things about this situation:

* Chicago and Toronto don't ever have to reach an agreement. TFC can sit on McBride's rights and let him retire, or they can let some the next team in line assume McBride's rights and wait for the next big name American to come back from Europe. OR they can involve another team in the deal and try to swing a three-team trade.

* Transfer period begins July 15, so there's still a little time for something to happen.

*The league doesn't want to meddle in this, so it really is up to Mo Johnston and Frank Klopas and any other GMs with something to offer to settle things.

That's all I can think of right now. If any readers come across any elements of McBridegate that I've missed, feel free to post a comment.

-- Morgan Campbell

Comments

[doug]

morgan - your blogs and articles are becoming increasingly buried - more front page coverage required!

as for yesterday's game, i don't know why carver and johnston would push so hard to get edu back from the US men's team and then not play him. and weren't they taking an incredible risk of injury subbing in three players at the 60 minute mark. tebily almost had to leave the game as well.

i'm all for showing loyalty to the players, but imagine if the leafs would sit a mats sundin against the senators b/c john pohl had a particularly strong game against the panthers - ridiculous! sitting a former mvp has to have the TFC players looking at carver a little sideways rather than with admiration i think.

but everything is 20/20 in hindsight i guess - if they had won it would have been a great decision on his part.

[brian van beuren]

Doug,

Carver fielding the identicle starting XI which won 3-1 at home last week was a solid decision. Consider the following two points:

- This re-affirms Carver's repeated philosphy of how each player's position is theirs to keep or lose. Think about the morale boost among the Benched and Reserves when they see their head coach following through on his words even to the extent of benching the likes of El Lobo, Captain Jim & Rookie of the year Mo Edu in favour of subs who stepped up when called upon, had a great game, and are rightfully rewarded. Imagine the thoughts going through young reserves Lombardo, Hemming, Melo, Gala etc and their determination now to impress Carver in training and in future sub-ins.
- On paper, this was most likely Toronto's win. KC, The last place team in the league, playing away at Fortress BMO against a team undefeated at home; Carver could afford to field the XI he started just to excersize his philosphy. Now with away games, international friendlies and Canada Cup competitions coming up, Carver is justified to switch up his starting XI without worrying how it will affect the morale of his benched and reserves.

[John Dinner]

While I agree with you Doug about a more prominent position for TFC coverage and Morgan's blog, going to have to go with Brian on Carver's coaching. This was a game where he seemed to be looking at the larger picture (which admittedly I wasn't at first...'where the *&@# is Guevara?'), but his post game comments of this possibly being a big point later in the season points to his mind-set heading in - long season ahead, need all the boys on board.

As for people leaving early in a tie game....a real shame.

[alex]

The fact we won 3-1 at home is very short sighted to assume we'd win against the next team. Colorado is a terrible defensive team that just loves to keep the ball and attack. KC is very good defensively on the wings, which showed when our attack was completely shut down.

The best players should play unless they are tired of injured. I don't really have a problem with holding back Edu or Brennan, but Guevara should have been a no-brainer to play.

There are plenty of friendlies coming up, use the bench players for those. Use the starters for the games that matter.

[oxybrain]

Morgan! Please use your privileged access to find out: Why has the transfer window date been changed (if indeed it has - June 15 last year, and per the published 2008 regs); if this has changed, why this has not been made public; and why John Carver announced that it has already opened! Much appreciated!

[doug]

i can see where everyone is coming from above but i really feel:

1) that toronto has progressed to the point were they should get three points against KC at home - only getting one point is a poor result for this team. The failure to get three points and the decision to not start guevera, brennan, marshall and edu have to be correlated i think.

2) while you've got to stick with your guys who've earned shirts, you also have to play your MVP and highest paid player whenever he is available. i think the former supercedes the latter. can harmse really feel hurt if he loses his spot to a former league MVP and the team's best player? guevera has been gone for a month. the fans deserve to see him play, and the team needs their best player to win consistently.

3) Carver talks about earning and keeping shirts, but he also talked about how glad he was he got edu back and how thankful he was that the US team let him out of sunday's qualifying game against barbados. it just seems a bit inconsistent that he then didn't use him until the last 30. wouldn't edu have been better off getting 90 minutes with the US team than watching TFC not win a game against KC?

[brian van beuren]

Needless to say, a 1 point tie at home is a very disappointing result. That much we can certainly all agree.

On the bright side, the fact that we do feel so frustrated with even a tie, really reflects how far the reds have progressed since this time last year.

The big test which looms are the impending away games. I'm definitely looking forward to the transfer window actions, and particularly curious as to who Mojo releases from our very deep roster. Morgan, I'm anticipating your most top-notch reportage in the coming weeks!

[ballerz]

Morgan, what do you think of Brian Edwards' play? Can you keep us posted if he's starting at New England?

Am I one of the few who is beginning to feel like Edwards is the better keeper? I just think that Sutton's shot stopping is so tremendous that people overlooks other aspects of the game (which I think Edward is stronger at). I believe distribution is the most important asset of goalkeeping and after seeing the MLS for 1.5 years, Edwards have been the best so far. He's also better than Sutton at communication, positioning, and taking down crosses.

[oxybrain]

P.S. Can anyone confirm that the league HASN'T changed the June 30 cut date for guaranteed contracts, and, if it's still June 30, explain just how that is supposed to work in conjunction with the rumored change in the window opening date...So many people around the league seem to be waiting for July 15, yet have to make decisions on opening roster spots and freeing cap space by June 30...sounds ill-advised on the part of MLS...