Is Help On The Way?

Another night, another tie for Toronto FC, except Tuesday's 1-1 draw with Montreal cost TFC a trip to the CONCACAF Champions League, which opens in September in Nicaragua.

Ouch.

What's got to hurt even more is that TFC had several second-half chances to break the tie but couldn't convert on any of them.

How desperate are TFC and its fans for offense?

This desperate: In the 85th minute a few clusters of spectators began chanting "We Want Smith!"

No disrespect to Jarrod Smith, who hustles as hard as anyone on the team, but when the fans clamour for a rookie with one goal in 12 career games, hoping he'll be the one to break the tie....well you must not have too many offensive options.

Carver reiterated the point in the post-game news conference, when he pointed out that the team currently relies on a raw 16-year-old (Ibee Ibrahim) for offence -- and it shouldn't have to.

And he sounded more urgent than ever when discussing his team's need for a proven goal scorer.

"It's blatantly obvious what we need to do, but unless we do something about it this season's going to out," he said.

That's deep, and with the regular season more than half over it's the first time Carver has expressed concern about his team's long-term health.

Carver assured the media, fans and whoever else would listen that he and the rest of TFC staff are working hard to address the problem before it's too late.

So far this season we've seen two TFC targets -- Darren Huckerby and Nuno Gomes -- decline to play in Toronto, while two more aging but possibly effective prospects -- Brian McBride and Paul Dickov -- remain in limbo.

With McBride headed to the Olympics it might be another six weeks before TFC can sign him, trade him or let another team assume his rights. And as far as I know Dickov is back in the UK, which isn't to say he'll never sign with TFC, but wherever he is, he's not in a position to help the team right now.

So I guess the question is, with Champions League out of the picture and the regular season half finished, how late is too late?

-- Morgan Campbell

Comments

[James17930]

What they should have done is traded the rights for Huckerby to SJ for the rights to Ali Gerba.

The fact that we didn't even take a look at one of the starting strikers for the CMNT when he became free is embarrassing.

Unless we did and it was never communicated to the media.

[Ian]

Man, that game tonight was just embarrassing. TFC didn't play like a team that cared if they won or not, and they deserved the result - they were atrocious.

From Robert's continued lazy play to Robinson's fecklessness to the unwillingness of every player to move while off the ball, this loss was a complete team effort (and I include the coach in this category for his inability to do anything to ignite a fire under his team, which appears to have given up on him and their fans).

Time after time we had to watch players play themselves into a corner, without lifting their heads to find an open man. Ricketts seems determined to dribble impressively until someone kicked the ball away, passing up shot opportunities like they grow on trees hereabouts. TFC's decision-making was worse than the current Republican administration.

What's worse is Toronto's set plays and set play defense. The number of times that a TFC corner kick hit the *FIRST DEFENDER* would take more fingers than I have on my hand. Are you serious? The kids who were kicking at the half could've done that, and you probably would've only had to give them a slice of that cardboard they call pizza at BMO field.

Seriously, I'm a season-ticket holder and I'm frankly disgusted by the effort this team puts forth. Or rather, doesn't put forth. If they don't start playing better (or at the very least, like they care), it won't just be me booing and heckling them, it'll be the whole stadium. If MLSE thinks they can squander the goodwill that Toronto has given this team, then they must have as low an opinion of their football fans as they apparently have of their hockey customers.

[spits on ground]

[ER]

TFC needs to put this in perspective its only in its 2nd season of play and is still putting its team together in many respects. The fact TFC started a 16 forward/striker in a championship game speaks volume for the amount of problems this team needs to address. TFC needs to stop stalling an trade Cunningham, there simply is no point in keeping him here if we have so little respect for his game. In general TFC's FO needs to get on it regarding pulling deals to settle the McBride thing and with the transfer window open they need to try to get some striker help.

I also hopes this is a lesson to those TFC fans who took the Impact and Whitecaps lightly. Not only do the USL teams play a good standard of soccer but they are well established clubs who some have been around for almost a decade or more now. Though many players and fans have stated they (the Impact) were a little kid brother, I think shows how misguided Toronto fans are. Toronto is the new kid on the block and it needs to earn the title of best team in Canada before it can claim it.

[southside]

Morgan,
Do a bit of digging and find out what the beef between Smith and Carver is. For the second game, the kid was left out and clearly unhappy at that. Carver put in a defender rather than a striker.
Something's going on...

[Ron]

The problem is not a lack of offense, it's poor coaching. Cunningham has not gotten regular playing time this year, but when he's been in the game he has produced (see winning goal vs LA). Carver has been too eager to yank around people's minutes, and its showed. Players are playing scared to make mistakes.

Robert's been a lousy addition, and the midfield should be reduced to Robinson, Edu, Guevera and Ricketts. If Carver wants to go 3-5-2, Brennan should be the fifth. Regardless, its hard to score with only one forward, especially without a premiere goal poacher.

[Jaime]

I agree that the problem is poor coaching and poor managing. The problem starts at Mo and ends at Carver. Mo had never had great success as a coach and after only 1 (loosing) season here he's becomes the GM and gets to choose his coach. What's going on?
If you look at the roster from top to bottom it's a pretty solid squad on paper, but on the pitch they can't bang one in even against a semi-pro squad like Montreal. Props for Montreal, they seem to be doing things right up there with the grass pitch, own new stadium but TFC seems to be looking more and more like a product of Maple Leaf Sports.

[Ryan]

Southside...The reason Carver put in a defender (J. James) instead of a striker (J. Smith)at the end was simply good coaching and came within inches of paying off with a goal and a birth into the CONCACAF Champion's League. James has scored twice now in VERY LIMITED minutes off of crosses into the 18 as a defender because he has the ability to outjump just about anyone in the league.

That game was less than inspiring. We NEED...like REALLY NEED some scoring help up front. Ibby should be coming on as a late sub, not starting at this point although he does show glimpses of promise. Two things that really stood out for me were the plays off the dead ball and Tyrone Marshall. How many times did this team hit the wall? Even the last 2 corners in injury time, with 6'5 Sutton and Julius "big ups" James in the 18, Robert couldn't for the life of him get the ball past 1st MTL defender and into the box for at least an opportunity to score. Why was T. Marshall left in that game was incredible to me. I could count at least 4 or 5 times when he had the ball with time and space, just to kick it away out of bounds or to the opposing team. He might as well have been wearing an Impact kit out there. And this was the guy calling the USL a league below the MLS. If this is true then that is where he should be playing, not with us.

[Jorge]

Ron, what are you on? Cunningham has had PLENTY of playing time this year. That guy is a disgrace to the sport, consistently missing handed opportunities (see game against Vancouver for one example).

[steve eastside 108]

The team looks tired, the players show little heart when playing. I wonder to myself if they are just lacking the skill, or being over exercised (if that's possible). You only see glimmers of heart and you certainly see the older players sitting back (we used to call these guys floaters). Come on guys, put some effort into the game stop looking like a bunch of wannabe's.

As a season ticket holder for my second year, I am disgusted with the performance of the team last night and over the past few games. How can I defend a team like this? When friends tell me they are second rate, when compared to the EPL, I now tell them, YES your right but it's all we got. Next year I think I'll take my money and use it to watch a couple of EPL games live - at least the players there have some heart and I'll get my moneys worth. And MLSE won't gouge out another 16 or 20 percent from me again. I'm sure there are lots of people just waiting to be gouged.

Carver's mentality of allowing the players to earn their position is not the way to get players to play for you. So they were good in practice, or they scored a goal in a reserve game - good for them. Keep consistency and only replace players when they are injured or away, don't sit them when they return. Dumb Dumb Dumb.

What is Carver doing? He is not the coach we need, send him back, he's another wannabe. I guarantee you he won't get a coaching job in England.

My Rant is over - thanks for listening.

Finally - Don't expand the stadium - leave it alone!

[Montreal]

Bonjour mes amis from Toronto,
once again Montreal has made the demonstration that quality does not always rhyme with money. Toronto his becoming the laughing stock for all Canada. So funny to see a city with all this money, not able to produce one winning team in any professional sport. My god...
Leafs, Raptors, Argos,Jays, TFC...it is sad. And now you want a NFL team , you must be kinding me or you people in Toronto must love mediocrity.
Anyway, we in Montreal are proud to have winning teams.
Finally, I think that TFC should change the color of their uniform and let Montréal use red when we will be allowed in your so fabulous MLS. Come on Toronto wear your blue shirts and leave the red to winning teams (Go Habs Go)
À la prochaine...maybe

[unsatisfied fan]

Dismal coaching. I saw the whole game and couldnt really understand whta Carver is doing. Why is Edu playing foward (most of the second half)? Wouldnt it be better to push Ricketts or Guevara foward who have better control and shooting abilities. How come Julius James comes in at #9 when he is a defender? (probably for his heading abilities but this is a far stretch). Why do the slowest midfielders play on the flank? Ricketts and Robert dont run into space and slow the attack tring to dribble back infield.

The players effort was poor as well. Brennan had one good cross all night(on the goal) the other 8 were pea rollers to the first post. Ricketts think he is Robinho puts his head down, flashes the feet but unlike the brasilian he goes nowhere. Robert adds nothing to this team put a kid on who can RUN into space so that Guevara has someone to pass too.

The last couple of games at home have been extremely frustrating to say the least.

[Paul]

Cunningham is a proven goal scorer, and should be used regularly, not for last 15 minutes. My feeling is that JC just throws all 5 middlefielders in without much thought, they do not read each other well, and each play own flavor of football. All the 50 yard free kicks taken had both Guevarra and Robert ready to serve, but one of them better be close to the box to help attackers instead! I am of opinion that Guevarra is slacking off, while Robert is just does not see his role defined, too bad he is the classiest player on the team.

[brian van beuren]

Needless to say, a very, very disappointing result of a match with much at stake.

Justified are emotions of anger and reactions in finger pointing. In our lows, we are desperate, and in need of someone, anyone to blame. It's only natural to see a team we invest so much heart and soul into, fail so bitterly at striving for its highest potential. However, lets not allow this fury drive us blind and without Reason.

Regarding the critiques on the quality of play and coaching. Has the final score of 1-1 really put a velvet cover over the first 15 minutes of exceptional play? Such dominating pressure and possession of the ball lead to a wonderfully euphoric goal. Robert & Robinson have been spotlighted in the above as performing below expectations. Let us not forget the events which led to Ricketts' header. An under-appreciated steal in midfield by un-sung engine Robinson, and beautiful control by Robert along the left flank. Brennan eagerly covering offensive territory and eventually receiving a spot-on pop from Robert and a final deft cross to Ricketts. Such flow and chemistry must not be forgotten. After all, it's all we got going for us.

That said, let us recall what Carver has been reiterating since pre-season. Something along the lines of "never, ever become complacent." Of course after the first goal, Toronto FC eased off pressure and the result was hammered in only ten minutes later. A true bloody shame, that one.

I'm sad to say I cannot offer a quick fix to our win-less woes. Everyone seems to think that star forward = goalazo, goalazo, goalazo. Maybe that's the case. Maybe that's not the only issue. Frankly, what I'm disgusted with even more than TFC's poor play of late, is the hallow, one track tune on repeat, and not to mention pure and raw blind fan fury ready to bite the heads off of functional components of the collective cog that is our team. I'm not mistaken right? This is OUR team we're all cheering for right?

When passion looses optimism... things really start getting ugly.

[Ian]

Brian, you said:
"Has the final score of 1-1 really put a velvet cover over the first 15 minutes of exceptional play? Such dominating pressure and possession of the ball lead to a wonderfully euphoric goal. Robert & Robinson have been spotlighted in the above as performing below expectations. Let us not forget the events which led to Ricketts' header. An under-appreciated steal in midfield by un-sung engine Robinson, and beautiful control by Robert along the left flank. Brennan eagerly covering offensive territory and eventually receiving a spot-on pop from Robert and a final deft cross to Ricketts. Such flow and chemistry must not be forgotten."

To me, this is the crux, tho'. If such moments of inspired play are possible, then why the hell can't this team sustain it? It only underscores what the team could be if, say, Robert and the others could stay focused and move to open space more often, rather than standing around catching their breath as the play moves past them. It breaks my heart to see balls stolen for want of a player coming to the ball, instead having to watch him passively waiting for it to reach him.

I'm not sure there is a quick fix for our woes. I don't even care if their isn't. I will support a losing team, but I will *not* continue to waste my money for a team that doesn't show up to play.

[OZNE]

It is very frustrating watching TFC play this foolish fast paced soccer while attacking, when clearly it is not working. Opposing teams have easily figured out Robert and Ricketts and Guevara doesn't have a lead man in front of him that can finish. Marvell Wynne rarely ventures past midfield with the ball anymore on those famous exciting runs, and he rarely recieves a pass when he does make runs off the ball. With 30 something legs like Robert and Brennan out wide on the flanks and without a strike force up front capable of finishing it doesn;t bode well for TFC going into the final stages of the season. That said Vancouver and Montreal have been amongst the best teams that have come to BMO Field thus far in terms of their cool, calm possession oriented tactics / style of play. I have been very impressed with the quality of both teams and wouldn't mind watching more of them in the future. Surely the likes of Joey Grjestan, Martin Nash, Justin Moose, Eduardo Sebrango, Matt Jordan, Nevio Pizzilitto, Jay Nolly and several others are deserving of a place on MLS rosters in the future.

[denis]

Carver is right.TFC need a striker fast.It is going to be hard to get somebody good since most do not want to play on turf.Morgan please ask TFC next time about this problem and how much is it going to cost to put in new grass.We are never going to get a quality striker without grass.Huckerby would have signed,but nobody told him about the turf.You can not bring guys here and not tell them until the last minute,that TFC does not play on grass.Carver knows this but is scared to admit this publicly.MLSE is going to eventually have to tear the field turf out otherwise we will have old or 16(ONLY UNTIL HE GETS OLDER) year old strikers here.