I was cleverly called the Oracle of the Obvious after I pointed out that TFC has a bad habit of taking the long way when it comes to fixing problems. I like the moniker and after a three-day hiatus from TFC on the shores of Lake Huron the oracle has a new foretelling:
The Toronto FC swagger has turned to a stagger.
In the span of 24 hours the Reds: a) lost to a better team (on the day) in a lower league; b) stretched its scoreless streak (and yes, I am negating the own-goal in New England) to three games; c) listened as a losing-fueled lunatic had a go - and then was forced to go - at Carver over his decision-making abilities; and d) listened afterward as Carver admitted the lunatic was right, and he, the coach with all the answers, was wrong.
Heck, you can even add in: e) one anonymous supporter raised concern over chanting and celebrating at the local despite an embarrassing loss; and lastly f) the Canada Day game was not a sellout and concluded with a chorus of boos from those who did attend.
These are six examples that contradict everything we have come to believe about TFC in its sophomore season.
Now e) and f) provide the most interesting study of what is happening, for each brush up against the delicate debate over whether Toronto sports fans are fanatical, fussy or just fair-weather. I have been to enough games at BMO Field to realize an argument can be made for all opinions.
But as someone who tries to cover the team with an objective eye, c) and d) are cause for concern.
Carver is the face of the franchise; he signs the lineup sheet and provides the commentary. But since the league sent out a DVD drawing attention to the technical area antics of Carver a noticeable change has come over the coach. In short, the honeymoon seems to be over.
The early swagger seen from Carver looks to have lost a step. A coach is always a reflection of his team and in Toronto right now an uncertain coach is leading to uncertain play. It was obvious in the scoreless draw with Kansas City and it became glaringly obvious against Vancouver. As for the dressing down he received from a ticket-holder, I am sure he has heard worse in England. But here in Toronto it seems magnified.
Carver needs to get it right this weekend. While the Carlsberg Cup means little to most involved, the result is paramount. Anything less than a decisive victory over the visiting Pachuca may trigger a costly summer stumble. But it is not going to be easy for JC, Pachuca arrives at BMO Field with five national titles during its brief 10-year existence in La Primera Division. The slow starts which have plagued TFC in the last three matches need to disappear.
The oracle can hardly wait to comment.
