CCL was not as big an issue as the "we are the champions and can turn this on at will" attitude.
CCL was not as big an issue as the "we are the champions and can turn this on at will" attitude.
^Yes. There was something very wrong with the “mentality” this year, to use the Italian expression. (Seba used it early in the year.)
“What the world needs is more geniuses with humility; there are so few of us left.”
Feels a lot like 2014 Bradleys first season, TFC were on the edge of making the playoffs in August. The narrative was wait until Sept and Oct were a bunch of home games were coming up. Points will come in then. Ends up TFC blows a bunch of home games to miss playoffs. Feels a lot like that season were it was all about wait until x, then x happens and it fails.
Because what he should have said is, holy moly, we are effed, the season is over.
Most sports reporting is children's literature, and interviews are even worse. The whole purpose of engaging on this board is to cut through this stuff.
Vanney was right to downplay it publicly. We just needed to right the ship, which we should have been able to do.
“What the world needs is more geniuses with humility; there are so few of us left.”
This is something we sometimes casually overlook with this team. Not so much Vanney’s public explanations but the fact we basically threw a number of easy games early in the season due to schedule congestion and focus on the CCL. And after that we still had issues with injuries and fatigue.
How foreseeably is next year going to be any better? I have little interest in the CCL until the format cleans up.
Agreed with the sarcasm and everything.
Although...
Isn't THIS moment what NA sports is all about?
More fans enjoy the "sneak into the playoffs and win it all" model and give 2 shits about the most points in a season and the CCL unless it's the final stages.
Well - live it up pussplop lovers.
I want the team to finish strong and can't wait to see a couple changes before the CCL starts in Feb.
But who's reading this? They left months ago when the season was over.
FORMER FULL TIME KOOL-AID DRINKER
Pretty interesting interview with Didier Deschamps about the mentality problem for champions
https://www.theguardian.com/football...st-foolishness
“What the world needs is more geniuses with humility; there are so few of us left.”
We play Atlanta on last game of season. They are currently sitting on 63 points after yesterday's defeat to NYRB, and have three games remaining - hosting New England and Chicago before coming here.
They probably win those two games. Meaning they’re sitting on 69 points - tied with our record from last year.
If we can somehow find a way to stay in the playoff race, imagine how sweet it would be to simultaneously win, make the playoffs, and keep them from breaking our record.
Alternatively, imagine losing at home to give them the record and lose our playoff spot (if we aren't already out by then). Ouch. That's the darkest timeline for me.
45 mins or so away from this thread coming to reality
At the end of the day the ccl isnt responsible for the defensive lapses, untimely goals and underperforming play on the pitch. By that same token, vanney and the coaching staff cant be held responsible for the injuries, mental letdowns and poor scheduling from the league.
My point is that this season has been the perfect storm of all of these factors, and we can all argue about what was more prevelant but i firmly believe that it was a shit sundae of ALL those things mixed together that created this sad 2018 campaign for the reds.
Last edited by DIEHARDTFC; 10-06-2018 at 05:03 PM.
We are in a spot of bother now.
“What the world needs is more geniuses with humility; there are so few of us left.”
At least I don't need to hear about TFC's playoff chances and people scoreboard watching anymore. We were out of the playoffs two months ago.
I'm a tad troubled by what I've seen towards the end of the season.
Our best players will be a year older next year and are of questionable durability with the exception of Bradley and Gio, who both look like they can't shoulder the work load they used to.
We don't seem to have the right combination of midfielders or a first choice CB. If Mavinga isn't on the field we defensively poor.
I think Vanney is a decent coach but wonder if the dressing room has tuned him out at this stage. If the team starts to struggle next year can he put it back on the tracks?
They need some serious introspection. This isn't just about injuries or burnout from the CCL.
Kind of relieved tbh, I had given hope after the LAFC game.
Give these guys a proper break, let's re-group and actually address our needs, and put in that new turf as soon as possible.
I think there is a real chance we have been found out, and I'm afraid if we don't see a major shakeup tactically or player wise we will see the same results next year.
This season was a perfect storm, however, if you are Manning are you willing to take that chance?
We may have one more shot with this group next year, however, maybe its time move on from this core group?
The contracts of our designated players is an upcoming issue, I hope TFC management can find it in themselves to get ahead of the curve(unlike the Jays) and start with a "soft rebuild", get younger, more technical, and set ourselves up for sustained success.
What this TFC group achieved the last 18 months has been immense, let that not be mistaken.
We are done
All right, then. We'll call it a draw.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=zKhEw7nD9C4
“What the world needs is more geniuses with humility; there are so few of us left.”
I still love my TFC even though the fat lady has sung. Onward, forward to 2019.
Remember The Man, The Legend, The Goal 5-12-07 and All That #9 Left On The Pitch, Thanks For The Memories !!!
Season isn't over yet, we can at least knock Montreal out of the playoffs, thats worth playing for no?
Just like at many other times this season, to start this "must-win game" so flat was astounding. Our injury problems were massive, but the mentality issues go far beyond that. I feel like both Vanney and Bradley, despite all their obvious qualities, aren't good at motivating or turning things around when the going gets tough.
Last year Bono was mostly great. This year he often seems to be frail & inconsistent. Not just the horrendous first goal last night; he bobbled the ball or made poor decisions multiple times. Can he turn it around?
Mavinga and vdW are both good defenders, but neither is close to being the leader we need at the back. Moor was, but I think his age & injuries this year show that he can't be that leader next year either. Another huge hole to fill.
Our midfield also has major question marks for me. Vazquez is great, but only when he can play. To rely heavily on him next year seems very risky. Every other midfield player also worries me for one reason or another. They can all do well on a good team, but at the moment they aren't reliable & we have major gaps.
Not bad for Giovinco to be pissed & yell a bit. But he and all the other attacking players missed multiple chances to score last night. Yeah we have defensive and goalkeeping problems, but score a couple of our own goals and don't expect our D to be perfect. Giovinco's free kicks are hardly ever on frame any more, and he was totally invisible for about two thirds of the game last night. It seems like most of our players are afraid to shoot. It's not gridiron for Chrissakes; you don't have to carry the goal over the goal line.
Given the issues and age of many of our players, I actually can't see us doing great next year either. There are too many gaps to fill, and shedding contracts often knocks you back for a while. I think Giovinco will be unhappy about Altidore leaving; they obviously got along great together, and Giovinco knows that Altidore makes life on the pitch much easier for him.
I won’t watch that game. Atlanta is as good, or better, than our 2017 club. Currently, we can’t beat a garbage Vancouver side in a must win contest. Getting blown out on the last game of a miserable season is too much punishment. Besides, if less than half of BMO is filled, it would send a meaningful message to front office.
^Who needs to “send a message” to the front office this way? It doesn’t work.
Not renewing in numbers is the only way to get their attention.
I care way more about seeing Altidore off. We did what we did because of him. He is the man.
“What the world needs is more geniuses with humility; there are so few of us left.”
"Sending a message" is so 2011.
Mo Johnson didn't care and Anselmi was building condos, so it didn't work under their disfunctional leadership.
There's no way you need to "send a message" to the current management. They're not counting money for the Teachers Pension Plan like Anselmi was. They care deeply from Bill Manning on down. They just need to figure out a way to fix things for next season. Hopefully they get the right formula like they did in 2016-2017.