We know Toronto FC is in the midst of a rebuild.  Head coach Aaron Winter and his associate Bob de Klerk and MLSE management have held fast to their plan of 4-3-3 and finding the right players to play in that system.  After the disaster that was NY and Houston, I would not be surprised if the coaches and managements patience with some players runs thin very soon.

It has become quite evident to my eyes that not only are some of these players perhaps overwhelmed with the task at hand, but quiet frankly it seems to me some just don’t have the desire to even try and make this plan of attack work.  It’s not as if the players are being asked to do something so foreign that they are overwhelmed.  Every system of sensible soccer/football play can work if players are committed.  I don’t care what league we are talking about. 

I have had conversations with both Aaron Winter and Bob de Klerk while on the road with this team and these two men are not lost.  They are not asking the players to play above their heads, they are asking for a commitment.    I know for a fact there at times has been a lack of commitment to be better by some of the players on this current roster.  Ti’s not my job to name them and ti’s their job to prove all doubters and teammates wrong.  That’s what being  a professional athlete is all about.  People will doubt you at some point.  The best athletes use that as fuel to be better. 

Should Toronto FC be better team at this point in the franchises existence?  Yes.  Is it right now, No.  Many of us know the real reasons for that.  Those reasons are in the past and it is time for this team to move past the drama and focus on football.  I can tell you for certain that is what Aaron and Bob are trying to instill in this team.

Just spoke with head coach Aaron Winter.  Aaron tells me Julian De Guzman will not join the team Saturday in Houston.  Also Maicon Santos will not join the team.  Both players are injured.

Winter says he expects to start two players ready to come back again from injuries.  Alan Gordon and Jacon Peterson.

Stefan Frei will start in goal for the 22nd straight game this season.  Frie started all 28 MLS games last year.  Winter did say he is thinking about getting back up Milos Kosic some games soon.  I would suspect the Champions League qualifier.

The faces were different, not only the names have changed.  The 5-0 loss in Jersey did not have the pouring rain and lightening backdrop of a couple years ago  at old Giants Stadium, but the silence around the team after this loss was similar.

As I watched Toronto FC fall apart vs. The NY Red Bulls at Red Bull Arena Wednesday night, I felt less and less disgust and more pity on the lads who were trying their hardest against a squad that simply outclassed them in every way.

Toronto actually had four good chances to score.  TFC did hit the post twice.  It was a night that Toronto dearly missed the likes of Alan Gordon and leading goal scorer Maicon Santos’s touch.  I felt all night The Red Bulls back line was looking vulnerable.  Joao Plata made some nice runs and cuts to make defenders look silly at times.  What was lacking was a finishing touch from both he and the likes of Nick Soolsma.

The rest of what was lacking was as evident as the huge summer red thing that started to show itself on the end of my nose this past week.  Teams in MLS in my eyes are just eatong up Toronto when they play the 4-3-3 set up.  The amount of running TFC players do early in a game when they do press the other teams back line, then mount an attack, then drop back to defend, seems to be taxing the lads later in games.  

The 6-2 collapse vs. Philadelphia at BMO field, and this latest 5-0 embarrassment at the hands of the Red Bulls.  Teams are salivating with the thought of Toronto coming to their stadiums now and the chance to rip apart this team.  TFC have surrendered 8 goals on the road in their last two games.

Toronto is dearly missing the likes of Adrian Cann and last years version of Nana Attakora on the back line.  Eckersley, Borman, Harden and Gargan were all full marks for effort Wednesday night.  The group just plain ran out of gas in the end.

I give credit to NY for not running up the score more.  Many times I will have words for clubs that run up a score, but NY played possession for most of the second half and just took what Toronto gave them. 

Toronto is trying to hang onto “being in contention” for a playoff seed in the east until at least the middle of July when the transfer window opens and the teams new Designated players Torsten Frings and Danny Koevermans can join the line up.  Add the return of Alan Gordon and hopefully a healthy Santos by then, and Toronto will have some much needed depth going forward through the midfield on attack.

Next stop Houston.  Its over a 100 degrees in the Texas city this week.  That should not worry TFC as the heat is clearly already on this group to turn it around after history repeated itself with a second 5-0 loss in Jersey.  At least this loss came at a time of year when Toronto can still recover and maybe make the post season.

A week that could be the season for Toronto FC is upon this club. After a hugely disappointing loss at home to Seattle in extra time, TFC went on the road to Real salt Lake and were soundly beaten in Sandy Utah. No Shame in losing to RSL, a team I think can win the MLS Cup. (there is a stretch). But in the bigger picture this team and any progress is going in the wrong direction once again.

I have been witness to this before since arriving on the scene with Toronto FC and it pains me to watch. A team lacking depth in personnel, battling best its players can each and every night, but it’s just not good enough to be a threat right now. With Alan Gordon out of the line up, it is remarkable how different Toronto FC looks and plays on the pitch. It is clear evidence that this team can succeed if management would go out and sign some character players to lead this team.

I am not questioning for a moment the current rosters desire to win games, nor their character. But I won’t be sold by anyone that this team has a leader, outside of Stefan Frei, that can take the club by the throat and will them to play better football. So two wins on the season. Vancouver in town and clearly already a rival who is out for blood from their fellow Canadian side. One game between the two for valuable MLS points and the other for Canadian Championship bragging rights. A Whitecaps sweep would be demoralizing for Toronto and one must honestly wonder how much longer once again ownership can sit back and watch this franchise whither a season away.

Recently while calling a Toronto FC game in Major League Soccer I was saddened and sickened by what I witnessed on the pitch a few times.

I have been seeing it in every game played almost now in MLS this season.

I am here to plead with the men who play soccer in North America.  Stop Diving now!  let me change my tune a little. Man up and knock it off!  If I see one more guy fall to the ground in MLS when he is not touched I am going leap from my broadcast location, run onto the field and grab you by the scruff of your jersey and scold you like the little baby you just acted like.

I get “winning at all costs” but win with honor gentlemen.  Lose with dignitity.  Grow a pair!

Toronto FC and Seattle were both guilty of humiliating this game, and this league with their actions this past Saturday.

Let me say this to the players who still think faking theatrics are an integral part of the game, you look like an idiot doing it!

I can’t believe teammates are not taking their brothers or sisters, aside and telling them to stop it!  What about the guy who takes a legitimate knock?  I would be up off a stretcher to break my teammates leg if he embarrassed our franchise and team logo with fake falls and screams and dives.

How dare any coach or player criticize MLS referees until these clowns are stopped by the their own teammates.

There are some good signs within Toronto FC’s ranks of late that could see this team sneak its way into: The Playoffs?!

Did I hear me right?  Did I say playoffs and TFC in the same sentence?  How on earth did I even come close to that conclusion?  Let’s delve deep into the mind of this TFC radio and part time TV play by play man a moment and see what it is he is smoking of late.

Here we go, stepping inside the grey matter. (Lot’s of it).  Ok I see here Dan is thinking that Doneil Henry, an 18 year old defender out of Brampton looks like the real deal.  Dan is thinking its only fair to expect Henry will make mistakes, most of them ball watching errors in some games ahead, but when it comes to a defender attacking the ball and winning it before the opponent does, Henry is the real deal.  He has speed; he can leap, and seems pretty smart at playing angles.  With Cann gone for the season, Henry is a nice piece of the future to fit in already.

Ok, where else is Dan thinking TFC can be a playoff team?  Shows here inside this guys head that if Alan Gordon can stay healthy, and he feels that might be a big if, Toronto will continue to have chances to score and no longer will opposing goalies have a day off when they face The Reds!   If Maicon Santos can stay true to potential form and lay off well with Gordon and find space for his lethal left foot from 30 yards out and in, Toronto offers a legitimate one-two threat.  Not the leagues best, but legitimate.  Add to the mix Joao Plata’s learning curve moving in the right direction and Dan figures this as another reason to believe.

Stefan Frei’s name comes up in this cluster of brain cells as well.  Seems Dunleavy thinks Frei’s progression as a shot stopper and his accurate long balls up the pitch are another reason to think TFC should start playing better, particularly on the road.   Toronto has chipped away at earning points away from home in 2011, and that is a break from the norm of the clubs very short history.   If the team can find a way to salvage three points from the rest of their home dates, the playoffs are a real thing.

Can one man be that valuable to Toronto FC? Well right now if your name is Alan Gordon, the answer is a resounding YES.

Not sure how I am supposed to get all excited over MLS games that don’t feature in some cases, the teams best players.

The talk around MLS this week was not about Gold Cup call ups.  Talk around MLS locker rooms this past week was all about Toronto FC giving up six goals at home to the Philadelphia Union.  (Union had eight goals for before coming to Toronto last weekend).

KC goalie Jimmy Nielson was asked about playing in Toronto this weekend and he responded with “they used to be a good team”, and when asked about their own goal scoring woes going into Toronto.  Nielson replied with “hopefully Saturday in Toronto we can make a copy of Philadelphia and score six goals”  Are you serious?  What soccer player ever says aloud to the media before going into another teams stadium? 

That being known, if Toronto Fc players don’t show up with a huge effort defensively at home to Sporting Kansas City Saturday night, I am suggesting you can count this team out of any playoff chase.  Take note, I did not say must win, I am saying effort.  If head coach Aaron Winters team does not show up looking to prove a point to themselves, and the rest of the league with a better defensive game, what Else are we supposed to think about this group?

Yes the team needs to find better players.  yes the team is dealing with injuries and Gold Cup call ups.  Breaking News….”so are many other teams in MLS”.   As a competitor you have to find a way to compete at your highest level each and every game you play.  Athletes and any of us doing what we love to do for a living, need to be reminded at times, how much hard work it took for you to get where you are today and how much hard work it will take to stay where you have gotten yourself to.  Coaches are there to remind athletes of this every time they step on the pitch.  Not to beat them down and build them up constantly, but to remind them they are only as good the amount of effort they put into a practice, shift or game.

Its going to be a tough go for Winter and company in June.   But when the going gets tough, champions get tougher.

 TFC hosting Sporting Kansas City at 7pm Saturday June 4th on Sportsnet radio The FAN590 @ www.fan590.com

What we just wont know until after the MasterCard Memorial Cup is over is if this nationally recognized junior hockey event is enough to wake up the GTA and stop coming up with excuses as to why they wont attend an OHL game.

The attendance is good at Mississauga’s Hershey Centre.  Thanks in large part to pre event ticket sales and the die hard junior hockey fans who make the trip to this event no matter where it is held.

On the ice this has been an intriguing tournament.  The Sea Dogs of St. John are as advertised.  Talented, confident and in the final Sunday.  The rest of the pack is so even, it’s hard to know who will try and not let The Dogs out on the weekend.

The Mississauga Majors are into the semi.  The Majors win over Owen Sound a solid victory and effort, and a game in which it appeared Mississauga should have run away with.  (unless you are an attack supporter, I am aware you will wear different glasses on this).  Mississauga was handed a number of power plays on the night, but had a tough time taking advantage of them.  The Majors were one for nine with the man advantage.  A microcosm of the night happened late in the third period when The Attack pulled the goalie with 1:50 to go, down by one.  Mississauga’s Joe Cramarossa had a shot at an empty net miss the target.  The Attack came right back down the ice and JP Anderson made a save on Andrew Shaw that prevented the game from going to overtime.  Owen Sound kept the game close despite not playing with top line players in Joey Hishon and Garrett Wilson.  The latter lost after a hit that occurred early in the final round robin game vs. Mississauga on Wednesday night.

So the stage is set for a tie breaker game Thursday night between the WHL champs the Kootenay Ice play the now officially banged up Attack.  Owen Sound was pushed to OT in game seven to win the OHL title on the road.  Now they may have to play the tie breaker without their two offensive leaders.  Never question this teams desire and drive.  You can wonder of any team, is there enough gas in the tank now though to climb this hill to the final. 

Kootenay is a team that knows it has not played its best game of the tournament yet.  A bit of a break from the rink on Wednesday may have been just what the team needed to clear the heads of the start of the tournament and start fresh as if it were another regular season Thurs, Fri, Sunday weekend. 

The people around the tournament have done a marvellous job with the volunteers and the co-ordinating of the event.  Hats off to you.  Lets hope there are no offside calls missed from here on in towards the championship Sunday night on Sportsnet Radio The FAN590.