"So you want a manager? I've got a deal for ya"
It seems like just yesterday we were gathered round the old wireless to meet the fearless new leader of our hometown Eff Cee's. Comforting and inspiring words like "change" "winning culture" and "positive atmosphere" still waft on the breeze between the BMO Field Press Room and the chip butty stand. Why it's almost become a treasured tradition in our corner of the football world - the Toronto FC Managerial Change (TM)... insert angel harps... now!
The Japanese managerial mutant monster that is Mocarvercumreki-Dasowintiner has been dispatched into the depths of Lake Ontario by the cold, steely ray gun of Kevin Payne and a new hero is set to be unleashed. No, it ain't Mothra - it's a giant Kiwi in the form of Ryan Nelsen. With a good solid few days past since his playing career ended, the most rookiest of all our rookie managers was unveiled today. Now we know that a full text transcript of a press conference is what you sadists crave - but you'll just have to do with our highlights and suffer through the linked TFC TV coverage later. Save us MegaKiwi!
Here's all you really need to know (now in handy point-form)
- Ryan Nelsen introduced as new head coach and Fran O'Leary as his assistant and also something called "Director of Recruitment"
- Kevin Payne calls it a "new era"; claims that Ryan Nelsen has "better leadership qualities than any professional athlete (Payne) has ever been around"; paints Nelsen as some type of childhood managerial prodigy who was born to coach
- Ryan Nelsen calls TFC's support and management "a shining light"
- Does indeed sound like a Flight of the Conchords character
- Fran O'Leary loves to call Nelsen "Nelly" a lot
- Kevin Payne asked if there were other candidates. Answer: "No."; He also apparently keeps a mental filing cabinet; Payne adds that Nelsen and him have discussed this move for 10 years.
- Nelsen claims tactics will match "the shining light" of TFC (sounding a bit culty). Team will "never give up, never fall over, never die.
- Ryan Nelsen is still under contract with QPR
- Wait?... What was that?
- KA-PLOOOOOOOEY!!!!!!!!!
- Everything else becomes random mumbling for the remainder of the conference as everyone tries to digest the fact that Toronto FC have hired the first ever Player/Manager who just happens to play for another team. In another league. On another continent.
- Shining light.
So there you have it. What will truly go down as the absolute strangest of all eight of TFC's managerial coronations. A very personable and optimistic young new manager backed by an extremely assured president. The fact that the new manager can't, you know... be with the team until Uncle 'Arry Redknapp says so... are just minor details.
No we are not down on this deal (honest), we are not pining for Paul Mariner (really honest)... but wow. Slow clap to TFC for taking the cray-cray to new heights. We'll talk more about this when our collective heads stop shaking.
Catch the weirdest conference ever on TFC TV here...
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What boggles the mind most is trying to imagine how they're to top this when they introduce manager #9 (or 10 depending on how you're counting).
ReplyDeleteIt will be a Preki version of The Terminator sent back from 2015 to kill our playoff hopes. "Come with me if you want to fail"
Deletewow.... I don't get the negatives on this one. I am thrilled that Mariner is out, he always looked like only coached the team on game day and was disgusted with the guy who trained them all week and possibly hated the fellow who had drafted or traded for them. Trouble was PM, it was you. Then the offseason angle was blame injuries (remember Danny K when healthy had called Toronto the worst team in the world).
ReplyDeleteI am taking Payne at his word, he always saw Nelsen as a future coach and if this is how you sign him, then this is how you sign him. Is it written in stone that you must hire a coach from the pool of already fired coaches? Sure we have been fooled before, but a fresh start can be the right start. It seems that coal in the stocking was the popular gift for disgruntled TFC fans/foes this xmas.
As the day has gone on and the shock of the "still a member of QPR" has settled, I tend to agree with you. Yes it may be a bumpy start depending on Nelsen's availability but here's hoping this is the promised "new dawn"
DeleteThe high road is the only road on this one. Otherwise it's another season of doom and gloom. O'Leary is the key to the deal: experienced, qualified, knowledgeable.
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