Not in a Friendly mood

"Please sir, can you pound on us some more?"



"In all my years of managing the business of TFC, one thing I have learned is that you cannot predict,"
- Paul Beirne; TFC VP of Business Operations
　
"If TFC hints at something on their official website it's already a done deal."
- Me; Angry Person/ TFC Victim
　
Keen observers of Toronto FC over the years will have long realized that the club's official website is not so much a place for news but rather the launch pad for propaganda and public relations test balloons. If a story is headlined: "Joe the Plumber settling into Toronto" you can guarantee that Joe the Plumber is your new starting midfielder for the foreseeable future. Thus, when yesterday's story, "Report: International Friendly Coming?" appeared - you could confidently remove the question mark.
　
Exciting stuff right? Another exhilarating day out as we munch on the scraps of UEFA's summer holiday crumbs, hoping our star players avoid season-ending injuries. So the only question is - who is coming? Could it be Manchester United? Borussia Dortmund? Be still our backwater hearts... Barcelona?!
　
The answer? WHO F*CKING CARES???!!!
　
Listen here Toronto FC, this city is not the football-starved outpost it once was, desperately awaiting a Santa Clausesque annual visit from a European club working on their tans. No - we have our own football club that plays in North America's top tier and many of us are still passionate about it despite your "best efforts". You may have heard of them - The FC's... something.
　
We want 100% of Toronto FC's management resources going into fixing the disaster created against all odds despite being given every opportunity in MLS to do the opposite. Stop, stop, stop the addiction to bells and whistles and concentrate fully on making TFC the best MLS club and environment and not the grateful redshirted-stepchild begging for more of UEFA's gruel. Look back at the first "major" international friendly against Real Madrid and ask - good for the club? Or, the beginning of the snowball of discontent that has neutered BMO Field's once vicious stands.
　
We will NOT be appeased.
　
Going to TFC matches has become a struggle for many long-term supporters. What once was the day of the week you couldn't wait for now often feels like a duty or an obligation. The commute to and from BMO Field sometimes holding the air of penance. The only fans that would be truly pumped to trek down to Exhibition Place will be those who may support the opposition as their "childhood" club. For the vast majority who support TFC and not the visitors, it will just be another example of sizzle over steak of which this club has dined on for seven very long years.
　
When the inevitable happens and this friendly is announced against Real City United FC, the only remaining mystery will be if the club is smart enough to give out free tickets to its long-long-long suffering season ticket holders. However, if they are dumb enough to think the distraction noodle of another friendly is enough to make us forget that we are as far from success as we were in 2007, forgive us for not holding our breath on that one.
　
Until we see a story on the TFC website titled "Report: TFC to come to their senses?" we will have to let them know we want #SilverwareNotFriendlies at every opportunity.