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Toronto FC have not lost in eight games, and all the credit has been given to the hot dog vendor at BMO Field, because obviously head coach Greg Vanney does not deserve any credit. Vanney has been given zero credit for any of the accomplishments of the team. Let’s be honest, that midfield and that playing structure obviously came out of thin air; much like the big bang that created the universe.
Science lesson aside, being around the club and the dressing room really gives you a sense of how strong of a leader Michael Bradley is. Against New York City FC, Toronto were frustrated. Giovinco was livid at all the off-the-ball incidents. New York came in with the game plan of breaking up the rhythm of the game a la Mourinho style. Off-the-ball shirt pulling, scratching, hair pulling, bickering, name-calling- it was all on display.
However, the display of class, leadership and patience was evident in the eyes of Michael Bradley even when head coach Greg Vanney couldn’t stay composed. In the post-match press conference after the game against New York, Vanney was asked if his team needed to find a new tactic to get past the frustrating game plan New York employed. He replied,
“Sure, if the refereeing is going to be as naïve as it was tonight. A lot of the fouling was happening before the ball was even getting to (Giovinco). If that’s the template on (how to defend against Giovinco), we’re going to need the officiating to take care of the people who the fans come to watch.”
Vanney also said that he felt the bye week got in the way of the momentum Toronto FC had built in the weeks before. After throwing in the word “naïve” a couple of times to cap off an angry press conference, we all figured that the head coach was very angry at the officiating and New York.
Upon entering the dressing room, none of the players were available for comment. It was a far cry from the usual atmosphere after a win. All the players had disappeared but Michael Bradley. Bradley came into his stall and the questions came in, “What is the storyline for you for tonight’s game?” and “Did you feel New York’s tactics were unfair and did you feel they were playing a little too hard?”
Every question came in, hoping for a reaction. Expecting frustration and outcry for the way New York played the game from Bradley, the media was left impressed by his patient, accountable and responsible post-game interview. He would not mention anything about unfairness or New York’s tactics. He started with “We made an already difficult game more difficult (for ourselves)”
But Michael, were they coming in hard?
“Look, everybody gets a chance to play for ninety minutes. Everybody is free to go about it any way they want. That was their way to go about it. If we’re good enough in what we want to do and sharp enough, then I don’t think we are talking about (if their tactics were unfair). You get ninety minutes to step on the field and be good and be sharp and go the way you want, and in the end, whoever is good enough to impose their will in the game typically walks away with a good result”
When asked if he felt the return fixture at Yankee stadium would be testy, Bradley simply talked about how every soccer game is testy and how points are necessary for the playoff picture. To cap off an impressively mature interview, he was asked if the bye week affected the team’s performance. “I don’t” he replied. Oops, Sorry coach, had to show you up.
Toronto’s players were all left frustrated mostly at their own lack of finishing ability. They started the game very lazy, had numerous chances in the first half to put themselves in control of the match, and in the second half they could not penetrate. Toronto FC were using the referee to channel their own frustration. They simply did not get the job done, and captain Bradley set an example for his teammates. The example portrayed that the men in red did not perform.
In the midweek game four days later, which Toronto won 3-1, I tried to get Bradley to talk about the details of the New York match in the post-match interview.
“Obviously a frustrating game on the weekend, what do you feel was the difference?” I asked him.
“Two different games, its always hard to compare…tonight we were sharp enough and good enough to get back to 1-1. Changes the way the game goes. Again it’s always difficult to compare games. In general it was just a real positive way to respond tonight.”
With everyone (even the head coach!) complaining about the referee decisions, it was very simple for Bradley to talk about the frustration and the consistently controversial calls Toronto gets, but he didn’t. Not one other player was willing to talk to the media! No one would have blamed Bradley for speaking his mind about the unfair tactics New York employed. By answering the way he did, Bradley put the focus on the controllable; specifically Toronto’s play. He put all the responsibility into the team improving in certain aspects and the lack of control Toronto exhibited in the match.
Psychologist Albert Bandura is the originator for the social learning theory. It pretty much explains that human’s learning happens in a social context through observation. Bandura used a little doll to experiment where he had an adult be aggressive towards the doll in the presence of a toddler. When the toddler was given the doll, it also acted aggressively towards the doll- monkey see, monkey do. Now I’m not saying that Toronto FC players are monkeys, or that Vanney needs to utilize the bobo doll as a voodoo doll (and name it David Villa). However, when you are in a position of authority like Bradley is, people follow you. A player like Bradley sets the tone for his teammates in mindset, attitude and mood. So when Michael Bradley refuses to delve into the controversy or accept it and simply puts all the responsibility on his team, it sets the tone.
Good teams don’t blame the uncontrollable, they hold themselves accountable and always find ways that they can make themselves better. Good leaders always ensure the primary focus is to improve as a team, and they set the rhythm for this template of thinking. This is how Michael Bradley has helped elevate the character of his Toronto team.
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