Welcome to another edition of the View from South Ward. First, as usual, let’s mention the most important part of this column, the beer of the match. This week it was La Trappe Isid’or from Bierbrouwerij De Koningshoeven.
It’s been a bit of a slowish week in the world of the Red Bulls. During the last week, the Bulls played to a 1-1 tie in their international friendly with Thierry Henry’s former home, Lyon. And speaking of Thierry Henry, the Espy’s were this week. Henry was voted to be the best player in the MLS, and received an Espy for it.
It seems that every week Toronto FC finds a way to sink lower and lower. First, in their home tilt against Chivas, they managed to find a way to lose, despite Chivas, who celebrated the return of Carlos Bocanegra, being down to 10 men. As if to add insult to injury, team captain Darren O’Dea is leaving the club. After much hand wringing and inner conflict O’Dea is going to accept a rich transfer offer to Ukraine’s Metalurh Donetsk. I ask again: What the heck is MLSE thinking?
It’s no secret that Team Beckham is looking to plop an MLS expansion franchise in Miami. When it was reported months ago, I almost stood up and applauded. For those of you who don’t know, there was a clause in David Beckham’s MLS contract that included an option to own an MLS expansion franchise. Shortly after his retirement from the L.A Galaxy, he began sniffing around possible venues in Miami, Florida. As pointed out by a Miami Herald columnist, South Beach already has a perfectly good venue to house an MLS franchise. Considering the success of Seattle and Kansas City, due in part to their community feel, the possible venue and the promise of the team itself, footy could take off in south Florida in a very special way.
Between the creation of NYCFC, and the possible Florida expansion, maybe it’s time that the MLS adopts a relegation system? In my head, it would look like this:
Let’s assume MLS commish Don Garber gets his wish, and the MLS expands to 22 clubs. There is another league in North America called the NASL. The bottom two teams in the MLS would get relegated to the NASL and the top two teams in the NASL, would get the opportunity to break the big time.
Maybe the threat of relegation would motivate a team like TFC to clean themselves up and right the sinking ship.
Speaking of TFC, let’s jump into this week’s Red Bulls road trip to the Great White North, and their match against Osorio and Toronto FC.
Can someone PLEASE tell me where the Red Bulls team is that embarrassed the Montreal Impact? This is the exact problem that this writer has been trying to wrap his head around since the beginning of the season. The lack of consistency is mind boggling. At one point, the announcer said that Toronto FC is showing the talent level an Under-14 squad would be proud of.
Where was the blistering offense that hammered away repeatedly at the Impact, and were rewarded with 4 goals? Where was solid midfield play from Jonny Steele and Eric Alexander? The former was nearly invisible for the match, while Alexander continued to celebrate his coming out party by trying to create what he could, but without receiving much help from his team mates. Henry looked listless, at times. It seemed that the only one who showed up to this match was Tim Cahill, who had a goal called back by an offsides flag.
Speaking of the referees, I counted a hand ball and three obvious trips that went uncalled, two of which were within the penalty area and SHOULD have resulted in penalty kicks. It wasn’t until the second half that head official Jorge Gonzalez gained a full measure of control over the match. Interestingly enough, one of the assistant referees was an emergency stand in, and got a tough offsides call right. Maybe he should have been the guy running amongst the wolves on the pitch.
All told the snoozefest, with the exception of a world class Luis Robles save on Richard Eckersley (MLS Save of the Week, anyone?), resulted in a 0-0 tie. One has to wonder, once again, about coach Mike Petke’s ability to manage a game, and how much control he has of the pulse and motivation this New York side has. Although, Petke finally changed his alignment in the second half, for a change, proving that minor miracles do, in fact, happen.
Next up is the MLS leading, championship favorite, Real Salt Lake back at Red Bull Arena. One has to wonder which RBNY side will appear – the one with all the answers, or the one with all the questions?
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