The Jinx of Rob and Colman

By: Colman | July 23rd, 2008

Well, we’re out. We were not able to beat our competition from the USL in order to qualify for the Concacaf Champions League. However, I again refuse to title this blog post “Doom and Gloom”. I will also not blame John Carver (as so many TFC fans are today). I really don’t see how last night’s game is his fault. In fact, I commend him for bringing on Julius James up front - a great tactical move, since we were only playing in high balls and JJ has the best vertical on the team. Et voila, he hit the post. I suppose I could play the players, especially the man who has had to move his stuff from the senior team’s locker room to the reserve squad’s, Jeff Cunningham. #99 had the audacity to be unable to score from a meter away after JJ’s header came to his feet off the post.

No, instead I take the blame for this current winless streak. Since Rob and I started posting here, things have gone decidedly pear-shaped on the field. I know that I jinxed the boys before the game against San Jose, and I’m still kicking myself for it (predicting a relatively easy win). But I tried so hard. I wore my Dichio shirt instead of my Velez (which hasn’t brought me much luck lately). I had five scarves with me. Heck, my superlame section even stood for the last 10 minutes (as did the rest of the stadium). But we could not eke out a goal. Instead, we had to ~~watch Monteal celebrate on our field~~ leave the second the final whistle blew.

While I’m not up to getting into the nitty gritty of the game right now, I will comment on John Carver’s post game comments about Jeff Cunningham and Marvell Wynne.

“You want my honest opinion on that? I am thinking, ‘How did he score 99 goals?’ That’s what I thought.’”

People are saying that JC (the coaching one) should have kept that private. I disagree. I think it’s time for Cunningham to really start hearing it. He is much too concerned about goal #100, and much too little about the team’s achievements. I have no problem with the coach calling out a player in public, especially after a hard ~~loss~~ tie like yesterday.

While he was more subtle about Marvell Wynne, I again agree with him. Wynne is among my favourite players on TFC, but he is near worthless in the final third. In order to be a successful fullback, you need to be one of the better crossers on your team (ie. Jim Brennan). Wynne is not able to swing in good crosses. Ever. However, I give him credit, as he at least tried to take the ball into the box from the wing yesterday instead of crossing. No luck though. Either way, he’s off to Beijing along with Edu. Booya. Not. Who will play? My guess is Nana Attakora-Gyan, as he was tried at rightback in the two international friendlies, and did quite well in my opinion. Edu will likely be replaced by Rosenlund, who hasn’t wowed me so far, but he’ll have to do.

Anyways, time to focus on getting a playoff spot. It starts on Monday night in Salt Lake, first place in the West. We will need to find our groove (and a striker) before the stretch drive. While I would not see us missing the playoffs as a complete and utter failure, I think it is within our possibilities after the way we started the season.

Allstar game tomorrow. Jimmy apparently starting. Watch him get injured (Jinx of Rob and Colman in play again??) I’ll put out a writeup of that affair on Friday. Until then!