I tell you what man, it was a very difficult moment for me. You want your coaches to have full confidence in you. So when a situation like that happens it’s very difficult for the player to (stay focused?) on football...it was a tough time...and you know strikers, it’s all about confidence. When that’s taken from you, and all the other stuff off the field, it makes football very difficult. As a result I don’t think many players, being in the same situation, could perform at their best so...but I handled the situation professionally and I moved on and I have nothing but positive things to say about the organization.
- Jeff Cunningham on his final days in Toronto
When John Carver put Jeff Cunningham into the reserve dressing room and started to publically question how he ever scored 99 (at the time) career MLS goals there were many in the Toronto fan base that applauded the move.
Cunningham wasn't scoring and, damn it, he deserved to be put in his place was the thinking. The fans added their own voice to the proceedings, effectively doing their best to run him out of town.
A little more than a year later Cunningham has 133 career MLS goals. John Carver is watching telly in the UK (as far as I can tell) and TFC fans are focused on running Chad Barrett out of town.
You don't have to have a UEFA A licence, or a PhD in psychology, to understand that strikers are a fragile bunch. As much as you might want to strangle them from time to time, that's not the best way to handle them. A more gentle massaging of the ego is more effective.
Maybe in a league like the EPL, where you have 10 other guys desperately tying to get their chance to prove that they can play, can you afford to throw guy like Cunningham under the bus. But a guy that can score in MLS...you try and hold onto those types.
Cunningham had to be moved when he was. It was clear that he was never going to score for TFC at any consistent rate. But, the fact that he's found the net 34 times since leaving Toronto seems to indicate that the Reds might have made a mistake or two in their handling of him. That's not to absolve Cunningham for everything -- it was pretty clear that he was mailing it in at the end, and that's not "professional" -- but, you have to ask yourself: What the hell was the point of Carver's "message?"
Also, we, as fans, might want to look in the mirror. When Mo Johnston suggested last week that the environment in Toronto could, at times, be difficult for some players to handle many fans, predictably, reacted defensively -- "how dare Mo blame us," was the rallying cry. That he didn't actually say that was beside the point. The truth is Toronto has a long and storied history of running players out of town, often with disastrous outcomes. With apologies for the hockey reference, let's call it the Larry Murphy Rule.
The LMR says that T.O.'s sports fans will hyper criticise skill players who fail to make an immediate impact, while simultaneously forgiving the failings of less skilled players that are "gritty." The fan will not let up on the skilled player until it becomes clear that the only option is to move him on to another city, where he will almost always go on to experience considerable success. The gritty player will retire with the team, become a community ambassador, and eventually star in a reality TV program that combines hockey and figure skating.
Or something like that anyway.
Cunningham wasn't scoring and, damn it, he deserved to be put in his place was the thinking. The fans added their own voice to the proceedings, effectively doing their best to run him out of town.
A little more than a year later Cunningham has 133 career MLS goals. John Carver is watching telly in the UK (as far as I can tell) and TFC fans are focused on running Chad Barrett out of town.
You don't have to have a UEFA A licence, or a PhD in psychology, to understand that strikers are a fragile bunch. As much as you might want to strangle them from time to time, that's not the best way to handle them. A more gentle massaging of the ego is more effective.
Maybe in a league like the EPL, where you have 10 other guys desperately tying to get their chance to prove that they can play, can you afford to throw guy like Cunningham under the bus. But a guy that can score in MLS...you try and hold onto those types.
Cunningham had to be moved when he was. It was clear that he was never going to score for TFC at any consistent rate. But, the fact that he's found the net 34 times since leaving Toronto seems to indicate that the Reds might have made a mistake or two in their handling of him. That's not to absolve Cunningham for everything -- it was pretty clear that he was mailing it in at the end, and that's not "professional" -- but, you have to ask yourself: What the hell was the point of Carver's "message?"
Also, we, as fans, might want to look in the mirror. When Mo Johnston suggested last week that the environment in Toronto could, at times, be difficult for some players to handle many fans, predictably, reacted defensively -- "how dare Mo blame us," was the rallying cry. That he didn't actually say that was beside the point. The truth is Toronto has a long and storied history of running players out of town, often with disastrous outcomes. With apologies for the hockey reference, let's call it the Larry Murphy Rule.
The LMR says that T.O.'s sports fans will hyper criticise skill players who fail to make an immediate impact, while simultaneously forgiving the failings of less skilled players that are "gritty." The fan will not let up on the skilled player until it becomes clear that the only option is to move him on to another city, where he will almost always go on to experience considerable success. The gritty player will retire with the team, become a community ambassador, and eventually star in a reality TV program that combines hockey and figure skating.
Or something like that anyway.
6 comments:
Cunningham was useless long before John Carver said what was on everybody's mind. This is on Cunningham who, for whatever reason, was in no way professional about his approach to the game.
Also, I don't think that the Larry Murphy Rule is necessarily unique to Toronto.
ok, so forget Cunningham..... Edson Buddle anyone? Not a headcase... goes 0 for 10 in Toronto.. then scores nearly a goal every 2 games for LA.
This was well said, Toronto fans are exactly like that. Read some of the blogs now, Amado gets criticized for not winning ebough games.
I believe this situation also happened to Diego Forlan at ManU. Many EPL teams supporters seem to be highly critical with skilled players as well, whereas the Italian supporters seem to defend them to a fault. Interesting stuff this.
The LMR says that T.O.'s ports fans will hyper criticise skill players who fail to make an immediate impact, while simultaneously forgiving the failings of less skilled players that are "gritty."
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I couldn't agree more. Can we have that engraved in stone somewhere?
I'd also note that the definition of "effort" seems to be selective. Guy runs around chasing lost causes and hustling on defense = great effort. While guy who works hard to make runs off the ball on offense and is smart enough not to be caught out of position (so he doesn't have to make mega runs to cover his own stupid mistakes) = lazy.
hey you little shit who commented on van. canucks jersey> Are you actually getting paid for this shit? Wtf with the wheel and a wing? Keep you frigging comments in your pockect until u have reason to complain. Your an ass.
Iv never heard a comment like your before on any jerseys I hope someone gets your address and delivers some wheels and what is it wings? wings on wheels? you suck dude go home and cry to your mommy shell listen to you
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