Sober Second Thoughts: 10 things for ‘10

It’s a bit cliché, sure, but the end of year is always a time for reflection. However, rather than look back, I want to look forward in the penultimate edition of Sober Second Thoughts for 2009.

The 10 things all Canadian and MLS football fans should hope for in 2010

10. A division two season. Doesn’t matter what it’s called

Yes, I know. The apologists want to shout down any suggestion that the new NASL is in any trouble, but the truth is that time is ticking. Northern North American professional soccer has seen this movie before and no one likes the way that it ends.

9. A TFC playoff berth

Non-Torontonians don’t want to admit what is painfully obvious – that TFC success equals increased exposure for the sport as a whole. Yes, it’s terribly unfair that one-thirdquarter of all Canadians, and the vast majority of the country’s media, live within a 2-hour of BMO Field, but it is what it is.

8. MLS labour peace

Obviously a work stoppage is not in anyone’s interest. Hopefully the hawks on either side of the conflict understand this and realize that compromise is in order. Sign a one year contract if that’s what it takes, but we need to have a full season in 2010.

7. Ten games for the Canadian men’s national team.

Canada needs to play and play often if it is to increase its exposure to Canadians. Increased exposure will mean increased scrutiny and increased scrutiny means increased pressure for change. You get enough of that and you might actually see some.

6. A World Cup without controversy or suspicion

With allegations of match fixing no longer possible to ignore, football fans need FIFA to do things to make us all comfortable that what we are seeing on the pitch is actually the result of competition, rather than a pre-determined outcome.

5. A Dutch breakthrough in South Africa

I hate to single out any one country, but if Holland were to be finally rewarded for years of playing positive football it would be good news to football fans the world over. It would give fans of small nations (only 17 million) hope and would be an antidote to recent wins by other, um, less positive winners. Brazil would be fine too, but a little too predictable to be entertaining.

4. A problem free tournament

The last thing Africa needs is stories of tourists robbed (or worse), ineffective transportation links, or just basic incompetence. This tournament is about building Africa, not reinforcing old stereotypes.

3. A full house at BMO in September cheering on Canada

Starting with the Black Wednesday game against Costa Rica and continuing through the Aug. 20, 2008 WCQ against Jamaica, the national team is starting to benefit from the inherent organization and culture of the TFC supporter’s groups. Canada needs to have more of a home advantage if it is to ever get back to the top of CONCACAF and the first step to getting that is to support the supporters in their efforts to make things difficult for opposing teams.

2. The Canadian women complete their transformation under Carolina Morace and qualify for the 2011 WWC in style

The women have a role to play in growing the sport in Canada, but to do so they first have to start playing the game the correct way. Under the previous leadership, the long-term advancement of the game was sacrificed for a few 8-0 wins over Bermuda. Canada has the talent to win a Women’s World Cup if it ever got the right combination of preparation and luck. And that would be, to say the least, huge.

1. Montreal officially gains entry into MLS

It’s thought to be a sure thing, but in MLS expansion there really isn’t any such thing. Getting a third team into MLS is the most important thing that can happen to Canadian soccer in 2010.