PRESS RELEASE
Toronto FC announced today that forward Ali Gerba has been asked to return to Toronto to continue his pre-season, while the team remains in Charleston, SC until Sunday, March 21.
“Ali’s performance this pre-season has not been up to our expectations,” said manager, director of soccer Mo Johnston. “We hold all our players to a high standard, and we think that the best thing for him is a few days away from the team. This will be addressed further when the team returns back to Toronto.”
The club has no further comment at this time.
Pro: he’s Canadian.
Con: he’s fat and lazy.
Well, I guess that’s it then…
gerba’s gotta lay off the doughnuts. Hopefully he gets his crap together as when he is on he is something fun to watch.
……Come on Ali, (to the tune of dexies midnight runners tune.)
Cue the record.
Man, I hate to rag on TFC before the season even begins, but so far the preseason (both on and off the field) has raised quite a few questions. Year 4 and it still feels like we’re in expansion. Well I guess we are, as we’ve only just now got a real grass football stadium.
Joe: Is there any true gauge of what the feeling is like between the players? I can’t imagine the team chemistry being high at the moment.
It is getting more bizarre every day.
Do we even have a full squad?
I agree, morale must be pretty terrible.
Who (besides Nick Garcia and Gabe Gala) could actually be liking the new management?
If management started making all the right decisions now, how long would it take TFC to turn around? Between cap problems and misguided acquisitions, it really seems like our hands will be tied for a while, to say nothing of management’s ability to cause new problems.
I’m not one to panic or play Chicken Little, but I’m starting to worry now.
I think this organization has been riding the popularity wave for far too long. They are guilty of resting on the fact that they have a loyal and rabid fan base. Why improve on a product that the masses will consume, regardless of the taste?
Slowly, the cracks in their foundation are becoming apparent, and I for one have lost all faith, along with most of my interest in this team.
If it weren’t for my season tix I wouldn’t give two Kaka’s about this craptastical wunderfuk.
I say we dedicate 2010 as the year of “THE STRIKE”. If the players go on strike I feel it would benefit all TFC fans as it will hold off the inevitable losing streak that this season will be. After watching the last game in Charleston I feel Mo should start scouting the OSL as there are many players in that league of amatuers that could walk on the current TFC roster.
On the other side of the coin, if the players settle there will no doubt be the TFC supporters calling for a strike of there own by mid season!
I also just stumbled opon something that is so entertaining that it must be shared!!!!
AS I WAS TYPING I WAS PUTTING IN “YEAR FOÙR` AND I MISTAKENLY HIT THE SHIFT KEY BEFORE I HIT THE NUMBER 4. IT TYPED…. YEAR $……. THAT SEEMS MORE IN LINE THE TFC FRONT OFFICE ANYWAYS.. AS LONG AS THE $ KEEPS COMING UP ALL IS WELL IN TFC LAND!!
As mentioned previously i dont think gerbas had a proper go of it being injured/out of shape last year and playing in a formation that doesnt flatter his style. It might be a good idea to give him a kick in the pants and let him stay the season then rid of him next.
I really think fan interest is going to wane this season. Despite the great support, I feel this season will be the quietest ever at “that bank Field”. You’ve felt the ‘die hards’ disappearing recently, maybe due to cost of a season ticket now. I still think my supporters section season seat is good value for “sports entertainment”, but not sure where the justification to increase fees comes from, as the league is capped and strict limits seem to be placed on teams. The MLS model seems to have worked since inception, but it’s outdated now. Some teams have real money to spend, as we all know MLSE does. They really need to watch themselves from here on in. Their arrogance shows with each passing, fruitless season!
it’s like brazilian ronaldo but gerba isnt even good to make up for the fatness
Sagnacious wrote:
I think this organization has been riding the popularity wave for far too long. They are guilty of resting on the fact that they have a loyal and rabid fan base. Why improve on a product that the masses will consume, regardless of the taste?
———————
From MLSE? The same people who own the Leafs? And the Raptors?
No, surely they wouldn’t take their fan base for granted by putting out a mediocre team that will not make the playoffs.
[sarcasm off]
This is just bizarre. Has Roberto Baggio been hired as Ali’s personal trainer in Toronto to help him improve to this “high standard” while the rest of the team plays together in Charleston?
Yeah this statement goes against itself. Ali, you’ve worked really hard, but results haven’t been up to par. Think about that at home and rejoin the team later. More likely, they are just saving him publicly because he’s been dogging it in training.
yet again TFC public relations = epic failure for anyone paying attention.
the season hasnt even started and i’m already disappointed.
remember when Coach Cummins ‘resigned’ and he stated good luck to 95% of the players and the other 5%, basically, go eat a big bag of cold shit…Gerba was one of those players that Cummins has a weighty sack saved for, the other i’m still assuming is Garcia, but could also be Serioux.
i agree nm i am already disappointed, but this is a change from the way i have felt before the starts of the last 2 seasons, i looked forward to them and they each ended poorly…perhaps it’ll be the opposite this season…meh prolly not
Toronto ’til i *sigh*
I’m not disappointed; frustrated, but optimistic is what I am. Don’t get me wrong, I think Mo and PR department are idiots. I think the way the Dichio, Robinson, Serioux, Guevara situations were handled is atrocious. And the turnover rate for TFC players is retarded. But, I’m interested to see how Preki remakes this team in his image. It seems that he’s calling the shots, he’s telling Mo what players will and won’t make the grade, and shipping out those who won’t (though I am concerned by the ongoing presence of Garcia). Once the CBA gets sorted out, it’ll be interesting to see who Preki brings in to replace those he’s jettisoned.
For once, I get the sense that there is a vision for TFC on the field–this is something that I’ve not seen before, and for this I think there is reason for optimism.