Kristian Jack’s exclusive interview with Ali Gerba
Posted by Joe Ross under Toronto FC on Apr 19, 2010
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It sounds like between Mo & Preki we have a real issue at TFC. Sure, it’s one guys words but they way the team is currently playing with little hart and even less tactics it only adds weight to what Gerba has said.
True. Sounds like quite a condemnation of the GM/coach. Just wish it wasn’t from someone with such a dysfunctional past at so many clubs.
Gerba really wasn’t given the chance he deserved, hope he gets picked up.
Gerba gives MLSE a free pass in the interview.. but nice to hear him speak honestly about things. Not sure about the Preki criticism, as Preki has achieved far more in MLS than most (including Gerba).
First off good work KJ on getting Ali’s story (in english) on record. Top class reporting. We need more of this around TFC.
I think whether or not you believe that Ali Gerba was going to be an integral part of TFC, the way he speaks out against the Mo Johnston regime is just damning. It’s got to be the strongest indictment of Mo Johnston yet, as we, as fans can complain all we want, but when players start voicing their discontent… that’s a bad, bad sign.
Sounds to me like our leadership at TFC isn’t exactly loaded with professionalism. How are you going to convince guys to come/stay when you treat people like that?
Given the history and state of things with TFC, there has to be some truth to the negative stories.
We Celtic knew things weren’t right with MJ way back…. and most Rangers feel the same…
Preki, even with the players we have you should be able to get more of a structured game than we’ve seen….
MLSE… Anselme… seen it so many times in work places where management afraid of confrontation avoid dealing with the poisonous staff… they need to rid TFC of Mo and get a fresh start. C’mon, lets do it and move on.
75 players have already worn the TFC jersey? Incredible.
Good interview but I would love to hear the answers if the same questions were posed to Wynne and/or Robbo. Gerba never really broke through in Toronto but Wynne and Robbo were starters and ahve both made seamless entries into their new teams. I’m definately not sold on Preki and although I have been a fan of Mo through the early part of TFC there would seem to be some sort of alternate agenda which doen’t include TFC keeping it’s best players! Time will tell but of the 4 seasons started so far I am least confident about the current one Hope I’m proved wrong.
Kritan Jack. GREAT JOB! COngrats. I would be really helpful to hear past players/coaches experience with TFC and their take on what is the problem with TFC’s lack of success.
If you could get an input from Serioux, Robbo, Carver or CUmmins. That would be amasing!
Keep up the good work.
Major props to KJ for this interview. I mean, everyone following this team has known for years that something is up with Mo and his coaching staff. I’m surprised it took THIS LONG for any news outlet to pick up on something like this and run with it. I’m glad KJ and the rest of the group here at Footy Blog has the balls to ask these legitimate questions and really push the envelope on the mess that is our TFC.
echoes my thoughts and the thoughts of almost all fans of the club. johnston has the iq of an unborn squirel, he does not know how to manage a club, does not know the definitions of respect, leadership and accountability. the man is a complete fraud as Ali explains and toronto will not win anything with him at the helm. i mean 75 players at the club already? that turn over is an embarrasment to soccer aroudn the world. and how do you explain players that leave toronto suddenly excel ie, edson buddle and cunningham, there is no coincidence there.
honestly, watchign this team perform on the field is worse then watching paint dry. its not mls as a whole, it is simply tfc that are embarassing the league with their poorness
Uh oh, now Brennan is gonna know that KJ’s “reliable source” was Gerba
This TFC squad is worse than 2007. sad
good interview, too bad hes played for a dozen different teams in the last 12 years (or whatever it is). Its all something we recognize as problematic (Mo) but itd be nice to hear from a more reliable source…
We Knew All this shit already :D
But gooooodjobb KD bring the Pressure
Does TFC have any former players (it hasn’t nepotized into management) that will say good things about this club?
Johnston is just a perpetual embarrassment. For once i have a good feeling that the end is near though.
Well done KJ.
I only have a few requests:
It would be wonderful if another could corroborate what we already suspected. The things Ali G says are definitely believable, but the recrimination that he’s both a many-club man (14 in 10 years?) and disgruntled former employee work against him.
Similarly, it would be awesome to hear from some of Ali’s former bosses. Once again, with so many clubs in so many years, it would be interesting to hear if others agree about his “I don’t make no trouble” stance, or if they’d refute it.
Judging by the internet response, this has the potential to get the ball rolling on meaningful change at TFC. But without something to ad to the momentum, it could just as easily peter out. Got keep this moving forward!
SB
Why are the dumbasses at SCORE the ONLY site on the internet using some halfassed video service?
EVERY sports video site ESPN, TSN, and so on are viewable on the net except SCORE.
It took TSN years to get it right but they did a few years back.
SCORE still cant figure shit out.
Great interview Kristian Jack!
The team should be held accountable for the way it treats players. How can we expect to attract future talent when the bozo’s in the front office don’t treat players with respect. Rohan Rickett’s, Danny Dichio, Carl Robinson, Brian Edwards, Gregg Sutton, even Eskandarian… None of them in my opinion were handled with any sort of care when being dismissed from the team. Whats going on… I think the time is coming for the supporters to band together and truly show the team who is paying these guys and how WE want them treated and how WE want Toronto to be perceived.
Why would anyone want to play in Toronto after seeing what has happened to players here in the past?
I have to congrat KJ on his Interview, very well done.
As far as has anyone else ever said anything about TFC and the management, I believe that Jim Brennan and Carl Robinson, hinted at some problems with management might have been the reason for their own departure from the team.
Craig Forrest, said about Jim Brennan joining Mo as his assistant,”…It’s a questionable move to align himself with someone who might not be there at the end of the season,” and if he had any advice to Jim Brennan, it was ” …to carve his own place within the team, that is helpful”.
I think Ali Gerba will end up in Montreal sooner rather than later and will be a good signing for the future.
Cunningham, Buddle, Casey, Nagamura, Marshall, Wynne, Phelan and Dunivant are all guys who didnt get a chance on this team but seemed to play well for other teams. Ali brought up a good point about management having confidence and supporting a player. One has to wonder if Cunningham and Buddle had a little more support when they were going through their rough patch, maybe they would have started scoring for us. Also Dunivant and Marshall seem to be doing just fine defensively for other teams. Makes you wonder wtf they are doing down at BMO
Well done and keep the pressure on the clowns running the soccer side of TFC. TFC fans need more members of the media willing to call both sides, unlike the puppets at GOL TV.
I am truly finding it difficult to support this club and not because of the poor quality of the team and the reality that will be a record 4th straight “playoff-less” year (I’m a Toronto sports fan afterall), but rather because of the way they appear to do business on the soccer side is not something I can feel proud to support for much longer.
Its sad to see the likes of Brennan, Dichio and others humbled and silenced by the power of the almighty buck dangled by MoJo and the corporation. Integrity and honesty is obviously something that TFC is lacking, and something I can’t stand for as a fan!!!
I love the media that your club gets, but im glad i dont have your gm. He makes Doyle look like jerry west
@OMY, Muckraker
How is Gerba less credible or have a dysfunctional past because of having played at so many clubs? It’s normal for someone with his level of talent. Saric already has 10 clubs to his resume and Usanov is on pace for double digits at only 25 years old. Their attitude is apparently good enough for Preki.
For Gerba it’s less credible as his reason for “leaving” so many teams is not due to others wanting his talent but because of friction and conflict. His talent is what got him picked up again and again.
I don’t know Gerba as a person, just the public persona and that is all he can be judged on. As it makes sense in the context of what has gone on at this club I mostly believe what he says but would like it backed up by someone else in his case.
Hey Kristian,
after today’s house cleaning at BMO Field, what do you think about Ali’s comments now?