Carver and the MLSE

I never liked John Carver, and I let him know on the occasions I could get close to him, bellowing over a lukewarm beer that he'd long ago lost the plot, especially toward the end of last season. But Carver, like a few other stand-ins over at Toronto FC, was just another cog in the MLSE machine.

Let's tease out the name: Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment. Sport AND entertainment. When we've got one right, we'll move on to the other. Sorry Toronto FC fans for life, but Carver was never the Geordie messiah you made him out to be, and I know you worked long and hard on your In Carver we Trust banners last year. He was an adequate buy at the right time, for a man who'd never quite burst the dams open at his brief flirtation with power at Newcastle.

But anyone watching the final match of the Energy Drink Canadian Content Trophy/CONCACAF qualification round robin against Montreal last year will know the man was all bluster and no guile. Montreal, with arguably less individually skilled players, made Toronto look like a pub side with a chance at glory. Carver yelled at officials, yelled at opposition players, made pleasing noises to Toronto's press gatherings, but in the end seemed nothing more than "hoof and chaser" from the Allardyce school of basic long ball.

Duane Rollins over at venerable blog The 24th Minute reveals some intriguing information, that Carver didn't like MLSE management telling him what to do (something made apparent when Carver went apeshit on the official over the final penalty without bothering to go apeshit on himself for TFC's sloppy early two goal deficit).

But what's more interesting is Rollins' assertion from inside sources that assistant coach Chris Cummins and fitness coach Paul Winsper have told MLSE that unless Cummins gets the job, they'll both walk. And - depressingly, if not surprisingly - MLSE seem okay with it. Rollins quoted someone close to the team as saying, “Maybe he’s got it, who knows, but I’d be willing to give him the year.”

"Who knows"...the rallying call of disinterested. Sports AND entertainment. MLSE probably think they've supplied enough of the latter ("the atmosophere! "the atmosphere!") that they can safely ignore the former. Like Carver, Cummins will be another nice stand in. MLSE will have filled the position, season ticket sales and supportive banners proceed unabated.

"Who knows" indeed.