Q & A with TFC Bill Manning and Tim Bezbatchenko in The West Club at BMO Field on Saturday October 6th, 2018 that started at about 2:30pm.
Gareth Wheeler was the MC
mp3 File...Audio transcript of Bill Manning and Tim Bezbatchenko Q & A...46 minutes, 11 seconds
approximate times below about when specific questions were answered: 0 min injury explanations by Bill M 14 min the state of the field this season by Bill M 18 min status of the Inebriatti by Bill M 22 min the contracts of the players, renegotiations, and bonuses by Tim B 28 min ticket price increases by Bill M Questions from the fans in attendance: 32 min Lukas Janson and disruptions of players coming and going 36 min Canadians being pushed down the roster (that question was asked by me!)* 40 min what Bill M and Tim B are most excited and worried about for next year 42 min another grass question mentioning the Argos 44 min goodbyes * the comments on the wristband I was wearing are because before the meeting came to order I mentioned how the wristbands we were given at the door to get in here were olive green, the same colour as York 9 FC As the crowd of maybe 50 (why so few?) was breaking up from the West Club Bill Manning came over to me, I was in the front table so I could hear everything without being distracted, I shook his hand. I said there was something I wanted to thank him for. I mentioned the time earlier this year (July 1st against Charleston Battery) when on the hottest day of the year an usherette had offered that we east side stand fans could sit in the west side where the shade was covering that side of the field. A great idea as we were baking in the sun and squinting as the sun was shining in our eyes. A group of us made our way over and I had just sat down when this usher on that side announced he we all had to go to the east side to watch the game (that's the usual procedure). It was some old guy who I immediately thought looked and sounded like the TV character Fred Mertz (neighbour/landlord) from the “I Love Lucy” show. I certainly didn't feel like moving yet again but Manning stood up above us from his box suite seat and yelled down “Let them stay!”. It was like Charleston Heston in his church inspired movies. The Fred Mertz usher shook his head and babbled something and backed off. Manning remembered that day and said that not all the ushers were MLSE staff and he knew how hot the day was so made that proclamation. I also said I wanted to mention the TFC II game I'd seen the night before at Lamport Stadium. It was a crowd of only 128. When they were up at Ontario Soccer Centre they averaged between 700 to 1000. I said there were about 40 of those last night cheering for the visitors, either travelling to see the team or relatives and friends of Pickering goalie Greg Ranjitsingh (a graduate of Sigma FC's academy). What bothered me is that the entire Louisville team came over to the fan side of the field after the game to say thank you to their supporters while for TFC they had maybe six or seven made their way over. Now that is understandable after a loss but this was the final home game of the season for TFC and I think they owed it to their fans (the other 80 of us there) to do better. I remember the bad years of the MLS team the players would walk around the field after the home finale with a 'Thank you fans' banner which I started to recognize after its annual appearance. Goals scorer Perruzza was an exception as he was over running over to greet one group of us and then another maybe 20 yards downfield. Manning said they think highly of Perruzza. Manning said the players were clearly frustrated. He then gave a story of how Wil Johnson who played for his Real Salt Lake team at the time had brushed off a fan who then complained to him and he questioned him (something like) 'Would you rather he said hello or be upset and determined to win so he can be better next time?' Manning said the fan chose he'd rather win. Manning also told me that TFC II are moving next year to the BMO Training Ground (in Downsview) to play next year at a soon to be constructed 1200 seat stadium. Hmm that could be a reason for what I call 'self relegating' themselves as the USL League One standards aren't so strict about 5000 seat minimums and their mostly teenage players won't be beaten so often next year. He also knew that there would be a lot more traveling next year (yeah with so few teams, they'll have to go to Arizona about three times to make up the schedule of currently on eight teams). Manning told me when he came to TFC he was shocked to find the Academy system was devoid of "93s to 97s" but he heard of all the turmoil through those early years. [Now wouldn't you know as soon as the game started the first Vancouver goal was scored by Niagara Falls Ontario's own Russell Teibert at the 3 minute mark who was born in 1992 and was with the TFCA in 2008!] TFC were down to Jonathan Osorio as a starter and two Canadians on the bench Ashtone Morgan and Jay Chapman in Saturday's game. The Canadians are no longer even making the bench. My question was meant to stress that the league will be increasing the salary cap for Mr. GAM and Mr. TAM so teams can get more foreigners. Notice how it was Wheeler who cut in "Do you want to win? (or play Canadians)". Also there will be a 'young players fund' of $3 million to pay for young players--U22s (and you can bet that will be for more foreigners). You can also bet if the Americans have trouble qualifying in the next WC cycle, MLS will be obliged to increase the quota of American players on American teams and snap it will be done! I will say TFC has never been cheap in financing their Academy system. It's just they are not obliged to force them into the main team. Rocket Robin robing@eol.ca twitter @RocketRobin01
back to TFC 2018 news and results
.
.