The simplest answer

It's time to give Bobby his due

Photo by Stefan Grage on Unsplash

The best  thing that The Simpson’s ever taught me was the concept of Occam’s razor. I might have heard the term prior to Lisa Simpson addressing the treehouse back in the mid-90s, but it was her succinct definition that stuck with me. 

The simplest explanation is probably the correct one. 

So, true, and vital in 2024 when everything is framed as a conspiracy. That’s something any American readers may want to consider tomorrow prior to heading to the polls, but this isn’t a politics post. I know I said things might be changing here soon, but I’m not about to jump into that mess. 

No, this is a post about Forge FC and Bobby Smyrniotis. 

As most reading this will know by now, Forge clinched its 6th consecutive trip to the CanPL final this weekend with a nervy 1-0 win over Atletico Ottawa. The win ended a bit of a spiral for Forge, which had lost three straight games heading into the semi-final, including the small final against Calgary a week prior.

 It hasn’t been pretty this year for the Hamilton team. They didn’t start strong, then got on a roll – riding Kwasi Poku’s hot hand [foot, he wasn’t allowed to use his hand -Edt] – before kind of puttering home – following the sale of Poku.

 Heading into the semi-final they also found themselves without Daniel Parra (suspension), Terran Campbell, Elimane Cisse and Victor Klonardiss (injury). Forge was a wounded animal. Ripe for the picking. Yet, they will be on a plane to Calgary to chase their 5th title in six years.

 Pretty good, eh?

 Too good, say many. To the skeptical CanPL fan, Forge’s success comes down to some kind of unstated advantage – the league is run by people from Hamilton, the logic goes, so they want Hamilton to win. Forge finds ways to “hide salary.”

 Something suspicious is going on, the critics claim. The speculations continue.. 
Here’s the thing, though: Occam’s razor.

Clearly, Forge are reverse vampires.

 Those born after about 2000 who are  reading this are going to have to trust me when I tell them, that’s a good joke. 

No, but seriously, Forge wins because they have the best structures and people in place to run them. Simple as. Cavalry also has an abundance of that stuff, which is why they are usually the second best team in the CanPL. If Tommy and company had a little more luck, things wouldn’t look as lopsided on the results side. They are the slight favourites Saturday, so maybe he’ll get a little of that good fortune.

Chief among that top personnel in Hamilton is Bobby himself. Arguably the best coach in North America who has never gotten a chance in either MLS or Liga MX – I’m making that argument right now – it’s a travesty that he’s never been given a serious look at a move up. That likely comes down to an unconscious bias against Canadian coaches (after all, what have we really accomplished as a footballing country), but whatever it is, it should change.

 I haven’t asked the man whether he wants that (although I have spoken to people close to him who say that he does), but every time some recycled MLS coach gets hired to replace the guy who will get hired the next time there’s an opening, is another lost opportunity for a team to take a swing and go for a Bobby who has done nothing but win. 

Of course, changing perceptions about the ability of a Canadian coach is ultimately outside of our control. It will take someone with vision and the willingness to take a risk to give Bobby a job at the next level.

 What’s totally in our control, however, is deciding the CanPL coach of the year. An award Bobby has never won.

Like, how is that even possible?

Unless, maybe, there’s a conspiracy to keep it from him! I might have to rethink that Occam’s razor thing, after all.

 But, seriously, give Bobby the award.