The week had been a pretty low key affair as there was not much to play for except one last chance to impress the manager and win a contract for next year, but we wanted to finish the season on a high.

This time of the year now becomes very important as players come and go, trades happen everywhere, draft picks come into play, as teams survey what is needed to improve next year to take them to the next level.

There have been all sorts of whispers about players needed and coming here, but as you know until anything is signed, nothing is guaranteed.

I believe a key piece in Toronto will be a goalscorer and a designated player.

This might be the same player or two different ones, but if we can find a 15-20 goal a season man this will be a massive help. Secondly the 'dp' signing would be big, for this second season club, and someone the fans would warm to.

And so to the game. We flew out to San Francisco on Thursday as with the time change of three hours we had to try and get our body clocks right in preparation.

On Friday we done a light training session, as we did on Saturday, the morning before the game.

It was my first time in San Jose, and after hearing a lot about it from Ronnie O'Brien and Darren Huckerby what they had told me was true. The sun was still out in late October, in fact it was about 22 degrees here, and when we got word of the snow in Toronto, it made me chuckle.

The game picked up pace towards half time. They had the edge and created a few chances without really threatening but we looked dangerous on the break.

We tried to pick up the tempo at half time, but conceded a very soft goal from a corner, a free header and we were a goal down.

We then started getting into a rhythm without any end product, but were also very vulnerable on the break. We had a few half chances but did not take any, and then gave away a 90th-minute penalty.

We had lost 2-0. I heard we got outshot by 15 to four, but the goal in the last minute just about summed up our season.

As we gathered our thoughts in the changing room, the manager said to us. 'Do you want to get to the next level? If so then great, get on board, if not then maybe it's time too move on. You have to strive to be better, you have to learn something everyday, you have to improve everyday, and finally you have to be willing to train hard. You get nothing in life for free, and everything you get,you must earn.'

While being in San Jose I was talking to my family back home – as they were getting up in the morning, I was just getting my head down, which I found very weird.

After getting back from our five-hour journey from San Francisco it has been pretty hectic for me, packing up and moving out of my apartment in preparation to fly home on Wednesday.

It will great to see the kids every day, and I'll get to enjoy Christmas and new year with all the family. It is still hard to believe the season is over for another year.

I've now been here for two years, and thoroughly enjoyed every minute. It has been a great city to live in, the people are great and very warm, and the most important thing is that they are so into their sport here. They love soccer, so settling in has been easy.

I have to admit I find winters very cold here, as I'm not used of them, but I'll be in the 'sunny UK then.

During the off season I will keep fit, but first I'll have a long rest, then I'll get into long running and strength work before joining up to do some football. I have some good contacts in the UK to train, so that will be good option for me too.

It's important that you keep fit, and tick over as you then won't find it hard to get back to the levels where you were before you left.
In between all this I am doing my next stage of my coaching badges, as well as some tv and radio work over here.

So to say I'll have a rest......... with all this going on as well as two kids running about, for some reason I highly doubt it!!!