AFTER straining my ligaments on Tuesday and facing a fight for fitness
for the game in Colorado Rapids away, I finally gave up as after the three-and-half-hour flight my ankle was like a balloon again.
This is always going to be a problem when carrying a small injury is that getting on the plane is the last thing you should do. But I wanted to give it to the last possible moment too see if I was able to take part in the match as this was our biggest game of the season to date.
After being told there was no chance for me to play it was important to be around the boys and help them as we have a very young squad.
The build up was not great, and I’ve got to mention one thing that happened on our way there. We left Toronto at about 1.30pm and after about 45 minutes of the journey the pilot came on and said that due to a hydraulic failure the plane would have to turn back to Toronto for safety reasons.
He said that there is three engines and the plane can fly on two of them so not to worry. Well to say that I was scared was an understatement. With every bump I held on to the seat in front and all the thoughts go through your mind.
I remembered that while flying with Wales we had to emergency land as well due to a cracked windscreen so had everything in my head.
Anyway we arrived safely back in Toronto and then had to get back on the same plane nearly two hours later which was not a good feeling, believe me. Anyway we got there, and were ready for the game.
We started slowly and after a few scares when they could have scored they got a penalty due to a handball. Our old player Conor Casey stepped up and hit the crossbar- we had a let off.
As the first half went on we struggled to get anything going and overall we were poor. But we were still level and could not get any worse.
As the second half started we gave away a bad goal as Casey headed in a cracking header after 55 minutes as we went behind. We then huffed and puffed and struggled to get a grip on the game as we went down to nine men with the sendings off of young Amado Sanyang and Adrian Serioux for fouls.
So to top a bad night off we not only lost valuable points in the play-off race but we also lost two players who will miss the next game - and we do not have the biggest squad anyway.
As I speak I think that my buddy Danny Dichio is set to announce his retirement and move into a coaching role for Toronto. While delighted for him, it must be strange moving onto the staff side, and one thing’s for sure I am going to give him a lot of stick, although he now can make me do anything and I can’t argue!
Also I think we are set to sign Julian de Guzman as our designated player. Julian is one of the best Canadian players at the moment and it is a great signing for the club and franchise.
Who knows who will have to move on if anyone - but that’s the way football is over here and you can get traded against your will if they decide they do not want you anymore.
Sadly for me I am currently on my own over here as Laura and the kids have gone back to the UK. Her sister Kate is having twins to add to her already lovely family.
This week is international week and I have seen my pal Jason Koumas
retire from the fold. Now I believe that this is a major loss for Wales as Jase is a fabulous player. Everyone has their own reasons and whether right or wrong you must respect them.
I hope that Wales managed to get a positive result against Russia and get people off Tosh’s back as he is without doubt the right man for the job.