Yet, now, Toronto FC’s long throwing, quick marking right back has become a fan favourite. Chants of “Release the Gargan!” a reference to the film “Clash of the Titans” is gaining ground in the south stand. Dan Gargan symbolizes the Preki revolution which swept Toronto early on and is now being met with scorns and calls for heads, so typical of Toronto sports fans yet truly backed by solid, undeniable facts. That Dan Gargan was released by Colorado and was found in a USL side, which Toronto faced, shows upper management’s real ability to find players, or lack thereof. Pablo Vitti was found in the same manner. It’s not overly important where talent comes in from, but it certainly has its own story to tell as well. All the signs pointed for Dan Gargan to be a depth player at best, to be called on when the shiny new right back, who was supposed to be brought in soon by Mo Johnston, was unavailable. Yet that never came to fruition, just like most of Mo’s promised players. But that is another story for another day. It is Dan Gargan’s quick rise in stock, his typical journeyman adventure, which shows his true quality, and why Toronto FC fans, myself included, hold him to high regard.
Dan Gargan is no Dwayne De Rosario. He doesn’t score goals, doesn’t carry the team on his shoulders, doesn’t have those blistering, “Marvell”-ous runs which made Wynne so popular, and, as a personality, isn’t over the top or Antonio Cassano-like either. He is very ordinary. It is this normality which makes him relatable. Let’s be realistic, at one point, Toronto FC seemed like the Justice League; You had Marvell Wynne as the speedy Flash, Amado Guevara as the moody, often silent but deadly Batman, and even Adrian Serioux as the resident Superman, who, ironically, ended his career here due to “Neck Injury.” Sounds too much like Superman’s “accident” if you know what I mean. But wait, there’s two others in the justice league, you say? Well, Wonder Women is probably the Scott’s girl...and let’s be realistic, no one cares for the Green Lantern anyways.
What Dan Gargan is, is the idea of the real hero; the cop who takes down the bad guy, the fireman who rescues cats from trees, the mailman who delivers your season ticket package, the real guy! His normality, his ability to just get the job done, efficiently, consistently, with no fuss and no showing off, is a testament to Preki’s system. He's not the first Toronto athlete to win fans over with a nose to grind, all heart no talent approach. Just looking at the Leafs love of Darcy Tucker shows you don't have to score goals to win fans. By the same token, it’s not about winning the ball back by running like Usain Bolt and catching the attacker, it’s about preventing the attacker from even getting past you in the first place! Meeting Super Heroes in real life would probably end up disappointing us anyways, but Dan Gargan, the regular guy, the hard worker and efficient team player, never disappoints. The famous Galacticos Madrid line “Zidanes y Pavones” showed that, in order to be great, talents like Zidane must work with a strong base of hard working players, the "Pavones". Perhaps Preki doesn't see this. A team of Pavones is not going to work just like a team of Zidanes won't. You need that balance. Preki's approach is a step in the right direction but can easily become two steps backwards as well. However, Toronto FC has chased the Zidanes for too long. I say, bring on the Pavones!
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