Have you been offline for the past few days, or just been living under a rock? Chances are not...but if you've been caught a little unawares of what's been going on with the whole Paul Mariner-to-Ryan Nelsen TFC coaching carousel saga, do it through the eyes of your fellow supporters and football watchers, through our Storify!
[View the story "Ryan Nelsen, Toronto FC Coach: Storify'd" on Storify ]Ryan Nelsen, Toronto FC Coach: Storify'd
It's been a tumultuous few days in TFC-land (and here at the WTR offices), but we've managed to capture some of the best Tweets and Facebook content from the last few days as Toronto shoved Paul Mariner out the door, and gambled (and may have forgotten to check) on Ryan Nelsen.
Storified by Johannes Langer · Wed, Jan 09 2013 13:02:05
The rumblings of Nelsen taking some sort of coaching role with TFC had been rumoured for many days, but it wasn't until about Monday afternoon that the word started going around that Mariner's days were numbered at BMO Field...
On scouting trip to UK in mid Dec, Paul Mariner was asked by Harry Redknapp about Omar Gonzalez " because I might need a Def soon" #TFCAdrian Healey
Press conference set for tomorrow at 10:30 a.m. and the rumour is, Paul Mariner will not be in attendance. #TFC #MLSArmen Bedakian
Looks like Paul Mariner could be getting the bullet as coach at Toronto FC to be replaced by Ryan Nelsen.Brian Ellis
When we in'vued #TFC's Kevin Payne in Dec. he said "Paul Mariner is the coach", not "Paul Mariner will be the coach". We took note of that.Gerry Dobson
And then, the shoe drops...
#TFC make it official, Paul Mariner is out as Head Coach, and has left the club.James Sharman
Reaction was fast and swift, but many were left scratching their heads....
Glad TFC fired the blowhard in Paul Mariner, opting to bring in a quality person like QPR's Ryan Nelsen.Anthony Lopopolo
Paul Mariner fired from #TFC ....... Lets throw a Paul Mariner going away party! Everyone's invited! Except for Paul. Its not that I dont like him, but there's a dress code #tfcNIcholas Henry
Good riddance Paul "Professor No-Pants" Mariner, you fucking dunce. Good move by TFC today.Iain Jones
@KurtLarSUN Paul Mariner got a fair shake as he inherited a team he build for Winter! @NDaso4 and @chriscummins18 on the other hand didn't!Luca Sirianni
I'm not the least bit surprised that Paul Mariner got that axe. And if anyone is wondering why TFC went with Ryan Nelsen as his replacement, they should consider the likelihood that most experienced MLS managers probably don't want anything to do with this club. At least until Kevin Payne can show he's erased all traces of the previous executive regime.Craig Leslie
That's probably the biggest "fuck you" Paul Mariner will ever receive in his life. I can imagine the conversation.Trevor Brady
Why the hell are they firing Paul Mariner?Temi
#TFC firing Paul Mariner makes no sense to me. Count 1 fan who won't be renewing their season tickets. Again. #MLSJoel Mrak
Kinda feel sorry for TFC's Paul Mariner. The axe took off the head but it's the body that was bad. Ok, bad metaphor. But you get it.Mathew McCarthy
I'm still shaking my Head at this Toronto FC debacle. You would have thought the Club would have given Paul Mariner 1 Season uninterrupted?Tom Byer
As this exclusive photo shows, Paul Mariner has been left shocked by his exit from #TFC http://pic.twitter.com/YDeOBksuJames Bigg
#TFC has a great caliber coach in Paul Mariner pretty much chomping at the bit to coach in #MLS and they pick Nelsen? Is kraft in charge?James Perry
If I was Paul Mariner I would be very annoyed right now. #TFCLive #TorontoFCOomph and Snazz
Even former Mayors decided to weigh in:
@UrbanPolicyPlnr It all went sideways after Carver quit. I respect and like both Aron Winter and Paul Mariner. Its tough.iamdavidmiller
But some bloggers were quick to point out that really, the writing was on the wall for the Englishman...one just had to tell apart the forest from the trees.
Tough news for Paul Mariner, who I was interested to see run 2013 MLS Draft for TFC. You had to know he was in trouble once Payne was hiredIves Galarcep
If you want a second opinion, here is what Ben Rycroft wrote. Was this just an excuse to get rid of Paul Mariner? - the same Paul Mariner who was "involved in a spat with supporters where he challenged a number of them to a fight following a game"; or his "publicly dressing down a player at a team social event"; or who "celebrated wildly by high-fiving members of the staff after Aron Winter was fired".Bruce Henderson
@jgauseofficial Paul Mariner crossed the line when he blew up at fans last year. We knew he was toast then.MLS Rumors
Paul Mariner was never lasting at #TFC under a new regime. Spells trouble for a certain striker who was signed before Kevin Payne's hiring.Peter Schaad
Wishing Paul Mariner all the best but his shenanigans on the #TFC touchline were a joke. @thekneeguy @JohnMolinaro @sportsactivatedBruno Scanga
Some fans sort of felt bad for him...or not. You decide.
I feel horrible for two people here: Paul Mariner, and Ryan Nelsen. I think the latter is going to get the worst of it. #TFCLivej_real
That sound you hear is the gentle skin on skin kiss of Kevin Payne tea bagging Paul Mariner.Jared DuBois
But there were some who were willing to part kind words on him as he departed. Were they from Toronto? Maybe...but at least there were some.
So it's goodbye to Paul Mariner @torontofc He was handed an almost impossible task which he did professionally & with good grace. Bon voyageGraeme Mew
And with all the sobby boo-hoo teary tweets out of the way, it was time to speculate where he would be off to.
So Paul Mariner is available? He seems pretty good.Side Real
I'm going to be interested to see if Paul Mariner gets another job somewhere else. #TFCVictor Carneiro
If I were an MLS team I'd hire Paul Mariner to consult on upcoming draft, and not just for the awkwardness it could produce at Combine+DraftIves Galarcep
...some also didn't forget the other dismissal of the day.
Also, man, that Paul Mariner news really over shadowed the Bob de Kerk news. I am current angry with #TFC right now.Sonja Missio
With all the goodbyes to Paul Mariner flowing like Gatorade on the sidelines, focus on the Twitterverse then turned to his replacement, from three places:
Two stories you don't see everyday coming from #QPR: Kieran Dyer's comeback shot down (released) and Ryan Nelsen saying "f**k it" (coaching)Mark Ryan
no Ryan Nelsen we need uHeskey: scaring the shit out of the A-league since 21/9/12
This Ryan Nelsen news is weird. So there is a guy in Toronto who thinks Nelsen is the man for the job and no one else could do it?Aayush Sidd
Top move for Ryan Nelsen but gutted that we’re likely to lose him for the buildup to 2014. Good thing there’s so much talent coming throughJay Harvie
“@torontofc: Ryan Nelsen named head coach of #TorontoFC. "Dawn of a new era," says Kevin Payne. #TFCLive" <-- another new era...Jeremy St.Louis
Mark my words, Ryan Nelsen will lead TFC to the playoffs. I couldn't five a shit how he does it nor the politics behind itToronto Gooner
Ryan Nelsen's off to Toronto FC to take up the manager's position. QPR are going to miss him; a key player for their squad.Ryan Hunter
Back in the day, Ryan Nelsen was The Man for D.C. United. I'm glad to see he has a future as a head coach now that he no longer plays! #MLSSchalke USA
Good luck to Ryan Nelsen as the coach of Toronto. A top defender and Very Underrated. Glad we had him at Tottenham. QPR will miss him.Adam Johnson
Ryan Nelsen was one of the most underrated defenders in the EPL. He caused it though, I think he holds the record of the most own goals.Abeeb 聖徒 Ola ™
Also QPR have lost Ryan Nelsen who's their best player today. He's gone to become a manager, just shows what a shit club QPR isTom Paterson
Congrats to Ryan Nelsen. Big decision, brave move, and hopefully a successful one. #torontofcMichelle Pickles
Ryan Nelsen is a complete wasteman for leaving QPR to go manage TFC.Peter Griffin
@dust_particle @OfficialQPR “Ryan Nelsen will play for QPR vs Spurs on Sat. despite planning his exit to manage Toronto.” He’s 35 & awful!Spinell
So Ryan Nelsen is a manager now? Best of luck to him but as a QPR fan it is very disappointing to have the Captain and best defender go...Broadcasting Because
"Next we'll hear from Ryan Nelsen on why he's swapping QPR for the MLS." Erm, for the same reason anybody swaps QPR for anythingLiam Ashton
How would #ALeague fans feel if someone like Ryan Nelsen took over as head coach? Zero coaching experience #MLSMichael Huguenin
And then, came the kicker that the new coach may not be available immediately as his old team tries to fight relegation...oops?
There is confusion as to when Ryan Nelsen will take over Toronto. Despite being unveiled as head coach, he is still under contract at QPR.Outside of the Boot
There are many aspects I like about Ryan Nelsen as the manager...I just don't understand why now if he won't be starting nowMichael Przybylowski
Can somebody get Ryan Nelsen a copy of the OSA Community Coach course schedule please?!?! And make it snappy Oh #TFC how you continue to slap your fans in the faceOmar Jbaihi
Toronto FC have excuse for 2013 lined up already. We'll be out of the playoffs by June and saying well, Ryan Nelsen hasn't had a full seasonScott Ferguson
Is Ryan Nelsen that great a coaching prospect that Toronto FC needed to hire him while he still remains a QPR player?ESKA
Hearing that Ryan Nelsen expects to be in Toronto in March. Not sure if that means 1st or 31st.TheSoccerObserver
Looks like Kevin Payne is creating a second tier dc united dynasty up in Toronto with the hiring of Ryan Nelsen..Anthony Souphida
And what banter in the Twitterverse about TFC's coaching carousel would be complete without the speculation of future actions?
Would Ryan Nelsen bring any Kiwis to Toronto? Gavin Wilkinson certainly did in Portland..Phillip Rollo
But mostly, there was just a lot of confusion...again.
ryan nelsen is tfc's new coach? what...who...how does this... ???????????????????????z
Is Ryan Nelsen that great a coaching prospect that Toronto FC needed to hire him while he still remains a QPR player? Unfortunately, the answer won't come quickly, writes Rudi Schuller.Adelakun Johnson Adebare
Hiring Ryan Nelsen as #TFC coach is like hiring Don Cherry to play for the #Leafs, does he know hockey? Yes. Can he play? No. #TorontoToronto Problems
Kevin Payne has more faith in Skype running this team than Paul Mariner. #TFC #TFCLiveBobby Brasz
Ryan Nelsen obviously learnt alot from Allardyce and Hughes. Start with no goals conceded and work from there. Could be a good manager.Steven Pratt
So Toronto FC is hiring Ryan Nelsen, a current QPR player, as the new head coach...I don't even know what to think or feel about this...#TFCJen Schut
Ryan Nelsen the new manager of Toronto!? First manager still playing in a different league. Also better than any of his team. #bizarreSean Fyffe
Ryan Nelsen could be sold by QPR, making him the first coach to be sold to another club before even coaching the team he’s the coach of.Duncan Fletcher
(Can't say I disagree what the above guy said...)
Oh, and did we mention that it's spelled "NelSEN?" Yeah, hello Canadian Press Stylebook (sorry, journalist in-joke, couldn't resist.)
I'm guessing Ryan Nelsen will be the most misspelled name in MLS this year.Russell Berrisford
Some were willing to give it a bit of time...
Waiting for the moment Ryan Nelsen realizes what he got into and puts himself in his own starting 11... @torontofc #go #whitecaps #madnessAlex Grabowski
Stop! East Side Stand Up time!
Eastsidestandup
And how could we forget the tweets about Nelsen's right hand man, Fran O'Leary?
Wait...Fran O'Leary coached in Division III????? Good, God this just gets better.Duane Rollins
#TFC karma: Fran O'Leary will lead club to unbeaten streak through May. Nelsen will arrive to usher in 14 game losing streak.The Yorkies
“I just completed my pro license 48 hours ago” New @torontofc assistant coach Fran O’Leary. Gonna be another long year! #tfcGraham Rowlands
So if Fran O'Leary is the interm guy while Nelsen is at QPR, does that mean we can say TFC has had 9 head coaches in 7 years?Michael Przybylowski
Funniest (if least likely) possible outcome for the situation: #TFC goes 11-0 under interim coach Fran O'Leary, lets Nelsen just stay at QPRMark Polishuk
Fran O'Leary crashed burned twice in NCAA D1.Hence why he's coaching Div3, now coaching #TFC in #MLS. Remember, 1 step forward, 2 steps backAnother Torontonian
Of course, who can forget the view from the Columbus peanut gallery?
Ryan Nelsen he got not one but two of the worst teams in Soccer to write him checks and at the same time. #TFC #MLS #Crew96Patrick
Great move by @torontofc & K.P bringing in Ryan Nelsen. A born leader & has a wealth of soccer knowledge/experience. Congrats Ryan & #TFCDuncan Oughton
And the peanut gallery from elsewhere.
I highly doubt Ryan Nelsen will make an impact on Toronto FC.. Nothing in this earth can make an impact on TFCCorey Marques
Another option: #DCU announces that Ryan Nelsen has been loaned to United ahead of his transfer as a coach to #TFC. Right.Pablo Maurer
That's some of the best I've found so far -- stay tuned to this as the story develops, and we will update it with more of your tweets!
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