FC coach sends note to players on field

TORONTO — When Toronto Football Club substitute Tsubasa Endoh entered the game at Montreal’s Saputo Stadium in the 83rd minute last weekend, he ran on the field clutching a note.

The Japanese rookie ran straight to Italian striker Sebastian Giovinco to show him the contents. Montreal Impact defender Laurent Ciman, standing next to Giovinco, leaned in to have a look.

After sharing with Giovinco, Tsubasa ran over to give the note to Panamanian teammate Armando Cooper — ignoring referee Jair Marrufo, who reached out to take the paper, as he ran past. Cooper was studying the note when play resumed.

“How often do you see this,” offered the ESPN announcer. “How often do you see a substitute come on the field with a game plan from the coaching staff to show your star player?”

If you follow the Toronto Football Club, you’ve seen it before. Head coach Greg Vanney believes a note can literally keep everyone on the same page when he changes tactics.

On Sunday, Vanney’s note showed a tactical change. “I was losing my mind at how long it was taking for Tsubasa to get (the note) to the guys. I was going ‘What is taking so long,’” a smiling Vanney recalled Friday.

“It was just to make sure that we had some semblance of a shape and we understood what our roles and positions were so that it wasn’t just 10 guys running all over the place because it was a pretty attackminded group.”

It worked. Giovinco cross dropped to Altidore and then Ricketts, who put it away for the tying goal.

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