Three wins. Two blown leads. The entire head coaching resume of Mo Johnston spans those five games, the five must-win games at the end of this season. Is that enough to warrant him keeping the MetroStars job? Yes, and it goes beyond the results.

Johnston knows Major League Soccer; he played in the league from its inception, captained Kansas City to the 2000 MLS Cup, and spent the last three years apprenticing under Bob Bradley. He knows the nuances of MLS, he knows the salary cap, he knows the history of high-profile foreign failures and low-profile foreign successes.

Johnston knows the Metro roster; for all its faults, this was not a bad team last year, and does not need a major overhaul, which would be impossible to conduct anyway. Oh yes, some new blood is needed and some old blood must be jettisoned, so who better than Mo, who has been with some of these players for three years, to decide on their value?

Johnston knows soccer; he has been through it all is a player, through the high pressures of Europe to the circus of the early MLS. He won on every level; his name is one known -- and respected -- around the world. He also has numerous connections throughout the globe and could use them to obtain quality international players.

Johnston is passionate; the man wears his heart on his sleeve, and will do whatever is in his power to bring this team and its fans a championship it so deserves.

And... there is no one else who is better. Frank Yallop? A good choice, but seems content with coaching Canada. Dominic Kinnear? Two MLS seasons, one of them under .500, and no playoff series wins. John Harkes? Don't make us laugh. A high-profile foreign coach such as Kevin Keegan? Why not just say "Carlos Alberto Parreira"?

So give Mo the job, Alexi. Give Mo the chance to build on this year. Give Metro a chance to succeed.