Saturday, November 21, 2009

Rebuilding the Whitecaps

This off-season the Whitecaps will need to rebuild the team in a few key places. Luckily, they've already started:

They just announced the signing of one of the best midfielders in the league, Ricardo Sanchez. Sanchez played for the Minnesota Thunder last season, and was named in the USL-1 All-League First Team. He scored 7 goals and had 8 assists, most in the league (tied with Wes Knight). Apparently he's a set-piece specialist, which we don't really have (Martin Nash only half-counts).

I see him, Nash, Kenold Versailles and Gordon Chin as our starting central midfielders, depending on the opponent and injuries. We desperately lacked creativity in the midfield when Nash was injured or in a funk, and while Chin provides energy and Versailles solidity, we need someone who can pick out a pass, loft the ball over to a wing, etc. I'm pretty excited about this signing.

We also picked up a Canadian international (I know, not the highest honour), Chris Williams, a right-sided defender/midfielder. This is probably a straight replacement for the released Lyle Martin. Williams, who featured prominently in the Canadian U-23 and U-21 teams, played for the Charleston Battery last year, making 31 appearances.

Charles fights (poor choice of words?) with DeRo in the Canadian Nutrilite Championship

In other news, black sheep Wesley Charles is training with the team. There is a good piece on his trials and tribulations in the Province, laying out his struggles with depression and discipline (you'll recall he was let go last season for getting into a fight on field and acting too aggressive in training). But he's back, and I'm hopeful that he has worked through his issues and will provide the stability at the back that we lacked last year. He's fast, strong, and commanding. Hopefully he can gel with Pejic, Pozniak and Bellisomo in training, and we'll offer him a contract.

And on the downside: USL Rookie of the Year Marcus Haber is thinking of leaving the club to pursue his goals elsewhere. Haber was a revelation last season, finishing with 9 goals (and 3 more in the play-offs), and generally looking dangerous. He's so fast with the ball and has a nose for goal. We'll miss him if he goes, and would be left with only Marlon James and Randy Edwini-Bonsu as starting strikers (and that's being generous to my man Edwini-Bonsu).

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Commentary hurts my ears: Real Salt Lake beat Chicago Fire


The other day I watched the MLS East semi-final between Real Salt Lake (spits on ground: worst contrived name ever) and Chicago Fire on ESPN or Fox Soccer Channel. RSL won 5-4 on penalties, contrary to this MLS headline: RSL buries Fire. A lively but disjointed match, certainly not a great advertisement for MLS. What stood out for me, though, was the commentary. Here is a list of comments that highlight, for me, why American and Canadian footie commentary duos need a Brit for credibility:

"...to handle the "flyers" from Salt Lake."
"...that enforcer type, that will pick the fights for his teammates that can't."
"...to get out of difficult (pause) phases of the game."
"...flying in to become an option here."
"...when they're relaying into the centre."
"...two 50-50 balls featuring Will Johnson."
"...it's going to be an elevated second half."
"...double-digit touches here."
"...the New England team was very very altered by what they could do."
"...every minute starts to magnify here."
"John Busch clears." (it was a goal kick)
"...to put some type of strong conclusion on goal."
"It's in their DNA." (about Real Salt Lake, as if they're some historic club)
"...it comes down to down-and-dirty penalties."

Some of it was marginal, but some was just painful. What is a conclusion on goal? What is an elevated second half? How can a minute start to magnify?

It wasn't all bad, and some was quite insightful. The announcers did a good job of calling it when players fell over too easily, and gave credit on solid unflashy defensive play and midfield coordination. I'm looking forward to watching the MLS final this Sunday between LA and RSL.

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Whitecaps form breakaway league

So they've done it. Vancouver, Montreal and a few other teams that make up the Team Owners' Association (TOA) have split from the USL-1 and have formed a new league to play at Div. II level in the US and Div. I in Canada. Read the Sun story on it here. I wonder why the Caps have bothered with this, given that they'll only play in the league for one year, and it may have serious consequences for their women's and youth teams that play in the USL.

This will seriously damage the USL. Two of the best teams, and half of all their teams, have just left. Portland is gone soon, and Seattle left last year. I think this leaves them with 8 teams in total, meaning they'll have to promote some developmental teams if they want to have a full league next year. The same goes for the TOA, though. With only 8 teams committed, how are they going to maintain any semblance of a decent league? Especially if a few teams dominate the first year.

This is odd, and I don't like it, but it will be interesting to see how it plays out.