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).