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).

Whitecaps 2009 squad in review

So, we lost in the final to a hot team, fair enough. Not a great way to lose, but Montreal were on a tear, winning all six matches in the play-offs after finishing strongly. We also finished strongly (one loss in 15 games, or something like that), and while our squad leaked some goals, we also showed that we could play and beat anyone (except Montreal, that is).

Who made the biggest contribution last year? Who should we keep, and who should be released? The organization has just helped out on this front, releasing star striker Charles Gbeke and midfielders Lyle Martin and Vicente Arze. They also extended captain Martin Nash's contract, and are talking to 'keeper and team MVP Jay Nolly.

The team also has to think ahead to their move to the MLS in 2011, a move given a boost earlier today with the announcement that plans to build a new retractable roof on BC Place will go ahead. Who is good enough to make the step up*?

With Nash and (probably) Nolly, there are four other players under contract. Two wingers, Ansu Toure and Tyrell Burgess, central midfielder Kenold Versailles, and forward Marlon James, who is 32. James' scoring record was pretty phenomenal (one goal every 100 minutes), but he was constantly injured. Nash isn't getting any younger, but he's a rock in the midfield and deserves as much loyalty as Vancouver fans have shown Trevor Linden. Versailles is a workhorse but lacks some vision. Burgess was inconsistent this year; Toure was such a great find.

Young stars like Marcus Haber (USL Rookie of the Year), Wes Knight, and (my favourite) lightning-fast Randy Edwini-Bonsu should be signed as soon as possible.

Gordon Chin was a revelation in the middle of the park; we really missed his energy in the first game against Montreal, and he should be top of the list for Lenarduzzi. Winger Justin Moose should also be re-signed. Chris Pozniak can play at the back or in the middle, and provides stability off the bench.

At the back, Shaun Pejic impressed since coming over from York City in England. Local boy Luca Bellisimo was a mite inconsistent but did well in the last few games of the season. Takashi Hirano will turn 36 next year, but still has his speed. At times he's a liability, but he's also very dangerous going forward. With Knight, that's my starting backline. Michael impressed in the one game I saw him, and should be given more opportunities. Clearly we need subs for the two wide positions at the back, with Martin gone. I can't remember who filled in for Hirano at left-back.

And that leaves who could or should be let go: Marco Reda was a liability at the back. I'm not sure Mason Trafford brings enough to the table. Nizar Khalfan was inconsistent but showed some promise. I would give him another year, but the club might not.

The rest of the players in the first team I'm not too familiar with, to be honest. Thoughts?

* Is it really a big step up? See an analysis of the numbers here.