The Vancouver Whitecaps finished their first season as the worst team in MLS and didn’t waste time to make the necessary changes to guarantee the same result. Martin Rennie was hired in the summer so there would be little time wasted in righting the ship and the coach jumped into it holding a post season training session. During this camp he identified a lack of talent through the roster and would concentrate on getting better defensively while adding scoring depth from all over the pitch.
FORWARDS
With Eric Hassli and Camilo on the roster, young talent like Omar Salgado and Long Tan looking to grow, Atiba Harris returning from injury and Rennie assuring that Mustapha Jarju would get another opportunity it looked as though the forward ranks were set. It looked as though it would play like that until the month of January when there were a number of transactions that gave the Caps more scoring option.
When the Montreal Impact surprised the majority of draft experts selecting defender Andrew Wenger, it allowed Akron forward Darren Mattocks to fall into the 2nd slot for the Whitecaps. Mattocks adds speed, which was lacking last year, to the forward ranks as well as playmaking ability and a nose for the net. Rennie then added a familiar face to him as he traded for the discovery rights of the 2011 NASL player of the year Etienne Barbara who has the scoring ability to play as a target striker and the playmaking skills to play on the wing.
Once Barbara was acquired, the rumors started that Jarju would be released despite Rennie assuring that he would be given a chance in camp. However three days after their latest acquisition, the Whitecaps announced that they were mutually parting ways with the Gambian designated player. Jarju never found his place coming to the team out of shape, made multiple trip to play for his national team and seemed to have given up by the end of the season.
When it seemed that everything was set up top, the Whitecaps made a major acquisition trading for MLS all-star Sebastien Le Toux. The move gives the club a striker with a high work rate and an increase in defensive acumen up front in addition to his scoring and playmaking ability. It also the makes the Whitecaps as the only team that possesses three players that have scored more ten or more goals last year in MLS.
MIDFIELDERS
The midfield was the most effected by the early coaching change as Thordarson played a straight forward game and Sohen installed a more possession strategy. Unfortunately, they didn’t have the right players and when you include injuries there was a lot to be desired. It is the only part of the roster that saw a 50% turnover rate as Rennie looked to bring in skill as well as some physicality to center of the pitch.
The Whitecaps return a couple of players who are looking to prove something after disappointing seasons. MLS veteran John Thorrington spent most of the season injured on the sideline while Davide Chiumiento brought skill to pitch but was too inconsistent. By the end of the season Gershon Koffie was the best central midfielder on the pitch and is looking to build on a solid first full season with the Caps. A pair of young left footed midfielders, Russell Teibert and Michael Nanchoff, look to make a difference this season as they struggled with injuries through parts of last season.
The first addition to the Caps midfield came soon after the season expired when Rennie was impressed during the post season camp by residency product Bryce Alderson and signed him to homegrown contract. Then a bit of luck came the Whitecaps way when they won a special draft that awarded them American international Lee Nguyen who can score from a multiple positions. Rennie has also brought in a couple players, which possessed the physical presence, he was familiar with in Matt Watson, who played three seasons with Rennie in Carolina, and Jun Marques Davidson, who played one before returning to Japan.
In order to make room for the new players there were a number of players released and traded. Cameroonian Alex Morfaw, who only played 135 minutes last season while making $90,000, didn’t make it through the post season camp as he was released after a couple of days. Homegrown product Nizar Khalfan was waived due to a lack of international spots and then picked up by the Philadelphia Union.
A regular last year in the starting eleven, Shea Salinas was traded to the Earthquakes for allocation money after being protected in the expansion draft. A player that was prominent with the Caps once Tom Soehn took over, Peter Vagenas went through the re-entry draft unclaimed and is now with Chivas USA. After receiving very little playing time, Philippe Davies, another homegrown player, chose to part ways with the Whitecaps despite the club willingness to bring him back.
DEFENDERS
One of the biggest areas that Martin Rennie looked to improve was the backline that allowed the most goals last season in MLS. The right back spot was one of the weakest positions but has been solidified with the addition of Korean international and World Cup vet YP Lee. The next backline signing was Argentine Martin Bonjour who possesses the attributes that Rennie looks for in a central defender. In the two college drafts, the Caps added to their wing backs Chris Estridge and Greg Klazura.
The left back spot is in a solid state with Alain Rochat, who can cover centrally, and Jordan Harvey manning the positions. Captain Jay DeMerit, who spent the first half of the season in and out of the lineup with injury, is needed on the pitch to provide the leadership he was brought in for. Carlyle Mitchell was brought in late in the season and impressed with his play showing good chemistry with DeMerit as a pairing. Supplemental pick Michael Boxall may have been pressed into action too early but looks the part and will provide depth behind the starters.
Second round pick Jeb Brovsky was converted from the midfield to right back and was expected to provide cover behind Lee but was picked by the Montreal Impact. Two veterans, Greg Janicki and Jonathan Leathers , were released through the re-entry draft process, while 3rd round pick Bilal Ducket was waived after the expansion draft.
GOALKEEPERS
The Whitecaps had a decision to make in goal as neither Jay Nolly nor Joe Cannon established themselves as the number one keeper. Both were initially made available in the re-entry draft but Joe Cannon renegotiated his contract and Nolly was traded to Chicago for a future draft pick. Homegrown signing Brian Sylvestre returns for his second season as he looks to recover from a number of injuries.
The Whitecaps have brought in former Union goalkeeper Brad Knighton, who played for Rennie last season, to compete with Cannon for the number one spot. A couple of other young keepers will be brought into camp as UC Irvine product Andrew Fontaine was drafted in the supplemental draft and Callum Irving will be brought in from the academy.
(image courtesy of whitecapsfc.com)
