Win a VIP Trip to the 2011 MLS Cup!

Now that the Whitecaps have finished their season and were unable to reach the playoffs, it's time to follow the journey to the final of the MLS Cup. El Jimador has announced their "Your rules your shot" competition, in which 10 lucky winners will get a chance to win a VIP trip to the MLS Cup!

The competition consists in creating a creative rule which all MLS fans should follow. Here's El Jimador's explanation and example of the competition:

"In order to consider yourself a 100% Real Soccer Fan, you've got to follow a few rules. From proper tailgating etiquette to post-game celebrations, 100% Real fans know the right way to support their favorite teams. Tell us what rule you think all fans should follow and you could win a VIP trip for two to the MLS Cup! (Example: "Wear their jerseys to work before the big game.")"

Here's what you need to do in order to enter the competition:

1. Visit and 'like' the El Jimador Facebook page.
2. After liking the page, click on the tab on the left which says "MLS Trip Contest"
3. Enter your rule and fill out the rest of the page. Then make sure to click the submit button!

It's three easy steps which (if you're above 21 years-old) can give you the chance to watch the MLS Cup at the Home Depot Center in Los Angeles, California!


And remember that Whitecaps Blog has a Facebook page as well! Make sure to like Whitecaps Blog on Facebook to receive updates about the blog!

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Trying to Keep Up with the Caps

I hate to say it, but recently I haven't been able to keep up with the Vancouver Whitecaps. A combination of other projects, studying, and laziness have contributed to a busy set of weeks which have left me unable to post about the Caps. I just wanted to make sure everyone knows that the blog is still going, and also to update you on some of the things I've been working on, contributed to, or find interesting and want to share with you.

My latest ongoing contribution is to a new website started by a group of bloggers. Entitled "Um Not A Blogger", it's a website with articles, reviews and more about many different topics. From video-games to sports, UNAB is attempting to cover all different areas of interest for readers. So far I've contributed only three articles, and the links are below.

The Rise of Antonio Conte's Juventus

Wayne Rooney and Sergio Aguero: The Talismans of Manchester

The Hidden Gem of Nintendo DS Gaming: Jump Ultimate Stars


While contributing to UNAB has kept me busy, what kept me even busier was my massive article on visiting EA Sports Studios. That's right, recently I got a chance to tour the EA Sports Vancouver (where they make FIFA 12 and many other EA games) studios also getting the chance to talk to the FIFA series's lead gameplay producer, Aaron HcHardy. In the post I praise the beautiful studios, and share my awesome experience. The post is "Inside EA Sports Vancouver: FIFA 12" and its on the other soccer blog I maintain, called Soccer Wrap Up.

The third thing which has been keeping me consistently away from the Whitecaps has been my (fairly) new Tumblr. It's www.lovingthatsoccer.tumblr.com, and I mostly just keep a steady stream of interesting or funny pictures which have to do with the beautiful game. Do check it out if you're interested.

Lastly, I wanted to give a shout out to a friend of mine who has finally started a food blog! He's a great cook, and I was recently able to convince him to get a food blog started up so I can drool over his wonderful creations and try to copy them with his recipes. If you're interested in checking it out, it's www.lesfoodstuff.blogspot.com.

This is what has mostly been keeping me away from being able to follow the Whitecaps consistently. I've had to do lots of studying, as well as enjoy some free time (mostly spent playing FIFA 12 or Dark Souls). Thanks for reading and as always, lets go Whitecaps!

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Empire Field's Bittersweet Last Night

The best photo from a blurry batch of cell-phone pictures.

I'm glad to say that I was lucky enough to be able to go to Empire Field's last Vancouver Whitecaps game against the Seattle Sounders. When I go see matches live, I'm usually too engrossed in the action and swept up by the atmosphere to be able to properly focus on what I'm going to write later in the match report. So I decided to wait a little bit, reflect on the Caps and their last match at the Empire, and then share my thoughts.

I rarely decide to splash the cash when it comes to seating at Whitecaps games, yet I was lucky enough to have a pair of tickets on the East side of the stadium. The plastic chairs, wide view of the field, and quieter people around me made my final night at the Empire a comfortable and enjoyable one. So did the first half dominance which the Whitecaps were displaying, eventually topped off with a goal by Camilo.

The Caps were creating plenty of chances (mostly put wide or completely missed by Mustapha Jarju), and the crowd was loving it. That is, the Whitecaps faithful, because a large number of Seattle fans were in attendance at the Empire as well. A large group of Sounders fans occupied a corner of the West side of the Empire, and here and there you could notice occasional blotches of green elsewhere in the stadium.

While the match finished 3-1 for the Seattle Sounders, the Caps played an excellent first half. The downfall was that they weren't able to capitalize their scoring chances, and instead saw Seattle have some luck with a deflected shot as one of their goals. Of course, the result was bitter, but the whole experience for me was a sweet one.

What really made me happy was at the end of the match, seeing the Whitecaps players and staff circling the field and applauding the fans. The stadium was packed, and tickets aren't cheap, so it's nice that the players recognize the support that the fans have given them even when the times were tough (and maybe they still are tough...).

I'm hoping that with the next game being at BC Place, against the bitter rivals the Portland Timbers, that the Caps finish the season strong. I once heard a cheesy line saying something about every exit being a new entrance, and in a way the sad departure from Empire should also be a sparkling new beginning at BC Place.

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Whitecaps Fall 3-0 in LA to Brilliant Galaxy

Keane's well placed header

Preparing myself mentally to watch the Whitecaps is a nerve-racking process. Especially when they're facing the top of the table LA Galaxy, at the Home Depot Center, where the Galaxy have yet to lose. Yet as the match kicked off, the Caps seemed organized, hardworking, and ready to create a few attacking opportunities of their own.

The first half was probably some of the best playing I've seen from the Caps in a long time, especially if you consider the opposition they were facing. The team defended fairly well, and did its best to counter-attack with decisive speed. In fact, an early goal almost came for the Caps with a low Hassli strike which the LA keeper parried, Chiumiento not reaching the ball in time to tap it in. The other chance was Camilo being blatantly brought down in the box, yet the referee gave no penalty and saw it as "just another dive by a Brazilian".

While I was hoping for a Caps goal as halftime approached, the opposite arrived with Magee scoring for LA in the 40th minute. It was a decisive strike which the Caps didn't deserve. It should be noted that the Caps player who lost the ball, allowing for LA to attack was Shea Salinas, who was having a horrible first half.

Magee celebrating his double

The second half was more like what I was initially expecting, while the Caps were still fairly solid, they eventually conceded the second goal about 20 minutes in. It was a wonderful header by Robbie Keane, and while it will always be tough to stop a striker like him from scoring, he had way too much space and time given to him by the Caps defence.

The game was lost, while Tom Soehn tried to revitalize the tiring forwards with Long Tan and Mustapha Jarju, the Galaxy eventually found their third goal with another header by Magee. By now, I had noticed a small trend going on which I'd love if Tom Soehn could notice. Three goals by LA, all three made by crosses, and the scorers were rarely marked properly.

Maybe it was the good start that the Caps had, but for some reason I come away from this match with a positive outlook. While a 3-0 defeat isn't a good result, it isn't horrible if you look at the way the Caps played, the few good chances they created, and the penalty which wasn't given. I actually saw a team I was proud of, and I hope to see the same team next week when I go watch them live at Empire Field against the Seattle Sounders.

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Late Goal Doesn't Taper Defensive Cracks in Portland

After returning from my lengthy vacation, it took me some time to get back into my usual rhythm regarding the Whitecaps. The game against Portland is the first game I've seen for about six solid weeks, and I can't say I saw any improvements in my Whitecaps.

Like usual I got home late and turned on the TV with the game already started. I pop open my Macbook to start tweeting and the first thing I see happening in the match is a Portland Timbers goal which highlights every worst defensive nightmare I might have had about the Whitecaps. Poor marking on a set-piece, chaos on a loose ball, and giving the opponents the space and time to poke that ball into our goal.

The next thing I saw/heard simply terrorized me. It was the imposing presence of Timber Joey (in stunning HD) sawing through a massive trunk, as the huge amount of fans roared in appreciation for their side which just went two goals up. A horrifying return to reality compared to my cheery expectations after having missed out quite a bit.

After watching the rest of the first half, I actually saw a couple of good signs. The Whitecaps were a bit more organized in possession, moving the ball around with care. Yet as soon as it came to the final third, things seemed to crumble into nothingness, often leading to a counter-attack for the Timbers. That's when I understood what was going on. Desperate defending could sum up what was too many close calls, forcing Joe Cannon to be in a constant primal stance of focus. As the second half ended, I was a pretty crushed fan. I returned to see my side suffering against a fellow expansion team which had more fight, strength, and much scarier fans.

As the second half began, I was hoping for one of those famous "Whitecap comebacks", and in a certain way there was a slight comeback. The team had a bit more focus in the second half, retaining the ball well, and trying to create some chances when possible. As usual Koffie struck me as a soothing presence amid the chaos of the Timbers fans, and a hard-working Harvey at left-back was a new face who showed promise. Thorrington was doing his best to stop the Timber's from ever being able to walk again, but in a noble fashion which earned my praise.

Although there were a couple of opportunities, nothing every truly materialized. Instead, Portland was making me sweat bullets, especially when they were almost gifted a goal (mistake by Koffie, who tried to head back to Cannon), and instead they hit the inside of the post. It really should've been 3-0 by that point.  The Whitecaps were truly unable to defend, even if Jay DeMerit was playing in the heart of our defence. There were simply too many errors and an overall fear (probably thanks to the amazing Timbers fans in the stadium) which let the opponents easily and quickly reach our goal.

While Tom Soehn tried to make substitutions as best he could, the substitutes (Jarju, Salinas, and Salgado) made no difference at all. It was pretty disappointing stuff, especially because I was expecting big things from Jarju who, after all, is our second DP.

In the end, when all hope seemed to have been sawed over and again by Timber Joey, Camilo popped up with a great goal. Harvey popped the ball through to him, and the Brazilian turned and then placed the shot to make it 2-1. The match ended like this, a horrible display which steadily improved, finishing off with a sweet note which sadly just isn't enough.

Camilo, celebrating his lovely goal.

There are serious defensive problems which need to be fixed. And while perusing Twitter, I found the very interesting OptaJack stat which said the following about the Whitecaps:

It's certainly something very interesting to know, especially because I was a big fan of Teitur. What are your thoughts on this stat? What were your thoughts on the defeat? Share your comments below!

And finally, this isn't one of my traditional match reports, and I felt like recounting things with a bit more creative fluidity. Please let me know if you liked this more, or if you prefer more factual match reports by commenting below.

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Camilo and Chiumiento Show their Magic in MoCap

After a month away from my dear Whitecaps (vacationing in Italy), I'm glad to finally be back and able to check up with everything that has been going on with the team. Right away I saw the highlights of a fantastic 4-2 home victory against the Chicago Fire, and while there were some new faces that I didn't recognize playing for the Caps, the team still had the same heart and spirit as ever. What caught my eye next was a Youtube video of a Motion Capture session for EA Sports, using Camilo and Davide Chiumiento.

I'm a big fan of the FIFA videogame series, and seeing two of my favorite players working with the development team of the game was pretty awesome. In the video we get to see the two players try and hold a serious face while being photographed, along with some pretty silky skills. 

Here's the vid below:

Now that I'm back, I'll try and return to covering the Whitecaps as much as possible. Now, I've got some researching to do on the new signings and what's happened in the past month which I missed. Share in the comments below what I've missed, and whatever else you have to say about the Caps and the motion capture sesh!

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Whitecaps Fan Spat at by Montreal Impact Captain

Nevio Pizzolitto, captain of the Montreal Impact

Arguably, it's the fans which keep football/soccer alive. The thousands which pack stadiums, the millions which watch on their TV, they are the ones which keep this game running. Not only is it the ticket sales and the merchandise bought, but it's also the passion and the love which fuels the players to play their best.

When Nevio Pizzolitto decided to spit on a Whitecaps fan's face, he violated a multitude of barriers. Of course, Mr. Pizzolitto might have had his reasons, but they don't seem very good ones. A group of Whitecaps fans were standing and chanting under the walkway which the defeated Montreal Impact players walked across. The players had just lost to the Vancouver Whitecaps, and were now knocked out of the Nutrilite Canadian Championship.

As the fans chanted "Au Revoir", the captain of the Montreal Impact looked at Caps fan Ashley Perry and spat at him in the face. Yes, you read correctly. The captain of the Montreal Impact decided to spit on a fan's face because they were chanting "goodbye" to him in French. It's a ridiculous insult to fans, and the professionalism that a player should carry with himself at all times.

Ashley Perry, the creator of ChampionsLeague.ca said this about the incident:

“Before I even knew it, I had a large amount of spit on my face … without going into too much detail on something that disgusting. It was instant shock. That’s a pretty low thing to do to someone in any capacity, let alone from a professional football player. What I’m most surprised and shocked about is the fact that there is no contact from the club. There have been no apologies to this date or even an attempt to apologize, absolutely nothing.”

Now, Nevio will have to deal with the results of his actions. This Monday, June 27th there will be a disciplinary hearing in Edmonton. The matter is in the hands of the Canadian Soccer Association, and hopefully we'll see something done about this. When I say, "something done about this" I hope that Nevio Pizzolitto apologizes to Ashley, because spitting in someone's face is just about the rudest thing you can do without laying your hands on them.

I don't think there's any excuse for Pizzolitto's behaviour. While he may have been angry for having lost, and unhappy to hear some fans chant "Au Revoir", that's no excuse to lose your cool and spit in a fans face. After all, without the fans there would have been no point to the game. It would be like me spitting in the face of my readers of this blog. The sad part is, Nevio Pizzolitto is paid to play soccer, and he spat in the face of the people who paid to go see him (among other players). It's unacceptable.


If you're interested in reading more about this incident, I suggest you check out this article which goes into greater detail. What are your thoughts regarding this? Share them in the comments below!

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Caps Claim Second MLS Victory Against Philadelphia Union

Finally the second MLS victory has come. After 14 very long games of draws and losses, the Vancouver Whitecaps clicked together, providing a great attacking display while also stopping the Philadelphia Union from scoring. While the match ended 1-0 at the Empire, the Caps had plenty of chances which could've/should've been scored.

Just twelve minutes in, the Whitecaps found the winner they were searching for. It was a scintillating strike by Alain Rochat from the left side of the top of the box. The outside of his left foot curled a powerful strike past Philly keeper Mondragon, and into the far side of the goal. It was a stunning follow-up to Hassli's winner in Seattle.

The goal is breathtaking, beautiful, and anything else you can call it, but what I really appreciated was the build-up to the goal. It wasn't a punt up the field which fell to Rochat's left foot, it was passing through the defence, up into the midfield, some magic from Chiumiento who laid it off to Rochat. A total of eight passes, each one done in about two touches and smoothly on the ground. That's the way you play football/soccer. While I complained about his appointment at the beginning, I now see the work Tom Soehn is doing is bearing fruits, and I hope it continues.

The Whitecaps did a lot of things well against Philly. The team kept more possession and ultimately created a wealth of great goalscoring chances. But this is where they should've improved, in putting those chances away. Eric Hassli put a couple of great chances wide or over the net, and when Nizar Khalfan was presented with an open net he was unable to tuck it away. Jeb Brovsky tried to dribble in front of the goal, when a shot would've provided him with a simple goal. These things shouldn't be happening. Instead of a nail-biting 1-0 win, it should have been an easy 2-0 or even 3-0 victory.

While I whine and complain about the chances not scored, I have to state that the team played wonderfully. The fans also played a huge part in that, as they never stopped cheering on the Caps. Jay DeMerit as usual was brilliant in the heart of the defence, and Chiumiento was a sparkling presence creating plenty of chances. While Eric Hassli wasn't able to make his mark on the game, he dealt with the horrible reffing and nasty defenders well, not losing his temper.

While making the playoffs is still a distant possibility, it can happen thanks to this latest victory. What's more, after travelling to Kansas City and then Toronto for their next two MLS matches, they'll have a chance to win some silverware in the NCC final. While three victories is a hopeful prediction, I'm expecting the Caps to win the Nutrilite Canadian Championship along with the other match against Toronto FC.


What were your thoughts from the Caps's second MLS victory against Philadelphia? What are your predictions for the next three matches? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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Hassli Wondergoal Attracts Worldwide Interest

When Eric Hassli flicked the ball up and promptly volleyed it into the far top corner of Seattle's goal, I was amazed. In two touches, Hassli made the difference, salvaging the Caps from a loss. While this season the Frenchman has been decent, scoring penalties without problems but also getting red cards, finally we've seen his magical touch truly save Vancouver's ass.

While seeing the goal was amazing, what really struck me was the speed in which it circulated around the web. Yahoo's Dirty Tackle picked up on it right away as did Who Ate All the Pies. While I thought that would be the end of it, I was wrong. I saw it next on Soccer Cleats 101, and after that my father found it on the Sky Sports Italy website along with a very interesting article (Google translate if you can't read Italian) about Hassli's past and future. Then, Loving That Soccer posted it, adding to the multitude of worldwide sites and blogs which were loving Hassli's goal.

It's fair to say that this goal is an amazing piece of skill, which will most likely be crowned as the best goal of the year or season. Yet, for some reason I didn't expect anyone to care. I especially didn't expect European websites and newspapers to give a squat about a 30 year-old Frenchman's goal in the MLS. I guess it shows that the MLS is expanding and becoming more popular around the world, faster than I certainly expected.

Watching all these websites praise Eric Hassli's goal, and mention the Vanouver Whitecaps made me feel proud. The goal truly lifted us Whitecaps fans, after we saw our one goal lead be decimated in the final minutes of the match. Luckily, our DP popped up with the goal that everyone has probably already seen a few times already. But in case you haven't here it is below:




It's only a good thing that so many have picked up on and seen Eric Hassli's goal. Hopefully, this means that we'll have a couple of more extra Whitecaps fans from around the world! What were your thoughts when you saw this spectacular equalizer? Share any thoughts or comments below!

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MLS All-Star Team Needs Whitecaps: Vote Now!

Let's face it, so far into this MLS campaign the Whitecaps haven't managed to shake off the "expansion team" feel. But no matter, it's time to be optimistic and talk about another topic! It's the MLS All-Star team which will be facing Manchester United, and I'm hoping to see some Caps in it. While it's pretty unlikely that any Whitecaps players are going to be voted into the team, as fans we have to try and get some Whitecaps players on the All-star team.

Only six Whitecaps players made the final nominees, DeMerit, Harris, Hassli, Camilo, Chiumiento and Rochat. I voted for all six of them (of course), and I hoping that all the Caps fans out there vote for them as well. And yes, that means you! Time to start supporting your Whitecaps players!

You might be asking yourself: 1. "how do I do this?", 2. "Do I have to sign up?", and 3. "Will my vote even make a difference?". 

Well, the answers are:

1. To vote go to the All-Star Ballot Page, and from there you can easily select a goalkeeper and ten players from the lists provided. Then, you simply click "vote".

2. No signing up required, it took me about 28.3 seconds to get to the page, pick the Whitecaps players, and click the "vote" button.

3. Of course your vote will make a difference! [Insert another cheesy line about every vote counting] Let's get some Vancouver Whitecaps players on that All-Star team!

Let's see if we can get some Caps out there against Manchester United when the All-Star game takes place at NYC. It's important to try and remain positive regarding the Caps season, and if a player got into the all-star team, it would be a huge boost of morale for all the Whitecaps.

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Tom Soehn Looking for First Win Against Real Salt Lake

A battle of the flowing locks of hair. Will Beckerman be able to shut down Chiumiento?

After my winding rant regarding Teitur's dismissal, I've decided to try and look at things with a bit of optimism. There is no point in moaning about the past or what should've been done, I think it's time to start preparing for the future. And right now the Whitecaps are preparing themselves to face Real Salt Lake this tomorrow (Saturday, June 4th).

While Real Salt Lake have been on a small slump their past three games, two draws and a loss, they're not a team to underestimate. They're above us in the Western conference standings (mainly because we're last), and if they can manage to end this small negative streak, they'll be on their way to the playoffs. They're a tough team to watch out for, and one to watch out for especially will be Espindola, the Argentine striker returning from a hamstring injury.

I really want the Whitecaps to focus on a solid defence for this game, because I read the slightly disconcerting statistic that the Whitecaps have conceded a goal every 63 minutes! The Whitecaps have allowed the most number of goals in the Western conference (18), and if they can tighten up the defence, a win would be a lot easier to come by. If there's a positive stat going into this match it's that the Whitecaps have scored four more goals that Real Salt Lake this season, which have only managed to net 10 goals so far.

Regarding the formations on the left, they're the "probable formations" put out by the MLS. Looking at the one they've put out for the Caps, it seems pretty accurate, except that I'm hoping that Salinas and Teibert play further up the field, creating a three-pronged attack fed by Chiumiento. It's a shame that Hassli won't be playing due to his third red card (which was actually just deserving of a yellow) which he picked up against Chivas USA.

Hopefully Soehn can find a way to motivate the team to what could be a massive away win. A victory against RSL would be a big boost for the next away game against the Seattle Sounders.

What are your thoughts on the game against RSL? Can Soehn get a much-needed win? Comment and share your thoughts below! 

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Let the Chaos Reign: Teitur Thordarson Dismissed

For one post, I will speak my mind. It will be a sort of verbal diarrhea, because I don't think I'll be containing anything I want to say regarding the Whitecaps coach being dismissed. This post is entitled "Let the Chaos Reign" not only because of my fears of what might happen to the Whitecaps, but also because I won't be talking about just the dismissal of Teitur. I'll be talking about the steps I think the club should take for a brighter future. So let the chaos reign for this one post where speak my mind without holding back.

Let's make one thing clear, results haven't been the best. In fact, being a Whitecaps fan has been a little frustrating, with continuous 1-1 draws and the overall inability to win an MLS match since opening day. It has been tiring, depressing, and just about every other negative descriptive word watching the Whitecaps over the past weeks. 

But among this ocean of inability to reach victory, there were the great moments. The wonderful moments when something 'clicked' perfectly, whether it be a killer pass by Chiumiento or a magical stepover by Hassli. And those moments seemed fueled by the man watching from the sidelines, who among his multiple tactical failures was able to make the little things work. 

The little things, like team spirit and like a physically prepared team. These little things have been making this every minute of every disappointing draw or desperate loss worth watching. It's because while there were many problems, Teitur Thordarson was managing to fix them, one by one, little by little.

I'm very disappointed with this dismissal. I find it to be too sudden. For a team in their first year in the MLS, we can afford to come last. It shouldn't be all about the results right now. It should be about crafting a true identity for a team which just got rid of the closest thing they had to one. 

These two are rarely the tallest on the field, but they're
often the ones who make the biggest difference.

Teitur worked with the players he was given. He was given many tall, strong, and physically prepared players. While most Whitecaps players can outrun a cheetah (not actually, but you get what I mean), there is also a group of players which lack proper technique. By technique I mean: first touch, dribbling, and passing. 

I might be a little picky, and maybe I'm expecting too much, but I want to see a team comprised of technically skilled individuals. I want to see players who can "keep the ball on the ground", beat a defender without having to hopefully toe punt it by him and race around him, and keep possession from the opponents. Often-times, a player I'm envisioning isn't above six feet, they're small and compact. Quick with their feet and minds, without needing to barge opponents off the ball. 

I've been mulling over this in my head for quite a few weeks, and the recent Champions League final which was played out convinced me that maybe I was on to something. Because if you look at the winning Barcelona team, the best players in that side aren't tall or big, they're smart and technically capable. While the Whitecaps won't be signing Xavi or Iniesta anytime soon, trying to head towards a more technical game could be the step forward for the team, and maybe for all of the MLS to take.

Thank you for everything you have done Teitur.

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Vancouver Whitecaps FC In 3D Next Year

3D has been taking over just about everything. When Avatar received a huge amount of success, it opened the doors for a wealth of 3D films, sports, and even videogames. While I don't know if we'll be watching the Whitecaps in 3D on our television anytime soon, it's certain that next year we'll have a chance to play as the Whitecaps in 3D.

EA Sports has announced that FIFA 12 will be released for the Nintendo 3DS next year. And thanks to the fact that the Whitecaps are in the MLS and they have an exclusive partnership with EA Sports, they'll be playable in FIFA 12. While you can already play as the Whitecaps FC in FIFA 11 (thanks to the latest update) in the Exhibition and Online Modes, on FIFA 12 you'll get to use them in all of the modes. That means you'll be able to go through a career as the Whitecaps coach, your favorite player, or even make yourself a player for the Whitecaps! And to top it all off, BC Place will be included in the stadiums of FIFA 12.

But back to the 3D. If you're not a big fan of videogames, the Nintendo 3DS is what many are considering the best handheld console ever. It's main feature is its ability to produce 3D visuals without the use of glasses. EA Sports recently announced that FIFA 12 will be on the 3DS, and yes, it will feature the revolutionary 3D visuals.

The 3DS has received praise from even the New York Times

So if next year you want to bang in goals for the Whitecaps in 3D, I recommend you get yourself a 3DS and FIFA 12. If you want to find out more about FIFA 12 for 3DS, check out this post on Soccer Wrap Up.

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Four Things We Learned From the Whitecaps Loss to the Crew

I'll admit it, I haven't been updating as much as I should be. But it's crunch time right now for me, as everything seems to be culminating at once. Anyways, I was able to watch the Whitecaps lose to the Columbus Crew yesterday. While there were plenty of negatives, there were also a few positives. And so instead of offering up another bland match report, I've decided to list the five things we've learned from the Whitecaps loss to the Columbus Crew.

1. There's something special about Omar

I've been a big advocate for playing Omar Salgado as much as possible. Up until this match, Salgado only got a few minutes of time at the end of two or three matches, not enough time to perform or score a goal. Teitur was basically forced into playing Omar Salgado because of Hassli's suspension and Harris's knee injury. While Omar's first half was not memorable at all, he began to play a little better in the second. Right when people were probably thinking that maybe Salgado wasn't much of a player, the youngster popped up with a brilliant header to score the only Whitecaps goal of the match. 

Of course, we shouldn't look too much into this one goal, but Salgado got a chance, and he scored it. From there it seemed like his confidence recovered from a poor first half beating, and he went on to create and almost score another goal. Omar showed a lot of promise in the second half, and hopefully we'll get to see more of him as the season goes on.

2. Alain Rochat needs a more central role

In these past few weeks we've seen Alain Rochat be a true beast in a myriad of different positions. While left back is his native position, his stints at center-back were excellent at worst. He was assertive, good on the ball, fearless going forward, and he scored a goal. Against the Columbus Crew Rochat was played at left back with Janicki and Akoul in the center of defense. While Akloul is a beast, and Janicki is nothing short of awesome, they're both very similar defenders. Thinking about it, neither of the two are ball playing, slalom dribbling, and goalscoring center backs like Rochat was.

I'm not saying that Rochat needs to be put in center back in the place of Akloul or Janicki, but maybe he should have a more central role. His performance at left back was quiet, strong but fairly quiet. As one of the best players in the team, I'd like to see him on the ball more, making more of a difference.

Dunfield scored against the Montreal Impact in the first leg

3. We need to be a first half team


As a Whitecaps fan, I sit down and watch every game from start to finish. I'm thinking of skipping the first half and just watching the second from now on. I'm joking, but the point I'm trying to make is that the Whitecaps have been pitiful in first halves. Against Montreal in the midweek and against Columbus, watching the first half made me want to simply tear my eyes out of my sockets, and boil them. While in the second half the Whitecaps picked things up, it has never been enough to win matches.

To finish off this point: remember the opening day win over Toronto FC? Guess who scored twice in the first half? Guess who hasn't scored twice in a game after that? The Whitecaps. We need to come out strong and goalscoring in the first half of games.


4. Magical comebacks happen once... maybe twice


Some teams are comeback teams. The United States of America, Manchester United, Inter Milan, they're all teams which can go two goals down and come back to win 3-2. While the Whitecaps had a memorable comeback against Sporting Kansas City, coming from 3-0 down to draw 3-3, I don't think it will happen again.

I say this because every time the Whitecaps go a goal down, I always think "They can come back". It hasn't happened again yet, and I'm not sure it will again this season. This point matches the one above about being a first half team, the Whitecaps can't count on last minute comebacks to get all the points needed this season, because it won't be enough. Let's be awake in the first half and not go a goal or two down, it's a lot easier to win that way.

Hopefully we'll see the Whitecaps win this wednesday when they face the Montreal Impact at
Empire Field for the return leg of the Nutrilite Canadian Championship semi-final. The first leg in Montreal was a well-fought 1-0 away victory for the Caps, and hopefully TT will set the side out to go for another win and progress to the final!

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Whitecaps Overtaken At Empire Field Against FC Dallas

As I was pondering the idea of writing a pre-match preview of the Whitecaps's match against FC Dallas, a lone piece of reasoning slipped into my usually empty mind. This match against FC Dallas was important, very important. While I was optimistically predicting a 3-1 victory for the Whitecaps before the match, instead the ended 2-1 for FC Dallas. And with this third loss of the MLS season, maybe it's time to think of the Caps's latest matches as a crisis, and not an unlucky run.

Maybe it's my persistent optimism, but I'm fairly convinced that there are some good things to take from the 2-1 defeat. Alain Rochat's strong performance and Chiumiento's brilliance, particularly in the first half, were what truly stuck out in an otherwise disappointing day. In fact, it was Chiumiento's whipped cross which provided Rochat with the perfect opportunity to flick into the top corner of Dallas's goal. A great goal scored after about 20 minutes of strong play from the Whitecaps.

I say "strong play", that doesn't mean that FC Dallas weren't trying. In fact, the Texan team had produced a number of very dangerous chances, and when they earned a penalty kick for a stray handball in the box by Rochat it seemed like they would get a chance to deservedly equalize. Up stepped their danger-man Ferreira, and with all the confidence in the world he put it wide of Nolly's right post. The first half finished off with a great chance for FCD by Chavez, but an equally well created one for the Caps by Camilo.

The second half started, and just about five minutes in Ferreira suffered a well-timed tackle by Leathers, leaving him on the ground writhing in pain. While at first it looked like just some run-of-the-mill bad acting by Ferreira, after a while it became apparent that he was in serious pain. As he was stretchered off for treatment, FC Dallas took the corner Ferreira had earned, and scored from it. Classic distraction by the Whitecaps, who let George John power right through the center of the box and head home a near post flick.

Ferreira wasn't faking his injury. He had to be substituted by Avila, ending a disappointing half by the MLS Player of the Year. But it was going to be an even more disappointing half from the Whitecaps, a weak and tired team which FC Dallas had few problems tearing apart. Chiumiento disappeared, Camilo wasn't receiving any service and Hassli eventually got a yellow card that will rule him out of the next MLS match against Columbus Crew. It was not worth watching. FC Dallas on the other hand deserved to be ahead, and the substitute Avila found the winner with a low shot across Nolly into the bottom corner.

The second half was probably the worst 45 minutes I've seen the Whitecaps play. While I was yelling at Teitur Thordarson (who was on the TV) to give Omar Salgado 20 minutes to work his magic, instead TT decided to listen to me with five minutes to go, when the game was dead and Hassli had received a yellow card. In the end, the team was a tired bunch which was up against a side which counter-attacked well.

Looking at the seven matches the Whitecaps have played in the MLS this season, there's only one win. No points have been conquered away from home, and in the past five matches the Caps have only taken three out of a possible 15 points. None of this is good. Right now, the 4-2 opening day victory over Toronto FC seems like a far distant memory which is unable to reproduce itself.

Hopefully results will improve this Tuesday when then Whitecaps travel to the Stade Saputo to face the Montreal Impact in the Nutrilite Canadian Championship. A win in Montreal could spur the Whitecaps to stealing a point (or maybe three) when they travel to Columbus Ohio to face "The Crew".

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Manchester City, Prepare to be Crushed

Whitecaps will play Manchester City at Empire Field July 18th

Looking at the Whitecaps, they're achieving everything I've expected of them so far. A strong start to the season, the best heart and spirit of the MLS, and a wonderful atmosphere at every home match. Now, they're beginning to overachieve. I'm not talking about results, I'm talking everything else that is imperative when running a soccer/football club. The marketing and the media side of the whole operation has been spot on. 

Now that a major international friendly has been announced, it seems like all the boxes have been ticked. English Premier League club Manchester City will be coming to Vancouver to play the Whitecaps on July 18th. If you're a season ticket holder, good news because you'll receive tickets to the match as a special bonus. If you're not a season ticket holder, then you'll have to get tickets yourself, which are valued around 60 dollars.

As I entitle this post, "Manchester City, Prepare to be Crushed" I'm not talking about what happens on the field. I'm talking about crushing Manchester City in every other aspect possible, because I suspect that the actual 90 minutes of playing will be a very tough battle. I mean this most of all in the perspective of the the fans. We must show Manchester City what Vancouver can do. We should never take big international friendlies for granted, and when an opponent as well-renowned as Manchester City comes, we must show the Whitecaps that we love it when big teams visit Vancouver.

So please, let's show our gratitude and respect to the club this weekend when Chivas USA come to Empire Field. While a good performance on the field from the team is important, let's put in just as good a performance as fans, and cheer them on until the very end. 

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Uninspired Whitecaps Lose 3-1 To Houston Dynamo

There have always been excuses. For every loss or draw, there's been a fairly obvious excuse which is presented and accepted. Against Philadelphia, Hassli was sent off. Against New England the ref was crazy, and Hassli was sent off again. But what about now? What excuse can we make for this poorly played match away against Houston? There really shouldn't be one, as the Whitecaps were sluggish, disorganized and lacking the usual fight and grit which carried them through so many matches.

I can't say much about the first half. I was hurriedly driving home in an elephant-like Volvo as the radio crackled out occasional updates of the match. I couldn't hear much, but what I did hear gave me mixed signals. A goal for Houston, one right after for Vancouver, and then another goal for Houston before the half finished. Back at home for halftime, I got the chance to look at what was happening and the goals which were scored. While the two Houston goals were disappointing to see go in, the Vancouver goal was a clear reminder of the brilliance this team can produce. A wonderful ball through a defender's legs from Chiumiento to Camilo allowed the Brazilian to turn and smash the ball into the back of the net.

In the second half, I was hoping to see more goals flying in. Jay DeMerit was replaced by Russell Teibert, as the Caps captain had re-aggravated his groin. But my dream of an end-to-end match wasn't set to come true. Instead I saw a depressing 45 minutes from the Whitecaps, in which the team seemed unable to do anything. It seemed almost as if the Whitecaps were playing a man down, wait, make that two men down. They couldn't retain possession, string more than two passes together, or defend in any acceptable manner.

Houston Dynamo players celebrating their first win of their MLS season

And while Jay Nolly made some great saves (a very memorable one from a free kick), a third goal inevitably came as the backline was just too shaky and insecure. Bruin slipped through the defence and while Nolly came rushing out, Bruin dribbled it around the keeper and promptly slotted in the final goal of the match to make it 3-1. 

We'd seen it before. We have seen the Whitecaps 3-1 down, with just a few minutes to go, pull off a magnificent 3-3 draw, but it wouldn't happen today. The players were too tired and too beat up to rally for a reaction. It was a depressing display, in which the Caps were truly overpowered. A great display by Houston, which will hopefully show Teitur Thordarson the weaknesses of his team which need to be addressed.

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Caps Suffer Late Equalizer and Ridiculous Refereeing

I was lucky enough to attend the Vancouver Whitecaps FC first night match against the New England Revolution. It was my first MLS match and I truly couldn't wait to watch the Caps take on the Revolution, hoping for three points. While the experience at the stadium was fantastic, the match was a strange one. With three sending offs, three goals (one of which disallowed), and plenty of ridiculous decisions, the Whitecaps suffered from a poor referee and a late equalizer.

The match started a little nervously, with both teams slightly apprehensive at the beginning of the match. But little by little the Whitecaps became the dominant team. On the other hand the referee made strange decisions, awarding fouls for nothing, and handing out cards like cupcakes at a birthday party. Eventually, it all culminated (or maybe it all culminates later?) in the 45th minute when Ref Baldomero Toledo gave Gershon Koffie a direct red card during an aerial challenge.

Both Koffie and Phelan both jumped up for the ball, and Koffie's arms were held high for balance. Phelan's jump wasn't directly upwards, and therefore the NER player hit his head against Koffie's elbow. While I could understand maybe a yellow card for the incident which was completely unintentional, the referee decided it was worthy of a red. The Whitecaps crowd applauded Koffie all the way to the tunnel, while booing the referee with plenty of hate. And so, the Whitecaps went into the halftime break without a goal for all their efforts and a man down.

My view from the south side of Empire Field. The crowd was fantastic throughout the match.

While the second half I was worried, and hoping for a 0-0 draw, the Whitecaps showed amazing determination in the way the ten players took on the Revolution. Hassli was brought on for Wes Knight, allowing the team to play in a 4-4-1 with him up top along with Harris and Camilo on the wings. This quickly became a 4-2-3 when the Caps pushed forward, causing lots of problems to the New England team which was truly playing terribly.

In the 55th minute the Whitecaps had a golden opportunity to score. Camilo earned a penalty with his unpredictable dribbling, and substitute Eric Hassli stepped up to take it. Hassli chipped it through the middle, celebrating by taking his jersey off and throwing it into the crowd, to reveal another jersey underneath it. As soon as he took it off, I knew he would be off the field. Hassli had previously received a yellow card for a silly challenge, and even if he had another Whitecaps jersey underneath it, the action is still recognized by FIFA as a yellow card. With 35 minutes to go, the Whitecaps were a goal up and two men down.

While it would've been the perfect time for New England Revolution to push forward, the opponents seemed truly lifeless. The Whitecaps were the more dangerous of the two teams, coming close to scoring a second. So close, that New England player Soares had to pull off a late sliding tackle on Khalfan, which was sanctioned with a direct red from referee Toledo. While I might have given a yellow for the challenge, just a word with Soares would've been enough as the tackle had no malicious intent.

The match began to liven up with only 19 men on the field (not counting the card-waving maniac dressed as a referee). New England Revolution began to push forward more, and created a goal which was disallowed because of an offside (not sure about this decision, I didn't have a good view) in the buildup. The disallowed goal was an omen, because as the minutes ticked down, and Toledo gave four minutes of added time, New England Revolution equalized in the 93rd minute.

Another shot of the crowd at Empire Field. Quite a full stadium of 19,396 spectators!

The goal knocked the breath out of Empire Field. The team had fought so hard to maintain the lead with just nine men, seeing it all erode away like a sandcastle washed away by the water was devastating. The match ended among the boos and shouts aimed towards the referee.

In the end, the Whitecaps played a fantastic match and were truly unlucky to not win. A crazy referee impeded what could've been a much more enjoyable match, and I'm beginning to grasp that maybe what's holding the MLS back is the referee quality. A good point by the Caps which fought hard against a truly lifeless New England Revolution team which woke up in the final minutes.

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Whitecaps Draw 3-3 Against Kansas City in Epic Comeback

Before the match against Sporting Kansas City, I wrote with great joy five reasons why the Whitecaps would defeat Kansas City. Yet, when the match started things weren't looking as positive as I had tried to make them out to be. And when the Whitecaps found themselves 1-0 down right before halftime, things were not looking good.

It was a wonderful strike by Bunbury which broke the deadlock. While the Whitecaps had started slowly, giving Kansas City the possession for the first 20 minutes of the first half, things changed as the first half wore on. Atiba Harris and Camilo began to make runs behind the SKC backline, and were often served deep balls to chase by Rochat and the lively Wes Knight. But no matter how many opportunities the Whitecaps created, Nielsen stopped everything for Sporting KC in between the sticks. Camilo would've scored at least three goals against any other goalkeeper, but Nielsen was saving everything. As the first half came to a close, the Whitecaps had created the most and best opportunities, and were caught sleeping when Bunbury smashed the ball into the far corner from outside the 18. It was a wonderful goal from the man who had been receiving plenty of boos from the Vancouver crowd. 

The second half began, and while I was expecting the Whitecaps to be well awake and ready to attack, the team wasn't. Things looked just like they did back at the beginning of the first half, with Kansas City easily retaining possession against a static set of white shirts. This time SKC capitalized on their good moment, Teal Bunbury scoring again (a wonderful piece of skill) in the 58th minute and then Kei Kamara (a well placed volley) scoring a third in the 62nd minute. And at 3-0 the Whitecaps heads dropped, SKC players smiled and Empire Field became silent.

Teitur Thordarson then decided to go for it, all or nothing. A minute after SKC's third goal, the Icelandic tactician replaced the hurting Janicki with Nizar Khalfan and then five minutes later brought on Davide Chiumiento for Wes Knight. These two changes were what ultimately caused the epic comeback all of Vancouver was about to experience. Nizar Khalfan tired out basically all of the Kansas City players and never stopped running, while Davide Chiumiento was dangerously inventive. The Whitecaps grew more and more, just like they had in the first half, slowly moving their way into the oppositions half. And in the 73rd minute, Khalfan's speedy run tore down the left wing right before the Tanzanian crossed for Atiba Harris to tap-in (more like a hump-in, as the ball was at an awkward mid-waist level).

Camilo scored two goals in a wonderful performance

Things didn't stop here as the Whitecaps continued pressing high up the field, hemming in SKC into their own half. But as the clock ticked down the idea of any points from this match seemed virtually impossible. For the final 20 minutes the Whitecaps launched continuous attacks on Kansas City which played with an arrogant nonchalance, already feeling as if the result was in the bag. When five minutes of added time were given, I had an inkling that the Whitecaps would pull one more goal back, just for the fans.

And the Whitecaps did, Davide Chiumento was slipped through the SKC defence, and he coolly squared theh ball to Camilo for a tap-in. The stadium erupted, and my dad (not a big MLS fan) who had been making fun of the Whitecaps all game said (albeit sarcastically), "Here they go for three". He was right, because just a minute later Nizar Khalfan crossed in for Camilo who produced a brilliant header into the top corner of the SKC net. The comeback was complete, and the 20,000 Whitecaps fans at Empire Field were cheering their hearts out.

It was a wonderful comeback, which really makes me proud to be a Whitecaps fan. While I am slightly disappointed that the Whitecaps conceded the first three goals, which probably shouldn't have been scored, they made up for their mistakes. It was a brilliant match, which will hopefully help turn even more people in Vancouver to attending a Whitecaps game. After all, I can't think of an MLS team with this much heart and spirit.

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Five Reasons Why The Whitecaps Will Defeat Sporting Kansas City

Instead of offering up just another bland match preview, I've come up with five (fairly) solid reasons of why the Vancouver Whitecaps FC will defeat Sporting Kansas City this weekend. If you're against excessive positivity, at the bottom I've also listed who won't be playing for the Whitecaps due to U-20 action or injury.


1. It's SKC's third away trip in a row

That's right, looking at Kansas City's past two matches I noticed that their trip to Vancouver will be their third away game in a row. While this might mean nothing to some who rarely play soccer on their own, I can tell you from experience that driving just 30 minutes to get to my soccer match poops me out. I can't imagine flying hours to play away matches, with away crowds booing, three times in a row. That has to have some sort of fatigue effect in my opinion. And if it doesn't, the fact that the match is being played at Empire Field (100% winning record at home!) will certainly be a boost for the Whitecaps.

Leathers will know everything about SKC

2. Leathers wants revenge (well, not exactly)

You may or may not know that the Whitecaps defender Jonathan Leathers used to play for Sporting Kansas City back when the club was called Kansas City Wizards. When asked about it, Leathers remained humble and kind, praising the former club while calmly stating that "it's just another game". But I know that when Leathers is on Empire Field against his ex-team, a fiery white-and-blue flame will ignite in Leathers's eyes. Surrounded by a cheering crowd of Whitecaps supporters, Leathers will have no mercy against his former teammates he knows so well. I expect bone-crunching tackles, blistering runs, and a spirited performance from the right-back (and maybe a goal?). The other advantage that Leathers offers is that he knows the Kansas City players; their strengths and their weaknesses.


3. Ochocinco has been a big distraction 

Chad Ochocinco, what a big and cool sounding name. The NFL star decided to return to soccer, and has become an "honorary member" of Sporting Kansas City now, with the chance to train with the reserves whenever he wants. But this honor didn't come right away for the American football star. Chad had to trial with Sporting Kansas City, in which he performed well, got the trial extended, and continued to practice with the MLS team. He got a chance to play about half an hour in a reserve game, and while his sprinting speed may be fantastic, his overall technique and stamina isn't up to professional soccer standards. But who cares? What does this have to do with the Whitecaps? Nothing. That's right, everyone in and around the Kansas City setup has been thinking about Chad Ochocinco, and his entrance into the team. Therefore, Vancouver can now strike like ninjas, covered by the large veil that is Chad Ochocinco's star power sucking up media attention. Strike swiftly my silent ninjas.


4. DeMerit is back!

There isn't much else to be said about this point. The return of the Whitecaps FC captain Jay DeMerit is a big one, providing a very solid rock in the center of defence which few will be able to surpass. Not only is he one of the best players on the field individually, but he raises the team's performance to a higher level. Overall, it just feels better having him play, wouldn't you agree?

Long Tan might be starting against SKC

5. An introduction of young goal-scorers


Eric Hassli's sending off against Philadelphia Union wasn't a good thing, especially because the Caps ended up conceding a goal and losing the game, but we can look at the positives. The main positive I see is that the Frenchman's absence offers a hole in the team, waiting to be filled by either Camilo or Long Tan. The opportunity to start in front of a home crowd is a pretty important one, and I'm sure that either Camilo or Long Tan will take it seriously and put in a huge amount of effort. This could be the chance for one of the two to score and impress coach Teitur, and don't be surprised if one of them takes it.


The unavailable players


While above there are five decent points on why the Whitecaps will defeat Sporting Kansas City, down here you've got a bit of bad news. Simply said, I'd much rather have Eric Hassli playing than not, but his red card against Philadelphia Union leaves him suspended for this match. While I wanted to see Omar Salgado step up and play in Hassli's absence, Salgado is unavailable as he is on international duty with the USA U20s, and similarly Russell Teibert is away with the Canada U20s and therefore unavailable. There's also a fairly lengthy list of injured players who are unavailable, Davide Chiumiento, Shea Salinas, John Thorrington, Jay Nolly and Michael Nanchoff will all be unable to play because of different types of strains and injuries. It's a big list of injured players which will hopefully diminish as the season goes on.


Prediction time


In the end I expect the Whitecaps to win a hard-fought game. I'm thinking 2-1 for the Caps, both goals scored by Atiba Harris. Now it's your turn, share your predictions and thoughts on the match below by commenting. Can the Whitecaps pull off a win?

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Where To Follow Whitecaps Blog and Useful Links

I've been having a lot of trouble trying to write about the result against Philadelphia Union (A 1-0 win for Philly). Therefore I've decided sidestep that result and to post a few links where you can follow this blog around the internet. This is mainly a compilation of links that you might (but might not) find interesting and worth visiting.

These are the main two places to follow the blog. On Twitter I do my best to tweet live match updates, and basically any news I come across regarding the Whitecaps. If you're interested in chatting about the Whitecaps, and hearing my opinions regarding just about anything, following Whitecaps Blog on Twitter is the way to go.

But there's more than just Twitter! If you prefer less frequent (a euphemism for less annoying) updates, I highly suggest you to "like" the Whitecaps Blog Facebook page. On the Facebook page I try to give fewer, more important updates. That mainly means that I'll post something when there is a new post up on the website, and maybe the final score of a Whitecaps match.

Guess what, Whitecaps Blog also has a Flickr account! Considering that I live in Vancouver, the main hub of the Whitecaps, I decided to make a Flickr account for the blog. On it, you'll find photos (which I have taken) which have just about anything to do with the Whitecaps. Whether it be a few snapshots of a match, or a photo of the advertisement above, I'm constantly keeping my eye out for anything related to the Whitecaps which I can take a picture of.

Below that, there's also my own Twitter account. It's not quite a personal account, as I don't care if people see what I put up there. It's basically where I complain about writing, and occasionally give a sporadic opinion regarding European soccer along with a bit of Whitecaps. 

Whitecaps Blog Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/Whitecapsblog

Whitecaps Blog Twitter: @Whitecapsfcblog

Whitecaps Blog Flickr: www.flickr.com/photos/whitecapsblog

My own Twitter: @Niccoloc

Now that you can stay up to date regarding the Whitecaps, below are a few other links which you might find interesting. 

Soccer Wrap Up: www.soccerwrapup.blogspot.com (Soccer news from around the world along with occasional soccer gear reviews.)

Madrid Atleticos: www.madridatleticos.com (The place to visit if you're an Atletico Madrid fan. Fantastic coverage of Atleti's exploits in La Liga and anywhere else.)

SoccerPro: www.soccerpro.com (My favorite place to shop for soccer gear online, and they don't charge for awesomeness.)

That's all for now. I'm looking forward to seeing the Whitecaps host Sporting Kansas City this upcoming weekend. I'll probably going to post a preview of that match within the next few days. If you've got anything you want to say or share, don't be afraid to comment below!

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A Look At "Rise and Shine: The Jay DeMerit Story"

Photo credit to me! Check out the Whitecaps Blog Flickr

As I was making my personal Twitter account (@Niccoloc if any of you are interested), I came upon a link to a movie trailer. What was interesting was that this movie was Rise and Shine: The Jay DeMerit Story! I had no idea that the Whitecaps FC captain had a movie about him coming out, and so I decided to do a little bit of research (emphasis on the 'little').

To start things off, you and I won't be watching the movie anytime soon. Jay DeMerit's friends and family made this movie to tell the incredible story of the Whitecaps captain, but sadly there is plenty of funding needed. Video clips and images of the Premier League and World Cup cost huge amounts of money, and sadly there isn't enough financial backing to get the film out there.

Here's the statement below from the people who made the film, and if you're a millionaire (don't worry, billionaires are accepted as well) think about investing in this film.

"We are finished with the documentary film on Jay DeMerit but do not have the licensing rights to take it to theatre or dvd. We are not a Hollywood production company. This film was made by Jay's friends who want his story to be told. If anyone is interested in partnering for finance or distribution, please contact jaydemeritstory@yahoo.com"

To finish off, I've embedded the movie trailer below. If you're a Whitecaps fan, it'll give you a little bit of insight regarding your captain and his humble beginnings. If you're not a Whitecaps fan, it's still a great story, one which will hopefully one day be available for the public to watch.

If you're interested in more information regarding the movie, you can read this in-depth post on The Shin Guardian "About The Making Of: Rise and Shine: The Jay DeMerit Story". You can also check out the official website of the film.

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