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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Whitecaps Defeat Toronto FC 4-2 in MLS Debut

Eric Hassli scored two on his debut for the Whitecaps

It was a fantastic victory. It was a victory for the fans, the players, and all of Vancouver which has now earned respect on the MLS stage. While Toronto aren't one of the best teams in the MLS, they're still tough opposition. A 4-2 win will raise the confidence but also alert the team to improve the defensive side which could've been better. In the end, I'm glad that it wasn't a boring 0-0, which would've demoralized everyone, especially the fans. Instead we got a brilliantly entertaining 4-2 victory for the Whitecaps.

The first half was a fairly tight one. Vancouver started poorly, letting Toronto keep possession and create chances as the Caps were still getting themselves organized. But once the Whitecaps got organized, they were dangerous. In the 15th minute, Chiumento (who was playing on the right wing) drifted in a lovely cross which fell to Eric Hassli, who comfortably volleyed it for the Vancouver Whitecaps's first MLS goal. Empire Field exploded with cheers as the Whitecaps designated player kissed the Vancouver Whitecaps FC badge on his shirt.

But this lead wouldn't last for long. Just five minutes later Dwayne De Rosario slipped through the Whitecaps defence and finished past Jay Nolly. It was a well timed run and a clinical finish from De Rosario, equalizing the score at 1-1. But the Whitecaps weren't going to let this goal dampen their MLS debut, and when Terry Dunfield scored the Whitecaps's second six minutes later, the crowd went wild again. 

Dunfield was served a wonderful assist by Chiumento, sliding a quick through ball for the central midfielder to slot home. It was 2-1 for the Whitecaps, and any premonitions of a boring 0-0 disappeared. It was an exciting first half, end to end, with both teams fighting for opportunities to score.

Hassli smashing in the first goal of the match

At halftime, the Whitecaps had to substitute the brilliant Chiumento for Nizar Khalfan. The second half saw an invigorated Whitecaps team play to their full potential. Atiba Harris was set up with a brilliant opportunity in front of Toronto's keeper Frei, but Harris ended up tripping over his own feet and wasting the opportunity. Yet Atiba redeemed himself a few minutes later when he scored the Whitecaps's third goal from a corner. Toronto had failed to clear the ball from their box, and when the ball fell to Harris, he banged it into the net from close range.

At 3-1, the Whitecaps were playing wonderfully. Teitur Thordarson decided to replace Teibert (who had received a knock on the legs, hopefully nothing serious) with Wes Knight, who about five minutes into his MLS debut served Eric Hassli a wonderful assist for the team's fourth goal. There's a doubt of offside regarding Knight's run, but nonetheless Knight arrived in front of Frei before squaring the ball to Eric Hassli who tapped in his second of the match.

At 4-1, the Whitecaps reached their peak. Toronto were unable to keep possession, always doing their best to defend against the pressuring Caps. But when Santos rocketed a shot into the top-left corner of Nolly's net, Toronto FC began to regroup. It was 4-2, and while the Whitecaps were confident in front of the cheering home support, the players wanted to make sure not to give up another goal. 

Thordarson awarded Eric Hassli with a standing ovation from the crowd, replacing him with the Brazilian Camilo. Eric Hassli has to be awarded man of the match. After so many people doubting whether he would be able to score goals for the Whitecaps, the Frenchman stepped up to the stage and scored two very important goals for the Caps. The match finished off, with the resonant cheers of "WHITECAPS! WHITECAPS! WHITECAPS!" rounding off a wonderful MLS debut. 

I don't think I could've dreamt of a better debut for the Whitecaps. Share any thoughts or comments below!

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Good Signs From the 1-0 Loss to the Colorado Rapids

Every loss will be a stepping stone, especially in this first MLS season. The final preseason friendly against the Colorado Rapids was a strange one: while the Whitecaps wanted to show the fans a strong team, the players and coaches also wanted to make sure nobody got injured before the big debut against TFC. In the end, the 'Caps suffered a 1-0 loss in front of many young fans who were hoping for a little bit more. Here's a bit regarding the experience at Empire Field, if you're interested in the match report look below.

The final score was 1-0 for the Colorado Rapids

I was lucky enough to attend the match, and I got a glimpse of what Empire Field will look like next week when the Whitecaps play their first MLS match against Toronto FC. Entering the stadium, I even passed by Whitecaps legend and current president Bob Lenarduzzi, who was keeping a watchful eye on everything. I was going to bother Bob, ask him for a photo and say something generic like, "Hoping for a great season!", but then I realized that the man probably had enough things to worry about.

In the stands there were about 2,000 fans, with many kids and families happy to watch the Whitecaps. It was great seeing a young audience, and it shows that the Whitecaps are really trying to attract fans of all ages, especially the fans of the future. The crowd was responsive to what was happening on the field, and very happy to be watching the Whitecaps.

The two teams walked onto the field, with little children beside them as they lined up in front of the supporters. Then came the anthem singer Marie Hui, who did a fantastic rendition of the American and Canadian national anthems. When everybody and everything was cleared off the field, the two teams began to play the preseason finale.

Match Report:

Eric Hassli made his debut, starting up front alongside Atiba Harris. The Frenchman made himself dangerous from the beginning, shimmying past defenders and taking shots on goal. But the Whitecaps weren't very confident. The team had difficulty keeping possession, and without the captain Jay DeMerit, things were a little shaky at the back.

Eric Hassli played a good game alongside Atiba Harris

The Rapids were happy to keep possession when they got the ball, circulating it through their team before launching precise and often dangerous attacks. While the Whitecaps were also creating opportunities, the team was often too hesitant to take a shot when the possibility arose. When halftime came, Hassli and Harris had played well together, along with the wingers Khalfan and Teibert. 

For the second half Teitur replaced the keeper Jay Nolly with Joe Cannon. The second half also featured the Whitecaps's best opportunity to score, with a rebound in front of the empty Rapids goal falling to Dunfield, who put it over the bar. The entire crowd thought it was "the moment", yet the Whitecaps captain was unable to score.

Teitur began to make more changes, replacing a hard-working Hassli with Omar Salgado, and later on giving Long Tan a chance to play. The new pair of strikers weren't as effective as the previous pair, with Long Tan too selfish with the ball and Salgado unable to get into the game. Teitur Thordarson also replaced the wingers Khalfan and Teibert with Wagner and Knight, yet the substitutes were unable to give the spark that the previous wingers gave.

The Rapids were very dangerous in the second half, with Joe Cannon forced to make plenty of great saves. Yet the Rapids managed to score in the 79th minute, the speedy Sanna Nyassi raced through the Whitecaps defence, squaring the ball to Jamie Smith who was unmarked in the middle of the box. Smith put his shot into the top of the net for the only goal of the match, dampening the atmosphere in the stadium. 

While the Whitecaps certainly didn't want a defeat, it shouldn't affect the team very much. Teitur Thordarson was doing a few experiments, and he was missing some important players like Jay DeMerit and Shea Salinas. In the end the best players for the Whitecaps were substituted. Alain Rochat was solid on the left side of the defence, and the wingers Khalfan and Teibert were dynamic and dangerous to Colorado. The forward pair of Hassli and Harris also showed promise, with the two of them playing a strong game.

A disappointing result which left some fans wanting more. Yet putting things into perspective, a 1-0 loss to last year's MLS Cup champions isn't that bad. Hopefully the team will take the positives from this match, and carry them into the MLS debut against Toronto FC which is just six days away.

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Vancouver Whitecaps Sign Eric Hassli As Designated Player

Finally Whitecaps fans's prayers have been answered! Fans continuously asked for a designated player and a forward, and now they've got both in the form of Eric Hassli. But... are they really that happy? I'll admit it, when I saw that the Whitecaps signed Eric Hassli as their designated player, I was slightly disappointed. Maybe my aspirations of Samuel Eto'o or David Villa were a little high, but I expected someone a bit more... well known.

Yet as I peruse the Interweb for information regarding Hassli, I'm slowly becoming a happier and happier Whitecaps fan. After looking around at videos, statistics, and any other piece of information I could find about the French forward, I understood that this signing is a smart one. I'm actually excited to see the forward play, because I have a feeling like he can add quite a bit to the team.

Here are the reactions to Hassli's signing from coach Teitur along with Alain Rochat, who played with him at FC Zurich:




Looking at Hassli's career, he has spent his past few years at FC Zurich. Hassli collected 84 appearances and 27 goals for the club, making himself known as a strong player with technical ability. When Hassli first arrived at Zurich, the fans mocked him because of his lack of fitness and poor playing. Yet after a wonder-season for Zurich in 2008/09, Hassli won the fans over. Now, at almost 30 years-old Hassli moves to the Whitecaps to begin a new adventure in the MLS.

It's tough to make proper conclusions regarding the Whitecaps's first designated player. While it's not a flashy name like Saha or someone else, it is someone with European experience who seems ready to give his all for his new team.

From what I've seen on Hassli, this goal is probably his best, take a look for yourself:




Or maybe this rocket shot?




Or what about this fine piece of skill?




On Wikipedia it says that Hassli's idol is Ronaldo (the original one), and you can see how he has modeled himself on the Brazilian. The same burst of energy, strength, and technical ability which makes a complete striker. Coach Teitur said, "He completes our roster", but hopefully Hassli will do much more than just complete the roster. I'm hoping that Hassli can be the forward which the Whitecaps need, a goalscoring forward.

What are your thoughts on Hassli? Are you disappointed? Are you looking forward to seeing the Frenchman play? Share your comments below!

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Whitecaps Captains Announced: Jay DeMerit, Terry Dunfield and John Thorrington

The Whitecaps captain, Jay DeMerit

The Vancouver Whitecaps captains have been announced by coach Teitur Thordarson. While I was almost sure that Jay DeMerit would be the captain (because he is a strong leader, an experienced player, and an amazing person to follow on Twitter), I wasn't too sure about who would be the vice-captain. Along with Jay DeMerit, there were two other vice-captains named, and those are Terry Dunfield and John Thorrington.

The announcements were made in this video below:





I am very glad with the decisions which Teitur made, mainly because the team has an amazing amount of balance and spirit. While you can see (in the multiple videos that the Whitecaps puts up on Youtube) that the players are a tightly knit group of friends, they also have a huge amount of respect for each other. DeMerit will be an amazing captain for the inaugural MLS season, and hopefully he will become a Whitecaps legend.

If you are interested in reading more about the first Whitecaps captains in MLS history, I suggest you check out this article on the Whitecaps website. It gives miniature biographies regarding DeMerit, Dunfield, and Thorrington, along with other interesting pieces of information.

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