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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