Three Impressive Caps From Opening Day

After the solid 1-0 opening day victory over Toronto FC, I couldn't help but realize that the Whitecaps had some solid performances from certain individuals which I wasn't expecting. While I don't mean this in a derogatory way, but often in the past, the Whitecaps have been a team which had a couple of notable players, with the rest being "team-players". Yet after seeing the Whitecaps in action the past weekend, there were plenty of impressive individual performances which deserve to be noted.


1. Kenny Miller

At the start of the game, I really had no idea what to expect from Miller. I hadn't seen any Whitecaps preseason action at all, and while I was hopeful, I didn't want to overestimate his influence. With DeMerit's early injury, and the armband being passed to the Scotsman, it seemed all set up for him to lead the Whitecaps forward. In that miserable first half of the game, Miller emerged as a single shining point, constantly active, and always a nuisance to Toronto's back four.

Well timed runs down the left and right wings opened up space and provided an option going forward. The few times the Caps managed to swing something near the box, Miller was prowling around in the right positions. In fact, throughout the first half it seemed like he was orchestrating the few excursions towards TFC's net, always switching sides while also contributing to help cover back. It was great to see such a hardworking start from Miller, and considering his great performance I'm suddenly expecting a lot from Kenny Miller.


2. Nigel Reo-Coker

The inclusion of Reo-Coker on this list is a must. While Kenny Miller was what kept it together for the Whitecaps in the first half, Reo-Coker ensured the Caps had solidity in the midfield and could maintain possession for more than a couple of passes. While I already made this point with Miller, what impressed me (probably more than it should've) was the work ethic from Reo-Coker. I really wasn't expecting too much from him, maybe sit in front of the back four and plug a few holes, yet Reo-Coker seemed to be everywhere.

From well-timed tackles transitioning into setting up the forwards with experienced vision and passing, having Reo-Coker in the middle of the park just made me feel safe. What's more, it seems like it took no time at all for him to mesh well with the other midfielders, and hopefully he'll become a kind of mentor for Koffie.


3. Gershon Koffie

It's impossible not to include Koffie in this trio, especially if you simply consider that he scored the winning goal. While it might sound a bit cheesy, it was exactly that which impressed me from Koffie's performance, the goal. I might be reading too much into this (and I usually am), Koffie's surging run forward to blast the ball into the net wasn't something I expected from him. A player with plenty of tactical discipline and smart positioning, I feel like the Koffie from last season would've stayed back, especially considering that the team already had Reo-Coker, Kobayashi, and Young-Pyo Lee joining the forwards.

While I could praise him for scoring the winner all day, Koffie also did what he does best: controlled the tempo of the match with calm control of the midfield. While perhaps he was a little more reserved and quiet compared to Kobayashi and Reo-Coker (both much more experienced than Koffie), when it mattered Koffie made sure to give the fans something to cheer about.


So who impressed you from the opening match? Who was the biggest surprise from the win? Were these the three most impressive Caps? Share your thoughts and comments below!

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Koffie Ensures Opening Day Win

Koffie and the Caps celebrating the winning goal

As a new season begins, the Whitecaps begin to ease into a steady rhythm of what will hopefully be victories. A 1-0 win over Toronto FC showed two different sides to the Whitecaps, with plenty of good and bad news to go around. Ultimately amongst Jay DeMerit's early injury and the disorganized first half the Caps had, Gershon Koffie's winner shines alongside the new signing of Nigel Reo-Coker who asserted his dominance in the second half of the match.

The first half of the match is one Whitecaps fans are eager to forget. Just seven minutes in DeMerit was assisted in hobbling off the field (replaced by Rusin) from what seemed to be a problem with his achilles (not a good sign) after having either put too much stress while jumping, or perhaps landing awkwardly on it. The entire team seemed fairly shell-shocked as the captain's armband was passed to Miller. That would be one of the few successful passes the Whitecaps managed to string together in the whole half as Toronto continuously pushed forward with Earnshaw always managing to be dangerous. The few forays the Caps had were mostly led by Kenny Miller making runs on the wings, yet rarely having someone to connect with.

Jay DeMerit being helped off the field

There was movement from the forwards, yet the Whitecaps were never able to properly retain the ball. The speedy Manneh would too often lose the ball amongst two defenders rather than pass it off to a teammate, and the few times the Whitecaps did try to pass around the ball, they were inaccurate and just  lead to long balls being hoofed up the field. Toronto FC on the other hand kept a cool head the entire first half, constantly using Earnshaw to weasel through the Caps defence, and never committing too many men forward in their attempts on goal.

The second half was where the Whitecaps finally managed to wake up. Rennie took out Manneh, who while vivacious was not helping retain possession and subsequently control of the match, and slot in Nigel Reo-Coker. The difference was noticeable, especially with Kobayashi playing more around the center of the midfield to help spread the ball around. It was a completely different team that had finally woken up, and after putting pressure on Toronto FC for about ten minutes, some fantastic build-up play was finished off with Koffie blasting the ball into the net.

The 59th minute goal was a gave the whole team a boost as the Whitecaps continued to create scoring chances. Kobayashi finally managed to set the pace of the game alongside Reo-Coker who is already showing to be a fantastic signing for the midfield. At the 76th minute Kobayashi was taken off (apparently he's not quite at full fitness levels) and replaced with Hurtado. While the 22 year-old showed off his dribbling and quick pace, he had the same difficulties Manneh had in the first half losing the ball too often with a few stray passes. Later on in the match Hurtado got a chance in front of goal, but an extra touch cost his shot to be deflected by a TFC defender.

The Caps went on to pressure Toronto well throughout the rest of the game, making up for the bleak first half display and thoroughly earning the 1-0 victory. The midfield had finally gelled with Reo-Coker in there keeping everything in order, and the team had completely forgot of the first half in which they lost their captain and suffered so much. It wasn't quite the most dominant of displays, but the Whitecaps did what they needed and showed a surprising amount of solidity in their second half display.

What were your thoughts on the Whitecaps and their opening victory? Who was the man of the match? Do you think they can keep up the wins? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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New 2013 Primary Kit Unveiled

As the 2013 MLS season is set to begin on Saturday, the Vancouver Whitecaps have unveiled their newest primary kit. If you were worried that there were going to be massive changes, you'll be glad to know that the kit has retained the same simplistic style with a few tweaks here and there. For anyone hoping a return to the retro, or something bold and mind-blowing, I guess you'll have to wait for next season.

The immediately notable couple of differences are the diagonal lines and the new collar. While I don't know much about fashion and style, the split-color round collar isn't quite my favorite. Personally I prefer a simpler v-neck or just a polo-style collar on jerseys, and the two-color scheme of it doesn't quite add anything special to it for me. As for the lines across the jersey, I can't really think of much to say considering how thin and minimalistic they are (something which I prefer over thick lines).

The new typeface/font of the MLS

My definite favorite part of the new jersey has to be the the typeface/font of the MLS. While it's not something designed by the Whitecaps team, it shows that Adidas is going in the right direction, finally straying away from the typeface I so disliked from past years of the MLS.

While my thoughts on the new jersey are pretty simple and straightforward, I've seen others quite unhappy with the whole kit and its design. What are your thoughts on the new Whitecaps kit? Share them in the comments!

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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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