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...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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,...

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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...

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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...

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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,...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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