Good Monday morning Caps fans — hope you all are doing well and had a restful and relaxing weekend.
One quick correction from Friday’s column: The Caps links with Marc Leonard are real but his age will preclude him from occupying a U-22 initiative spot (something I meant to Google and double check but forgot). The broader point still remains but it seemed a fact worth clarifying.
Back to your regularly scheduled programming. And to any of you who made the trip to Portland: I’m so sorry.
Vancouver continues to be headed in the wrong direction and the 2-0 loss to Portland, a match they saw out with 10 men after Alessandro Schopf was sent off, was what I called in the post match to be “rock bottom.”
It isn’t even so much that the tactics are wrong or the attack continues to struggle, though both seem to be the case. Saturday’s result was of concern because they seemed to be hitting on some things in the first 20 minutes — and then just sort of gave up.
This team is at its best when its winning and contesting 50/50 balls in the midfield third, being aggressive in clearing out chances and pressing to try and find opportunities. It needs that type of energy to get the transition chances the team loves.
None of that was present on Saturday night for the bulk of the match and it is alarming. Schopf’s two bookings exemplified this. You have a player who has struggled and whose primary asset is veteran leadership make two lazy, largely needless tactical fouls. That lack of concentration basically sums up where everything is at right now.
Ryan Gauld basically was the only one interested in pressing. The team was largely non-existent in imposing themselves in the midfield third until after the red card.
Vanni Sartini hasn’t done himself any favors. Starting Mathias Laborda as a defensive midfielder was an odd move, though it was in service of playing Sebastian Berhalter, the only player with a good performance, out wide. I do have some sympathy because his bench options are fairly limited — when Luis Martins is about the only thing you can do to chance things up, that’s bad.
This is a team where things have just gotten a bit stale and that’s why we’ve been harping on the importance of the summer transfer window. Maybe getting back to BC Place will mean a bit more energy and passion — two traits that have largely defined Vanni Sartini’s teams. It is a disappointment that they are largely absent at the moment.
Shameless Self Promotion
For more of my ranting and raving on the Portland match, read out post-match recap.
Best of the Rest
A nice look at what Bjorn Utvik has brought to the Caps, helmet and all, so far this season
CONCACAF is probing racist comments directed at Canada’s Moise Bombito
The U.S., meanwhile, never had to get out of second gear to get by Bolivia 2-0 on Sunday
Aidan Morris is headed to Middlesborough and his send off in Columbus was an emotional affair
Ref Filip Dujic is responsible for creating a new meme in announcing a goal being disallowed in the Atlanta/St. Louis match
Is there any news on Brian White?
A few stitches on the chin. No indication that will make him unavailable.
I went to the game in Portland as I usually do, as I love the atmosphere of the old stadium. After game day breakfast I was walking down the street I saw 2 guys one with a Whitecaps T shirt. As I caught up to them I said,” Love your shirt!” I then took my hand off MY chest as it was covering the Whitecaps logo. No comment, no smile, no nice to see you, or thanks for coming down. Just nothing from the player. (Not one of the big name players.). I felt awkward, friendly tap on the shoulder and said, “Have a good game!” I felt empty!
The game itself, well not much to say. The team hasn’t been playing well lately so I wasn’t expecting a lot but expected a better effort than they showed.
Not sure if the player interaction or quality of the game frustrated me more!
“Diehard fan from the old days!”
I’m not certain what your interaction was, did you see two players on the street or simply two individuals that were fans or staff perhaps ? And, if it was two players, which players specifically ? That does matter, perhaps those individuals didn’t have a solid grasp of English ? That can be a factor in such interactions.
I do appreciate regardless the interaction was awkward and frustrating. Not a great day, in the end.
our home play hasnt been any different- slow starts, lack of full-game passion and drive, lack of goals- can we imagine what this Team would like if there wasnt Ryan Gauld to admire ? or to see Andres Cubas destroy the opponent’s play ?
for me, i feel sorry for Axel Schuster who is always being squeezed by the cheap, uncommitted Owners- he is a smart football person, but money matters for long-term success – the Owners keep tens of millions and give him a few hundred of thousands
Schuster has made a few (at least) questionable squad decisions with the resources he does have. 1M per for Schopf ? Martins still in the squad, Kreilach on a free but has barely contributed at near 500K per ? Picault, who now half a season in wants to leave ?
Schuster, this season, should absolutely now not be given any leeway. What he’s done with the resources he has is now slipping from average to poor.