In Episode 223 of the Third Sub Podcast, Alexandre Gangue-Ruzic and Samuel Rowan dive into the latest on the Vancouver Whitecaps, Vancouver FC and Pacific FC.
Welcome back to another episode of the Third Sub Podcast!
In this episode, Alex and Sam are back, as usual, this time to chat all things Vancouver Whitecaps, Vancouver FC, Pacific FC and more.
To begin, there’s the latest out of the Vancouver Whitecaps, who for the first time since 2022, have lost three games in a row in MLS play, as they fell 2-1 to LAFC to extend their losing streak to three games and their winless run in MLS play to six games.
They look at what stood out from the LAFC game, diving into a familiar trend that stood out, one that might prove to be costly as they get set for the playoffs.
Speaking of the playoffs, the Whitecaps will now play their last game before the postseason this upcoming weekend on the road to RSL, and they preview that match, seeing what the Whitecaps will need to do to bust their slump ahead of the playoffs while also improving their postseason seeding.
Meanwhile, in the CPL, the final weekend of action looms, with both Pacific FC and Vancouver FC sitting in the hunt to earn the fifth and final playoff spot.
Which of the two will earn that spot? Or could Valour leapfrog both of them and leave them on the outside looking in? They’ll find out this weekend during “The Outcome”, the CPL’s regular season finale.
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Schopf and Kreilach will be gone, not sense discussing them further in the future. Adekugbe has been too injury prone and do you really need to spend $900,000 plus on a fullback in MLS? Not too many higher priced fullbacks like him in this league.
Raposo and Johnson are contributors but not difference makers: relatively cheap squad guys, they’ll have some good moments but you guys get carried away with their “upside” after such moments (“I’d like to see Raposo tried as a 10 in preseason,”…please!). They’ve hit their ceilings and Johnson’s weak first touch, at 26, ain’t getting better. NFC might be able to get a look next year.
Armstrong is going to be a bust because the trend line for guys of his background (British box to box mids like Gerrard and Lampard) isn’t good and he is way off the pace.
Vite is a guy they could move in the offseason because I think he has value elsewhere and they can use the resources for a better fit for their central midfield. (i.e. offensive output). Berhalter has been outstanding so let him have that role beside Cubas. Priso has improved with appearances but was a nonfactor vs RSL so I don’t think he is MNT, but if he is on the cheap as a homegrown, than he is a guy to keep for another year until an Academy grad makes the leap up and becomes a contributor.
Laborda and Blackmon are more mobile than Utvik, for sure, but they are still quite questionable. Halbouni is more steady Erik Godoy than an aggressive, offensive contributor as a defender: if the Caps played a back four, he would be a good fit there but I think you overrate is his offensive potential, Sam.
Portland have a really good attack. Evander is a stud out there and a true game changer in the attacking mid role. Any one of Laborda, Blackmon, or Utvik is vulnerable to the long switch and closing down 1 v 1. They can score but they also concede. Their CBs are dodgy and Crepeau is on the bench while Pantemis has been steady for them (though he historically is prone to big errors during his time with Montreal).