Good Monday morning Caps fans, hope you all had a lovely weekend and that you are gearing up for a first week of April showers.
I will confess not to have watched the Caps’ 0-0 with Toronto FC live and I don’t regret that decision, as it played out like a bad weather match between a desperately bunkering bad side and a good but flawed team. Which is what it was.
From watching the highlights, you can’t say the Caps didn’t create chances, especially off set pieces. Toronto didn’t have much until late in the game and Vancouver managed their danger well.
Indeed, the fact that a road point against an Eastern Conference opponent is a disappointment and not a thing of mere ambivalence speaks to the quality the Caps have displayed this season. This isn’t an end of the world result at all, though I was really hoping for a win to own TFC.
Of larger concern is the fact that Andres Cubas and Mathias Laborda are doubtful for Wednesday’s CCC tie against Pumas. Laborda has been an important bulwark, allowing Edier Ocampo more freedom on the right side. But it’s the likely absence of Cubas, who bodied Monterrey last round, that is a bigger problem. The Caps can get a result in this one (after last round, who is doubting). But the degree of difficulty has been increased considerably.
Shameless Self Promotion
We have all the analysis and report card gradesreport card grades from the weekend tilt in Toronto.
Best of the Rest
Whitecaps 2 nabbed the extra point in the shootout, with a late equalizer giving them a 1-1 draw against Portland Timbers 2.
FIFA has a bit of a conundrum for the Club World Cup after booting out Club Leon due to an ownership conflict of interest.
John Herdman was formally admonished for SpyGate but otherwise escaped discipline.
Vancouver FC may be cooking up potshots at the Whitecaps but their new kits are pretty solid.
sad to hear that John Herdman only got a ‘slap on the wrist’- hopefully, Teams will ignore his resume for a job- i think, eventually, he will be back in the Womens’ game
with Gauld and now Cubas not playing Wednesday- it will be a challenge – Laborda can easily be covered by Ocampo– we can expect Priso to cover for Cubas, and Berhalter, Ngando and Ahmed to cover for Gauld, although neither of the 3 can be expected to score; a rested and enthused Vite can be a difference-maker
the plus side will be Pumas’ attitude in this game- they wont be worried by going down 1-2 goals as a return match favors them in significant ways (home crowd and reffing)
Salty