Good Monday morning Caps fans. Hope you all are well rested and gearing up for the week ahead.
It was a perfect finale for the first half of the season. Even with ample rotation, the Caps put San Diego to the sword in a 4-2 win that checked all the boxes. Dominant Brian White performance (after a slow few weeks)? Check. Ralph Priso’s return to the lineup, grabbing a goal to burnish his resume for the World Cup? Check. A match where the attack looked like it was firing on all cylinders? Check.
Vancouver was fortunate when Luca Bombino was sent off on a rather questionable second bookable offense, but by then San Diego’s fate had already been sealed.
White was the obvious standout, and while he was unlucky that Priso stole his hat trick, he deserves credit both for the two well-taken goals and his unselfishness in assisting on Bruno Caicedo’s goal. White and Müller clicked and this looked like the attack we’ve all come to expect.
Credit also to Jeevan Badwal, who was worked hard and clearly has grown in the first half of this season. He hasn’t always made his mark on games but that can’t be said of Saturday’s game. He had a nice assist, was full of energy and thrived in a bit more of a deeper role.
The Caps sit two points ahead of where they were this time last season and while Nashville SC have narrowly overtaken them in the Supporters Shield race, this could be a different team when they roll the ball back out in July and MLS action resumes. At that point, Ryan Gauld, Sam Adekugbe, Priso, and Emmanuel Sabbi should all be fully fit (I’m choosing not to worry about Sebastian Berhalter’s future). The long and winding road trip is three matches from ending and the Caps will have plenty of players to enjoy at the World Cup. All in all, the vibes are great right now.
Shameless Self Promotion
Enjoy the last post match recap until early July, with a run down of a pleasant Saturday night in San Diego.
Best of the Rest
Priso made Canada’s preliminary 30 man World Cup roster, as did a host of former Caps players. Meanwhile, Berhalter is on the plane for the U.S. but some of the other choices from Mauricio Pochettino were a surprise.
More on Sabbi’s injury prognosis, with the winger undergoing surgery for a sports hernia issue.
A new manager was not enough to close the gap between Pacific FC and top of the league Cavalry, while Vancouver FC were pegged back to a 1-1 draw.
White really needed that effort and result – I was beginning to think we need a fast no. 9 to give him a break now and then, but maybe Alloumi is enough this season (He hasn’t exactly been putting in standout performances either). Re. Badwal, he may have been instructed to stay on his feet, despite his ability to draw fouls. Flopping has its downside, pardon the pun.
Any update on Gauld?……..is it possible that the Whitecaps could play one game on the FIFA turf?…….Would pack BC Place~
as my wise Dad often said- it’s better for a player to be a BIG FISH in a small pond (MLS), rather than a small fish in a big pond (EFL for example)
hopefully Berhalter chooses the former, gets a bump in salary to over $2 mill, is a hero in the eyes of supporters and teammates, is one of the best AMFs in MLS, plays in a system totally fitted for him and he loves it, and lives in a beautiful city that wont bother him when he goes out of his condo (much like Muller does)
having said that, i think he will choose the latter and the Caps brass under Axel’s leadership and eyes from the scouts will move forward with a suitable replacement in the multi-dollar range as i dont see any other Cap player able to do what he does- even Ryan Gauld doesnt fit Seba’s game because he doesnt have the same work rate and set piece specialties
keeping Seb and adding a healthy, fit Gauld would be supremo! League Points Leader and MLS Cup would be a distinct possibilities
Salty
I think Gauld has the same work rate but they are very, very different players. Gauld also leads the team when he’s playing so we don’t have to worry about that part. Set piece delivery sure but this is something other players can work on if they want to. By all accounts Sebi spent hours on his own mastering his kicks to get to this place.
I’m a huge Berhalter fan though so I really really really do not want him to leave!!
Ok, Seb leaves and the caps make some money. What’s the point in spending money on a new cmf when we already have one on the team and that is Priso. Did you notice that’s where Priso played on Saturday. This allows Soresen to utilize the return of Ranko to his natural position while maintaining the current cb duo of Blackmon and Laborda, who I’ll add, have played very well. Any disagreement on that? Haven’t heard much about Halbouni but I thought he played really well last year before being injured. Finding a player to replace Seb on the open market is almost going to be impossible. Unless we can find someone along the lines of Estaquio I’d say go with either Priso, Badwal or Larraz. What about Ngando? I’d agree about Seb being the big fish in the small pond. I’m not sure Seb makes an impact in Europe’s top flight, as many have discovered. And back to Saturday’s match: the caps still had some shaky moments at the back trying to play through the press. This has been their undoing in the past and it continues to concern. We were fortunate to play the last 20 minutes or so a man up otherwise a draw could have been the outcome. But it was a fine bounce back performance after losing in Houston.
I actually think Badwal can step in. He just got onto the team last year has been growing in confidence exponentially since and is getting the respect of players. In a year or so he can turn into the player that is not the new guy but a guy that is wiling to go for it no matter what. All these guys are benefiting so much from the Sorensen style. You might be this but you are going here and you will do great.