VANCOUVER, B.C - The MLS Secondary Transfer Window deadline will close on Thursday, August 6. MLS teams have two days left to put pen to paper and secure their newest additions. We've already seen several marquee players arrive in Major League Soccer during the window. The Western Conference leading Whitecaps have remained quiet. Not wanting to disturb the chemistry, locker room cohesiveness and his teams fantastic form. Carl Robinson hasn't got much on the burner in terms of transactions.
Teams have been calling, players have been discussed, but nothing concrete has blown the Whitecaps away. In order to make a move, Vancouver would almost certainly have to cut some player salary.
Darren Mattocks is on a hefty salary of $272,000 this season and has 3 goals and an assist in 17 GP. Mattocks missed most of June and July away on national team duty and played only 83 MLS minutes for his club team from June 7 - July 31. His last MLS goal was scored on May 9 vs Philadelphia.
While away with Jamaica at the Copa America and the Gold Cup Mattocks saw his stock rise after a semifinal goal against the U.S. and the lone Reggae Boyz marker against Mexico in the Gold Cup final. Back with the Whitecaps, Mattocks gave a smile when asked about his transfer value going up.
"I don't know. (Laughs) Hopefully it does. That's good for any player. You want your stock to be as high as possible, but I'm not too worried about that right now. I'm with the Whitecaps, and that's all I'm focusing on."
The Whitecaps have a crowded surplus of talented striker options and that means being patient while waiting for minutes. Octavio Rivero got off to a brilliant MLS start and was named Player of the Month for March. Robert Earnshaw has battled injuries and missed out on playing time. Mattocks is hopeful that his recent showing with Jamaica will help translate into more playing time with the Whitecaps.
"Yeah most definitely. Everyone wants playing time. The only way you're going to score goals is if you get playing time. We have a large squad of a lot of quality players, so you've just got to make sure that when you get your chance, you take it."
The 24 year-old Mattocks has had a hectic travel schedule over the last month. Gold Cup action saw Jamaica travel to Los Angeles, Houston, Toronto, Baltimore, Atlanta and finally Philadelphia. Following the tournament, Mattocks was give a few days off in Jamaica before returning to Whitecaps training last Friday. It's been quite a whirlwind of planes, trains, and more planes, and Mattocks couldn't be happier.
"I've been telling my friends and family that I don't think I've been travelling so much in my entire life, but hey, I'm not complaining. It's a god given talent that I'm blessed with and I'm fortunate to travel so much to be able to do, what I love to do. For me, it's not really much complaining."
Sam Adekugbe was supposed to make his return to the pitch last Friday in Tulsa, Oklahoma with Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2. The left-back has been out with an ankle injury sustained back in May. A paperwork error prevented Adekugbe from playing in the Whitecaps FC 2 match, a 3-1 victory. Adekugbe was left to sit on the bench while in eligible to play because of a late roster guidelines error.
With the Whitecaps opening up CONCACAF Champions League play tomorrow night against the Seattle Sounders. Adekugbe's return to play schedule may have to be altered. As of now it's all up in the air.
"I'm not entirely sure. It's obviously supposed to be a process when coming back from injuries. You don't just force things and jump right back into the action. You can see that with Pedro Morales. Whether that's changed the process of what the timelines going to be, I don't know. I know all I can do, is to do the things I do best on the field and obviously show the coaches that I'm ready to go and raring to play."
All players want to play a full 90 minutes, but it's important to take small steps returning to action. The 20 year-old Adekugbe is fully fit and has been training with the Caps for the past two weeks. It will be up to Carl Robinson to decide if he wants to play Adekugbe for a half, or perhaps 20 - 30 minutes towards the later stages of the match. Christian Dean, and Jordan Harvey are both candidates to start.
"I probably think I could play 90 minutes, but I'm not sure until I start playing, so who knows."
The transfer window and CONCACAF Champions League bring out the excitement of Major League Soccer during the dog days of summer. Vancouver may stand pat before the transfer window shuts, but they certainly won't be lacking in electric enthusiastic performances with the talent currently assembled.
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