|
Posted by
,
October 19, 2016 |
|
Twitter
@HarJournalist
|
|
Read this on your iPhone/iPad or Android device
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
VANCOUVER, B.C - A record of 9-15-9 and 17th overall in the MLS Supporters Shield race signifies a vastly underachieving and disappointing season for Vancouver Whitecaps FC. The Caps had high hopes after finishing second in the MLS western conference last season and hosting the clubs first MLS playoffs match. To have taken such a massive step backwards has come as a shock to fans, media, and the Whitecaps organization. Red Nation Online spoke to Vancouver Whitecaps FC President, Bobby Lenarduzzi about his thoughts on the season and the team going forward.
"We finished up last season, finishing in third. I thought we made some good offseason additions, and we were optimistic about our chances, as were a lot of people around the league, and locally, and it hasn't worked out that way. Obviously, very very disappointing."
Vancouver has struggled to score goals and have equally struggled at keeping the opposition from scoring. The Whitecaps allowed 36 goals against in 2015 and with one game left to play in 2016, they've conceded 51 goals against. The back line has made far too many uncharacteristic errors, and David Ousted has not been in his usual spectacular form that we were accustom to seeing in 2015.
Pedro Morales has been let down this season. Yes, he leads the club with 8 goals, however six of those goals have come via penalties. The skipper went from the end of May to September having not scored in MLS competition. As the team’s highest salary, $1,471,400, that's not good money for value.
Costa Rican international Christian Bolanos has been a nice addition with his 5 goals and 7 assists, but he hasn't been able to link up consistently with his teammates. Vancouver shipped out striker,Octavio Rivero to Chilean club Colo-Colo and have been searching for goals from the strikers all season. Giles Barnes was brought in from Houston mid-season and has yet to score a goal with his new team.
Bobby Lenarduzzi has already set his eyes on the top priority going into the offseason.
"I think it's fairly obvious if you look at our roster, we need someone that can get us 15 - 20 goals a season. Leadership is something that I think we lacked at times last season, especially when things weren't going well. Those will be amongst the things that we will be addressing."
The Whitecaps organizational approach has been to bring in young, talented, and low-cost players from Central and South America. If you can find a few gems that can fit into the first team and succeed, it's a great franchise model. Supporters would like to see proven players from Europe or the United Kingdom in a Whitecaps kit. That possibility drives up a potential transfer cost. There is also no guarantee that a player from that part of the world will be able to fit in, adapt to MLS and help the Vancouver Whitecaps.
"In the end it doesn't matter where the players come from," said Lenarduzzi. "If they can contribute, the nationality is really irrelevant."
If you look at Jermaine Defoe, Shaun Maloney, Barry Robson, Nigel de Jong and others, bringing in a top footballer with a proven background in a top rated league doesn't always turn out wonderful. For every Giovinco and Bradley Wright-Phillips, you could get a dud who can't adapt to Major League Soccer and misses his friends and family back home. While spending a larger sum of money on one specific player position (striker) is not out of the question, it's something Lenarduzzi isn't ready to fully commit to.
"I think our spending philosophy has always been from the time we entered into MLS, that wanted to invest heavily in player development and I think that's something we've done. We're starting to see fruits of those labours as the residency continues to grow. Our USL team, WFC 2 has provided a great opportunity for some of those young players. In terms of the spending, we'll look at what the options are available. We'll continue to try and be as diligent as we can be. I think ideally that's what it comes down to and in the end, you can never tell. There's a history around the league of Designated Players that have come in and have struggled."
One area that can be improved and won't cost the Whitecaps a dime is player discipline and playing to the whistle. All too often fans have watched Whitecaps players given a straight red card or a suspension from MLS DisCo. Being able to hold back and avoid dangerous situations that could get you suspended has been hard for some players. Whether it's group therapy or simply not crossing the line, Vancouver needs more key players on the pitch and less in the press box. It's great to play with excitement, hunger, and emotion, but you don't want to cost your team an opportunity to win because of a bonehead play.
"I think what you need to do, is stem the enthusiasm and make sure players don't cross the line between wanting to do well and crossing that line, and doing something that results in a yellow or a red card. It's really making the players more aware of the consequences of them getting sent off in a game and then missing the next match, and how much that impacts the team."
In Major League Soccer you're never as good as you are, and you're never as bad as you think. The Colorado Rapids turned their team around this season and are second in the MLS table. With a little bit of tinkering the Vancouver Whitecaps should be back on the other side of the standings in 2017. The core of the team is solid with David Ousted, Kendall Waston, and Matias Laba. Finding that final pyramid piece at the top and getting a goal-scorer could completely turn the Whitecaps fortunes around next season.
|