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Posted by
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January 27, 2017 |
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VANCOUVER, B.C - The Vancouver Whitecaps will be expecting big things from Kendall Waston this season. The Costa Rican centre-back had a disappointing 2016 campaign which often saw him leaving the pitch seeing red. Waston made 26 appearances for Carl Robinson's squad and started in each of those matches. He contributed 3 goals and 1 assist, he also picked up 8 yellow cards, and 3 red cards.
Waston has come into preseason camp with a bit of an undisclosed injury. He's picked up a slight niggle and has yet to fully train with the main Whitecaps FC group. It's nothing fans should be alarmed about. As Waston puts it, preseason is to prepare.
"No, it's just a little thing," admitted Waston. "Nothing to worry about. Not one hundred percent, but that's why we came to preseason, to prepare ourselves to be the best we can for the beginning of the season."
When Vancouver begins the MLS season on Sunday, March 5 vs Philadelphia Union, Waston won't be on the pitch at BC Place. Yes, you guessed it. He will be serving a one game suspension. Waston picked up the ban in the Caps season finale vs Portland, after contact to the stomach of Timbers striker Fanendo Adi.
Carl Robinson will have to find a suitable centre-back pairing among Tim Parker, Cole Seiler, Andrew Jacobson, Christian Dean, and rookie Jake Nerwinski. David Edgar will be unavailable. He is recovering at home in Ontario following a hit and run in Arizona last month.
The 29 year-old, Waston, wants to see Vancouver back in the playoffs next fall. If that's going to happen, he will have to regain the form that saw him finish runner-up for 2015 MLS Defender of the Year. Vancouver has the talent, determination, and work ethic, but is that enough to bring in better results this season?
"The best thing is, we have the same mentality," said Waston. "We want to win this year, we want to qualify for the playoffs, we preparing ourselves to do our best performance."
In order to be better in the competitive MLS western conference, that means having Waston available on the pitch. Avoiding yellows, reds, unnecessary fouls, and a quick temper is something Waston has to adjust. Referees clearly have an eye on him, and he can't be too quick to react knowing opponents will be ready to embellish anything, just like Adi did.
"Well, I want to be disciplined," said Waston when asked about avoiding red cards, "Obviously, but it's not something that I put every day in my mind that's stressing myself about it."
It will be Waston's first time in Wales, and like his teammates, he is looking forward to playing Cardiff City FC, Oxford United FC, and Bristol City FC. Vancouver needed to shake things up and get out of a comfortable preseason routine in Arizona. Waston welcomes the change.
"Yeah, in Arizona we were almost use to the same thing, admitted Waston. "Playing against the same MLS teams that we are playing every year. Now we're going to Wales and playing three different clubs, with different types of players, different type of football. I think those experiences are going to help us a lot."
Vancouver is going to need a big bounce back season from Kendall Waston and there is no doubt that he is capable of delivering. Having Waston back in form will help solidify the Whitecaps back-line, and help David Ousted keep balls out of the onion bag.
Notes: Vancouver Whitecaps fell to Cardiff City FC in a 1-o loss earlier today.
Whitecaps FC Starting XI: David Ousted; Jake Nerwinski, Tim Parker(C), Christian Dean, Jordan Harvey; Andrew Jacobson, Matias Laba; Alphonso Davies, Kekuta Manneh, Marcel de Jong; Erik Hurtado. 4-2-3-1
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