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December 1, 2015 |
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VANCOUVER, B.C - The turn of the final month of the calendar brought a flurry of roster moves from the Vancouver Whitecaps on Tuesday at head offices in Gastown. The Whitecaps have picked up 2016 club options on the following 10 players, Marco Carducci, David Ousted, Sam Adekugbe, Jordan Smith, Tim Parker, Gershon Koffie, Nicolás Mezquida, Erik Hurtado, Kekuta Manneh, and Darren Mattocks. The following 6 players did not have club options picked up for 2016, Paolo Tornaghi, Steven Beitashour, Pa-Modou Kah, Ethen Sampson, Andre Lewis, Caleb Clarke.
While his contract has indeed been picked up, there continues to be speculation surrounding the possibility that David Ousted, his wife Maria, and three kids might head back to Europe to explore playing options closer to home. With his future in Vancouver unknown beyond the 2016 MLS season. Whitecaps Coach Carl Robinson provided an update on his talks with Ousted.
"Were always talking me and David. We have a very good relationship, so David will be back next year. Listen, I'd like to keep a lot of my players for four or five years. He's one that obviously we've spoke to the last three or four months in relation to trying to keep him here longer. We wll continue to talk."
The core of the Whitecaps foundation features Octavio Rivero, Pedro Morales, Matias Laba, Kendall Waston, and David Ousted. The 30 year-old Ousted has started 81 consecutive MLS matches for Vancouver. In his two full seasons he has proven that he is among the top keepers in Major League Soccer. Earning a few calls from Europe should be no problem for Ousted and his agent. Making the decision to move back to Europe and perhaps to Denmark remains to be the big decision for the Dane and his family. Robinson understands what David Ousted faces and vows to do his best to keep the Whitecaps goalkeeper in Vancouver.
"He's a big player without a doubt, so is Matias Laba and so is Kendall Waston. Were still (in) on-going talks with David. I'd like to keep David as long as I'm here. As I said, we have a good relationship, I'm not so worried about that, but every young player, every old player dreams of playing in Europe and I totally understand that and as I said, will do everything we can."
Of the 10 contract options that were picked up. It's highly unlikely that each player will be back next season. Whitecaps fans might be surprised to see Erik Hurtado and Darren Mattocks among the players announced as having options picked up.
"There's no guarantee that every players option I picked up will be here next year."
MLS free agency, re-entry draft, waiver draft, and the MLS SuperDraft on January 14 could reveal some more roster moves for the Whitecaps. Nothing is set in stone and player movement has yet to hit full stride during the early days of the MLS offseason.
Carl Robinson is pleased with how Hurtado did on his four-month loan with Norway Elitserien club Mjøndalen IF. The Whitecaps wanted Hurtado to get some minutes and experience football in another league in a foreign country. Perhaps that's exactly what Jamaican striker Darren Mattocks could use as well. The Whitecaps 4-2-3-1 formation meant that Octavio Rivero played most of the season in the lone strike role. Mattocks was often a late substitute off the bench. Carl Robinson provided updates on the future of both Hurtado and Mattocks.
"Erik went away to Norway to get some experience for him. If you back track a year ago, Erik finished the season as my number one striker so you don't turn into a bad player overnight. I've still got full faith in Erik, his number is very reasonable indeed, that was pretty simple. Darren's been a big part of this club in four years since he's been drafted. Does he want more regular minutes, yeah maybe. I'll work with Darren in relation to that as well because I have a very good relationship with him and I have a good amount of respect for him."
A good relationship between Robinson and Mattocks might be fine and lovely, but it won't stop the supporters, and pundits from clamouring for his ticket out-of-town. The 25 year-old played a career low 848 minutes and finished with three goals in 22 games played. A change of scenery, a new environment, and less attention could do Mattocks wonders. Lyrics from the Sam Smith song "Writing's On The Wall" have a comparable description of some of the play on the pitch from Darren Mattocks.
"I've been here before
But always hit the floor
I've spent a lifetime running
And I always get away
But with you I'm feeling something
That makes me want to stay
I'm prepared for this
I never shoot to miss
But I feel like a storm is coming
If I'm gonna make it through the day
Then there's no more use in running
This is something I gotta face"
In the midst of the silly season any bits and bobs that appear or do not appear on social media draw attention. The non-existent presence and zero Vancouver Whitecaps FC affiliation on Darren Mattocks twitter page was brought to Carl Robinson's attention. Robinson, who at one point had a Twitter account of his own before becoming coach of the Whitecaps had this to say.
"I spoke to Darren at length about it. I don't even know what social media things he's on. I don't think there was never any indication of him playing for the Vancouver Whitecaps in the first place. It's not a big thing for me. I spoke to him, everything's fine. We picked his option up and will see where we go next year with Darren."
The answer to the Darren Mattocks chronicles could potentially be blowing in the transfer winds. Mattocks went on trial with Swedish Allsvenskan Club IFK Goteborg and at the time English Championship side AFC Bournemouth last offseason. Moving his $272.000 salary off the books for another player or asset could help the Caps alleviate a salary crunch and free up money to sign Deybi Flores and Cristian Techera on full transfer from their respective clubs. Carl Robinson had this to add-on the matter of signing Flores and Techera for the 2016 season.
"Were trying to bring both players back. Cristian I think showed last year what he can do in relation to goals and assists and he's exciting to watch. Cristian's family will hopefully come back with him as well which might make him a little bit more comfortable. He's a big player for this club and we'll do everything we can do bring him back. Deybi Flores again showed his potential, he made a lot of mistakes as we know, but he's a great young player, fantastic young player and he'll be better if we can agree on a deal to bring Deybi back, because his numbers are reasonable. It follows the commitment at this club to identify, coach, and develop them and maybe move them on and maybe give them opportunities later on."
In terms of players who did not have an option picked up. Steven Beitashour is facing a more money and more problems situation. His 2015 salary of $197.166 seems to have been a bit too steep for the Whitecaps. While he could certainly return to Vancouver it will most likely have to be at a reduced rate. The same goes for 34 year-old veteran Mauro Rosales. The Argentine midfielder was on a hefty figure of $265.000 and in and out of the lineup with various injuries. The Whitecaps leadership group would be vastly different if Beitashour, Kah, Rosales, and Earnshaw don't return to Vancouver. All four players will have to go through re-entry waivers unless they opt out or sign new contracts. Jordan Smith has been brought back on loan for 2016, but isn't a viable MLS right-back just yet. Carl Robinson continues to keep in touch with Steven Beitashour.
"We’ll continue to talk to Steven. Obviously, he’s been a big piece for us this year, we know that. We’d like to do everything we can to keep him, which is why we are in negotiations. We will be talking to Mauro (Rosales) and Robbie Earnshaw as well. Steven likes it here and we like Steven here. In a salary cap league, sometimes you’re able as a different club to take advantage of a high cap number, so we’ll have to wait and see. But we’ll do everything we can to try and bring him back."
The Whitecaps situation behind David Ousted is a blossoming venture that will see Marco Carducci and Spencer Richey fight it out to see which keeper claims the spot vacated by the departure of Paolo Tornaghi. The Italian keeper never really found his grove in Vancouver, but to his credit he never once complained about playing time. Carducci and Richey will most likely settle in for Amway Canadian Championship matches and CONCACAF Champions League duty.
Carl Robinson, Bobby Lenarduzzi, and the Whitecaps organization have made the necessary moves to better position the Whitecaps into the next stage of development as the team has progressed each and every season. More roster moves will certainly be expected with the striker position being of most interest to Vancouver Whitecaps supporters.
Notes: Caleb Clarke, Andre Lewis, and Ethen Sampson will be eligible for the MLS Waiver Draft on December 9.
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