The Vancouver Whitecaps open their MLS campaign against Toronto FC for the third time in their brief history in North America’s top flight. The most famous meeting was Vancouver’s ultra-hyped inaugural MLS game. Four years later Whitecaps FC are preparing for their most anticipated season since that sunny afternoon at Empire Stadium.
Back then it was embarking on a new journey. Now it’s about a young franchise coming into it’s own. With a dynamic young core already proven capable of making the playoffs, the next step for this team is to contend for the MLS Cup. Maybe this is the year they take that step.
Or maybe not. With youth comes uncertainty, and there has been no shortage of that around BC Place in the leadup to March. Major League Soccer is confusing by nature, so understandably there is some doubt over whether or not this team is the real deal.
Let’s try to make some sense of this enigmatic team, playing in this unpredictable league. Here are the three biggest storylines as the 2015 season kicks off.
1. Can this team score?
Rationally, yes, the Whitecaps will have the basic ability to score goals. There were times last season, however, where you may have been lead to think otherwise.
Historically, the Whitecaps have struggled to put the ball in the net since moving to Major League Soccer. There has only been one exception: 2013. Camilo put away 22 goals as the lone striker that year, dragging the Caps to a share of 4th in league scoring. Now he’s gone, leaving behind a mess of young players struggling to fill his shoes.
After a 2014 season where only five teams failed to outscore them, manager Carl Robinson has already grown tired of watching Darren Mattocks and Erik Hurtado flounder in front of goal. Pace does not finish chances, and Robbo sent a clear message with his star signing this winter. In a league characterized by long-balls and crosses into the box, the Whitecaps found themselves a 6’2” striker in 22-year-old Octavio Rivero from the Chilean league. Bring on the headers!
2. Wait, the Caps are in the Champions League?
Contrary to popular belief, the Whitecaps did in fact qualify for the CONCACAF Champions League last year, an accomplishment that went nearly unnoticed. And no, the Caps did not finally manage to win the five-team Canadian Championship.
Apparently Big Brother has decided to allow the top Canadian team from the MLS table to enter the competition from now on. We may be caught a little off-guard, but hey, we’ll take it!
So the Whitecaps will begin their very first campaign in the CCL this August. Similar to most continental tournaments, it runs concurrently with the domestic season, meaning the balancing act of resting players will raise its ugly head at some point. Fortunately, the MLS season will be nearly two-thirds over by the time this competition begins. Besides, this schedule stuff is for managers to worry about.
What interests the fans is how their hometown club will fare against the top teams from Central America. Can the beloved Caps gain international recognition by winning the most prestigious competition available to them? Sadly, there’s no chance, if the performance of previous MLS teams is any indicator. The LA Galaxy were the last American club to win, back in the Champions Cup era in 2000, and only two MLS teams have reached the final since.
Still, the Champions League is a platform this Whitecaps franchise has been targeting since their entry into MLS. A chance to prove themselves against a Mexican giant is enough to pique the interest of the most hardened pessimists.
If nothing else, the tournament will be a welcome change of pace from the often-dreary trek towards the MLS Playoffs in October.
3. Will the Caps become contenders?
It is the proverbial “next step.” Going from a simple playoff team to a real challenger for the league title is the eventual goal of nearly every club in Major League Soccer. The Whitecaps are no exception.
How likely are the dynamic, young Caps to join the likes of Seattle and Los Angeles as perennial contenders? Admittedly, it is not likely.
But it’s possible…
The Whitecaps have built this squad the right way. The core is young, impressive, and has been together for the better part of two years already. Their superstar Designated Player is not some washed-up legend in semi-retirement, squeezing another year or two from his diminishing talents. Pedro Morales is 29 years old. That is not young, but compared to 36-year-old Frank Lampard, he has his whole career ahead of him.
Morales is a centrepiece they can conceivably build around for the next five years. The Caps already have assembled a cast who in five years time could rival the Seattles of this league. Is this the year all this building translates into an MLS Cup? Probably not.
But with young talent, you just never know. They could explode onto the scene at any time. Blink and you might miss it.
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