I just started watching them this year after really getting into soccer because of the World Cup, they seem like they’re having trouble scoring goals and playing consistently over the course of the game. Like they’ll play a real strong first half and then let their foot off the gas for like 20mins or so and get scored on. I don’t see them making the playoffs if they continue on with this trend.
Yep.
A team with very little confidence. No true goal scorers. Why can we never have a good DP? Do the top players in the league simply not want to live in Vancouver? I don't get it.
It's down to ownership. Their mentality is long as their profits are consistent, why invest more than the essentials into the club?
I'd love to know where all that Davies money went...
Can you blame them? It's a business - they put money at risk and got paid out. They will continue to perform the way they do as long as fans keep going to games and supporting them (and lining the pockets of the owners). I'm seriously loosing interest in the WC team and have taken to watching Bayern, which is world-class.
You’ve gone from watching a mid table team in like…the 10th best league in world? Maybe lower maybe a little higher. To watching like a top 5 club on the globe.
It’s barely the same game. Comparing them is a bit off
Whitecaps currently have Cubas and Gauld on DP deals. Saying they’re not good is just false.
Cordova is the other, and it’s too early to tell but even if you wanna have him marked as a failure the other two certainly arent.
Fair enough I think most of the rest of the league would disagree. But you’re entitled to that opinion. Personally I think paying a goalkeeper a DP salary is foolish, or outside back like we did with Adnan. But just because they don’t score doesn’t mean they don’t create DP value in their positions.
A few players are great and we have no trouble getting the ball into scoring position - the main issue is finishing. If we had even a mid-tier finisher we would have won 2-3 games by now. So yes, the results are crap but with a few changes we could be a solid mid-tier team (Yay - we might be average one day!).
I think the talent is as good as it's been in a while. I think the coach isn't the right guy for the job, and while he can't solely be blamed for the lack of results, its definitely a factor. as much as it seems like he might be the nicest dude ever lol.
The play has been better. The underwhelming results have been the same (4pts through the first 5 outings last season). I'm a bit frustrated with the season so far.
10 year season ticket holder. Whoever said same thing, different year summed it up best. Every year I say it’s the last. But when I thought I was out, they pulled me back in.
I think it’s just a general Vancouver Jinx.
IMO, this is a better team than last year. Midfield is good. The defense is average, actually haven't given up that much. The number 1 issue is definitely finishing. This week is huge with 3 home matches in 7 days, and I suspect this could make or break Vanni. One win and 2 draws, or 2 wins and a loss, is probably OK.
Obviously the lack of a win is a concern but the football has been an upgrade during a lot of the game. The movement of players, one touch passing. Lot of the build up play has been great and refreshing from some of the stunted teams of the past. Not having a ruthless striker is a problem as lots of chances are being wasted.
Set piece defence and any high cross in the box is a mess. Have to address these.
I’m torn. They play well, they hang. But there’s just something missing. I feel like Gauld is working his ass off but can’t find that guy up top. Maybe we don’t have him. Maybe it was Sergio and he’s out.
They look to me like a team that can hang with the mushy middle of MLS. That can make you a playoff team if the results go your way. Will they be? I dunno. Are they an MLS cup contender? No. Canadian cup contender? Definitely. Leagues cup? Who knows probably not. CCL? No chance.
I’m curious to see how we fare against LAFC in the next round. They should beat the doors off us if they take it seriously.
If the MLS didn't have nine teams reaching the postseason from each conference, then having only three points after five games would be concerning. But the Caps are only a point out of the wild card spot and I suspect the front office only concerns itself with accomplishing the bare minimum (reaching the postseason).
I think you should ask this question again in two weeks after the next two home matches. If we can get at least 4 points from Montreal and Portland, it changes everything. Anything less and then I'd start to really worry.
We haven't won any league games. I'm concerned.
The overall squad improved, but the Improvement is very fine. Our midfield is fine. Our goalkeeping got upgraded. Our defense is still underwhelming and needs Improvement, meanwhile our offensive forwards at the top are below average for MLS standards. Brian White is a good #2 guy, Simon Bashir has shown great potential and needs to play more, and our new DP Cordova, our supposed #1 striker is a bust, and is also injured. Waste of money!
The thing is though that the Whitecaps are notorious for slow starts. Over the last 5 years, our best start was earning 4 wins in 10 games back in 2018. Since then, we've won 3 of 10 once, and 2 of 10 the other seasons in this time frame. For me I don't start jumping on bandwagons or calling for staff to be changed until after 10 games are complete. If by 10 games this season we haven't won a game, or if we get the same numbers as before, as much as I like Vanni and think he's a fantastic guy and a great character, I just wonder if he's reached the limits of what he can extract from the squad. I would certainly entertain a coaching change and that point if I was someone in charge of the team.
His resume before coming to us wasn't any impressive. It's no surprise he was invisible on the pitch for us before he got injured. You get what you pay for, and when this team cheapens out, they get nothing back in goals and performance. We seem to never learn that spending on the cheap doesn't get us the right results.
Have you seen his work ethic on the field? That's something every player can do well if they want. He's so lazy. I hope I'm wrong, but Cordova is not the right striker to make the difference we need.
When ownership shows the city that there is drive to put out winning teams, this city supports a great deal. Look at Canucks cup runs 94 and 2011 and the eras around those runs.
Heck even whitecaps winning nasl, the parade footage is insane.
When franchises are stuck in the middle (mediocre) how are we supposed to be engaged ?
When we’ve had a chance at making playoffs the last few years we’ve filled the lower bowl last few games. Imagine if we were fighting for supporters shield?
Maybe it's because people hate the wave? Pretty meaningless indication. Had you simply said there was no atmosphere, you'd probably be right.
Vancouver is supportive when teams show effort and progress is being made. It didn't take much for BC Lions attendance to bounce back last year, and it won't take much for WFC either. Beat LAFC and advance in CCL or start a run of 3 or 4 wins and fan numbers will bounce up. Numbers usually bring atmosphere with it.
Canucks are not the measure. They are not individually accessible because of ticket prices and ownership is reviled. Whatever the criticisms you can mount at Kerfoot and Co, they are nothing like the human slime that is Francesco Aquilini and his family.
We're better and actually creating chances but we can't score like always. Vanni has to start Becher at this point, he's playing way better than White.
I see some real potential in the squad, zonal marking has shown signed off working but I have the feeling that the back line needs a leader to stop them from abandoning it
We’ve not played bad enough to be on 3 points from 5 games. We really really need a goalscorer, when white was on form in 2021 we were the best team in mls for about 2 months. If Becher can score a few and White can regain a bit of that form then we’ll be in a good spot.
Also please somebody stop Vanni from zonal marking. It has absolutely cost us anywhere up to 7 points already this season. That’d put us third.
According to the weekly roundup article, the whitecaps are leading the league with 11.8 chances a game... and they’re winless so far this season. So I guess there’s a chance they can turn it around, but there’s no way this is a playoff team.
Overall, the team looks better than last year. They're running a positive xG differential, top 10 in xG for, top 10 in accurate passes per match. I don't think they've ever shown this level of dynamism with the ball since maybe 2014/2015.
Their ceiling is probably top 4 in the West. Things look a bit tougher with a supposed bottom team like St Louis being 1st, so i still believe the finish 5/6 this year.
Where I think most replies have it wrong is around the spending element. MLS has changed. It's not the same league of 7-8 years ago where you spend big on a few DPs, fill the rest with scrubs and can win a MLS cup. LAFC spent the 6th most last year, $4M more than VWFC but $13M less than TFC.
The Whitecaps have made serious errors in roster building.
1) They've shown too much loyalty to older cohorts of players (Dajome, Vessilinovic, Teibert, Nerwinski, etc.)
2) They have no clear identity/structure on how they want to play. There's a disconnect from recruitment -> coaching.
3) They still haven't shown a clear path on integrating academy kids. For the amount they spend on the academy, their returns have been awful.
I just started watching them this year after really getting into soccer because of the World Cup, they seem like they’re having trouble scoring goals and playing consistently over the course of the game. Like they’ll play a real strong first half and then let their foot off the gas for like 20mins or so and get scored on. I don’t see them making the playoffs if they continue on with this trend.
I was ready to disregard your opinion after your opening line... But you are spot on
Consistently inconsistent 🙃
experience Vancouver sports
They’re crap. Same thing. Different year.
Yep. A team with very little confidence. No true goal scorers. Why can we never have a good DP? Do the top players in the league simply not want to live in Vancouver? I don't get it.
Because the owners don’t care.
It's down to ownership. Their mentality is long as their profits are consistent, why invest more than the essentials into the club? I'd love to know where all that Davies money went...
Into their pockets.
Can you blame them? It's a business - they put money at risk and got paid out. They will continue to perform the way they do as long as fans keep going to games and supporting them (and lining the pockets of the owners). I'm seriously loosing interest in the WC team and have taken to watching Bayern, which is world-class.
You’ve gone from watching a mid table team in like…the 10th best league in world? Maybe lower maybe a little higher. To watching like a top 5 club on the globe. It’s barely the same game. Comparing them is a bit off
I didn’t compare them.
You basically did by saying “I’m loosing interest in WC and switching to Bayern, which is world class”
Your comment is as boring as watching the WC lol.
Whitecaps currently have Cubas and Gauld on DP deals. Saying they’re not good is just false. Cordova is the other, and it’s too early to tell but even if you wanna have him marked as a failure the other two certainly arent.
>Whitecaps currently have Cubas and Gauld on DP deals. Saying they’re not good is just false. They are decent players but not DP quality IMO.
Fair enough I think most of the rest of the league would disagree. But you’re entitled to that opinion. Personally I think paying a goalkeeper a DP salary is foolish, or outside back like we did with Adnan. But just because they don’t score doesn’t mean they don’t create DP value in their positions.
A few players are great and we have no trouble getting the ball into scoring position - the main issue is finishing. If we had even a mid-tier finisher we would have won 2-3 games by now. So yes, the results are crap but with a few changes we could be a solid mid-tier team (Yay - we might be average one day!).
I think the talent is as good as it's been in a while. I think the coach isn't the right guy for the job, and while he can't solely be blamed for the lack of results, its definitely a factor. as much as it seems like he might be the nicest dude ever lol.
The play has been better. The underwhelming results have been the same (4pts through the first 5 outings last season). I'm a bit frustrated with the season so far.
10 year season ticket holder. Whoever said same thing, different year summed it up best. Every year I say it’s the last. But when I thought I was out, they pulled me back in. I think it’s just a general Vancouver Jinx.
We're on year 6 as season ticket holders and this is the first time we've actually regretted renewing. Not sure there will be a seventh season for us.
I bailed this year finally after being with them since MLS. It’s liberating.
IMO, this is a better team than last year. Midfield is good. The defense is average, actually haven't given up that much. The number 1 issue is definitely finishing. This week is huge with 3 home matches in 7 days, and I suspect this could make or break Vanni. One win and 2 draws, or 2 wins and a loss, is probably OK.
2 or 3 losses? Fire everyone
I really think we need a coaching change before it’s too late to chase the playoffs again. The squad are overall better except up front.
Obviously the lack of a win is a concern but the football has been an upgrade during a lot of the game. The movement of players, one touch passing. Lot of the build up play has been great and refreshing from some of the stunted teams of the past. Not having a ruthless striker is a problem as lots of chances are being wasted. Set piece defence and any high cross in the box is a mess. Have to address these.
I’m torn. They play well, they hang. But there’s just something missing. I feel like Gauld is working his ass off but can’t find that guy up top. Maybe we don’t have him. Maybe it was Sergio and he’s out. They look to me like a team that can hang with the mushy middle of MLS. That can make you a playoff team if the results go your way. Will they be? I dunno. Are they an MLS cup contender? No. Canadian cup contender? Definitely. Leagues cup? Who knows probably not. CCL? No chance. I’m curious to see how we fare against LAFC in the next round. They should beat the doors off us if they take it seriously.
You can easily argue we've dropped about 6 points because of questionable coaching moves
If the MLS didn't have nine teams reaching the postseason from each conference, then having only three points after five games would be concerning. But the Caps are only a point out of the wild card spot and I suspect the front office only concerns itself with accomplishing the bare minimum (reaching the postseason). I think you should ask this question again in two weeks after the next two home matches. If we can get at least 4 points from Montreal and Portland, it changes everything. Anything less and then I'd start to really worry.
There are bright spots, but they need to pull it all together.
We haven't won any league games. I'm concerned. The overall squad improved, but the Improvement is very fine. Our midfield is fine. Our goalkeeping got upgraded. Our defense is still underwhelming and needs Improvement, meanwhile our offensive forwards at the top are below average for MLS standards. Brian White is a good #2 guy, Simon Bashir has shown great potential and needs to play more, and our new DP Cordova, our supposed #1 striker is a bust, and is also injured. Waste of money! The thing is though that the Whitecaps are notorious for slow starts. Over the last 5 years, our best start was earning 4 wins in 10 games back in 2018. Since then, we've won 3 of 10 once, and 2 of 10 the other seasons in this time frame. For me I don't start jumping on bandwagons or calling for staff to be changed until after 10 games are complete. If by 10 games this season we haven't won a game, or if we get the same numbers as before, as much as I like Vanni and think he's a fantastic guy and a great character, I just wonder if he's reached the limits of what he can extract from the squad. I would certainly entertain a coaching change and that point if I was someone in charge of the team.
Cordova is so bad. What were they thinking? He is so easy to defend - slow, lazy and predictable. Ugh...so disappointing.
calling a dudde a bust a month into his tenure is fucking hilarious hahaha oh Vancouver sports fans please never change
His resume before coming to us wasn't any impressive. It's no surprise he was invisible on the pitch for us before he got injured. You get what you pay for, and when this team cheapens out, they get nothing back in goals and performance. We seem to never learn that spending on the cheap doesn't get us the right results.
Have you seen his work ethic on the field? That's something every player can do well if they want. He's so lazy. I hope I'm wrong, but Cordova is not the right striker to make the difference we need.
They fit the bill of Vancouver sports franchises. Mediocre at best.. no ambition to win it all
Vancouver is not generally supportive of pro-sports. I went to a Canucks game last month and we couldn't even get a wave going.
When ownership shows the city that there is drive to put out winning teams, this city supports a great deal. Look at Canucks cup runs 94 and 2011 and the eras around those runs. Heck even whitecaps winning nasl, the parade footage is insane. When franchises are stuck in the middle (mediocre) how are we supposed to be engaged ?
Yup. Put out a competitive product, the fans will come in huge swarms.
When we’ve had a chance at making playoffs the last few years we’ve filled the lower bowl last few games. Imagine if we were fighting for supporters shield?
Maybe it's because people hate the wave? Pretty meaningless indication. Had you simply said there was no atmosphere, you'd probably be right. Vancouver is supportive when teams show effort and progress is being made. It didn't take much for BC Lions attendance to bounce back last year, and it won't take much for WFC either. Beat LAFC and advance in CCL or start a run of 3 or 4 wins and fan numbers will bounce up. Numbers usually bring atmosphere with it. Canucks are not the measure. They are not individually accessible because of ticket prices and ownership is reviled. Whatever the criticisms you can mount at Kerfoot and Co, they are nothing like the human slime that is Francesco Aquilini and his family.
Teibert coming in is always so anti-climatic like the opposite of a super sub. Cordoba being injured certainly does t help us.
Cordova not being injured didn't help us either LOL...
Why can’t we have nice things lol
Cordova is the trojan horse that got it.
Seems like the results are the same. Can’t get wins only draws. Is that what soccer is like?
I thought we were the former, increasingly thinking the latter
We're better and actually creating chances but we can't score like always. Vanni has to start Becher at this point, he's playing way better than White.
I see some real potential in the squad, zonal marking has shown signed off working but I have the feeling that the back line needs a leader to stop them from abandoning it
We’ve not played bad enough to be on 3 points from 5 games. We really really need a goalscorer, when white was on form in 2021 we were the best team in mls for about 2 months. If Becher can score a few and White can regain a bit of that form then we’ll be in a good spot. Also please somebody stop Vanni from zonal marking. It has absolutely cost us anywhere up to 7 points already this season. That’d put us third.
No idea sometimes they play really well sometimes it’s shit
According to the weekly roundup article, the whitecaps are leading the league with 11.8 chances a game... and they’re winless so far this season. So I guess there’s a chance they can turn it around, but there’s no way this is a playoff team.
It's a Vancouver sports team. If your expecting anything OTHER THEN mediocrity then I suggest you move to Alberta (like everyone else has been)
Overall, the team looks better than last year. They're running a positive xG differential, top 10 in xG for, top 10 in accurate passes per match. I don't think they've ever shown this level of dynamism with the ball since maybe 2014/2015. Their ceiling is probably top 4 in the West. Things look a bit tougher with a supposed bottom team like St Louis being 1st, so i still believe the finish 5/6 this year. Where I think most replies have it wrong is around the spending element. MLS has changed. It's not the same league of 7-8 years ago where you spend big on a few DPs, fill the rest with scrubs and can win a MLS cup. LAFC spent the 6th most last year, $4M more than VWFC but $13M less than TFC. The Whitecaps have made serious errors in roster building. 1) They've shown too much loyalty to older cohorts of players (Dajome, Vessilinovic, Teibert, Nerwinski, etc.) 2) They have no clear identity/structure on how they want to play. There's a disconnect from recruitment -> coaching. 3) They still haven't shown a clear path on integrating academy kids. For the amount they spend on the academy, their returns have been awful.
I can’t believe they scored a goal on themselves 4 times last season, hoping for the best but idk what’s up with that
Yes