FIVE KEYS to the game
1 Game of chances
Generating scoring chances hasn’t been a problem for the Whitecaps, but finishing has. Whether it’s bad luck or bad form, it’s been a major issue, and last game out against Colorado couldn’t have illustrated it any better. “The way we didn’t finish our chances wasn’t acceptable,” said manager Carl Robinson. “We’re not executing in the box at the moment. In any game, it’s the team that takes the chances (that wins).”
2 Stopping Schweinsteiger
An unenviable task awaits some lucky Whitecap this week: trying to contain the venerable Bastian Schweinsteiger. He’s been slotted all over the field this year — including three times at centreback(!) — but has settled into an advance midfield role in a 4-3-3 formation. Who will draw the assignment? Efrain Juarez? Russell Teibert? Felipe? Aly Ghazal’s elastic Dhalsim-like legs, height and disruptive presence would logically make him the frontrunner, but will Robinson be ready to sacrifice the offensive ability of the other three?
3 Waston question remains
Jose Aja missed last game on a red-card suspension, and Kendall Waston will likely miss this one with a groin strain, so the question as to who will pair in the middle of the defensive line will be tabled for another week. Doneil Henry and Aja will resume their partnership on Saturday, but the future — Waston-Henry? Waston-Aja? — remains unsettled.
4 Fonzie’s phone is ringing
The Caps weren’t trying to hide Alphonso Davies from the world. They were trying to hide the world from him. That’s no longer a tenable position, with the amount of interest the fleet-footed teen is generating globally. Major European clubs are sniffing around, from Manchester United and Liverpool to Bayern Munich and PSV Eindhoven, and as long as Davies has games like last week — he had 10 dribbles, most by an MLS player — the hype train will just pick up speed. Have the Caps done enough to keep his focus on the game, and not let it be a distraction?
5 Let’s get in formation
The Fire hasn’t won a game by more than a goal this season, and for that reason alone this game should be close, let alone the incredible similarity in the two teams’ stats. The Fire will likely line up in a 4-3-3, which has become their de facto formation due to injuries. The Caps 4-4-2 has been their go-to lineup, though Robinson alluded this week that may change. Vancouver will also start having to keep players’ minutes in mind with a busy month ahead, with Canadian Championship games with Montreal further packing their schedule.