Off-season changes bearing fruit
In his relentless search to unlock the mysteries of the beautiful game, Carl Robinson is pleased his latest creation has delivered some promising early returns for the Whitecaps.
His new formation has been in place for two games. It delivered the Whitecaps’ first road win since some time in the second Jean Chretien administration. Thus, it’s apparent that Robinson has reinvented the wheel.
But Robinson the serial tinkerer gives way to Robinson the realist when the impact of his new/old formation is discussed. Yes, overpopulating his midfield delivered the Caps’ first road win since last September. But the real reason for its success has little to do with the manager’s innovation and everything to do with something far more fundamental.
“I think we’ve got a better group of players,” Robinson said as his team prepared for Friday’s meeting with the Colorado Rapids in Denver.
Yes, that helps. As for how much better, that’s something we’ll learn as this MLS season unwinds.
For a team that’s been trying to find traction for more than a year, the Whitecaps’ recent run of form has been encouraging. Granted the sample size is small, but in addition to last weekend’s road win in Montreal, the Caps also recorded wins over longtime nemeses Los Angeles and Seattle at home in April.
OK, they’re still 3-4-1 on the MLS season and nobody should be planning the victory parade just yet. But after last season’s disappointment, it can reasonably be asked if the Caps are on to something with this year’s group.
“I like where we’re going and I like the position we’re in now,” said striker Fredy Montero. “I’m just excited to get in the middle of the season when we have all the pieces in place. It’s going to be a team that can play against any team in the league.”
Montero, as it happens, represents the biggest difference between the 2017 Whitecaps and last year’s underachievers. While the 29-year-old Colombian still isn’t 100-per-cent match fit, he’s scored four goals in eight MLS starts and gives the Caps their first legitimate goal-scoring threat since Camilo blew town three years ago.
His presence in the lineup also encouraged Robinson to noodle around with his formation and he came up with a doozy two games ago in Portland. Reasoning the Whitecaps weren’t getting
enough, or any, push from the heart of their lineup, the Caps’ manager dressed four midfielders, while dropping Matias Laba back as the lone holding midfielder.
The remaining quartet — Christian Bolanos, Tony Tchani, Andrew Jacobson and Cristian Techera — were given licence to attack with impunity and damned if Jacobson and Techera both didn’t score beauties in Montreal.
The real motivation for the change, however, was to create more chances for Montero, who lines up as the lone striker. As Robinson says, the 4-1-4-1 thingy only works if the midfielders are prepared to work for Montero. So far, that’s been the case and the Caps are now expecting to add attacking midfielder Yordy Reyna, a key off-season signing who’s been out since February with a broken foot.
“He’s still weeks away, but I think we have another home game in three months,” Robinson observed acidly, which is a gross over-exaggeration. The Caps’ next MLS home game is May 20, just six weeks after their win over Seattle.
As for the master plan: “It’s trying to get numbers forward to support Fredy,” Robinson continued. “Fredy knows how to sniff out a goal, so if we can get numbers there, Fredy will find the space.
“I think it was four or five times we had four or more players in the box (in Montreal). I’m not saying the midfielder will run 40 yards and get on the end of it. I am saying if he runs 40 yards and attracts a defender, Fredy might get on the end of it. Sometimes you have to do unselfish running.”
Which might change things for Jacobson, Techera, et al. But it doesn’t change a lot for Montero. A professional goal-scorer, the Colombian has produced wherever he’s been and, to date, seems to have bought into the program. That would also differentiate him from Pedro Morales, Octavio Rivero, Masato Kudo or any of the other big-name signings who flamed out in Vancouver.
“It’s been a good journey for me to be around these young players and young people,” said Montero. “I’m pretty sure we’re on the right path.”
“We can play a so-so game, but we can still get a result because of Fredy,” said Robinson. “That’s what he gives you.”
Now, what can the Whitecaps give Fredy? That might be the more relevant question.