SNAKE-BITTEN WHITECAPS LOOK TO RECAPTURE SOME SET-PIECE MAGIC
Scoreless in last two games, team needs to break out of slump, writes J.J. Adams
The Vancouver Whitecaps need a little bit of magic of their own, because they’re starting to feel a little cursed these days.
A dearth of goals has seen the team fail to score in its past two games and muster just two goals in three home games — including two straight shutouts.
The team’s often-cited possession numbers, which place them last in Major League Soccer at 42.6 per cent, are the product of a squad that derives its offence from counterattacks and set pieces, not long, slow, pass-happy buildups.
But there’s a difference between having the ball and scoring with it — which the Portland Timbers proved in their 3-0 win over New York City FC, the first loss for the league leaders this season.
“People talk about possession, which is a factor of the game, but the three games we’ve had the most possession, we’ve lost. And the three we’ve had the least possession, we’ve won,” said Whitecaps manager Carl Robinson.
“Perfect example is Portland on the weekend — they had (25) per cent of the ball and won 3-0. No one cares. Three goals, three bits of magic from their boys. It’s about scoring goals. And we need to score more goals.”
While their quick-strike counterattack offence has been effective on the road this season — wins over Columbus and Houston — the set-piece scoring that was such a big part of their identity has been MIA this year.
The Whitecaps led the MLS in goals off set pieces with 18 last season. Fredy Montero was third in the league with five setpiece goals, followed by Kendall Waston with four. Through eight games, Vancouver has yet to
score off a free kick or corner.
“We need to be better, clearly. We haven’t scored a goal. It’s a big aspect of ours, one that we’re not using at the moment,” said Robinson. “There’s a number of reasons for that; one it might be the quality (of ) the delivery taker.
“We also have to get the aggression to run into the box to get on the end of things, which I think we did very well last year. And we also need a little bit of help.
“There’s been two or three times this year when we haven’t gotten the rub of the green with a hold, a foul, a tug, a pull, and you’re relying on the officials to do their job.
“So I don’t think it’s one thing, I think it’s a number of things. We work on it every day. It’s easy to do it on the training ground; it’s on match days you have to replicate it.”
There have also been changes in personnel. In comes Kei Kamara, the striker who has more headed goals (19) than any other MLS player since 2015. Out is goal-poacher Fredy Montero and Tim Parker, the gingerhaired back-line behemoth who was traded to the New York Red Bulls at the start of the season.
“I think Timmy’s an aggressive player. He’s gone to New York and done great,” said Robinson. “His aggression was great. I think (Caps centreback Jose Aja) has to replicate that, and I think he can.”