Whitecaps ready to hit reset after vexing May
Groundhog Day is a comedy classic. Watching Bill Murray’s TV weatherman character, Phil Connors, relive the same day over and over again is a holiday tradition.
And Punxsutawney, Pa., could stand in for Vancouver, at least where the Whitecaps are concerned.
In four consecutive games, they ’ve put themselves behind the eight-ball after defensive miscues resulted in goals against. But in each of those games, they ’ve rallied to tie the score and earn a point.
So, Carl Robinson, have you seen the movie?
“Pass,” the Caps coach said with a laugh Tuesday after training at UBC.
You could forgive Robinson if he wanted to emulate the fictional Connors and indulge in some binge-drinking and reckless behaviour, as May has been a maddening month for him as well as the players and fans: one win in nine Major League Soccer games, but some dramatics and character to steal points in four straight ties.
Vancouver’s nine goals in four games might be just one off the league lead over that span, but so, too, is the nine goals against.
“(May has been) fun. Lots of fun,” Robinson said wryly.
“Lots of grey hairs. Fun, enjoyment, smiles, frustration, disappointment … a bit of everything, really.
“I don’t think you could have packed more into a month than what we’ve seen. Some really, really good performances and some individual errors that you’re not likely to see over a course of a season, never mind in one month.”
And now the Caps have to fix the problems without their best player and team captain, Kendall Waston, who leaves for the World Cup.
“You paper over one crack, and then another one comes,” Robinson said.
Good news comes with the return of centreback Doneil Henry from the USL’s Ottawa Fury, where he was on loan to get some playing time ahead of Waston’s absence at the World Cup.
There was also bad news: Fullback Marcel de Jong, who has two assists in the past three games, injured his hamstring against the Revolution Saturday, and will miss Friday’s game with the Colorado Rapids.