Whitecaps have holes to fill in off-season
Martin Rennie overhauled one-third of the Whitecaps roster during the last off-season, and, despite the club taking a significant step forward in 2012, fans can expect big changes again. Here’s a look at five areas for Rennie to address after Thursday’s playoff defeat in L.A:
Convince Y.P. Lee to stay
Perhaps Rennie’s biggest challenge this off-season will not involve selling a potential player on the Whitecaps but rather selling fullback Young-Pyo Lee on returning for one more season.
The South Korean legend was everything the Whitecaps could have hoped for: a smart, skilled, calming presence at the back; a quiet leader who brought confidence to his teammates; and remarkably durable at age 35.
Lee played every minute of every game, except one, and that’s because he was forced to take a holiday. He scored once, set up four goals and was named the team’s MVP.
But Lee was never certain he’d play more than one season when he signed for a bargain of $174,200, and that hasn’t changed. He wants to study business and learn more about running a club. He’ll be 36 in April.
Whatever Rennie has to do to squeeze another season out of Lee, it’s worth it. His teammates revere him. Let him skip some road trips if that sweetens the pot. Training will soon be in his backyard at UBC, which can only help.
Bring down the average age
The Whitecaps were relying heavily on the likes of Lee (35), Jay DeMerit (32), Andy O’Brien (33), Barry Robson (33) and John Thorrington (33) at the end of this season. While they had young players to complement that group, like Gershon Koffie (21) and Darren Mattocks (22), Rennie would love to add a couple more players in their physical prime, around 26 or 27.
On defence, it’s wishful thinking that the Caps will enjoy another season where DeMerit and Lee play almost every minute, and O’Brien hasn’t yet attempted a full taxing season of MLS.
Rennie is going to have to decide if centre back Carlyle Mitchell (25) and fullback Greg Klazura (23) are ready for prime time, and if Martin Bonjour can be a thirdchoice centre back while being in the club’s top five on the payroll ($277,000).
And what about 19-year-old Canadian Russell Teibert; could he be developed as a left-back? Rennie is also high on residency fullback Sam Adekugbe, 17.
Sort out the Scottish situation
No topic will generate more chatter this off-season that Rennie’s decisions on Scottish designated players Kenny Miller and Barry Robson. Both are under contract (Miller on $1.2 million and Robson on $600,000) but there might be interest abroad, and MLS clubs can buy out one guaranteed deal per year (see: Mustapha Jarju).
Miller, 33 next month, scored twice in 14 appearances and there are questions about his pace. Robson, 34 in a week, was brought in “to help us create the environment that we want,” Rennie said in the pre-season, and there are certainly differing opinions on those results.
The team struggled down the stretch and fans have panned the moves on social media.
Rennie has vehemently defended his mid-season signings in the face of criticism, noting that Robson (three goals) has outpaced Thierry Henry’s first season for New York (two goals in 2009).
Miller said after Thursday’s loss that he’s looking forward to a full pre-season. Robson wasn’t available on a tight deadline. In the salary cap world of MLS, it’s hard to
see both being back.
Find players to fit the system
With his team’s form dipping and new players struggling to fit the system, Rennie abandoned 4-3-3 down the stretch and went to a 4-4-2 formation with a diamond midfield, then parked two banks of defenders in the playoffs.
Rennie will try to find players who better fit his vision this offseason, and that list will certainly include a target man. Perhaps Omar Salgado will be ready to start on left wing, but the right side is wide open with Dane Richards leaving. In the middle of the park, the club needs to find one or two true two-way midfielders.
Replace Chiumiento’s creativity
The Whitecaps couldn’t collectively make up for the individual creativity lost when Davide Chiumiento was sold to Zurich in July. That, more than any controversial addition, hurt the team.
In games where they needed a moment of magic like Portland at home there was no one to conjure it. Chiumiento wasn’t a goal threat, but he was different and a rare breed of playmaker. True, Miller didn’t deliver the goals, but neither did Darren Mattocks or Camilo or anyone in the second half. The right players in the right system will create chances, but a creative spark can only help.