Big test for Caps bench
Revolution second in goals scored with 24
The best news for the Whitecaps this week was that Kendall Waston wasn’t named to Costa Rica’s team for the CONCACAF Gold Cup.
He won’t miss most of July, which would have left the Caps thinner — and far less menacing — at centre back.
But the Caps (9-6-2) will be without Waston for the next game on this never-ending road trip, Saturday against the New England Revolution (6-6-6) at Gillette Stadium (4:30 p.m. PT, TSN2, TSN 1040).
Waston is suspended for yellow card accumulation. That was just a matter of time.
Defensive midfielder Gershon Koffie is suspended, too, so Carl Robinson has a couple of key lineup decisions to make against a Revs team that is struggling for wins of late — 1-4-4 in its last nine games — but can certainly score goals.
The Revs are second in MLS with 24 goals-for. They’ve allowed just as many. “They’ve been excellent the last couple of games,” Robinson said of Waston and Koffie, “but it will give other players opportunities.
“In the months we’ve got ahead, everyone’s going to be needed.”
In August, the Caps will have to juggle three competitions: the MLS regular season, the Amway Canadian Championship final and their first foray into the CONCACAF Champions League.
That’s when their depth will truly be tested.
Saturday will be a good preview, too, because it sounds like Diego Rodriguez (muscle tightness) won’t be ready to play and Russell Teibert (ankle) might miss out as well.
This would be Teibert’s last game before joining Canada for the Gold Cup. Striker Darren Mattocks will also take part, playing for Jamaica.
Rookie Tim Parker is the likely option to draw in at centre back against the Revs while 19-yearold Deybi Flores is the next option behind Teibert.
Flores is just back from a rough FIFA U-20 World Cup tournament with Honduras, who lost 5-1 to Germany, 3-0 to mighty Fiji and squeaked by Uzbekistan 4-3.
Flores started all three games in Christchurch, N.Z.
“Obviously, he was disappointed the way the tournament ended,” Robinson said, “but it’s an experience for him.
“There’s an opportunity now (with the Caps). I’m excited to watch him play because he’s got all the attributes. He’s training very well.”
The Caps remained in New York this week, watched the Yankees play the Philadelphia Phillies in MLB and Red Bulls face Real Salt Lake in MLS, then took the bus to the Boston area Thursday.
The hope is that staying on East Coast time will help Saturday.
Vancouver has already set a team record with five MLS road wins this year, but they’re aware how much room for improvement still remains.
It took two David Ousted penalty saves to get past 10-man New York last week.
It seems that they’re catching New England at the right time. The Revs have lost three of four, although Robinson said there’s a healthy respect.
“The front three of (Teal) Bunbury, (Charlie) Davies and (Juan) Agudelo, with Lee (Nguyen) and Daigo (Kobayashi) underneath, is one of the top (front fives) in MLS,” he said.
“But if we’re organized, we’re very confident we can go there and get a result.”
Saturday marks Jordan Harvey’s 200th MLS game. The left back has been with the Caps since midway through the 2011 season.
“You have superstars and sometimes they come and go,” Robinson said.
“It’s important you have good professionals at the club.
“He probably doesn’t get the attention that he should.”