5 THINGS WE‘VE LEARNED ABOUT THE WHITECAPS THIS SEASON
Things we now know about the Whitecaps at the (nearly) halfway point of the season
The Vancouver Whitecaps are still two games from the midseason point, but the Copa America break seems as good a time as any to take stock. So, as the Caps (6-6-3) prepare to return to action against the New England Revolution (3-4-7) Saturday at B.C. Place (4 p.m., TSN 1, TSN 1040), here are five things we think we’ve learned: Summer priority is centre back
All the pre-season talk was about the strikers and who would deliver the goals. That only intensified as Octavio Rivero’s slump continued through May. Right back was the other big question mark after Steven Beitashour’s departure.
But 15 games into season, central defence has emerged as the most likely position to strengthen when the transfer window opens in July.
Carl Robinson’s top pairing — Kendall Waston and Tim Parker — has been, respectively, too reckless and too inconsistent. And the depth has taken a hit with Christian Dean’s rotten injury luck.
Pa-Modou Kah, 35, has also had some injury trouble and his rough day in Portland didn’t scream reliability.
It says it all that Andrew Jacobson, a central midfielder, has perhaps been their most reliable centre back, albeit over limited minutes.
The Caps have conceded 25 goals. Only New York City (29) has allowed more.
Robinson has a centre back on trial this week — Trinidad and Tobago international Daneil Cyrus, 25.
Regardless of this summer’s moves, the Caps need steady performances more often from Waston and Parker.
Morales is worth the money
Pedro Morales had an outstanding 2014 season and everyone loved the guy. Then injuries struck in 2015, he rarely looked like the same player and a debate raged as to whether he was worth the money ($1.26 million this season).
The Chilean has answered his critics, and in different ways than we might have expected.
He has almost as many goals (six) and assists (three) through 11 games as he had through all of last season (six goals, four assists). Sure, five goals have come from penalties, but you still have to deliver in the moment and he’s as good as anyone in MLS from the spot.
He’s also shown versatility and a commitment to defending that proves he’s more than a luxury player with an eye for a pass.
His best minutes have arguably come as a deep-lying playmaker and he’s had success out wide (in Toronto) and in the No. 10 role.
He’s also tracking runners and getting into tackles more than we’ve ever seen. He’s played with passion.
In short: He’s led by example. He stepped up and delivered last week as the Caps overcame a 2-0 deficit against Ottawa. All good signs.
Three Uruguayans are better than one
Octavio Rivero seems to play his best when his countrymen, Nicolas Mezquida and Cristian Techera, are on the field.
The chemistry is obvious, especially between Rivero and Mezquida, but this does create a dilemma for coach Carl Robinson.
Christian Bolanos (four goals, two assists) was in great form before he left for Copa America duty, and Kekuta Manneh (four goals, two assists) has also come alive after a sluggish start. It’s tough to draw up a starting lineup without those two in it, although there’s never been chemistry between Rivero and Manneh.
The game plan also changes — sometimes for the better, sometimes not — when Manneh is on the field with his pace and directness.
Techera (two assists) has been the biggest disappointment this season after a promising 2015, but the combinations were as good as they’ve been this season at home to Portland in May when Techera, Mezquida and Bolanos played across midfield with Pedro Morales behind them.
Manneh has also shown a spark of late playing centrally as a withdrawn striker, leaving us to wonder what his best position is.
These are good problems to have, but Robinson still must figure out his best lineup and try to get some consistency.
Discipline must improve
At the risk of stating the insanely obvious, the Caps must sort out their discipline woes or they’re going nowhere this season.
They can play the victim all they want. No doubt they’ve been subjected to some crappy calls and suspensions this season — with Pedro Morales’ upheld ban the latest farce.
But they’re also grown men with the ability — we assume — to control how they react to those crappy calls. On that front, they’ve let themselves down. They’ve let their emotions get the best of them too often.
They’ve played 15 games. They’ve had 12 suspensions. Either you believe in a grand conspiracy theory — and some folks do — or, just maybe, the Caps must be a bit smarter.
The refereeing isn’t going to get more consistent overnight. The Caps must control what they can.
Davies is one to watch
The roar of the crowd when Alphonso Davies subbed off last week said it all: Caps fans see something special in the 15-year-old and it’s going to be a fascinating storyline to follow this season.
He can play for the first team twice more this year on short-term callups from the USL — either in the Canadian final or in the CONCACAF Champions League (CCL).
And if Robinson and Co. want to see more of Davies this season — which you have to think they do — they could sign him to an MLS deal.
That seems unlikely to happen before August, which is when Davies would qualify as a homegrown signing, having been with the club for a year.
Homegrown players signed to the off-budget portion of an MLS roster (spots 21 through 29) don’t count against the salary cap and are automatically protected in future expansion drafts.
The August timing fits with opening CCL group games against Sporting Kansas City and Central FC from Trinidad and Tobago.