Whitecaps hurting for playmakers
Vancouver’s depth being tested with Mezquida, Bolanos and Reyna on the mend
The Whitecaps wrapped up their pre-season Wednesday in Portland with a leaky 2-1 loss to the host Timbers.
Ready or not, the Caps open their competitive season Feb. 22 at Red Bull Arena in Harrison, N.J., against the New York Red Bulls. It’s the first leg of the CONCACAF Champions League.
Here are six things to consider as the Caps return to Vancouver to make final preparations:
1 The worrying injury list at No. 10
There are three guys best suited to the playmaking role in coach Carl Robinson’s 4-2-3-1 formation: Nico Mezquida, who played there quite a bit in 2016; Christian Bolanos — 2016’s best addition has been more of a winger in his career, but is a playmaker and could do well there; and Yordy Reyna, who was signed in the off-season and showed flair in his pre-season appearances.
The problem is all three are hurt. Mezquida picked up a hip problem last week and didn’t play in Portland, despite hopes he might. Bolanos is struggling with a knee issue and at last report was a “little bit away.”
And now Reyna is on the shelf with some sort of left-foot problem, picked up in a challenge Wednesday. He shared a photo of his foot in a walking boot Thursday morning.
Marco Bustos is a possibility, too, but has mostly been on the wing in the pre-season.
2 No first strike for Montero
Fredy Montero is destined to play as the lone striker up top, it would seem, but he did play as an underlying second striker with Seattle and perhaps, in the short term, he’ll line up there.
He has not played since October, so don’t figure on him starting next week in New York and even the following week at home at B.C. Place Stadium seems a stretch. But here we are.
3 The midfield
One of the big problems in 2016 was the lack of strength in midfield. “Overrun” was a word used more than once.
On Wednesday, Portland’s potent trio of Diego Valeri, Diego Chara and Darlington Nagbe had its way getting the ball up the pitch, reminding many of the 2016 Caps’ struggles.
That wasn’t the case very often in 2015. You’ll recall which year was more successful. Matias Laba is a big key here, so is whoever plays with him, be it Russell Teibert or Andrew Jacobson.
With just Teibert, Jacobson and Laba as true central midfielders, the Caps really hope to add another midfielder. If it’s going to be Atiba Hutchinson, that won’t happen until June.
Can they wait that long?
4 And the skipper is ...
Tim Parker, Kendall Waston, Jordan Harvey and David Ousted have all worn the armband this year. Robinson suggested last week he was on the verge of picking one to be the team’s captain in 2017.
5 Big things needed from The Bug
It’s been a good pre-season for Cristian Techera. He scored a nice free-kick goal Wednesday. In 2016, he showed up shy on his fitness and never really caught up. There were flashes of the brilliance we saw in 2015, when he scored seven goals and was a threat on nearly every touch. On viewing so far, he looks like he might be back to the old form. That bodes well.
6 A settled backline
There were plenty of issues in the midfield in 2016. Those were augmented by troubles in the backline. Right back was filled by the game, but defensively underpowered Jordan Smith and Fraser Aird. Robinson has admitted new right-back Sheanon Williams is a replacement for Steven Beitashour, who the team let go after the 2015 season.
“Sheanon will bring that experience. He plays 25-plus games a season. Hopefully he can do that again,” Robinson said earlier this month. “He’s a fighter.”