WHITECAPS:
TEIBERT IMPRESSIVE AS THE MIDDLE MAN
From his razor- sharp ’ do to his “Can- do” belief in reinventing himself as an attacking centre midfielder, Russell Teibert looks poised to finally make his mark with the Vancouver Whitecaps.
The young Canadian — the Niagara Falls, Ont., native is still just 20 — out of the Caps’ residency program bounced between winger and fullback and between the reserves’ bench and the stands much of the last couple of Major League Soccer seasons.
But the kid who started on left wing early in Vancouver’s inaugural MLS season in 2011, then faded into obscurity, now has started back- to- back matches for the Caps in the middle of the park and not looked out of place.
In Saturday’s 1- 1 tie with Real Salt Lake at BC Place Stadium, he was named man of the match. Perhaps the fittest of all the Caps, he ran miles stretching the RSL back line, linked up effectively with mentor Nigel Reo- Coker, and delivered some dangerous free kicks with his cultured left foot.
“Russell performed very well,” head coach Martin Rennie said after the match of a player who captained the reserve squad for two games this season.
“He covered a lot of ground. He marked up well against their defensive midfielder. He also broke forward, his touch was good. His weight of pass was excellent.”
Heady stuff for a guy who appeared to have an uncertain future when he played just 117 minutes in 2012 and then watched the club bring in the likes of Reo- Coker, a 28- yearold veteran of more than 220 Premier League games, 30- year- old Japanese League veteran Daigo Kobayashi and Brazilian Paolo Jr., a 24- yearold with 43 games of MLS experience with Real Salt Lake.
Also standing in the way of regular playing time in midfield was third- year player Gershon Koffie, a rising star who signed a new contract just before the regular season started and who Rennie said was capable of taking over games.
The only thing Koffie is taking over, however, is Teibert’s old spot on the bench.
Koffie did come on for Teibert in the final 22 minutes in San Jose on April 6 and responded well, leading many to think the Ghanian would be back in the starting lineup against RSL.
But Rennie gave Teibert another start and played him the entire 90 minutes.
Teibert still has some issues, mostly related to the physical side of the game. The five- footseven, 145- pounder doesn’t have Koffie’s hard- nosed tackling ability and can be overpowered and lose possession in one- on- one battles. But he has shown an ability to thread passes and there’s no disputing his work rate.
Rennie and the Caps assistant coaches had been carefully rebuilding Teibert’s game and confidence over the last year. And Reo- Coker has taken an instant liking to the enthusiastic dynamo, working with him on and off the field on what he calls “the art of playing in central midfield.”
“I’m a big fan of Russell’s, I’ve said that many times,” ReoCoker said. “( Saturday), he went out there and expressed himself and as the game grew, he grew in confidence. He’s got tremendous ability and he has a very bright future.”
Reo- Coker, who likes to playfully get on the kid at times, also suggested the media should “give Teibert stick” after the young Canadian kept reporters waiting in the post- game locker- room with a rather drawn- out donning of his suit and tie, a procedure that included a slow application of body cream and a visit to the mirror.
Teibert said he’s delighted to be back in the starting lineup, especially in front of supportive home fans who view his nationality favourably.
“A lot of time last year, I was up in the stands, only wishing to be down here on the field. It’s a good feeling,” he said.
On his growing chemistry with Reo- Coker, Teibert said: “He’s like a brother and he’s a great mentor to me. When I’m inside the middle of the field with him, he definitely makes it a lot more comfortable for myself.”
As good as Teibert looked and as dangerous as some of his crosses were, the Caps still only got the one goal on Camilo Sanvezzo’s 83rd- minute penalty kick.
It’s been a theme all season — lots of quality scoring chances but not enough lethal finish.
“That comes with time,” said Teibert, who won’t be afraid to take his own chances from a distance. “We definitely need to capitalize on those chances, but it’s kind of a luck thing as well. The more chances we create, the better opportunities we’ll have.”
Just how many more opportunities to start Teibert gets will be interesting to watch. Rennie won’t want to keep Koffie sitting too long and veteran Kenny Miller, who has two goals this season playing from a forward/ attacking midfielder role, should finally be ready to play again this Saturday in Dallas against the Western Conference leaders after missing two consecutive matches with a bad hamstring.