RUMOUR MILL IN OVERDRIVE WITH WINDOW SET TO OPEN
Whitecaps coach blames agents who are promoting their clients
If you believe Carl Robinson, you shouldn’t believe very much into what you read about Vancouver Whitecaps and potential newcomers.
“Apparently I’m going to sign three players that I’ve not even put on my radar,” said the Whitecaps’ coach. “Two of them I haven’t even ever heard of. No disrespect, but I don’t know who they are.”
It’s all part of the opening of a transfer window, one of the silly seasons of soccer. The growing popularity of social media has made the rumour mill growl even louder. The Whitecaps can sign players under contract in another country beginning July 10, as well make trades with other MLS clubs. The period closes Aug. 9.
“If you only knew the players that I was really looking at, you’d have a chuckle,” Robinson said.
So what percentage of stuff that is floated out there is false?
“Ninety-nine per cent,” Robinson said. “I’ve said that I’ll tell you the truth if you ask me an honest question. What I won’t do is tell you a lie. Ninety-nine per cent of the stuff you read is false.”
He puts the blame on agents. He does maintain that they’re merely trying to promote their clients. “That’s their job,” he said.
There have been reports that the Whitecaps are keen on signing Atiba Hutchinson, 34, the defensive midfielder from Brampton currently playing for Besiktas in Turkey. The price tag has been put by some at $5 million.
Robinson had admitted earlier in the week that it’s been considered by the Whitecaps. He did play a little more coy this time around, though.
“Atiba is a Canadian international player and whether he wants to come back to MLS, I’ll assume no one has asked Atiba,” said Robinson. “We are always looking for top players. Atiba is a top player, but he’s a very expensive player.
“These are all factors that we look at. We have our structure. We have our setup. If you look at the background of signings I’ve made, we’ve always signed young players. I want to build something here. I’m not saying that we wouldn’t sign an older player, but it has to be the right older player for the right reason.”
Also at play for Robinson in roster decisions is the fact the Whitecaps should have some key contributors come off the injured list in the coming weeks, including attacking midfielder Yordy Reyna, the Peruvian who was one of their marquee off-season additions.
Reyna, 23, broke his left foot in February in a pre-season game and it required surgery. He’s been back training for some time, and he’s close to making his MLS debut.
He scored 14 goals in 41 appearances over three-plus seasons in the Austrian Bundesliga with FC Red Bull Salzburg and SV Grödig.
“I’d love to play him Saturday if I could,” Robinson said of a road game with Minnesota United FC, “but I’d be setting myself up.
“You don’t know where the line is. You have to go with your gut. If it was a final, I’d take the risk of throwing him in off the bench. It’s not a final. An extra week of training might do him a world of good. As soon as he’s ready, he’ll be in, but it will take three or four or five weeks for him to get (game) fit as well.
“I don’t think people understood how good he is. I do. I’ve been watching him for 12 months. I’ve been chasing him. I knew how good he was. It’s unfortunate that you guys haven’t seen it yet. If you ask my players, he’s totally different to what we’ve got.”