Whitecaps look to make their hot start sustainable
Squad's next test comes with a visit to the slumping Minnesota United club
One-trick ponies won't win you a race — especially when there are 34 of them in a season.
The Vancouver Whitecaps have stormed — relatively speaking — out of the gate this year, their 2-1-1 mark the best beginning to a Major League Soccer season in the Marc Dos Santos era. In 2019, it took them 10 games before they got to seven points; in 2020, it took nine.
They've reached that sevenpoint mark in four games this year, and done it without scoring a goal from open play. Their calling card in the first four games has been setplay perfection: Cristian Dajome and Lucas Cavallini with headers off of corners, and Andy Rose with one from a free kick. Dajome has also potted two penalty kicks for a total of three goals in four games, a mark it took him 23 games to reach last year.
According to Statsbom, the Caps are 21st overall in Expected Goals (xG) per game at 1.1; factor in non-penalty-kick expected goals (npxG), and they're second-last in the league (0.73). BTS writer Alexandre Gangué-Ruzic broke it down further, pointing out Vancouver is second last in open play xG for per game (0.35 per game) but first overall in set piece xG (0.78).
“What I like about the open play part right now is we are recognizing the moments of transition and we're being very fast when we have space in behind the opponent,” said coach Marc Dos Santos. “What I don't like is when we get in certain areas of the field and in the last third, we've been too pragmatic. Too many passes in to feet, not enough passes into space (or) getting the cross in earlier, before even players are there to attack the box … while the opponent is not set yet.”
The point that the Caps need a No. 10 has gone far beyond just beating a dead horse. That particular expired equine has been beaten to the point where it's become dust, fertilized a flower that's been eaten by another horse, who in turn has also died.
The Caps have until June 1 when the primary transfer window closes to address that need immediately, although the secondary window begins just a month later, running July 7-Aug. 5.
For now, Vancouver has adjusted its personnel to spackle over the cracks. Dajome has been playing as a second forward with Cavallini in the 4-4-2, and El Tanque has been dropping much deeper to try to link with the midfield.
That's helped boost the team's possession numbers, but hasn't been effective in helping closerange interplay needed to break down the final level of defence. Cavallini has been able to hold the ball up and force mistakes from defenders — he's been fouled more times (20) than any other player in MLS and leads all forwards in dribbles — but his pass accuracy is the lowest of any non-goalkeeper on the squad (69.7) and he's only completed two short-range passes into the penalty area.
But Cavallini isn't concerned by the team's lack of open-play goals, pointing out they've earned two penalty kicks from pressure exerted through open-play situations.
“A goal is a goal. It doesn't matter how it (comes). Give us time. Eventually we'll get back to scoring those goals that aren't set pieces,” he said. “But there's still a lot to work on. As I said at the start of the season … basically, we weren't able to find a No. 10, that one player that certain teams have. TFC (has Alejandro) Pozuelo, Minnesota, (Emanuel) Reynoso. I said I was going to change my game to try to fill those empty spaces where, obviously, we do need that No. 10.
“The team has been adapting well to the formation we're playing. I have to come back a little bit more just to see more of the ball ... but who knows? Maybe I have to switch from No. 9 to No. 10.”
While the Whitecaps are working through their own issues, the same can be said for their opponents on Wednesday — but the stakes are much higher for Minnesota United.
The Loons are 0-4 to start the season, conceding an MLS-high 10 goals. And despite outshooting their opponents 61-55, it hasn't translated into goals, as their minus-7 differential is the worst in the league. Only two teams in league history have made the playoffs after an 0-4 start. Minny midfielder Jan Gregus channelled his inner Jim Mora when asked about the stat.
“To be honest, we are not in the place to look at (playoffs) right now,” he said. “We have to win the next game and then win, and win, and win. We have to look in front of ourselves and right now we are not even in position to look for the playoffs with these kinds of performances.”