“Across the flat land of The Prairies, through the majestic Rocky Mountains, following the banks of the Frasier River we eventually find ourselves on the shores of the Pacific. Under the shadow of Grouse Mountain at 777 Pacific Blvd we arrive at a modern Coliseum in the form of BC Place where battles with the ball will unfold in Major League Soccer.” “Welcome to the Vancouver Whitecaps and my brand new 2012 Football Manager Story”
In terms of game play I have 5 leagues set up to begin with and these maybe adjusted along the way.
My objectives are two-fold for Vancouver. First and most foremost is foundational, that is to build the team up over the next couple of seasons or so, and secondly mount a serious challenge for the play-offs and perhaps a shot at the MLS Cup. Champions League action would hopefully be a bi-product of any success.
In real life I have dual citizenship so I’ve selected myself as Canadian for this story which hopefully will lead to my ultimate goal that being appointed as Canadian National Coach and taking Team Canada to the World Cup. Note I said take and not win The World Cup.
The Whitecaps are a brand new team to the MLS and play their home games at the beautifully refurbished BC Place right in the heart of downtown Vancouver.
Inside the stadium
The team is sponsored by Bell Canada, the largest phone company in the country and when at home we wear white uniforms and dark ones when playing on the road. In terms of rivals it has to be Seattle who are just a couple of hours south in Washington State and of course Toronto FC.
Tactically Vancouver will line up in a 4-3-3- formation as this seems best for the players that are currently available. I’ll be playing a single striker up front, a big old Target Man as we have two in the squad already and as you will see below I’ve added a third. There’s a maximum of 30 players allowed in the squad and we current have 27 so there not much room for new players. Twenty-four of these are non-Canadian and I’m allowed up to 27. Of the total squad there’s a maximum of 10 international players allowed of which I have eight. Okay, already complicated!
In terms of transfers I wanted to keep thing simple for the first season so I did not release any players on arriving at the club and just filled the spots that I felt needed attending to bringing in one Canadian and two Brazilians. Before the first pre-season friendly I had my squad in place
1. Defensive Midfielder – Tyler Hemming
2. BBM Midfielder — Edinho
3. Target Man — Arthuro
**I’ll do screen shots of the other players as the need arises rather than show you all thirty of them.
Immediately on arrival I did shake up the backroom staff (based on Johnny’s guide) releasing several coaches and quickly replaced them with better ones, though that will remain to be seen.
Backroom Staff
In bringing in three new players I had made somewhat of a basic error in not paying attention to the salary cap of $53,056 which meant come squad registration time three players had to be waived and thus bringing my squad back to 27 players. Not quite the end of the world as there was a couple of not so talented players in the squad, but I was slightly annoyed at myself nonetheless.
March (2011) began with the MLS draft and we had the #4 pick in the first round. Passing on this would mean losing our option for the second round also. Our pick was former DC United central defender Devon McTavish whose salary just kept us under the cap and also abided with all the other squad rules as well.
Following the draft we then had two more pre-season games and this is how we faired in all of them. It was a very satisfying run of results but keeping in mind the matches were against much weaker teams except perhaps Rochester.
The best performance during this time was by AMR Shea Salinas who had a rating of 7.35 and chipped in with three goals as well.
Our finances are very healthy indeed with over $9 million in the bank and I never spent a penny of the $227,000 transfer budget.
What about season expectations? I was never asked by the board which is kind of strange? Perhaps as we are a brand new team to the league the board as now idea themselves what to expect! There’s no relegation of course in the MLS though I can hopefully avoid being the last team in the league just out of pride.
We will start off our inaugural season at home playing none other than Toronto FC so Canadian bragging rights are immediately at stake!
That completes my prelimiary Vancouver Whtiecaps report which going forward will basically be in 2 month updates plus a Playoff Special if and when we reach that point. I’m very excited by the journey ahead of me and I really hope I can achieve my Team Canada objective but that’s some way off in the distance.
Thanks for taking the time to read this and as with my previous Plymouth story I do appreciate all your support and look forward to your comments.
Regards,
Kevin
Bhargav
8 февраля, 2012 at 10:00
Best of luck, Kevin! This should be a fun but challenging story. I also love your 2 Brazilian players. Do you have any designated players? Maybe you should consider bringing in some aging EPL legends?
Bhargav
8 февраля, 2012 at 10:01
Paul Scholes and/or Ryan Giggs would be fun :D
Kevin
8 февраля, 2012 at 10:14
Hi Bhargav
I already have two designated players in Hassli and Jarju but a nice idea in snagging an EPL legend. That could be a consideration for next season!
PeeDub
8 февраля, 2012 at 18:48
Lampard will be ripe for it by then.
Darren Smith
8 февраля, 2012 at 12:05
Looks interesting Kevin and I love the intro…its like the start of a movie ;) Good luck with this one, I think its gonna last and hopefully for all the right reasons.
Kevin
8 февраля, 2012 at 13:03
Thanks Darren,
I’m quietely condifdent that this story will have sustainability and this one I’m most excited about, perhaps even of all my stories. I guess I’m more Canadian than I realized :)
Tyler
8 февраля, 2012 at 13:34
I’m guessing the draft was the re-entry draft? They must save the college draft for the end of the first season. Don’t forget to claim those homegrown players!!!
Kevin
8 февраля, 2012 at 14:12
Hi Tyler
Yeah, I think you are right about it being a re-entry draft. I have my eye on some Canadians but my salary is already maxed out.
TheZiggy
8 февраля, 2012 at 13:53
Nice work with setting the scene right at the start of the post, and quite sensibly steered clear of the lumberjack, just incase one turned out to be Michael Palin. ;)
Should be an interesting story, with no idea right now how your team rates against the others. I’m sure you won’t finish bottom of the pile though. I’m sure you’ll get yourself to Champions League glory in the end, just a case of how long to get there.
Kevin
8 февраля, 2012 at 14:23
Thanks Ziggy
I thought about the whole BC lumberjack thing but quickly changed my mind :) As for the Whitecaps i’m going in blind as it were against the others though for sure L.A. will be strong in the Western Conference. First season is really to establish a baseline.
Ivo
8 февраля, 2012 at 16:31
Great pick ! Vancouver whitecaps … I thought you would choose gold coast .
Nice balance 9 mil but why do you have such a small wage budget… Looking forward for the rest of this season :) ! Best luck !
Ivo
Kevin
8 февраля, 2012 at 17:28
Hello Ivo
Yes, it was a ridculously small wage budget but no worries as I really didn’t intend on shaking up the team in the first season anyway as we are brad new!
I’m glad you like the team and I’m saving Gold Coast for FM 2013 by which time Australia should have a cup competition.
Woody
8 февраля, 2012 at 16:56
looks good so far, i am looking forward to more updates coming up
and good luck
Kevin
8 февраля, 2012 at 17:33
Hey Woody
Thanks mate. I hope to bring an exciting and intersting story once more.
MLR
8 февраля, 2012 at 17:25
The left back, Russell Teibert I think, is a fantastic player in FIFA 12, don’t know about FM :P
Kevin
9 февраля, 2012 at 09:13
Teibert is an AML in my game and did not make the senior squad for this season. I plonked him in the reserves.
Sears
8 февраля, 2012 at 17:37
Hmm, exciting challenge mate! Best of luck with this :)
Kevin
8 февраля, 2012 at 19:36
Thanks Sears,
I’m looking forward to it!
vaibhavc
8 февраля, 2012 at 18:04
Vancouver Whitecaps. Haven’t heard of them much, so therefore I hope I can learn about them from the story. And about the expectations, you can check and see it in the competitions page in the board confidence.
Kevin
8 февраля, 2012 at 19:38
Hi vaibhavc
Vancouver have been around for many years but have only just received MLS recognition. They were one of the orignal NASL teams during Pele’s time in North America.
Martin - F.M.J.S
8 февраля, 2012 at 18:40
Hi Kevin
Good pick and I am glad you chose to start with the club and then hope you get appointed manager of Canada. Good Luck with this story mate I look forward to reading it.
Kevin
8 февраля, 2012 at 19:40
Hi Martin
Glad you like the choice and hope to bring you a great story too!
nielsneutron
8 февраля, 2012 at 18:52
Oh Canada …. I can’t anymore.
I look forward to your new adventure in the MLS. If I understand correctly you can only have 10 players who are in a international squad? That is a bit weird.
Good luck
Kevin
8 февраля, 2012 at 19:42
hi nielsneutron
Thanks for your support. That’s right about international players, the whole squad thing is wierd in one way or another :)
PeeDub
8 февраля, 2012 at 19:14
«Immediately on arrival I did shake up the backroom staff (based on Johnny’s guide) releasing several coaches and quickly replaced them with better ones, though that will remain to be seen.»
Which guide is that?
PeeDub
8 февраля, 2012 at 19:18
Never mind — found it.
https://www.footballmanagerstory.com/2012/01/how-to-get-the-best-coaches-in-fm-2012/
Incidentally, I created a spreadsheet for determining coaching stars (the formulae are supposedly the same as in 2011. So far, it’s proven correct.) If anyone knows the best way to upload it, let me know and I can share it.
Kevin
8 февраля, 2012 at 19:46
Hi Peedub
Hopefully Johnny will know if he reads this comment :)
Johnny Karp
8 февраля, 2012 at 19:44
An excellent choice and a beautiful start to the story, I’m loving it already and it has barely begun :) Best of luck Kevin, fingers crossed for the «Canadian Dream» ;)
Kevin
8 февраля, 2012 at 19:58
Thanks Johnny
It was tough not to go back to Toronto but when I saw Vancouver’s stadium that drew me in. Glad you like the opening to the story and appreciate the well wishes :)
mrj
8 февраля, 2012 at 20:38
how do you start a fm story
Kevin
9 февраля, 2012 at 09:15
By writing about your experiences. You can joing the forum on this site to begin with…there’s plenty of examples there to help you.
Johnny Karp
9 февраля, 2012 at 16:15
You can start a story in the forum if you want: https://www.footballmanagerstory.com/forum/
Ubisoka
8 февраля, 2012 at 21:05
Hi Kevin,
Very nice choice! I actually played with Michael Boxall before I got injured and he got his scholarship and went off to America. Hopefully you don’t sell him ;)
All the best!
Kevin
9 февраля, 2012 at 09:18
Hi Ubisoka
I’m glad you like my new team. That is very intersting indeed you played alongside Boxall. Where are you in Canada? I’m in Toronto.
Ubisoka
12 февраля, 2012 at 10:52
I’m from New Zealand and played with him there. A little bit too far from Toronto to catch up for a coffee I’m afraid!
Laxeyman
8 февраля, 2012 at 21:07
Looks like a really interesting story Kevin! The ground you have is fantastic, and the future looks bright for the White Caps with you in charge :) The players you brought in look pretty decent, and I reckon you’ll have a good season. Good luck!
Kevin
9 февраля, 2012 at 09:21
Thanks Laxeyman
BC Place is very impressive indeed though I didn’t get a chance to go there when I was in Vancouver. Thanks for the very confident support.
Lye
9 февраля, 2012 at 01:02
Hi Kevin,
The stadium is beautiful, i certainly don’t mind staying there :)
Great introduction to your new team and i am as excited as you. Taking Canada to the world cup would be a great feat and best of luck to the new season ahead.
Kevin
9 февраля, 2012 at 09:23
Hello Lye
Yeah, it’s a really cool stadium abd better looking than Toronto’s!
Glad you like the opening to the story and my objectives.
CsAtlantis
9 февраля, 2012 at 06:15
Good choice of team Kevin, does Vancouver have any Designated Players/Generation Adidas players? Good luck with your team, quite a few Canadian teams joining in the MLS these days
Qualifying for the World Cup won’t be that hard though Kevin (can always qualify behind USA and Mexico after all), maybe you can target a round of 16 or quarter final spot?
Kevin
9 февраля, 2012 at 09:27
Hi CsAtlantis
Delighted that you like my choice. I had two DP’s on arrival at the club and one GA player also. Montreal is joining the MLS in real life for this season. I see your very confident in my international abilities already :)
Rod
10 февраля, 2012 at 02:53
Hi mate! This looks promising, i’m from Argentina and really like Canada, don’t ask me why because i don’t know. Anyways, i still don’t get the MLS system, i hope that following your story i will learn a bit more, well, good luck in this new adventure. Cheers!
Kevin
10 февраля, 2012 at 17:16
Hi Rod
Greetings from Canada and thanks for your comment. The MLS runs similar to all other North American sports the idea being to create a level playing field so you don’t have the same teams dominate for decades such as in the EPL and La Liga. Anyway, hope to bring you an entertaining story :)
Frank
10 февраля, 2012 at 18:41
Hi Kevin,
Looking forward to this story, as the MLS is quite a confusing league which makes it interesting. Hopefully by reading your story it will give me some tips on when i start a New York save. Anyway good luck :)
Kevin
10 февраля, 2012 at 22:00
Cheers Frank!
Yes the MLS like other sports over here can be a little baffling though I’ll try and add some clarity along the way for you.