Hello friends and welcome back to my latest Whitecaps update which will see us in Champions League action and the the start of the new MLS season. As current MLS Cup holders my hopes are high for a good start as there hasn’t been that many changes to the team during the off season.
March 2012
We started the campaign off with a trip to Mexico for our NACL quarter-final game against Pumas. The home side were much quicker than us and despite their speed we had much of the possession but fell behind from a corner after an unlucky deflection bounced into the path of a Pumas striker for an easy tap in. Pressing their goal for much of the second half we couldn’t find a way through and got caught on the counter conceding a second goal leaving it all to do in the second leg back in British Columbia.
Returning to BC for the second leg the Pumas took the field with just one objective, to defend their two goal lead which they did up until the 83rd minute when a cracking effort from 25 yards out by midfielder Tyler Hemming finally found a way through. It was too little too late and the Pumas held on, eliminating us from the competition. We were not alone as all the other MLS teams went out of the NACL that evening.
The defence of our title began at home to Chivas USA and it was a case of third time lucky. After a sluggish opening 20 minutes we started to control the game and had two goals disallowed for offside. Finally in the 58th minute a well worked move down the right found Tardelly and the Brazilian striker hit the ball cleanly for the opening and what would prove to be the only goal of the game.
Next up was a trip to rivals Toronto where despite our 58% possession we couldn’t get the ball in the back of the net mainly thanks to some weak shots and superb keeping by Toronto’s Stephan Frie. Toronto scored two from corner kicks and handed us a late consolation own goal in what was a forgettable away game. The board and fans were not happy at this result.
April 2012
After trailing 1-0 to an early second half goal against Real Salt Lake a long throw by LB Heath Pearce found Jay DeMerit in the box and he swept the ball into the net with just two minutes remaining. We pushed forward in a frantic effort to snatch a victory…another throw by Pearce in the 92nd minute and this time it was Mitgarden on hand to score his first goal for the club as we snatched the victory!
With a 4 week injury to striker Eric Hassli it was left to Tardelly to continue with leading the line as we took on Seattle at BC Place in this Cascadia Cup encounter. However, Tardelly himself got injured early on so it was youngster Omar Salgaldo who took over as the lone striker and was beaten to the ball by AMC Jarju who gave us the lead after 33 minutes. Four minutes later a corner to Seattle and it was 1-1 as we continued to concede from set pieces. The second half was a drab affair with few chances being created at either end.
Our Cascadia Cup action continued as we travelled south to take on Portland where an inspirational pass by Edhino found MC Philippe Davies rushing through from midfield to smash the ball past the Portland keeper with a minute left on the clock. It was yet another disappointing display in front of goal even though we had so much of the ball throughout the 90 minutes.
The month finished up at home to Columbus who we fell behind to late in the first half from a shot 25 yards out. I’d deployed two strikers up front for the first time in ages in an effort to get some mojo going up front but it took an assertive half time talk rather than an additional striker to come up with an equalizer just after the break. Draft signing Steve Kramer nabbed his first for the club with a stinging shot from just inside the penalty area. Columbus took the lead once more as we gave up the goal from a corner but an exquisite through ball by midfielder Koffie found Shea Salinas on the right who hit it first time into the roof of the net to save a point for us.
Results Summary:
Western Conference Standings:
Eastern Conference Standings:
Fixtures:
On paper at least we start off with a couple of road games that could be three pointers for us before the visit of New York to BC Place with difficult games against in form LA and Houston to look forward to.
Wrap Up:
We started the season off very much the same as last year playing some great possession football but unable to convert this into chances or even goals. As MLS champions I thought we may have done slightly better in the NACL quarter finals though the speed of the Mexicans was our undoing.
I’d made some errors in signing youth players who I had thought I could drop into the reserves but in fact counted towards my 30 man squad and therefore ended up being waived in March. I’ll have to be more careful next time though it does make things difficult in building the team from the reserves.
We are also in the process of improving our training facilities at a cost of $4,000,000 which will be completed early next season, the youth facilities having just recently being finished.
My first experience with international football was a forgettable one as we had to play three games in four days for Olympic Qualifying. The team was totally unfit and that showed on the field as we were hammered by Costa Rica, just about managed a draw with Cuba before getting another spanking against the US. I was more than happy to return to the safety of British Columbia after that.
That’s about it for this update so thanks a lot for reading this and I look forward to your comments.
Ivo
5 марта, 2012 at 15:09
Not the best start but I’m sure it will be better :) have you got sacked by canada u 23? I wish you luck in this season and I’m looking forward for the nacl :)
Kevin
5 марта, 2012 at 17:24
Hello Ivo
As far as I know I’m still in charge of the U23’s and Vancouver should be in the NACL again as we are MLS Champions :)
Johnny Karp
5 марта, 2012 at 15:44
Beating Pumas was a bit of a long shot at the moment but you did pretty well to get a win in the second leg. You had a decent start in the league in my view and I’m quite sure that your performances will improve down the road like they did last season. Sorry to see that the Canada U23s adventure went so badly but there’s so much you can do with these types of national teams, I surely know that. Best of luck for the second quarter of the season!
Kevin
5 марта, 2012 at 17:30
Hi Johnny
The trip to Mexico was always going to be tough so I’m not that disappointed. There’s a long way to go in the MLS and I think we will gain momentum as before. The Canada experience was real bad LOL!
saltwater
5 марта, 2012 at 16:44
Unlucky against Pumas, I share an unpopular opinion that it’s more favourable to play at home in the first leg and then be on the road in the second (But does the NACL have the away goal rule?) And injuries to strikers always get on my nerves, but credit for pulling through it.
And asking you to play so many games in such a small amount of time for the U23’s was ridicolous, so the chances of qualifing with even the best of managers was unlikely. How did you get players for the U23’s by the way?
Kevin
5 марта, 2012 at 17:47
hi saltwater
When the time came in the game for the U23’s the player pool appeared but there wasn’t much talent to choose from and they were all knackered :) I wasn’t too unhappy with the Pumas result and hope we can do better next time.
TheZiggy
5 марта, 2012 at 16:56
There’s a bit more progress to be made before you can properly take on the Mexican teams, but it still wasn’t that bad, given you won the second leg. I can never quite decide whether it’s better to have home advantage for the 1st leg or not.
Although the start of the league season wasn’t as good as you’d have wanted, you are right in the fight there as all the teams have slipped up as well. It’s one of the best things you can see happening, because it usually means you can get away with dropping some points too, and not get badly punished for it.
Kevin
5 марта, 2012 at 17:52
Hi Ziggy
I was happy enough to get a goal out of the 2 leg affair as I didn’t really expect much from the game. I was hoping we could ride the crest of success and get of to a great start in the regular season though we are right on the tails of LA and Seattle :)
Stromson
5 марта, 2012 at 18:01
Well I didn’t actually read anything, but I’m sure you decimated all those other teams in whatever they call the Czech top league. Shame you couldn’t win the CL though, and it must’ve been awful to lose in the final to Genk like that. Anyway, keep up the good work, and maybe you’ll get a job at a big club one day.
;-)
Kevin
5 марта, 2012 at 23:41
Hello my southern cousin — I have no idea what you are on about :)
Darren Smith
5 марта, 2012 at 19:59
A real shame to lose in NACL but as mentioned already the Mexican sides seem to be a step ahead and catching them is all part of the journey. The league start wasn’t great but you have something to build on and hopefully you can progress a little with Canada U23’s when the players available are actually fit.
Kevin
5 марта, 2012 at 23:49
Hey Darren
I was expecting that loss in the NACL even before the season began — I jut knew thet were streets ahead of us. Still, we get out heads down an get on with the job including those U23’s :)
Ana Garcia
5 марта, 2012 at 20:22
Pumas are a strong side so I wouldnt be that disappointed in losing to them as it seems Mexican sides are stronger than teams from the MLS at the moment.
U23’s seems to be a tad unfair but am sure you will make that step up to be the national manager sooner rather than later, especially with a good start to the MLS season.
Good luck! :)
Kevin
5 марта, 2012 at 23:51
Hi Ana
As you’ve has some experience in both league you knew well in advance that this was a tough tie to win and sadly we didn’t. The U23’s was really just waste of time and effort but hopefully we will be better prepared next time around.
Martin F.M.J.S
6 марта, 2012 at 09:00
I feel its not a bad start to the season it was a shame you couldn’t get a result against Toronto but if you win your game in hand you will be sitting top of the table. Also unlucky with the U23’s it looked a tough group.
Kevin
6 марта, 2012 at 13:38
Hi Martin
I didn’t like losing to Toronto that’s for sure. The U23’s was a bit of a waste of time really.
nielsneutron
6 марта, 2012 at 19:06
The NACL exit was unfortunate but the mexicans do seem to be dominating in FM2012.
For instance in some seasons in my games the national team win the world cup but then again they do have a great team.
Your season is going great but you should have won over Toronto FC. Then again you wins against Chivas and Real Salt Lake.
Kevin
6 марта, 2012 at 22:12
I think you are right about Mexico — they won the World Cup is someone else’s save I think. We should have beaten Toronto but hoefully we will get revenge in the Canadian Championship :)
David Faithfull
6 марта, 2012 at 20:13
Hello Kevin completely gutted that you didn’t last in the NCAL and didn’t have much luck with the Canada U23’s but im pretty sure you can pick it up from here. You are 3rd in the Western Conference and have a game in hand so looking good in the MLS!!!
Kevin
6 марта, 2012 at 22:17
Hi David
I wasn’t too happy myself to go out of the NACL though I wasn’t shocked by it. The U23’s seemed to be a waste of time really. Thanks for your support!!
tim
7 марта, 2012 at 13:33
am gonna be a bit different because i think you need a reality check i just dont think your good enough.
vaibhavc
8 марта, 2012 at 14:45
Gutted that you lost in the NACL but I the teams were better than you, but there is always next season. Looking good so far in the league, good start!