Hello everyone and a warm welcome back to my Vancouver Whitecaps Football Manager Story. Of course here in Toronto we are in celebratory mood after Toronto FC knocked out the LA Galaxy from the Champions League which included Beckham, Keane and Donovan. Well enough of reality and back to fantasy!
July 2012
The month started off at BC Place with the visit of Portland who we managed to beat by a single goal scored in the opening 10 minutes by Shea Salinas. We followed that with a miserable performance away to Columbus where we lost 1-0 but more devastatingly Tardelly tore his calf muscle and will miss the rest of the season.
The loss to Columbus was followed by another woeful effort as San Jose overcame us by two goals to nil in front of one of our lowest crowds at BC Place. We did manage 5 shots on target but none with any real fury behind them to cause the San Jose keeper any trouble.
With such a bad run of form and moral melting away quicker than a spring thaw it was time to make some changes to the squad. The foreign transfer window was just about to open up not that we had any spare slots…yet, and the domestic one was still available to September.
The first to go was veteran keeper Joe Canon who at 37 was going to retire anyway. Midfielder Jeb Brovsky was next heading off to Houston who in return gave us $16,000 and one of their draft picks in the 2013 Supplemental draft. Not the best of deals, but Brovsky hadn’t played much so I felt it was better to have the space available on the roster than be taken up by someone not playing.
Next to go was Omar Salgado who hadn’t quite fitted in to the team or lived up to his potential so when the LA Galaxy offered $ 425,000 and one of their international slots it didn’t take long for the deal to go through.
Whether due to the shake up or by sheer coincidence we played an outstanding game in New York which was highlighted by a brilliant 90 minutes of football by Edhino who bagged himself two goals in the process which will hopefully ignite a turnaround in fortunes.
Our next game was at home to Dallas where we lost striker Eric Hassli in the opening 15 minutes and he will be gone for 2 months and is our second forward to fall to a long term injury. We couldn’t have played any better in this game and I was left bewildered as to how this ended in a 0-0 draw?
We didn’t play so well down in California where we gave up possession far too easily and suffered as a result losing to Chivas USA.
August 2012
NACL: Preliminary Round
A good crowd was on hand for the debut of German goalkeeper Loris Karius as we began our run at the Champions League with a preliminary tie against Jamaican club Portmore United. The youngster didn’t have much to do in defending our goal as the action was all at the other end with our wingers in fine form setting up goals for each other to take a very hand lead down to the Caribbean for the 2nd leg.
Shea Salinas continued his good form scoring the only goal of the game in a 1-0 win over Philadelphia in MLS action and on the opposite flank Russ Tiebert got the single as we controlled the second leg of our NACL qualifier down in Jamaica.
The draw for the group stage wasn’t that kind to us as we ended up with the LA Galaxy, Tauro we beat last season and I’m sure the Mexican side Estudiantes Tecos will be strong opponents.
Back at BC Place the home crowd of just over 17,000 were treated to a brilliant display of possession football as we dominated the visiting Colorado who were reduced to 10 men in the first half. A powerful header off an Edhino corner by Alain Rochat opened the scoring early in the second half and then Edhino converted from the penalty spot after striker Steve Kramer was hauled down some five minutes later to take our win streak to four.
At The Home Depot Centre we took on the LA Galaxy and were crushed by forward Quaranta who hadn’t scored in 10 hours of play. If we can’t cope with that it doesn’t bode well for upcoming Champions League play.
We are the current champions but not worthy champions – we haven’t played the beautiful football that brought us success last season and that was the driving force as we headed in to our next game at home to DC United. Russ Tiebert got things underway in the 24th minute scoring of a delicate flick on by target man Steve Kramer who then doubled our lead 11 minutes later with a diving header from a Tiebert cross. Three minutes from the interval Edhino picked up the ball in midfield, breezed past the DC defence before passing on to Teibert… 3-0! DC poured forward at the start of the second half but we caught them on the counter with Edhino finishing off the move with another goal. We weren’t quite done as Tiebert supplied a low drilled cross that substitute Jarju swept into the net for goal number five and our best performance of the year!!
On the back of our best game of the season we travelled to Panama to take on Tauro in Group A Champions League action but failed to create the same free flowing football but did manage to secure a point in a 1-1 draw. Things were looking much the same on our stop off at Kansas City but a half time talk fired up the team with right winger Eric Mitdgarden scoring two second half goals and creating the first ever goal in a Vancouver shirt for striker Darlington Nagbe.
North American Champions League: Match Day 2
The final game of the month was at home to Mexican side Estudiantes Tecos who took the lead with a curling free kick after 24 minutes. As with last season we were no match for the speed of the Mexicans who breezed past our defence and quickly added two more goals, one from the penalty spot. A low driven cross from Tiebert did find Jarju who pushed the ball over the line to make it 3-1 just before half time though this game was already put to bed as we struggled throughout the second forty –five to make any headway
Despite that loss we still have a chance at coming second in the group if we can get a result over Los Angeles who only managed a draw themselves against Tauro.
Results Summary:
We’ve defintiely shown signs of improvement during the last month even though we played an astonishing nine games!
Western Conference Standings:
Overall Play-Off Table:
Fixtures:
Ahead of us is a very difficult schedule which starts in Seattle and then coming up a crucial game against the top team in the league Houston. In between is a must win game in the NACL as we meet Los Angeles at home.
So that’s the way it is from the west coast of Canada so thanks a lot for taking the time to read this and I look forward to your comments.
Bence Répási
16 марта, 2012 at 08:14
Hi Kevin!
This season looks more and more difficult in every quarter report, i hope your team find the right track in the league and also in the NACL, but Los Angeles seems to be very hard to overcome.
I wish you good luck in the remaining quarter of the season!
Kevin
16 марта, 2012 at 22:25
Hi Bence
Thanks for your comment — much appreciated. Yes, we are in for a dificult ride and without my top two strikers as well!
Johnny Karp
16 марта, 2012 at 08:57
You have sailed through stormy waters these months but I see that the ship is still in good shape and right on course. I’m quite sure that you will be reaching the play-offs and I hope you’ll be able to finish second in the NACL group. Good luck!
Kevin
16 марта, 2012 at 22:28
Hi Johnny
The last two months have been quite the rough ride though I think we will squeeze through in the end. I’m not so sure about the NACL though?
Tegar Triemanudigdo
16 марта, 2012 at 08:58
A rocky road there, but I hope that your team can get through with this condition and hopefully managed to achieve your ambition.
Again, a rather nice journey and can’t wait to see the next chapter.
Kevin
16 марта, 2012 at 22:29
Hey Tegar
Glad you enjoyed this update too and I hope I can bring you a great ending in the 4th quarter update!
Darren Smith
16 марта, 2012 at 11:44
Well that seems far more promising than the last post Kevin. While performances in the NACL weren’t ideal you could still reach second and that would be amazing. As for the play-offs, well you’re right back on track and hopefully some more good form will lead you into them with the wind behind your back.
Kevin
16 марта, 2012 at 22:31
Hi Darren
We have picked up a bit from last time and missing two strikers have been tough though my draft signing Steve Kramer stepped up. I hope we can get through into the next run of the NACL but it’s a tough group.
Ana Garcia
16 марта, 2012 at 16:08
Your form is still up and down but at least you are starting to put it right.
Tough NACL group so you would do well to progress to the knockout stages but at least you are in the playoff positions in the MLS.
Good luck!! :)
Kevin
16 марта, 2012 at 22:38
Thanks Ana!!
It’s not the best of situations to end the season but with a bit of luck I’ll get one of my injured strikers back to see us through.
Laxeyman
16 марта, 2012 at 16:12
Pretty decent form Kevin, you’re still in with a shout in the NACL, if results improve. You’re also on track in the league, so hopefully your lads can keep the run going :) Good luck!
Kevin
16 марта, 2012 at 22:40
Hey Laxeyman
We just about have a shot of NACL qualifying though I think our better chance for success is with the MLS.
saltwater
16 марта, 2012 at 18:50
Back in the play-offs in the Westeren Conference, nice to see. The Champions League qualification spots should be hard to acquire after the tough draw, but I see you pulling through it. Shame to see strikers Eric Hassli and Tardelly both getting injured around the same time; I hate when this happens but your other players seemed to step up to the plate, especially in that incredible 5-0 win.
Kevin
16 марта, 2012 at 22:43
Hi saltwater
The loss of two strikers has been a real set back especially with no slots available in the squad roster. The NACL will be difficult but after the 5-0 win the MLS looks more promising for end of season success
TheZiggy
16 марта, 2012 at 19:57
The form is still variable, but at least you’re still in the fight for the play-offs. Qualifying for the knockout stage of the NACL looks tricky, but hopefully you can pull out the results you need.
Kevin
16 марта, 2012 at 22:44
Hi Ziggy
Yes, we are still in with a shout despite all that has gone on with injuries – form etc..
Stromson
16 марта, 2012 at 20:00
Well, I’ll have to say I was significantly more concerned after that last post than I ought to have been. Granted, you’re struggling a bit more than you did last year, but you’re still on course for the playoffs, and you still handed down a vicious 5-0 beating to my beloved United. :(
I’m surprised how close your NACL group is, and hopefully you can squeak into the knockout rounds!
Kevin
16 марта, 2012 at 22:57
Hey Buddy!
Sorry about the DC result – I felt bad for sure!
We still have an outside chance in the NACL but it will be difficult to qualify given our striker situation.
MRDNRA
17 марта, 2012 at 00:14
Things like that 0-0 draw against Dallas do happen sometimes unfortunately. Heck, on the FM2011 game I’m still running, I won one match 6-0 with 15 shots and 7 on target, then either next match or 2 games later, won 2-0 with an unbelievable 42 shots of which 15 were on target, 17 BLOCKED, and 10 off target….and in return the opposing team managed 4 shots. And more recently a 0-0 with 16 shots to 0, though our shooting was so awful that of those 16 shots only 1 was on target! So I know how frustrating it can be to dominate so completely yet not get anyway near the reward you feel you deserve.
Anyway, you’re still doing okay, not quite as good as last season but sometimes that can happen too. I’m sure you’ll at least get to the play offs, hopefully go all the way and win it again. Good luck, and I look forward to the next update.
Kevin
17 марта, 2012 at 07:12
Hi MRDNRA
Thanks for your extended comment which actually makes me feel better knowing there are fellow sufferers and for the encouraging words too:)
David Faithfull
17 марта, 2012 at 01:03
Hey Kevin the last few month have not gone as smoothly as you had hoped but the team is slowly picking up there form. The results in the NCAL are not the best but it would be good if you could manage to get 2nd in the group!!
Kevin
17 марта, 2012 at 07:15
Thanks David
WE will be fortunate if we progess from NACL Group A so fingers crossed for the remaining games :)
Martin - F.M.J.S
17 марта, 2012 at 10:23
Some highs and lows mate. The NACL looks like it going to be tough to get through but I hope you get some good results and keep pushing on in the playoffs. :D
Kevin
18 марта, 2012 at 10:58
Hi Martin
Yeah, we were all over the place in the last two months but hopefully we can find some consistency before it’s too late.
vaibhavc
17 марта, 2012 at 15:54
Great improvement in form Kevin, hope you can improve that even more. The NACL looks tough this year, though.
Kevin
18 марта, 2012 at 10:59
Hi vaibhavc
That Group A is very tough indeed and to be honest I don’t see us progressing though fingers crossed :)
Sears
18 марта, 2012 at 12:28
Some hot and cold performances Kevin, but you’re still on the right track. I’m hoping you’ll finish in a play off place and qualify from you’re NACL group, good luck!
Kevin
18 марта, 2012 at 18:50
Cheers Sears
I hope we can get some consistency for post season play.
Bhargav
18 марта, 2012 at 21:48
Good luck closing out the campaign! I have faith you can pull through the group stage of the NACL.
CsAtlantis
20 марта, 2012 at 01:44
Estudiantes Tecos are taking the NACL group in style (they beat both you and the Galaxy) but if you can get results against Galaxy and Tauro you might still make it
Some improvement in the MLS, you’re in a playoff spot now, just have to keep this up and get into the post-season to have a shot at defending the MLS trophy
Good luck Kevin
Chris
4 мая, 2012 at 16:49
I’ve been playing as Vancouver manager and having a blast. When it rains here, it pours! I’ve won some games as many as 8-0! Personally I love Hassli and the back line, and only replaced Cannon because of his age — not his ability! In case you haven’t discovered them, my squad was particularly strengthened by Bruins (irony for a Vancouverite to like the Bruins!) and Hainault, so if they’re still decent in your game, they might be worth a look.
My question is how you dealt with the ludicrous automatic $3.9 million signing of the aged Barry Robson. My fans are furious and rightfully so. Personally, I’d like to offload him as soon as possible but he doesn’t seem popular to anyone else either. It’s maddening for my finances to take such as hit when I was flying so high (last year’s MLS/Canadian Cup winner, currently Top 3 in Western conference).