Kyle Porter

[Dub Narcotic]

Mississauga-born forward developed with Erin Mills SC and the Mississauga Falcons before signing with the Whitecaps residency in 2007. Was signed from the residency in 2008 by Energie Cottbus before returning to the Whitecaps in 2010 where he played briefly for the team in their last NASL season. Played with F.C. Edmonton in NASL in 2011 and 2012 after turning down a contract with Vancouver. Signed by D.C. United in 2013 during pre-season. Has played for Canada at U-17, U-20 and Senior levels.

[TFC07]

Wow, DC United is becoming 4th Canadian team in MLS (They have 3 Canadian players on their roster which is minimum requirement for Canadian MLS teams). So they fit criteria of being a Canadian team in MLS.

[nolando]

^ Three REAL Canadians, too.

[McGuire]

Well kudos to DCU The ****ecaps could learn a thing or 2 from them

[tmcmurph]

Well kudos to DCU The ****ecaps could learn a thing or 2 from them

So could TFC. HOW TO WIN.

So 4 players on our roster who are MNT eligible still isn't enough? Awe you don't like the bar set so high. The Caps should be giving minutes to Canadian players in your view?

Tell you what sport. When (not if) Canadians crack the starting 11 on the Caps you will know they are there for one reason only. They are good enough to start on a playoff contender not a basement dweller team. Until then whine all you want. The Caps have done as much or more for Canadian soccer and Canadian players than any other team. Get over the silly first team minutes and look around you. Where do you think Porter got 2+ years of great training? What did it cost him?

He took 2 real big chances with his career so far and it has worked out for him so I'm very happy for him but they were HIS choices. The Caps made Porter an offer but he chose FCE for probably the same money but more playing time. FCE made him an offer but he chose to go for a trial with DC. Gusty moves for the young man and I for one am very happy it has worked out for him.

[maccaliam]

Where do you think Porter got 2+ years of great training?

Edmonton?

[tmcmurph]

Edmonton?

He made the choice to turn down the Caps offer and accept the one from FCE. At that point in his development he (correctly IMHO) felt that playing time was more important. Yes he trained with FCE as a player but he also trained in a pro-level academy for 2 years with the Caps that got him to the point where FCE was interested.

Full marks to Edmonton for their paying and playing the Canadians they have. Perhaps D2 is the best level for current academy grads. Not many are going to be good enough right away to make an MLS squad and if they do they will be bench players to start. Some subs and a dozen reserve matches are not much but daily training around very skilled MLS level players has advantages. Six of one, half dozen of the other situation.

As long as the developing MLS teams don't hold their rights ransom and prevent them from getting on other MLS teams when they get to that level I'm okay with players moving around. The Caps got a 2cd round supplemental draft pick (4th round) for Porter's rights so next to nothing. Lets see how he does this year with DC. Hopefully he sticks and makes an impact.

[maccaliam]

He made the choice to turn down the Caps offer and accept the one from FCE. At that point in his development he (correctly IMHO) felt that playing time was more important. Yes he trained with FCE as a player but he also trained in a pro-level academy for 2 years with the Caps that got him to the point where FCE was interested.

Full marks to Edmonton for their paying and playing the Canadians they have. Perhaps D2 is the best level for current academy grads. Not many are going to be good enough right away to make an MLS squad and if they do they will be bench players to start. Some subs and a dozen reserve matches are not much but daily training around very skilled MLS level players has advantages. Six of one, half dozen of the other situation.

As long as the developing MLS teams don't hold their rights ransom and prevent them from getting on other MLS teams when they get to that level I'm okay with players moving around. The Caps got a 2cd round supplemental draft pick (4th round) for Porter's rights so next to nothing. Lets see how he does this year with DC. Hopefully he sticks and makes an impact.

Honestly, I was only winding you up. I don't disagree the Caps would have provided Porter with help along the way.

As you've said, hopefully he sticks around DC and can get some valuable minutes, showing he deserves to be there.

[tmcmurph]

Honestly, I was only winding you up. I don't disagree the Caps would have provided Porter with help along the way.

As you've said, hopefully he sticks around DC and can get some valuable minutes, showing he deserves to be there.

Tricky fella aren't you?

I didn't see it as winding up just pointing out the obvious. Seriously I think D2 is a great accomplishment for players and more D2 teams that require cheap local players are needed so the players have choices and playing opportunities. Missing that rung on the ladder makes it too big a jump for most and those that can make that jump usually end up in Europe. Going straight from academy to MLS as an 18-20 year old is a huge jump.

It is a process that goes on for more than a decade and lots of credit (and blame) to go around for a player's success or lack thereof.

[Lord Bob]

Well kudos to DCU The ****ecaps could learn a thing or 2 from them

It's true, DC United and its three Canadians (Porter, Jakovic, De Rosario) truly shames the Whitecaps and their four Canadians (Teibert, Alderson, Clarke, Thomas).

[VWFC]

Well kudos to DCU The ****ecaps could learn a thing or 2 from them

Boring

[RS]

So could TFC. HOW TO WIN.

If only TFC had DC United's main executive, then they'd learn a thing or two about winning.

[Soccerpro]

It's true, DC United and its three Canadians (Porter, Jakovic, De Rosario) truly shames the Whitecaps and their four Canadians (Teibert, Alderson, Clarke, Thomas).

Do you think it's possible that those 4 caps players get 0 minutes combined this year?

[jonovision]

Do you think it's possible that those 4 caps players get 0 minutes combined this year?

Possible, surely. They could be driving together to the game today in a car crash. But highly unlikely. I wouldn't surprised if some of them got minutes today.

[canucklefan]

Do you think it's possible that those 4 caps players get 0 minutes combined this year?

That doesn't matter (sarcasm) because they come from the Residency program, which means the Whitecaps contributed to the NMT (bull****). Get over the silly first team minutes and look around you (myth).

[tmcmurph]

Look at the players on the field and tell who of those 4 (all of whom I have high hopes for) should have been played in place of?

Seriously, who out there tonight do you think those 4 should get minutes ahead of?

18 year old Kekutah Manneh? Not a chance he rocked the joint in the first half. Mattocks? Nope he played very well up front. Kobi? Gersh? Do you really rate any of those 4 ahead of their competition? In time all 4 will be very good players and get their shot but they are not there yet and to pretend they are is quite funny.

[Lord Bob]

That doesn't matter (sarcasm) because they come from the Residency program, which means the Whitecaps contributed to the NMT (bull****). Get over the silly first team minutes and look around you (myth).

It's true, all of our players emerged fully-formed at age 28 and never trained soccer anywhere. They just showed up at a field one day and got a contract. Development does not exist.

(Out of curiousity, how many of those four Whitecaps would have to have been called up to Canadian national teams to count as "contributing"? Since Teibert and Thomas played both of the last senior games, Alderson would have been on the senior and U-20 teams if he was healthy, and Clarke was the U-20's best scorer, is it "five out of four"? Or are you just so blinded by ridiculous anti-Vancouver bias that you just set arbitrary milestones which have nothing to do with developing Canadian talent and everything to do with getting to say "see I told you"?)

[nolando]

Kyle made his MLS debut last night as a late sub. Congrats!

[canucklefan]

It's true, all of our players emerged fully-formed at age 28 and never trained soccer anywhere. They just showed up at a field one day and got a contract. Development does not exist.

(Out of curiousity, how many of those four Whitecaps would have to have been called up to Canadian national teams to count as "contributing"? Since Teibert and Thomas played both of the last senior games, Alderson would have been on the senior and U-20 teams if he was healthy, and Clarke was the U-20's best scorer, is it "five out of four"? Or are you just so blinded by ridiculous anti-Vancouver bias that you just set arbitrary milestones which have nothing to do with developing Canadian talent and everything to do with getting to say "see I told you"?)

I don't know why you are taking personal my comments. I'm not expressing my bias against Vancouver at all. I'm just tired of the argument of "silly first team minutes". now, that is bias to me.

[madmonte]

Look at the players on the field and tell who of those 4 (all of whom I have high hopes for) should have been played in place of?

Seriously, who out there tonight do you think those 4 should get minutes ahead of?

18 year old Kekutah Manneh? Not a chance he rocked the joint in the first half. Mattocks? Nope he played very well up front. Kobi? Gersh? Do you really rate any of those 4 ahead of their competition? In time all 4 will be very good players and get their shot but they are not there yet and to pretend they are is quite funny.

This is true. Vancouver has some REALLY talented guys. I would not be at all surprised if the 4 combined for 0 minutes this season. They've already combined for 0 minutes on the bench.

However, I was still cheering for TFC who played 4 Canadians. And I will continue to cheer for them even though I had hoped to be a huge whitecaps fan when they first joined the league.

[Soccerpro]

It's true, all of our players emerged fully-formed at age 28 and never trained soccer anywhere. They just showed up at a field one day and got a contract. Development does not exist.

(Out of curiousity, how many of those four Whitecaps would have to have been called up to Canadian national teams to count as "contributing"? Since Teibert and Thomas played both of the last senior games, Alderson would have been on the senior and U-20 teams if he was healthy, and Clarke was the U-20's best scorer, is it "five out of four"? Or are you just so blinded by ridiculous anti-Vancouver bias that you just set arbitrary milestones which have nothing to do with developing Canadian talent and everything to do with getting to say "see I told you"?)

Lorb Bob, if young Canadian players like Teibert don't get any playing time and then (hypothetically) as a result don't improve due to lack of game action, how do they end up eventually playing for the Whitecaps?

I'm not against the whitecaps, or any other Canadian team, I'm just having trouble figuring out how a team like the whitecaps plans to eventually give it's Canadian players some playing time (assuming they don't get a 18 year Messi like Canadian) if they don't get any meaningful playing time in order to develop.

Kyle Porter seems to be a good counter study to Phillipe Davies. Sign with MLS, sit on the bench and not improve vs sign with a 2nd div club, get playing time annd continue to improve. Obviously it's not that simple (who knows maybe Porter would have done well in MLS or Davies was just never that good).

[Obinna]

After watching the game last night, I gotta say that Vancouver looked good. They looked REAL good. However the fact of the matter is they played NO Canadians last night, and that is very disappointing for CMNT supporters.

That being said, the myth that Whitecaps cares less about developing Canadians is stupid. If they had a Canadian in the squad deserving to be on the field he would have been there. However the squad is strong and it is deep. They have no Canadians right now that are ready to be starters. Their mandate is clearly win first, produce Canadians second.

There is nothing wrong with this, and it is perfectly normal. In fact, I am sure TFC is doing the same thing (with less success obviously). I mean, it is not like their mandate is to develop Canadians first and foremost. Their priority is to win, they want to be successful.

The difference between Whitecaps and TFC is that TFC has made poor roster moves over the years which ultimately led to players like Morgan, Stinson, Henry, Attakora etc getting a chance. In fact, they got more than a chance, they all got plenty of minutes because there was little depth in the squad. So it is not like TFC deliberately aimed to develop these Canadians.

Regardless, the situation at TFC has given more minutes to Canadians than the situation at Whitecaps....

Although Vancouver is a winner (so far) and TFC is not, I still support them over Whitecaps because I enjoy watching Canadian players. In the long run a winning club is better for the game in Canada than a losing club, but for the short and medium term it is clear that TFC is more of a benefit to the national team than Whitecaps. That is not anti-Vancouver it is just the reality.

[tmcmurph]

Thanks Obinna. I too enjoy watching Canadian players but I'm starting to think that D2 would be the best level for players like the 4 that Vancouver has. Problem becomes that if they loan them out then they can't count them towards the quota. Silly but hopefully that will change (hello CSA/MLS). Playing a dozen reserve games a year isn't a match for 30+ at the D2 level.

I for one don't want to see our 3 MLS teams in a situation like TFC was in. Yes it will result in more playing time for Canadians but if the team bombs out in attendance then you have a very bad situation for the owners and worse for the fans. I'm a firm believer in keeping the bar high and those that make it will be a huge help to the MNT. Those that don't like the limited playing opportunities will gravitate to D2 and follow the route Porter has taken. I wish luck to them all.

Soccerpro. Look at any Euro team to see how players coming up get first team minutes. They are simply better than the players on the field. They have proven themselves at all the levels below. In Barcelona they have the "I've seen your replacement" routine amongst the vets. Pep was told that when others saw Xavi play for instance. They have a lot more reserve and second division level games to practice. That is the glaring hole in our system currently. The ladder is missing a few rungs (D2 & D3). Hopefully that will be remedied soon.

[Soccerpro]

Thanks Obinna. I too enjoy watching Canadian players but I'm starting to think that D2 would be the best level for players like the 4 that Vancouver has. Problem becomes that if they loan them out then they can't count them towards the quota. Silly but hopefully that will change (hello CSA/MLS). Playing a dozen reserve games a year isn't a match for 30+ at the D2 level.

I for one don't want to see our 3 MLS teams in a situation like TFC was in. Yes it will result in more playing time for Canadians but if the team bombs out in attendance then you have a very bad situation for the owners and worse for the fans. I'm a firm believer in keeping the bar high and those that make it will be a huge help to the MNT. Those that don't like the limited playing opportunities will gravitate to D2 and follow the route Porter has taken. I wish luck to them all.

Soccerpro. Look at any Euro team to see how players coming up get first team minutes. They are simply better than the players on the field. They have proven themselves at all the levels below. In Barcelona they have the "I've seen your replacement" routine amongst the vets. Pep was told that when others saw Xavi play for instance. They have a lot more reserve and second division level games to practice. That is the glaring hole in our system currently. The ladder is missing a few rungs (D2 & D3). Hopefully that will be remedied soon.

THat's my point, the Caps younger players have nowhere to play. They should loan them out to FCE.

[Blackdude]

THat's my point, the Caps younger players have nowhere to play. They should loan them out to FCE.

Expect to see that. The addition of Koffie and Thomas means that they now have 6 Canadians, so they could loan out 2-3 players to Edmonton. I know that Tyler Green of the Team in Vancouver tweeted that a couple of Canadians will be loaned out this year.