Unnamed Trialist Posted July 18, 2023 Share Posted July 18, 2023 Just now, The Beaver 2.0 said: Caps have officially rounded the corner and are proving that they are for real. No, they are not the finished product quite yet. They blew a lead vs. Seattle and almost blew the game vs a 10-man LA, which suggests to me the guys still got some learnin' to do. They need to kill off games, tidy up their play, understand what it takes to control a game when they are up. Like Canada in the Gold Cup, there are still far too many self-inflicted errors. But the team IS growing and growing, and if they can keep learning, stay humble, and work their asses off, I could see a top four finish for them in the western standings. It is a relatively young team, which bodes well for the future. One strong sign is starting games well, intensely. Scoring early. Making it far easier on themselves. Also a bit more possession, a few more attacking options with White picking up after a mediocre season last. A clearly better keeper. I think Sartini deserves credit. He bugs me, but he's sound on a lot of levels. The only piece missing is to be a bit better away, not to throw so many away so easily. The Beaver 2.0 and BearcatSA 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BearcatSA Posted July 18, 2023 Share Posted July 18, 2023 13 minutes ago, Unnamed Trialist said: One strong sign is starting games well, intensely. Scoring early. Making it far easier on themselves. They impose themselves much better from the start and their midfield is very good at intercepting passes between the lines if teams try to methodically build up from the back. The three-in-the-back is still vulnerable to being exposed to long, crossfield diagonal balls played to wingers in space (i.e. Chu for Seattle), so I think this continues to be the Achilles heel for the team based on the personnel available back there. They are a playoff team, but the keeper will need to help steal a game while Real Captain Gauld and Cubas bringing their A games will help make the rest of the squad a tough out. The Beaver 2.0 and Unnamed Trialist 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Watchmen Posted July 18, 2023 Share Posted July 18, 2023 27 minutes ago, Unnamed Trialist said: I think Sartini deserves credit. He bugs me, but he's sound on a lot of levels. The only piece missing is to be a bit better away, not to throw so many away so easily. But some of that is on Sartini. He'll roll out formations or tactics ill suited for the road or the opponent they're facing. Unnamed Trialist 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BearcatSA Posted July 18, 2023 Share Posted July 18, 2023 On 7/16/2023 at 8:14 PM, Watchmen said: Didn't notice it during the game, but checking the replays he did. He must have something in his contract which stipulates this any time he goes into a game. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Watchmen Posted July 18, 2023 Share Posted July 18, 2023 2 hours ago, BearcatSA said: He must have something in his contract which stipulates this any time he goes into a game. I think it's just the managers. Because it hasn't happened every game. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goal_Kick Posted July 18, 2023 Share Posted July 18, 2023 17 hours ago, Unnamed Trialist said: The only piece missing is to be a bit better away A bit better? They have to be a lot better. The Caps are 7-2-4 at home. A good record. But they're 1-5-3 on the road. Dismal. They have twelve games left in the season - eight(!) of which are on the road. They're currently in seventh place in the West. I hope they make the playoffs. But I'm not as optimistic as some here. Their road performance will, I fear, drag them down below the playoff line. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Beaver 2.0 Posted July 18, 2023 Share Posted July 18, 2023 1 hour ago, Goal_Kick said: A bit better? They have to be a lot better. The Caps are 7-2-4 at home. A good record. But they're 1-5-3 on the road. Dismal. They have twelve games left in the season - eight(!) of which are on the road. They're currently in seventh place in the West. I hope they make the playoffs. But I'm not as optimistic as some here. Their road performance will, I fear, drag them down below the playoff line. Nothing gets you better prepared for playoff battles than 8 changes to learn how to play good defense. All eyes are on Sartini over the next 12 games. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unnamed Trialist Posted July 19, 2023 Share Posted July 19, 2023 5 hours ago, Goal_Kick said: A bit better? They have to be a lot better. The Caps are 7-2-4 at home. A good record. But they're 1-5-3 on the road. Dismal. They have twelve games left in the season - eight(!) of which are on the road. They're currently in seventh place in the West. I hope they make the playoffs. But I'm not as optimistic as some here. Their road performance will, I fear, drag them down below the playoff line. I agree. I guess I said that because from what I recall, they were even worse away last season. But maybe I'm wrong. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Watchmen Posted July 19, 2023 Share Posted July 19, 2023 1 hour ago, Unnamed Trialist said: I agree. I guess I said that because from what I recall, they were even worse away last season. But maybe I'm wrong. They were 2 wins, 11 loses, and 4 draws on the road last year. Unnamed Trialist 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unnamed Trialist Posted July 19, 2023 Share Posted July 19, 2023 (edited) 15 minutes ago, Watchmen said: They were 2 wins, 11 loses, and 4 draws on the road last year. So I wasn't far off, thanks. Though I think that technically a lot of home games were also played away due to Covid, so maybe it's not the best comparison. What gets me is they have no fight at all, what gives? It is not like home support is so fantastic that they really feel it away, they play at home to lots of empty seats and a relatively cool crowd overall. Edited July 19, 2023 by Unnamed Trialist Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Watchmen Posted July 19, 2023 Share Posted July 19, 2023 24 minutes ago, Unnamed Trialist said: So I wasn't far off, thanks. Though I think that technically a lot of home games were also played away due to Covid, so maybe it's not the best comparison. What gets me is they have no fight at all, what gives? It is not like home support is so fantastic that they really feel it away, they play at home to lots of empty seats and a relatively cool crowd overall. No "home" games were played away last year - that was 2021. MLS does have an abnormally high "home win" rate across the league, not just the Whitecaps. I'll assume some of that is travel, climate, etc. But for the Whitecaps, so much of it really is just naïve management from Vanni. He constantly seems caught off guard that a team would play differently at home than away, that when they're at home they're going to attack much more vigorously than when they're on the road. Unnamed Trialist 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unnamed Trialist Posted July 19, 2023 Share Posted July 19, 2023 1 hour ago, Watchmen said: No "home" games were played away last year - that was 2021. MLS does have an abnormally high "home win" rate across the league, not just the Whitecaps. I'll assume some of that is travel, climate, etc. But for the Whitecaps, so much of it really is just naïve management from Vanni. He constantly seems caught off guard that a team would play differently at home than away, that when they're at home they're going to attack much more vigorously than when they're on the road. Thanks, that is an interesting observation. It is basically the difference between the top in MLS and the top elsewhere, as you say, and here I am surmising: normally the best team gets away results readily, has a winning record home and away. When an MLS team regularly figures that out, then we'll see a dynasty. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Watchmen Posted July 20, 2023 Share Posted July 20, 2023 Ouch. Guess we'll see what the return/replacement is. Goal_Kick 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack1997 Posted July 21, 2023 Share Posted July 21, 2023 3 hours ago, Watchmen said: Ouch. Guess we'll see what the return/replacement is. Ahmed? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soro17 Posted July 21, 2023 Share Posted July 21, 2023 5 minutes ago, Jack1997 said: Ahmed? They have actually looked decent without Gressel. Ahmed’s emergence no doubt made this decision easier. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stoppage Time Posted July 21, 2023 Share Posted July 21, 2023 6 hours ago, Watchmen said: Ouch. Guess we'll see what the return/replacement is. Hope VWFC gets a very good return from Columbia. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Watchmen Posted July 21, 2023 Share Posted July 21, 2023 3 hours ago, Jack1997 said: Ahmed? He's already on the team. They need to strengthen the team, not subtract from it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phresh Posted July 22, 2023 Share Posted July 22, 2023 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ozzie_the_parrot Posted July 22, 2023 Share Posted July 22, 2023 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ozzie_the_parrot Posted July 31, 2023 Share Posted July 31, 2023 PastPros 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unnamed Trialist Posted July 31, 2023 Share Posted July 31, 2023 Beat Galaxy with two late goals away and qualify for the round of 32 of the Leagues Cup, vs. Tigres. Again we play on Friday eve at BC Place. If we go through, I think the 8th is the day for the round of 16. There are matches pending Monday so they won't release the exact schedule until then. PegCityCam, youllneverwalkalone and costarg 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kadenge Posted July 31, 2023 Share Posted July 31, 2023 Is Ali Ahmed injured again? costarg 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Watchmen Posted August 2, 2023 Share Posted August 2, 2023 Caicedo out on loan. Hasn't been the same player since the injury. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Watchmen Posted August 2, 2023 Share Posted August 2, 2023 I'd have to see the numbers, but it's probably a good extension. Goal_Kick 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
narduch Posted August 2, 2023 Share Posted August 2, 2023 Laryea to Whitecaps! Admiral Murray 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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