Vancouver Whitecaps - 2024 Season Thread

[BearcatSA]

1 hour ago, Watchmen said:

It went under the radar, but i do appreciate that Vanni came out last week and said "playoffs isn't enough. We need to win a round." Because I think that's what's been missing from the organization for a while. It's been "just make the playoffs" for too long, with no further ambition. At least he's said what the fans have been saying for a while.

https://theprovince.com/sports/countdown-nine-games-whitecaps

It cannot be a one-and-out.  They need a playoff run here, plain and simple.

[Unnamed Trialist]

1 hour ago, BearcatSA said:

It cannot be a one-and-out.  They need a playoff run here, plain and simple.

I'd say from here in you have to be in knockout mode, the big teams rise to the occasion. 

It's a tough call because winning the Voyageurs Cup does make your season. And if you don't maybe that inspires a response. In any case, Whitecaps have never had that league winning roster, mentality or drive in MLS. Nor the budget. So we haven't seen it and they pretty well have to win us over,  the fans are expectantly expecting whatever. 

[saladroit]

 

[Ozzie_the_parrot]

 

[Unnamed Trialist]

A point to stay ahead of Houston and show our toughness, after being outplayed. I actually watched part as I had insomnia last night. Caps are more efficient than entertaining, which is not so good. Then the goal efficiency is very high. The next step has to be to have the ball and stay on it for longer stretches to take the rival's chances and authority away. 

Otherwise, you are never going to be a top 8 team in MLS, conference semis is the max out.

I have taken to watching Vanni more, he at least speaks intelligently, describes games accurately, is still a bit big-headed but at least can be ironical about himself. I also like how he seems to be working with Schuster, he seems to get players he wants and roster decisions are more rational. Even more than last season I'd say, where the Laryea move seemed rushed.

[Watchmen]

7 hours ago, Unnamed Trialist said:

I have taken to watching Vanni more, he at least speaks intelligently, describes games accurately, is still a bit big-headed but at least can be ironical about himself. I also like how he seems to be working with Schuster, he seems to get players he wants and roster decisions are more rational. Even more than last season I'd say, where the Laryea move seemed rushed.

Have a friend who speaks fluent Italian and read that Vanni article @masster posted here. Said it was a great read and he had a new respect for Vanni, but also that what Vanni wants to do on the field and what's actually happening are almost two different things. I get the impression that the tactics Vanni wants to employ are simply not what the players of MLS caliber are capable of playing, and that Vanni hasn't really adjusted to that reality.

I think Schuster has done a good job of trying to get players that fit Vanni's system, but I've been frustrated a few times by the system changing during the off season to something that really doesn't seem to fit the players just acquired. It's why we all seem to spend time thinking "that player seems good, but he's out of position".

[Unnamed Trialist]

2 hours ago, Watchmen said:

Have a friend who speaks fluent Italian and read that Vanni article @masster posted here. Said it was a great read and he had a new respect for Vanni, but also that what Vanni wants to do on the field and what's actually happening are almost two different things. I get the impression that the tactics Vanni wants to employ are simply not what the players of MLS caliber are capable of playing, and that Vanni hasn't really adjusted to that reality.

I think Schuster has done a good job of trying to get players that fit Vanni's system, but I've been frustrated a few times by the system changing during the off season to something that really doesn't seem to fit the players just acquired. It's why we all seem to spend time thinking "that player seems good, but he's out of position".

I realize a lot of people say this, but I guess I haven't watched enough. The few games I've seen carefully we actually played horribly I thought. Then got goals anyways. If we do something miraculous and get better than fourth it could be interesting, but in fact we're better away from home as a counter-attacking team that lets the rival dominate. So it's not even clear home advantage in playoffs I'd ideal for us. 

[Watchmen]

29 minutes ago, Unnamed Trialist said:

I realize a lot of people say this, but I guess I haven't watched enough. The few games I've seen carefully we actually played horribly I thought. Then got goals anyways. If we do something miraculous and get better than fourth it could be interesting, but in fact we're better away from home as a counter-attacking team that lets the rival dominate. So it's not even clear home advantage in playoffs I'd ideal for us. 

No, you've got it fairly spot on. When they're in possession, they seem to have no ideas. There's no movement and a lot of back passes. Drives me crazy, the number of times they've started in the oppositions corner and back passed it all the way to Takaoka. You can watch opposing teams moving to intercept the backpass or pressuring the guy about to receive it because they already know where it's going.

Vanni has talked about how his defense system is fine "as long as every player 100% gets their job right" but this is MLS and no player does that. Hence, 3 months of no clean sheets.

So, we're left with a team that I think has some decent (but not top of the league) talent, is doing well in the standings, but can't beat good teams and still seems to be underachieving.

[Unnamed Trialist]

9 minutes ago, Watchmen said:

No, you've got it fairly spot on. When they're in possession, they seem to have no ideas. There's no movement and a lot of back passes. Drives me crazy, the number of times they've started in the oppositions corner and back passed it all the way to Takaoka. You can watch opposing teams moving to intercept the backpass or pressuring the guy about to receive it because they already know where it's going.

Vanni has talked about how his defense system is fine "as long as every player 100% gets their job right" but this is MLS and no player does that. Hence, 3 months of no clean sheets.

So, we're left with a team that I think has some decent (but not top of the league) talent, is doing well in the standings, but can't beat good teams and still seems to be underachieving.

I won't get your opinion of the famous immovable zonal marking system he's so proud of then 😊.

[Watchmen]

Not wholly upset with the lineup today, given that they're more concerned with the VCup final on Wednesday. But think there's a number of players who didn't help their case for more playing time.  Blackmon probably on the bench the rest of the year.  Johnson should be too.

Also annoyed Vanni kept throwing on guys late chasing a game that they weren't going to win instead of just resting them for Wednesday.

[saladroit]

16 minutes ago, Watchmen said:

Not wholly upset with the lineup today, given that they're more concerned with the VCup final on Wednesday.

the VCup is definitely one part of the rotation but i think there's also an eye to the 4 game homestand after the final which will probably be a massive minutes load on the main guys

[BearcatSA]

39 minutes ago, Watchmen said:

Not wholly upset with the lineup today, given that they're more concerned with the VCup final on Wednesday. But think there's a number of players who didn't help their case for more playing time.  Blackmon probably on the bench the rest of the year.  Johnson should be too.

Also annoyed Vanni kept throwing on guys late chasing a game that they weren't going to win instead of just resting them for Wednesday.

Johnson looked lost out there.  Priso seems off the pace for the defensive play needed and he also had some poor giveaways.  Blackmon seems so lackadaisical in his defending.  Laborda is not a wingback.  Schopf is gone after this season

I think this was a match where they went with the JV and then after that, barring injuries and/or suspensions, the bench is going to be shortened considerably, so some of these guys are going to be strictly on the bench or in the press box.

 

Edited September 22 by BearcatSA

[Ozzie_the_parrot]

 

[saladroit]

sure looked like it!

[Watchmen]

55 minutes ago, saladroit said:

sure looked like it!

Next up: Portland on the weekend, Seattle next Wednesday.  Bit of a gauntlet to run through now.  Not ideal.

[saladroit]

22 minutes ago, Watchmen said:

Next up: Portland on the weekend, Seattle next Wednesday.  Bit of a gauntlet to run through now.  Not ideal.

truly wonderful how between sep 14 and oct 5, the caps will have played 7 games (basically matches every three days with probably only one day of recovery and one day of training to prepare for matches) when they played *checks notes* 4 times in the entirety of august with zero matches between aug 7 and aug 27, effectively no-showing like 2 and a half weeks of perfect weather and the part of the sports calendar where there's less to compete with. the schedule of a very serious league!

Edited September 26 by saladroit

[ahmedou]

Props to Youssef Dahha. The GOAT of the coach goalkeeper.

Trained the canadians goalkeepers to become the GOATS of canadians goalkeeper.

From Greg Sutton. To Maxime Crepeau. To Jonathan Sirois. To Thomas Hasal. To Isaac Boehmer.

[Ozzie_the_parrot]

 

[saladroit]

the draw against portland: certainly a better performance than the galaxy/tfc games (low bar) and a bit unfortunate with hitting the post, though a loss would've been pretty catastrophic so the point isn't terrible!.. if they do the job in the next 2-3 games. but unfortunately there's no track record of doing this 😅

injuries are very worrying considering it's crunch time but a positive lately: brian white is heating up at the right time

[saladroit]

in regards to injuries

[saladroit]

[Unnamed Trialist]

15 hours ago, saladroit said:

So Armstrong was rested and given less minutes to ease him in, but is injured. And a muscle issue. I am not saying it can't happen, also playing on turf, travel, he'd need adjustments. But needing the guy in this stretch run you'd expect more. Was he playing before he came or was he out of contract somewhere?

Ahmed, if he's questionable, and we play just before the Canada friendly, leave him out of the Canada call-up this time, please.

[Watchmen]

3 hours ago, Unnamed Trialist said:

So Armstrong was rested and given less minutes to ease him in, but is injured. And a muscle issue. I am not saying it can't happen, also playing on turf, travel, he'd need adjustments. But needing the guy in this stretch run you'd expect more. Was he playing before he came or was he out of contract somewhere?

Armstrong was out of contract. He had a 1 week trial at Brentford before coming over to Vancouver. After a week of training with the team, Vanni played him in the first game (albeit for only about 5 minutes) with all parties saying he's not ready yet. Vanni then played him more in the next game, skipped the Houston away game, then played him more in LA. So I do wonder if he was a bit rushed.

Edited Wednesday at 05:46 PM by Watchmen

[Watchmen]

Massive Cascadia Cup game tonight and the Whitecaps put in one of their worst performances of the season.

At least it's looking like we'll finally be rid of Vanni. This team is going nowhere, will go nowhere in the playoffs, and we might finally be rid of him.

[Ozzie_the_parrot]