Issue #1 - March 18, 2025 - Atop the Table
In my first newsletter, I'm pumped about the Whitecaps' hot start and excited to connect with fellow fans!
We’re blue! We’re white! We’re - in the words of the kind people that sit near me in the family section - soccer dynamite!
This is the first issue of From 231 and I hope you enjoy. Feel free to drop me a reply by email (the reply-to address will get to me). Or a note on Bluesky or Threads with any thoughts & questions. Heck, you might even see yourself featured in a future newsletter if you do!
The View
The Whitecaps are hawt like fyah!
📈📈📈
— Vancouver Whitecaps FC (@whitecapsfc.com) 2025-03-16T21:07:02.453Z
Had you told me we’d be supporting a side at the top of the MLS table - not the Western Conference table… the league table - four matches in, I would not have believed you for one second.
Had you told me we’d be supporting a side going into the quarterfinals of the CONCACAF Champions League, I’d believe you for one second but not two.
Unbelievable start this side has had, eh?
While I still have trust issues - as any Vancouver sports fan does - I am coming to the belief this team is the real deal.
Let’s recap how we got here:
Jesper Sørensen has this team playing an ambitious and exciting style of soccer. Love to see it.
Despite losing Stuart Armstrong & Fafà Picault over the off-season, newcomer Jayden Nelson & versatile Pedro Vite are both acquitting themselves well. I’d argue better than even an optimist expected.
Despite some critical injuries in the past few matches - Sam Adekugbe, Jayden Nelson, and Ryan Gauld - the depth we’ve seen from the bench has held their own. I’m looking at you J.C. Ngando and Ali Ahmed. And we still haven’t seen what Emmanuel Sabbi can do.
While I've heard a good number of people suggest Vanni-ball to be the biggest issue the past couple seasons (and I agree with that assessment to some extent), what really did the Whitecaps in nearly every season was a lack of depth from the bench to handle the bumps and knocks this team suffers from year-in, year-out.
Nearly every mid-season swoon happened with either an injured squad, dealing with critical players away on international duty, or a combination of the two.
And while there is still a risk of this - this weekend’s match against the Chicago Fire giving us that first taste of the combo with Brian White, Ali Ahmed, Andres Cubas, and Pedro Vite all away on international duty - I’m still optimistic.
When was the last time we could all say that?
Around the Pitch
You might say I have an addiction to hosting podcasts.
I got things underway with a Canucks podcast (the best-mediocre AND longest-running) back in 2013, followed it with one covering the Overwatch League in 2018 (podfaded in 2024), and then kicked off another one about two Nerdy Dads in 2020 (podfaded in 2022).
And thinking I might have time for one more, I kicked around the idea of launching one to discuss our beloved team in Blue and White. Heck, a few of you actively encouraged me to do it as recently as this season.
My wife has a list of your names. For reasons. 😉
Yet in reality, I simply don’t have the time or wherewithal to put in the work I’d want to to make a go of things, so I chose this path instead - From 231.
For those of you still looking for a podcast to consume, and don’t want to wait around for me to find the time to create my own, the Whitecaps FC community already has you covered (in alphabetical order):
Away From The Numbers (weekly) - AFTN’s podcast averages a couple hours every week with talk about the Whitecaps FC & Canadian soccer. Michael & Zachary also have pretty good access with the organization and often have players and staff join them for interviews. Oh, and they are designed for radio - tune in to them on CiTR!
Caps Cast (once weekly, now… sometimes?) - A newer entrant to the scene, Caps Cast is a video-first show that comes in about an hour an episode. The show is pretty laid-back… when episodes do come out.
Terminal City FC Podcast (weekly) - If you’ve never heard of this one, you’re not alone. With hour-long episodes, solid analysis, and occasional interviews (recently Vanni Sartini joined them), it’s a “hidden-gem” that likely needs improved marketing. Reach out to me Joshua & Nathan! 😉
The Third Sub (weekly-ish) - With hour-long episodes, Alexandere & Samuel have found themselves into my podcast rotation (an hour is my “sweet spot”). Much like others, they have an interview mixed in here and there, plus take a longer look beyond the ‘caps.
One last note if you’ve made it this far - thank you! In fact, even for those that didn’t make it this far, thank you too!
You’ll see me play with the structure of the newsletter over the next few weeks, so if you have any feedback you’d like to pass on my way - good, bad or indifferent - this is by far the best time to send it!
From my seat to your browser!
If you enjoyed this, please consider sharing on social media or forwarding it to someone that you think would love it just as much! ❤️
-Chris (@lyteforce.ca)