Issue #12 - More Help From Another Friend
This week’s edition dives into the Whitecaps' mixed fortunes, a massive loss, and features a guest writer's insights.
Hello!
Oof.
I still haven’t gotten over what I witnessed Sunday night, and I’m not certain I will for quite some time.
Regardless, it wasn’t the only Whitecaps FC match of the week, so this issue is jam-packed with ‘Caps goodness - even more than usual because a guest writer stepped up to give some extra credibility to the newsletter. 😆
And yes, this is arriving a day later than usual. This one is completely on me - I forgot to click the schedule button.
The View
Another one of those weeks where my daughter’s activities take priority over watching the Whitecaps FC.
Thankfully another fantastic member of the community, Jordan Minamimaye, stepped up to cover my Wednesday night absence with his unique view.
First off, a big thank you to Chris for entrusting a complete stranger off of the Internet with contributing to this newsletter - I haven’t written anything meaningful in a long time so seeing an opportunity to dust off the digital typewriter was something I had to jump on.
A quick hit about me - Hi, I’m Jordan. I played youth soccer until I was 16, suffered a partial dislocation of my left patella, and have pretty much spent the last 24 years on the sidelines as a result of it never healing properly. I didn’t start following the ‘Caps until the MLS era, partially because I used to live by Swangard and ‘Caps fans used to take up my street parking on gamedays, so I was happy to see them move elsewhere! I’ve been a season ticket holder since 2012, and growing up in a sports family, it wasn’t too hard to convince my parents to join my wife and I in the stands - one game in the Southside had us hooked.
So, enough about me, let me tell you about the Whitecaps and their 15th game unbeaten in all competitions.
Minnesota hate playing with the ball. They’re on pace to break the 2017 edition of the Whitecaps’ record for lowest average possession percentage across the season. So when you give them even 40% of the ball, as the ‘Caps did on Wednesday, usually you’ll be OK. It’d just be nice if the ‘Caps could have converted any of their 2.0 xG (per MLSsoccer.com) into actual goals.
- I feel bad for Daniel Rios though - not only does it feel like the team plays around him through the wingers when he’s on the field, but he also might have one of the worst cases of the yips currently known to humankind, after the last two PK misses he’s had.
- Couple of additional quick thoughts I had towards halftime: “Tater-tot”, as my wife likes to call Tate Johnson, seems to be afraid of literally no player on this continent. Throws himself into challenges and finds neat ways to draw fouls. I also think Emmanuel Sabbi needs to reign in his tendency to dribble so often - a surge to the byline and then a cutback for an onrushing Berhalter, Vite or Ngando works so well for other wingers.
- Speaking of JC Ngando, I felt like he’s the most likely replacement for the suspended Sebastian Berhalter in the starting eleven for Sunday’s continental final, and he looked the part on Wednesday. Needs to get the shot down though, and make those surging runs a bit more.
- One last halftime thought, about attendance. Many scribes more experienced than I have waxed ad nauseam about the Whitecaps seeming inability to sell out games. To be honest, I also wonder what it would take for this club to finally break through the hockey zeitgeist of this city and really get the media coverage and popular attention it deserves. I was watching a YouTube upload of a Global News feature on the 1979 Soccer Bowl title and how it set the stage for the Whitecaps and BC Place to get built, and I feel like Sunday’s game might be a similar watershed moment.
Now on to my post-match thoughts after another 45 minutes of watching Minnesota impersonate a Jose Mourinho-managed side:
- Frustrating to dominate and end with a draw, but the Football Manager player in me is probably okay with a 15-game unbeaten streak and good locker room atmosphere heading into a continental final. If you told me in February that we’d be in this situation at the halfway point of the season I would’ve told you I also won the quintuple as the Caps in Football Manager by save scumming my way thru a couple of losses that ended my 20-then-25-then-30 match unbeaten run here and there.
- Minnesota are a boring team to watch as a neutral. They’re even more boring when you’re supporting the other team. Jesper said in the post match on CKNW that sometimes you play well and don’t win - today was definitely that. And sometimes you play poorly and win, like on Saturday. All the points count the same come the end of the season; just keep getting results. All focus now on Sunday - as the tifo at our end of the stadium said - “One step from glory.”
Thanks Jordan!
The optimism we had midweek and to the moment of kickoff on Sunday was something else. The Whitecaps FC run of success through the CONCACAF Champions Cup was absolutely inspiring. The team simply found a way to get whatever result they needed, and did so in the midst of MLS matches and depleted lineups.
Was there nothing that could stop them?
As we saw on Sunday night, there certainly was.
Was it the significance of the match? Maybe. Was the the pedigree of Cruz Azul? Maybe. Was it altitude? Maybe. Was it the further depleted lineup? Maybe. Was it simply time? Maybe.
Regardless of the reason, the Whitecaps FC looked absolutely gutted. Limited possession. Next to no touches in the opposition third. Zero shots. And five goals against, four of which came in the first half.
The Good
- The inspiring run. If you were to bet me money the Whitecaps FC would play in the CONCACAF Champions Cup Final back in February, I would've taken that bet and lost money. One night should not dictate what this team did for our spirits, and I truly hope we see more success like this in the future.
The Not So Good
- Sunday night. Pretty much nightmare fuel.
With the Seattle Sounders in town on Sunday, to play a Whitecaps FC side somewhat fresh off the loss down in Mexico, yet further decimated due to international duty, I do worry this team could find itself in a rut.
It would be such a shame if their success this season gets derailed.
With such a massive view for this week, I decided to take break from wandering Around The Pitch, but rest assured it will be back next week.
And thank you again to Jordan for stepping up and helping me out this past week. I love that the Whitecaps FC community is such a warm one!
If you’d like to do something similar, share a few thoughts from your very own “View From,” just reach out to me and we’ll look to make it happen.
See you again next week!
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)