Carl Robinson’s second season as coach of the Vancouver Whitecaps could prove to be a balancing act for the Welshman.
Robinson must juggle the desire to increase his side’s offensive output, while maintaining the strong defensive structure that helped his side qualify for the 2014 MLS playoffs.
Last season, the Whitecaps managed to score a meagre 42 goals, and only outscored five teams in the league. Indeed, Vancouver was the lowest scoring outfit to qualify for the playoffs in 2014.
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Acknowledging the need to strengthen up top, Robinson went out and signed Octavio Rivero from Chile’s Primera Division side O’Higgins FC as a young designated player. The 23-year-old Uruguayan has scored 23 goals in three seasons in Uruguay and Chile, and Robinson is happy with how he’s shown in pre-season.
“He’s continuing to get fit,” Robinson told Sportsnet.ca. “He’s slightly behind the group in terms of fitness…I’m delighted where he’s at. He needs to get a little bit sharper, but you can see what he brings to the table.
“He’s tough, he’s physical, he’s quick, he can hold the ball up and he can score goals.”
Retaining the out-of-contract Mauro Rosales was seen as a major off-season coup from Robinson’s perspective, with the coach thrilled to have the 34 year-old Argentine around for a full campaign after acquiring him via trade last season.
Centre back is also an area of major change. Veterans Jay DeMerit and Andy O’Brien played their last football for the club in 2014, with DeMerit retiring due to injuries and O’Brien parting ways with the club over the off-season after the sides failed to agree terms on a new deal.
Robinson went out and filled the veteran void by acquiring 34-year-old Pa-Modou Kah, who was left unsigned by the Portland Timbers. Uruguayan Diego Rodriguez, 24, will compete with Kah for playing time alongside Kendall Waston, the six-foot-five giant defender who joined Vancouver last August from Costa Rican club Saprissa.
Established MLS players Jordan Harvey and Steven Beitashour are expected to continue their starting roles in the fullback positions, while David Ousted is back for his third season as starting goalkeeper.
Adding to the Whitecaps’ challenge this year will be balancing the desire to compete in both MLS and the CONCACAF Champions League, with the team entering the latter competition for the first time.
The main beneficiary of the more crowded calendar will be some of the Whitecaps’ younger players and those who would otherwise be on the periphery of the squad.
“We’re going to continue our development as a football club,” Robinson said. “We’ll play young players and we’ll grow. Yes, we’ll make mistakes, but we’re heading in the direction and as long as we continue to grow each year, everybody’s benefitting.”
One of those young players many would like to see elevate his game to another level is Kekuta Manneh. The 20-year-old burst onto the scene in 2013 with a six-goal rookie season, including a hat trick against the Seattle Sounders. But he didn’t have the same spark last season, despite playing nine more games, as he dealt with a lingering back issue, scoring just four goals.
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“People will say it wasn’t a productive season,” acknowledged Robinson. “He’s actually developed and matured over the past 12 months under me. It’s a fantastic credit to him to get a bit of experience when not everything goes your way. … Last year he learned a lot of things about what to do, but also a lot of things about what not to do.
“He’s come back with the bit between his teeth. I’m excited to see him play this year.”
Beyond the new acquisitions, midfield designated players Pedro Morales and Matias Laba will once again be the key players in the spine of the team. Both enjoyed fine inaugural seasons with the club last year and will be expected to act as creative maestro and defensive bulldog, respectively.
If the team is to enjoy success, it will likely need to become more clinical in the final third, but the hope is that Rivero’s arrival ensures many of the chances created by the likes of Morales and Rosales will end up in the back of the net.
Vancouver begins its 2015 MLS season on Saturday, hosting Toronto FC at BC Place.
Martin MacMahon is a Vancouver-based writer. Follow him on Twitter
