Every week, Sportsnet.ca will chat with Sportsnet 650 radio commentator Dan Riccio about the big stories and issues surrounding the Vancouver Whitecaps.
SN: What were some of your big takeaways from Vancouver’s season-opening loss to Minnesota last weekend?
RICCIO: The biggest takeaway is that the new-look Whitecaps are still finding their way as a team. Marc Dos Santos has a big vision as the club’s new manager, but it can’t be built overnight. The style is vastly different, the players are new, and they haven’t had much time to train with each other. It’s going to take time to adapt to the possession-based football that Dos Santos would like to see them play.
The Whitecaps struggled to find passes into Fredy Montero against Minnesota, and they rarely created offence from open play. This will get better as time goes on, and if it works, Whitecaps fans will be pleased with the exciting brand of football that has come to Vancouver.
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How much of a battle do you’ll think we’ll see this season between Maxime Crepeau and Zac MacMath for the starting goalkeeping position?
MacMath will get a chance at some point, but for now Max Crepeau has got the starter’s job. Neither of these goalkeepers eneterd the season with a firm grasp on the starting role, though, so I do think that will play a factor in how the split eventually breaks down. However, Crepeau is a bit younger and that gives him a leg up as the long-term solution for this new era Whitecaps squad.
What’s your early impression on new coach Marc Dos Santos and the way he’s trying to rebuild this club?
His enthusiasm is contagious; that was my first impression when speaking to him after he was announced as the new coach. You can feel his passion for the game when he speaks of his vision for the team, and it is really easy to buy into what he is selling. The club left a sour taste in the mouths of many soccer fans in Vancouver with the way last season ended, and it seemed like an impossible task to change that narrative in time for the new campaign, but he’s done it.
The club has invested in young players that the team can build around, and the complete overhaul of the roster has people excited of what it could be. The question will be how much patience does the fan base have for this new vision if it doesn’t click in the near future.
Which player do you think will be especially important for Vancouver this season?
Inbeom Hwang, and that was only confirmed after the first match. The Whitecaps paid nearly $2 million for the South Korean international, and his success (or lack of it) will play a big role in deciding where the Whitecaps wind up in the Western Conference.
The reputation he carries with him into MLS is a big one, and it’s why I believe he can be one of the best signings of the off-season across the league. The Whitecaps have needed another midfield playmaker who can make that decisive pass to split open the opposition and that is what this player represents. His development and ability to adjust to MLS quickly is one of the biggest storylines to watch early on this season.
What will you be looking for from the Whitecaps in Saturday’s road game against Real Salt Lake?
The Whitecaps need to continue to build on their team identity, and they have to take steps toward looking like the squad Marc Dos Santos wants them to be. There is a lot that goes into that. It’s going to take time to develop this style of play and for the players to grow into it individually and as a squad. At this point, the continued development of the team’s identity is just as important as the result for the Whitecaps.
Be sure to listen to Dan Riccio on a daily basis on Sportsnet 650. You can also follow Dan Riccio on Twitter
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