The dawn of a new MLS season is upon us and the anticipation surrounding Vancouver’s squad is positively palpable. A new look Whitecaps team, featuring a handful of new arrivals and a new manager, opens their season this Saturday at BC Place stadium against the New York Red Bulls.

The defending Supporter’s Shield winners from New York, largely unchanged from 2013, feature a stable of talented forwards and a steady backline. Although, it appears that Thierry Henry may once again sit this one out as his tender French footsies cannot handle the tough turf at BC Place. He has yet to play a game in Vancouver. Shameful.

The Caps earned a 2-1 victory versus the Red Bulls in their only meeting last season. Somewhat surprisingly, the Whitecaps have yet to lose to NYRB since entering MLS in 2011 – the two teams previously played to a threepeat of 1-1 draws prior to the Whitecaps victory in 2013.

What To Watch

• David Ousted is beginning his first full season in MLS. His arrival in Vancouver halfway through last year has proven to be somewhat of a harbinger of change for the club. The only holdover in goal from 2013, he has the chance to settle into the starter’s role and be a difference maker for the team. The Caps are looking to him to seize the opportunity.

• Much of what ailed the Whitecaps in 2013 stemmed from a fragmented attack through the middle of the park. As such, Carl Robinson focused much of this off-season in bringing in upgrades to the midfield, landing a good combination of defensive and attacking players. Of particular interest is the game that Pedro Morales brings, should he find his way onto the Bell pitch in game #1. Morales is true distributing midfielder, something that has been lacking in Vancouver the past couple of years.  Young DP Matias Laba, acquired from Toronto in late February, should pair quaintly with Nigel Reo-Coker and solidify the Whitecaps’ midfield.

  

• From all reports, Kenny Miller is in great shape and feels he has something to prove after only finding the back of the net eight times in 2013. Look for him to make a statement early in 2014 – you can never keep a good Scot down. Unless of course it’s Innis & Gunn. You can always keep a few of those delicious beverages down.*

• Camilo’s league-leading 22 goals will need to be replaced and, while Miller will need to pick up some of the slack, young strikers Kekuta Manneh, Darren Mattocks and Omar Salgado will be expected to take steps forward.

As mentioned, there are a lot of new faces wearing the blue and white. Perhaps the biggest test early in the season will be for the squad to earn each other’s trust and play within head coach Carl Robinson’s tactics. The changeover is detailed below.

*No compensation has been provided for this product endorsement. Some compensation would, however, be both welcomed and appreciated. (Editor’s note: We here at Pucked in the Head do not approve of graft or kickbacks, except in cases — see what I did there? — where our contributing writers split any and all such perqs with us 50-50.)

Additions & Subtractions

Off The Pitch

Technical Staff in: Assistant Coach Martyn Pert, Assistant Coach Gordon Forrest, Strength & Conditioning Coach Jon Poli

Technical Staff out: Assistant Coach Jake DeClute, Assistant Coach Paul Ritchie, Strength & Conditioning Coach Mike Young

On The Pitch

Players in: GK Marco Carducci, GK Paolo Tornaghi, D Steven Beitashour, D Christian Dean, M Mehdi Ballouchy, M/F Sebastian Fernandez, M Matias Laba, M/F Nicolas Mezquida, M Pedro Morales

Players out: GK Joe Cannon, GK Brad Knighton, GK Simon Thomas, D Brad Rusin, D Y-P Lee, D Greg Klazura, M Matt Watson, M Daigo Kobayashi, M Jun Marques Davidson, F Camilo, F Corey Hertzog, F Tom Heinemann

Kickoff is set for 4:30 pm at BC Place Stadium. A limited number of tickets are still available and the game will also be broadcast on TSN.

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