As the month of June draws to a close, the Vancouver Whitecaps are already –somewhat sadly, in a way– sitting on their best month of the MLS era in terms of point production. The Caps’ previous best, eight points in each of March and July last season, was eclipsed when they beat bottom-of-the-West Chivas USA a week ago. Now, Vancouver looks to beat bottom-of-the-East DC United on Saturday. If they do, they’ll take 12 out of a possible 15 June points before heading in to a tough July schedule.
For the second time in as many posts, we at PitH are proud to present a brand spankin’ new correspondent. Russell Arbuthnot (@ArbuOutThere in Twitterland) has been associated with the Abbotsford Heat hockey club over the past couple of seasons, but grew up playing, watching and otherwise obsessing about the beautiful game. He sat in the Pucked in the Head media seat at Saturday’s adrenaline-soaked Whitecaps FC match, and filed this ode to Kenny Miller’s cleats.
I’ll Be Alone Forever, Thanks to Kenny Miller By Russell Arbuthnot
Kenny Miller scored twice, earning the Man of the Match award and MLS Player of the Week honours. Photo by Jason Kurylo for Pucked in the Head.
The Vancouver Whitecaps welcomed the New England Revolution to BC Place stadium for the first time on Saturday night. Both clubs came into the game with streaks on the line: the Revs (5-5-5, 20 pts, 6th in Eastern Conference) had collected points in each of their last 7 matches, while the ‘Caps (5-5-4, 19 pts, 7th in Western Conference) had yet to lose a game at home this season.
Before kickoff, Steve Nash (sort of) riled up the Whitecaps’ faithful with a (somewhat) rousing rendition of “White is the Colour.” It’s safe to say the title of “best singing voice on a local sports franchise minority-owner” still belongs to Michael Bublé — Nash’s many pitch problems were only outdone by the New England Revolution in the first half.
I’m not kidding. It’s not sure whether the visiting team’s boots were manufactured by Becel, but judging by the amount of time New England players spent on the turf in the opening minutes, someone had greased the cleats.
Despite the wardrobe malfunction(s), the Revolution jumped out to an early lead in the 10th minute, when Juan Agudelo exposed a ‘Caps defensive hole the size of Nantucket before converting a lovely through ball from left back Chris Tierney. Just 10 minutes later, Kelyn Rowe doubled their lead on a wonderful finish from12 yards out. The Whitecaps’ defensive woes, which have dogged them all season, were once again proving to be costly. This team, however, is nothing if not resilient.
Maybe it was hearing goalkeeper Brad Knighton deliver a tongue-lashing to the back line, or maybe it was seeing the image of a parched Mr. Nash solemnly eating fries on the big screen that changed the intensity of the Vancouver squad. His thirst had to be quenched, and Knighton in all of his pink-clad fury had to be heeded.
It was Miller time.
More, including a rousing Ode to Kenny Miller’s Cleats, after the jump.
In response to Kenny Miller’s brace of goals, Hervé (@1stLineCentre) leads the Southsiders in a stirring rendition of Ludvig van Beethoven’s adaptation of Freidrich Schiller’s 1785 poem, Ode to Joy. Photo by Jason Kurylo for Pucked in the Head.
Over the years since his playing career, Carl Valentine has become one of Vancouver’s biggest ambassadors for the game of soccer. Dude, this cat is like a nomadic Whitecaps town crier — if it’s even possible to be those two things at once — roaming the land, high fiving and hugging whomever he meets. He’s nearly always got a smile on his face and a story at the ready. At games, he jumps in to lead chants with the supporter groups, runs down the sidelines shaking hands, and brings endless enthusiasm to pre-game, half-time and full-time in-game announcements.
Whitecaps FC ambassador Carl Valentine and Southsiders scarf collector Kristjan Aug lead a song during MLS play on 15 June 2013. Photo by Jason Kurylo for Pucked in the Head.
More, including Carl wearing my shirt, after the jump.
Major League Soccer refereeing is infuriating. The well-officiated game in this league is notable for its rarity, and today’s Cascadia Cup clash between the Whitecaps and the Portland Timbers was not one of those rarities.
Camilo de Sanvezzo (second from right) gave the Whitecaps FC their first-ever lead against the Portland Timbers, but it was negated in the second half by a dubious penalty call. Photo by Jason Kurylo for Pucked in the Head.
In the two and a half years of the Whitecaps MLS tenure, there has been no more polarizing player than Camilo da Silva Sanvezzo. Fans of the diminutive Brazilian point to his club-leading goal-scoring numbers, his willingness to get a head on a cross, his penchant for taking on defenders in the box and drawing penalties. His detractors, meanwhile, accuse him of being an unabashed diver, and a selfish player to boot. Deserving penalties those were not, say they, and why doesn’t Camilo ever pass the ball? You can throw me firmly in the former category. I love Camilo, but I also like to have some empirical backup for my opinions.
If there’s one thing I hate about soccer, it’s diving. It’s rampant at pretty much all levels of the game, and the MLS is no different. Sadly, faking injury is not only a major part of the FC Dallas game plan, it seems to frickin’ work. Saturday’s referee crew bought into FC Dallas’s every whimper, whinge and writhe, handing the visitors free kicks and set pieces galore, and allowing lengthy delays in game play.
Vancouver Whitecaps FC midfielder Nigel Reo-Coker and FC Dallas defender Jair Benitez race for a ball during the first half of a 2-2 tie at BC Place on April 27, 2013. Photo by Jason Kurylo for Pucked in the Head.
Dallas players went down like red-shirted ensigns on Star Trek. They stayed down like my two-year-old daughter, bawling because they fell down went boom. Come on, you wailing tart — you’re a professional freaking athlete, in prime physical condition. Are you seriously telling me your tummy wummy hurtsy wurtsies because the bad man in the brown jersey bumped into you? Get up, you whining sack of sheisse, and play the game.
In a time where anyone with an internet connection can spew forth an opinion on their favourite team onto social media or a blog, what can one more game preview really add to the discussion? Instead, Pucked in the Head takes you on a trip into the future! Here, complete with highlights, is a recap of this coming Saturday’s game, as it will most assuredly happen. (Probably. OK, possibly. Alright, fine, it’s hardly likely at all.)
Apologies to those Whitecaps fans heading down to LA this weekend, but it seems EA Sports thinks you’re about to get rained on. My best guess, as Vancouver went into a rainy Home Depot Centre, was that Kenny Miller would be slotted back into the Caps’ lineup after missing the Houston game on international duty, while Joe Cannon would be replaced in goal by Brad Knighton.
Vancouver Whitecaps FC import Daigo Kobayashi scored his first MLS goal with a magnificent 35-yard strike early in the first half against the Columbus Crew. Photo courtesy of the Vancouver Whitecaps FC.
Congratulations to Whitecaps FC midfielder Daigo Kobayashi, whose 35-yard strike has won MLS Goal of the Week honours with 40% of the online vote.
It was Kobayashi’s first MLS goal, after signing with the Whitecaps during the off-season.
The Vancouver Whitecaps FC have scored three goals so far this season, and all of them have been beauties — two, in fact, have been nominated for MLS Goal of the Week. Gershon Koffie got a nod for finishing off a lovely five-way passing play in the opening week, and now Daigo Kobayashi is up for Week 2’s award with a spectacular long-range strike that opened the scoring against the Columbus Crew.
Vancouver Whitecaps FC import Daigo Kobayashi scored his first MLS goal with a magnificent 35-yard strike early in the first half against the Columbus Crew. Photo courtesy of the Vancouver Whitecaps FC.
Koffie stole the ball at midfield, and deftly tapped it to Darren Mattocks, who turned to his right and gave it to Kobayashi in the sixth minute of play. The Japanese midfielder dribbled twice, then delivered a high, hard shot up and over the Columbus goalkeeper Andy Gruenebaum, who was cheating forward with the play upfield. It was a remarkable strike that set the tone for the remainder of the half; the Whitecaps were unlucky not to be up by three or four at the break.
After the jump, check out video highlights of the nominated goals, and information about the (free!) Whitecaps scrimmages happening this week.
Yeah, I know, I told you all I was going to write a Whitecaps post on every #WhitecapsWednesday. Well, I didn’t. I moved last week, so I unpacked my kitchen and living room instead. But here we go, only a day late (and hopefully not a dollar short), with this week’s Whitecaps Wednesday post. Continue reading Whitecaps Wednesday – Stop Blaming The Turf→
As the month of June draws to a close, the Vancouver Whitecaps are already –somewhat sadly, in a way– sitting on their best month of the MLS era in terms of point production. The Caps’ previous best, eight points in each of March and July last season, was eclipsed when they beat bottom-of-the-West Chivas USA a week ago. Now, Vancouver looks to beat bottom-of-the-East DC United on Saturday. If they do, they’ll take 12 out of a possible 15 June points before heading in to a tough July schedule.
