The Whitecaps AD (After DeMerit) found themselves in familiar territory prior to their game versus FC Dallas. Some strong performances in the first half of the season had led to all sorts of good feels and warm and fuzzy insides for the team and its supporters.
But as the temperature rises outside, it seems as though this club cools down and the results have been calamitous.
Similar to years past, the dog days of summer have given way to some abysmal efforts by the Caps and the team is slipping down the MLS Western Conference standings.
In 2012, eight losses in eleven games led to the team entering the playoffs in the fifth and final playoff spot.
It was much the same in 2013 when the Whitecaps compiled a 4-6-4 record from July 27 to the end of the season, extinguishing their hopes for qualifying for the post season.
After a 2-2 draw with Dallas on Sunday afternoon, they are entering familiar territory.
With just a single win in their last eight matches, this squad seems doomed to repeat history. And while they’ve only suffered two outright losses in those games, it simply isn’t good enough – they are currently clinging to the fifth place in the standings with the LA Galaxy poised to overtake their playoff position.
Poor defensive decisions from Carlyle Mitchell paired with numerous goal-scoring opportunities squandered by striker Darren Mattocks highlighted the ongoing struggles for Carl Robinson’s team.
The Whitecaps repeatedly failed to expand on early leads and lock down their opponents. The last time they led by more than a single goal was June 7, and even then, a late PK from Pedro Morales was needed to escape from Philadelphia with a tie.
With DeMerit now out of the picture and Andy O’Brien seemingly unable to find his way back into the starting XI (though I expect this will change on Wednesday when the Caps are in Chicago), the need for another quality option at centre-back is dire.
On the offensive side of the ball, Bob Lenarduzzi indicated on TEAM radio on Monday afternoon that bringing in a pure goal-scorer this summer is secondary to shoring up their central defense. I’m sure, however, that a gifted striker is certainly tops on Pedro Morales’ wish list, who once again was the best player on the pitch.
Morales played the part of Viejo Pascuero (that’s Chile’s Santa Claus), spraying and splaying the ball both to his teammates and towards the opposition’s goal. Mattocks could have had 4 or 5 goals, if only he had managed to unwrap the gifts dropped at his feet. Morales’ numbers are absolutely ridiculous and you can peruse them yourself here: http://www.whitecapsfc.com/news/2014/07/by-the-numbers-pedro-morales
Perhaps the anxiety is a little premature. After all, there are 14 games left in the 2014 campaign, many of them winnable, if not all as long as Morales is in the lineup.
The Whitecaps’ management team is anything but hasty in making personnel decisions (SEE: Carl Robinson, Hiring of), but with history once again seemingly repeating itself, the calls for change are multiplying.
And in a sporting market like Vancouver where tragedy is almost always reality, sometimes it can never be too soon to worry.