Every Friday, Sportsnet.ca will chat with Sportsnet 650 radio commentator Dan Riccio about the big stories and issues surrounding the Vancouver Whitecaps.
SN: What did you make of the Whitecaps’ performance in last week’s 3-0 road loss to the LA Galaxy?
RICCIO: If the Whitecaps were hoping that a coaching change would give them a boost, they were sorely mistaken. Vancouver had little to offer from the get go in their first match without Carl Robinson at the helm. My biggest takeaway is how poor the Whitecaps continue to play defensively. They had no answers for Zlatan Ibrahimovic, as the Swede was involved in all three goals – he scored twice and won the penalty for LA’s third.
The Whitecaps are going to undergo some changes once they appoint their new manager, and whoever that person is will have to figure out how to fix this defence. With the star talent that is littered across the Western Conference, Vancouver is going to have to invest in better team defending if they are going to compete in a league that is only getting stronger from top to bottom.
If you were in charge of hiring Carl Robinson’s full-time replacement for next season, who would you pick and why?
I would pick Marc Dos Santos. The Montreal native has had success in virtually every position he has taken, and has spent the last year under one of the best in North America at LAFC with Bob Bradley. Dos Santos brought an NASL Championship to the Ottawa Fury prior to that. This is exactly the type of manager that the Whitecaps need, one who understands the nuances of MLS, and has helped in designing a team for immediate success with LAFC.
This goes beyond his Canadian passport, Dos Santos is going to get a job in the league somewhere, and Vancouver makes a lot of sense as it gets set to make big changes over the next few months. Whitecaps president Bob Lenarduzzi has already stated that there is interest from the club in Dos Santos. This would be my next move for the Whitecaps.
You recently had Canadian midfielder Russell Teibert as a guest on your radio show. What stood out the most about him during that conversation?
I can’t get over how excited Teibert is about the future of the Canadian men’s team. It is as exciting a time for the squad as I can remember, and that feeling came across when speaking to Teibert. New manager John Herdman is getting rave reviews from his players, and Teibert echoed those sentiments. The future is as bright as it has ever been with the national team.
What will you be looking for in Saturday’s game between the Whitecaps and Toronto FC at BMO Field?
Desperation. Both of these teams are holding on to playoff hopes by the skin of their teeth, and I expect to see that in the match on Saturday. The Whitecaps have a better chance than Toronto at this point, but both squads will likely need to win out to realistically have a chance. My expectation is that the Whitecaps will do everything in their power to keep his game at a low score, as Toronto has remained one of the best offensive clubs in the league despite their low position in the standings.
Is this game make-or-break for the Whitecaps and their playoff hopes?
Every game is make or break from here on out. At the very least, they’ll need 10 of 12 points to close the season, and even that may not be enough. This three-game losing streak that Vancouver is currently on has really done a number on the club’s playoff chances. There is no room for error from here on out.
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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