Every Thursday/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 Vancouver signing Dutch forward Marvin Emnes last week? How do you see him fitting in?
RICCIO: This is just the Whitecaps taking a flier on a free transfer. I can appreciate a club taking low-risk chances on players who have enjoyed a level of success in their careers. But it’s been about five years since he left Middlesbrough, and the success he had there as a goalscorer has not followed the Dutchman.
He can provide depth, and pace to the bench, with so few matches remaining, it is hard to envision Emnes playing anything more than a substitute’s role to close the season.
Did the bye week help or hurt Vancouver?
I think bye weeks are always helpful to MLS Squads. Vancouver has had a very steady schedule for most of the season, and that can help a team get into rhythm, but a little extra rest never hurt players at this point in the campaign.
The Whitecaps have had their troubles defending, and that extra bit of time on the training ground during this period can be key for a coaching staff. The Whitecaps have a difficult schedule to close the season, and this was a chance to recharge the batteries before trying to make that big playoff push.
David Norman Jr. was recently loaned to Scottish club Queen of the South for the rest of the MLS season. What do you see in his future with the Whitecaps beyond this year?
The Whitecaps have made similar moves for many young players over the years, and for some it has meant that they continue their careers outside of Vancouver. It is very early in the process still for Norman, but these experiences will decide his future as a player.
Vancouver has a few players currently out on loan, and this is a big part of their development process since Whitecaps FC 2 was sold and moved to Fresno after last season. The club is finding places for their homegrown players to play as they continue to get ready for MLS.
How important is Saturday’s home game against Seattle? If they lose, the Whitecaps won’t be eliminated from playoff contention, but will they pretty much be done?
We are at that stage where every match is the most important match of the season for the Whitecaps. This contest against Seattle isn’t a must-win, but a loss would be crippling to their playoff hopes. A draw would be the absolute minimum that this squad can afford against one of the teams they are trying to catch for a playoff spot.
Seattle has won eight straight matches on their annual parade up the Western Conference standings in the second half of the season, and slowing them down will be a big test for the Whitecaps. As I’ve said in the past, the schedule is difficult for the Whitecaps to close the year, but they will be playing almost every team ahead of them in the standings, giving them the chance to carve a path towards the playoffs. A win this weekend would make that pathway much clearer for Carl Robinson’s squad.
Is there a one-on-one matchup that you’ll be interested in or keeping your eyes on during Saturday’s game?
It might not be a specific one on one matchup but I’m curious to see if the Whitecaps can keep their potent offence going against the Sounders, who have shut out Vancouver in each of the last four meetings between the clubs.
Few sides are better at the defensive end of the pitch when Seattle is going right, and the Sounders are currently the hottest team in the league. Their eight-match win streak started on July 21st against the Whitecaps, a 2-0 victory. This win streak has seen Seattle concede just four goals, which makes this Vancouver’s biggest test in some time. We’ll learn a lot about the Whitecaps this Saturday.
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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