VANCOUVER, BC – Vancouver Whitecaps FC are off to Tucson, Arizona today for a 10-day camp that will include their first three preseason friendlies of 2016.
Here are five storylines to watch:
NEW FACES
One of the best things about is the preseason is that it gives us a first look at the club’s newest acquisitions. The headliners this year are Japanese striker Masato Kudo and Costa Rican winger Christian Bolanos. The ‘Caps also recently acquired Canadian international right back/winger Fraser Aird.
How quickly will they fit in?
Playing a preseason match in Tucson is a far cry from playing in front of a sold-out crowd at BC Place, and it will naturally take these players some time to adjust to their new surroundings, so we need to keep things in perspective. But it will be interesting to follow their progress nonetheless.
FORMATIONS
The addition of Kudo and Bolanos gives Carl Robinson all sorts of tactical options.
In his first two years as head coach, Robinson’s preferred formation has been the 4-2-3-1 – like many teams in Major League Soccer. And for the most part, it has worked.
After all, the ‘Caps finished third in all of MLS last season.
But preseason is the time to experiment – and I expect Robinson to do just that.
“Preseason is about build-up,” Robinson said. “Two years ago when I took the job, I wanted to win every single game. That hasn’t changed. Don’t get me wrong, but I will be trying certain things out … different personnel in different positions and different formations. Maybe two years ago I couldn’t do that, because I was set on what I wanted to do and how I wanted to be successful.”
Will we see Kudo paired up top with Octavio Rivero in a two-striker tandem? A 4-1-3-2 or 4-4-2 diamond, perhaps?
Other options are a 4-3-3, which Portland found success with in their run to the MLS Cup, or a 4-1-4-1. Both of these formations would allow Matias Laba to sit as a lone defensive midfielder.
The options are aplenty.
COMPETITION FOR PLACES
No matter what formation the ‘Caps coaching staff settle on, there’s going to be competition for places. More than ever, it seems.
Let’s for a second assume that they go with a 4-2-3-1 again. Who’s the lone striker? It was Rivero’s shirt last year, but the likes of Kudo, Darren Mattocks, and Erik Hurtado will certainly be pushing him for minutes. The addition of Bolanos makes the winger position an intriguing one, too. Will the experienced Costa Rican unseat Kekuta Manneh or Cristian Techera?
Don’t forget about the back line either.
At left back, there’s the veteran Jordan Harvey and the youngster Sam Adekugbe, who is away with the Canadian national team however. Kendall Waston is a shoe-in at centre back, but there are no shortage of options behind him in Tim Parker, Pa-Modou Kah, Christian Dean, and Cole Seiler. Finally, Jordan Smith and Fraser Aird will be battling for the starter’s shirt at right back.
The competition for places is about to heat up.
GOALKEEPER BATTLE
As it stands, there are only two goalkeepers on Vancouver’s MLS roster.
That would be MLS all-star David Ousted and 19-year-old Canadian Marco Carducci. Other goalkeepers in camp include WFC2’s Spencer Richey and Residency graduate Sean Melvin.
We know Ousted is the starter, but the departure of Paolo Tornaghi makes things a little more interesting between the posts. Which one of the youngsters will step up and secure their spot?
YOUNG GUNS
Speaking of the youngsters, there are a lot of them in camp.
Sam Adekugbe, Marco Bustos and Kianz Froese are away with the Canadian national team for most of the Tucson trip, but that will only open up for opportunities for others.
For example, there are seven WFC2 players with the 'Caps in Tucson. There's also Vancouver's three 2016 MLS SuperDraft selections, including first-rounder Cole Seiler, and 15-year-old Whitecaps FC Residency forward Alphonso Davies.
They will be given an opportunity – it's up to them to take it.
Click here to find out how you can cheer on the ‘Caps, in person, at the 2016 Major League Soccer Preseason in Tucson.
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