With Vancouver Whitecaps FC set to kick off the 2015 MLS regular season this Saturday, March 7 against Toronto FC, whitecapsfc.com will take an in-depth look at the club’s roster with a different piece every day leading up to First Kick. Today, we feature the forwards
Part 1:The goalkeepers: If it ain't broke, don't fix it
Part 2:The defenders: Shuffle in the middle
Part 3: The midfielders: More to come
FORWARDS (5): CALEB CLARKE, ERIK HURTADO, KEKUTA MANNEH, DARREN MATTOCKS, OCTAVIO RIVERO
<strong>IN</strong> |
<strong>OUT</strong> |
<a href="//www.whitecapsfc.com/players/octavio-rivero" target="_blank">Octavio Rivero</a> |
<p align="center">Mamadou Diouf</p> |
<p align="center"><a href="//www.whitecapsfc.com/players/caleb-clarke" target="_blank">Caleb Clarke</a>*</p> |
<p align="center">Sebastian Fernandez</p> |
<p align="center">Omar Salgado</p> |
*Was on Vancouver’s MLS roster in 2014 but spent the season on loan in Germany.
The biggest question heading into the offseason for Vancouver Whitecaps FC was: where will Carl Robinson find his striker?
Robinson answered those questions early in the offseason – on Christmas Day, in fact – when Whitecaps FC announced the signing of Uruguayan striker Octavio Rivero. Last season, the 23-year-old scored 10 goals in 16 matches with O’Higgins FC in Chile’s Primera Division.
He was the player the ‘Caps coveted. Shortly after the end of the 2014 season, Robinson traveled to Chile to watch him play and train. He also sat down with Rivero and his father.
Clearly, Robinson liked what he saw.
“It’s hard to find goalscorers,” Robinson told whitecapsfc.com. “And I’ve managed to find a player that complements the group, because it’s a group. I think he can help the team. He’s got all the attributes you want to be a top forward. He’s big, he’s strong, he’s quick and he’s getting fitter. Obviously, because he had some time off, he needed to get up to speed and he’s getting there slowly.”
Rivero, who has previously identified Robinson’s trip to Chile as a key reason why he signed with Whitecaps FC despite other offers, scored a team-high three goals in six preseason appearances, including a brace in his debut against New England Revolution. He also added an assist.
And Robinson believes there’s more to come.
“It takes a little bit of time for players to adjust,” he said. “But when you see him in training, one thing you watch with all centre forwards is how they move to get on the ball, and he’s got fantastic movement. That’s natural to him. We can other work on other things with him.”
Rivero is the only forward Whitecaps FC brought in this offseason (not including Caleb Clarke, who has returned from loan in Germany). That said, Robinson said he still wants the group to score 25 more goals than they did in 2014 – a goal he has publicly stated.
Part of that will come down to increased production from the attacking trio of Erik Hurtado, Kekuta Manneh, and Darren Mattocks, who scored a combined 15 goals last season. Based on their performances in the preseason, all three players appear to have taken a step forward.
Manneh, 20, is as fit as he’s ever been. And it’s showed.
Hurtado, 24, reported to camp 10 pounds lighter than he was last year and looked both comfortbale and confident on the wing.
And Mattocks, also 24, was one of Vancouver’s best players in their final two preseason matches last week in Portland. The Jamaican international scored twice against Norwegian side Stabæk Fotball and impressed as a substitute on the left wing in Vancouver’s preseason finale against Chicago Fire.
“They’re young, they’ve got another year of experience under their belt,” Robinson said. “Did they score enough goals last year? No. Can they do more? Yes. Will they do more? Yes. I’ve got full confidence in all three of them. I think they very good years last year but we want to get better. If their challenge is to get more goals and more assists, then I certainly think they can do it. They’ve all got a natural ability and it’s my job to unlock that. It’s a big year for all of them, like every year, and it will be exciting to see them."
Participate in the best sporting experience in Vancouver! The 2015 Whitecaps FC season kicks off on March 7 versus Toronto FC at BC Place. Whitecaps FC Season Tickets are now on sale. In addition to Season Tickets, Whitecaps FC offer a flexible range of ticket products, including Half-Season Packs, 5-Packs, Student Half-Season Tickets, and a Youth Soccer Half-Season Ticket. For more information on 2015 Season Tickets, visit whitecapsfc.com/tickets.
