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 midfielders.
Part 1:The goalkeepers: If it ain't broke, don't fix it
Part 2:The defenders: Shuffle in the middle
MIDFIELDERS (11): MARCO BUSTOS (AM/W), DEYBI FLORES (CM), KIANZ FROESE (CM/W), GERSHON KOFFIE (CM), MATIAS LABA (CM), ANDRE LEWIS (M), BEN MCKENDRY (CM), NICOLAS MEZQUIDA (AM), PEDRO MORALES (AM), MAURO ROSALES (W/AM), RUSSELL TEIBERT (CM)
<strong>IN</strong> |
<strong>OUT</strong> |
<a href="//www.whitecapsfc.com/players/deybi-flores" target="_blank">Deybi Flores</a> |
<p align="center">Bryce Alderson</p> |
<a href="//www.whitecapsfc.com/players/ben-mckendry" target="_blank">Ben McKendry</a> |
<p align="center">Mehdi Ballouchy</p> |
If there’s any question about how good Vancouver’s midfield was in 2014, consider this: four of the team’s six Player of the Year nominees were midfield players. And they’re all back in the fold.
The headliner, of course, is reigning MLS Newcomer of the Year and team captain Pedro Morales, who led the ‘Caps with 10 goals and 12 assists last season. And the Chilean did all that despite playing for 15 months straight without a break – he didn’t have an offseason after joining Whitecaps FC from Malaga.
This year, Morales came in fresh and re-energized and it showed with his performance in the preseason.
“My job is to try and keep him fresh and healthy, “ Whitecaps FC head coach Carl Robinson told whitecapsfc.com, “because when he is he’s a fantastic player – not just to watch from the dugout but to watch from the stands.”
Another player who’s looked fresh and healthy in the preseason is fellow South American attacking midfielder Mauro Rosales. But then again, when doesn’t he?
After joining Whitecaps FC late last year, the 34-year-old was consistently one of the team’s top players down the stretch. And he doesn’t appear to have lost a step.
Robinson typically gives Morales and Rosales freedom to interchange positions and roam as high, or deep, as they see fit, which is made possible because of those playing behind them.
Fellow Designated Player Matias Laba is widely considered to be one of the top defensive midfielders in MLS. And the numbers back that up. Last year, the 23-year-old Argentine had a league-high 151 tackles and led all midfielders with 87 interceptions.
Assuming Robinson sticks to a 4-2-3-1 formation, we’ll likely see a lot of Gershon Koffie and Russell Teibert next to Laba in front of the back line – though promising youngsters Deybi Flores and Ben McKendry are also options there.
“Two very different types of players,” Robinson said of Flores and McKendry. “Ben’s a terrific footballer, very smart, very simple in his decision making but moves the ball very quickly. Deybi is more of a Gershon Koffie type player. He covers ground, he’s physical, and he likes to get box to box. Both are needed and both will probably be used at some stage.”
Another player to watch this season is attacking midfielder Nicolas Mezquida, who had a goal and an assist in five preseason appearances and showed some chemistry with countrymate Octavio Rivero. The Uruguayans, who played together at the 2009 South American U-17 Football Championship, have been attached by the hip the last few months off the pitch. The hope is that will translate to on-field success. Either way, Mezquida will certainly be pushing Morales for minutes in that #10 position.
“He’s had an excellent preseason,” Robinson said. “He’s fit, one of the top three fittest guys coming back. And in preseason he’s created a number of chances. He’s just a constant menace. I’ve got no doubt he’ll get extra minutes this year. He’s put himself in a very, very good position.”
Finally, don’t be surprised if we see Whitecaps FC Residency graduates Marco Bustos and Kianz Froese at some point this season. The Canadian duo will at the very least be key figures for WFC2, the club’s new USL side, but as he showed last season Robinson isn’t afraid to play young players in MLS action if they’re ready. And both players have shown some signs that they are. Bustos, for example, had two goals and one assist in five preseason appearances.
As good as Whitecaps FC’s midfield was last year, Robinson believes it can be better. His challenge to the midfield heading into 2015 is simple: score more goals.
“You look at the successful teams in the league, they do get goals from midfield,” Robinson said. “Pedro managed to get 10 goals for us last year, which was fantastic. I think he can improve on that total. If Rusty, Mati, and Gersh can maybe get three or four goals, that will make a big difference. And the wider players need to up their ratio as well. That’s my challenge to 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.
