VANCOUVER, BC - Vancouver Whitecaps FC preseason camp got underway on Monday with the team looking to move on to the next level and build on last year's successes which saw a club record MLS points haul, a second playoff appearance in three years, and the securing of their first ever CONCACAF Champions League berth.
- PHOTO GALLERY: First day of preseason
Last season's achievements came on the back of head coach Carl Robinson having just over a month to put together his preseason plans following his appointment and he's hoping that with a full offseason of preparation behind him this time around, the 'Caps can hit the ground running when the season gets underway.
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"It's a lot more prepared, I can tell you that," Robinson admitted to reporters. "If you come into our locker room you can see that we've got our six week program all planned out, all to a tee. We've got our weekly plans of what we're doing from a technical element leading into the Toronto game on March 7th.
"It's a lot better planned. We'll be prepared, it'll be a lot more efficient and hopefully it'll run a little more smoothly."
What a difference a year can make. The 2014 camp opened in dreary, foggy conditions. This year's camp opened as Vancouver basked in the sun and near record high temperatures for the time of year.
It's also been an offseason of stability, with 22 returning players in camp. With a scattering of new faces thrown in, and some more likely to come, Robinson can now get on with moulding his squad as opposed to building it.
"It's the most players that we've been able to keep since we've been in MLS, which is always important," Robinson stated. "I keep going back to the successful teams. They always keep the core group of guys together and it's important then to be a forward moving club. The players that you bring in have got to be better than the players that are leaving.
"I think we've done that. We've brought guys in with different qualities. Some qualities are the same but different standards. I want the players that I'm bringing in to come into the team. I don't like bringing in players just to be squad fillers. That's not really what I'm about. Your team will never get better and your squad will never get better with that. "
Robinson is aware that with the addition of Houston Dynamo and Sporting KC, and the strengthening of other squads, the Western Conference is even more competitive this year.
"It's not going to be easier," Robinson responded. "I know it's going to be a lot harder than it was last year and it was hard last year. If you want an easy life, you're in the wrong sport. We know the challenge ahead of us and we're prepared to work as a group. We need to get better in a lot of things and we'll continue to do that."
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.
