VANCOUVER, B.C. – Everyone at Vancouver Whitecaps FC knows that their current form won't be good enough to get them into the playoffs come the end of the season.
Head coach Carl Robinson has remained positive throughout, choosing to shield his young players from flak, but after an article in the Vancouver Sun criticized the 'Caps for failing to show enough public anger and frustration and suggested that the players don't care, Robinson hit back.
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<b>Robinson speaks to media in advance of Wednesday's match</b> |
"I wish I could let you in the changing room sometimes because you won't meet as frustrated man as me," Robinson told reporters at training on Monday. "Yes, I am positive, but I'm also negative. I'm not negative to you guys [the media] because there's no need to be negative."
"Can they do better? Yes. Can I do better? Yes. Two wins in 14 for us is not good enough and we need to be better, but there's no point in me coming out here and shouting and ranting and raving. But [the players] care. There's a lot of concern and there's a lot of anger in there."
The locker room is still a sanctuary in many soccer leagues around the world, and even with the openness afforded by Major League Soccer, it remains a place for players and management to keep their professional frustrations in a private environment.
For veteran defender Andy O'Brien, that's not only the way it should be, but it's exactly what is happening in Vancouver. There is anger, frustration and concern, but what's said between the players stays between the players.
"Things are said in the dressing room," O'Brien confirmed. "It's not your business to know what goes on. We're firmly aware of what needs to be done. There has been a stage where lads have been cuddled and there's been a stage where lads have been told and in recent weeks, lads have been told what's expected of them."
"It's not been aired out in public, which I think is a good thing. I don't think it's necessary to let people's feelings be known to everybody out there but certainly in there lads are aware of what needs to be done."
One player who could never be accused of not showing his feelings is goalkeeper David Ousted.
The Dane's on-field outbursts are something he makes no apologies for, and is part of many goalkeepers' make-up. But Ousted refuted suggestions that the 'Caps don't have enough passion just because others don't publicly show their dissatisfaction at the team's current situation.
"A couple of months ago I was told I was a little bit too angry that we didn't win," Ousted said. "I'm a guy who wears his heart on his sleeve and I show emotion. I think that's important to especially show, not just the guys on the field, but the spectators as well that I'm not happy not winning games."
"I'm still not. That's why I get after people, that's why I require perfection in everything we do. Sometimes you don't get there and you'll work on that, but I think we show emotion, I think we show that we want to win. But it's about picking your times."
Michael McColl covers Vancouver Whitecaps FC for MLSsoccer.com.
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