Warming up for a new season
Whitecaps – 3 Things To Watch In Portland
By Aaron Campbell (Vancouver), (@AaCamp81)
With the preseason trip to Tucson in the books and their annual friendly against the University of Victoria Vikings complete, the Vancouver Whitecaps for the second year in a row are heading down to Portland to finish up their preseason.
This tournament will give Carl Robinson and his coaching staff one last chance to evaluate players and make a final decision on the roster for opening kick.
Lets take a look at three things to watch out for down in Portland:
1. Robert Earnshaw To Be Signed?
He was the last trialist left standing after the ten days down in Tucson. He has been that leadership that the Whitecaps needed ever since Kenny Miller left last season.
Offering Earnshaw a contract is all about the money game. How much does he want? What role is he expecting if signed compared to what role Robinson will offer him?
The team doesn’t have room for a high priced back up striker. If he was in the $80,000 to $100,000 range he would be a good fit. He could be a striker that would help with depth with all the games the team will have this season.
Even though him and Welsh compatriot Robinson have a past and are good friends one thing Carl has been good at is putting personal feelings on hold and doing what is best for the club.
2. Who plays a winger role opposite of Mauro Roslaes?
The million dollar question that is being asked by Whitecaps fans on social media. There has been many rumors that the team is bringing in a South American winger. It seems like they are all linked to Vancouver.
If no-one is brought in there are a few options available for the starting role. You have Kekuta Manneh, Erik Hurtado and Russell Teibert that are the three front runners bearing a new signing.
Manneh was hampered by injuries last season and struggled with his fitness out of the gate. This preseason he has come into camp in amazing shape and has shown what he can do playing that winger role. A lot of supporters see him as a super sub, that player who can come into a game in the 60-70th min mark and attack the tired opposing defenders.
Hurtado is a dark horse to be a starter. He hasn’t shown much this preseason but has all the potential in the world. That being said he is better fit for the up top striker role. With Octavio Rivero playing up top minutes in that role may be hard to get.
Russell Teibert may be the safe option for Robinson but may be needed to play as a defensive midfielder next to Matias Laba. With Gershon Koffie fighting injuries the past two season they may need Teibert to fill in that role.
3. Who Partners With Kendall Waston at CenterBack?
Kah or Rodriguez? Who is the starter next to Waston?
Kah has played a few times this preseason but has mostly partnered with Dean and Parker. This tournament may give him minutes to partner with Waston to see if he can handle a starting spot. He has been great in training and has fit in well with the team this preseason but he needs to make his play on the field speak for a starting spot.
Rodriguez so far is the front runner for the starting spot if you go by what has happened so far this preseason. He has played great partnering with Waston and has looked like he can play at the MLS pace. He showed well in Tucson clearing the box and really used his height in the defensive box.
