Posted by

Harjeet Johal ,

April 1, 2015 Twitter

@HarJournalist Read this on your iPhone/iPad or Android device



VANCOUVER, B.C - The Vancouver Whitecaps early success has them off to a terrific start as they sit second in Major League Soccer with 9 points and a record of 3-0-1. If not for a second half hiccup against Jozy Altidore and Toronto FC, the Whitecaps could have had an undefeated March and a tie for first overall with FC Dallas.



Anyone who has watched the Caps first four matches will tell you that the team hasn't quite hit full stride. Late match heroics from Octavio Rivero and most recently Robert Earnshaw have covered up a few Whitecaps concerns. On paper it's much easier to critique not enough ball possession and missed shots on target.



Kendall Waston joined the Whitecaps last summer and he has noticed a difference in how the Whitecaps are stepping up in the clutch. Vancouver is finding ways to win. It may not look pretty on television, but as long as the Whitecaps are picking up all three points Waston is pleased with the results.



"We are pleased with winning because we have won three games in a row and that is very important for us. Last game it wasn't the best for us, but sometimes it's better winning like that. Last season we were playing very well and some games we lost. Now the most important thing is winning three points and now we're looking to the next game."



The transition game, counter-attack and overall finishing on chances created has not been brilliant. Carl Robinson's young and talented side are still looking to form chemistry and a right balance of offensive and defensive fronts. Progress is being made as the Whitecaps have won matches they previously would have probably drawn or lost.



David Ousted is playing fantastic and his defenders have been solid. The midfield presence of Matias Laba, Russell Teibert, Gershon Koffie and new addition Deybi Flores have done their job shutting down top players like Shaun Maloney, Kaka, and Darlington Nagbe.



The physical presence that Vancouver brings to each and every match is starting to draw the ire from opposing coaches and players. The towering centre-back pairing of Kendall Waston and Pa-Modou Kah are no picnic for opposing strikers. They play fair, hard-nosed, and within the rules of football.



Despite this, the Whitecaps are drawing a label of being a dirty team. Diego Rodriguez, and Kekuta Manneh were both suspended for incidents with Aurelien Collin during a Orlando City SC match on March 21. Gershon Koffie is tied for the MLS lead with three yellow cards to his name. Vancouver are also the run away leaders in fouls committed with 74. Waston already has a pair of yellows, but he is not planning on missing any matches in the future.



"Well, in those stats, we don't care about it, really. We just try to play our best football. Obviously we don't want to concede so much yellow cards, (and) we don't want to miss games. Sometimes in the game we have to make those plays to stop the game, get a little breath, and get the team compact."



A strong, physical, tough and hard-working team should not be automatically labelled a dirty team. It seems all very convenient that a winning team is called dirty. Perhaps, Diego Rodriguez and his ball jab were offside and Kekuta Manneh no argument. However, the actions of a few players early in a season should not garner a dirty reputation.



Kendall Waston plays hard every match and doesn't believe a dirty moniker is warranted.



"I don't think so. I think every team plays dirty too. This is a hard game, so we have to do what we have to do. It doesn't matter what they are saying about that."



Can we talk about @kwaston88 getting a vicious elbow in the face, hitting the deck then getting on with a goal saving clearance? #vwfc #hulk — Paul S-H (@Subhedgehog) March 29, 2015 The San Jose, Costa Rica native stands at six-foot and five-inches. He makes his presence felt when he steps on the pitch. It's difficult not to spot the Whitecaps tallest player when he is going up for one of his MLS league leading 24 headed clearances. When Waston is playing his game, it often appears that he is too strong. Players easily bounce off him and it looks like he has committed a foul. The tall frame of Waston can easily fool onlookers into believing he has committed a foul. In reality he is just a big strong player defending his position and jostling in the box.



What you see is not always indicative of a foul.



"Sometimes I just play strong and the other player goes on the floor and the referee, once he saw that he whistles. If I'm in the other position, they don't whistle the foul for me. It's things that happen in the game and I don't understand sometimes."



A Whitecaps reputation for being a dirty team is not justified or perceivable only after a month of MLS fixtures. It's a very long season and the Whitecaps team that management has built does not deserve to be painted with a dirt filled brush.



Notes: Whitecaps FC players Darren Mattocks and Russell Teibert will return from international duty and train with the team on Wednesday. Christian Dean is expected back from U-23 duty with the U.S. national team on Thursday.