Posted by

Harjeet Johal ,

May 4, 2017 Twitter

@HarJournalist

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VANCOUVER, B.C. - CThe clock is ticking as the MLS primary transfer window will close on Monday, May 8. Teams will no longer be able to sign players under contract in another country, or make trades within MLS until the secondary transfer window opens from July 10 - August 9. Since February 15, Whitecaps FC have had a flurry of transfer activity. Fredy Montero joined on loan from Chinese Super League club, Tianjin Teda. Brek Shea was acquired from Orlando City SC for Giles Barnes. Mauro Rosales was signed, and on March 30, Kekuta Manneh was shipped to Columbus for Tony Tchani, $225,000 in TAM, and $75,000 in GAM. All in all, Vancouver has been busy building towards the future. Earlier this week, Red Nation Online inquired about potential transfer deadline activity from Whitecaps FC. Carl Robinson was holding his cards close to his jumper. "I knew you were going to ask me that question," said Robinson. "If I say no, there you go. Where you going to go from there? We're not bringing anybody in." There you have it, straight from the Caps gaffer. "I might by the way," said a chuckling Robinson as he changed his answer amidst the assembled reporters. "I might, just to let you know, but to avoid the question, I can say no." Jokes aside, the Vancouver could really use some added depth, and healthy bodies heading into the heart of the MLS campaign. Vancouver struggled to find 18 fit footballers to make the team sheet vs Montreal on Saturday. Vancouver recently had 11 players unavailable to play. Not included on the list below is goalkeeper Paolo Tornaghi who had a hip flexor issue, and centre-back Cole Seiler who is out with an undisclosed injury. 🙈#VWFC #MTLvVAN pic.twitter.com/OkT856zbGV — Farhan Devji (@farhandevji) April 29, 2017

If Tim Parker was to go shopping with the $300,000 Vancouver acquired from Columbus, what exactly would he purchase from the transfer market to help his team? "I don't know," said an honest Parker. "I think we have a lot of holes that are filled. I don't know how much more we can get. Maybe some depth, just with the injuries. We have more than a couple of guys that are out right now. I think, just some depth, in the back-line maybe would help." What about some help for striker Fredy Montero? Surely his back will get tired at some point in the season from carrying the team. Erik Hurtado, Kyle Greig, and Brek Shea all have the ability to play at forward, and catch fire. Bringing in another forward could come to fruition, as Whitecaps President Bobby Lenarduzzi admitted in April. "Yeah, I think Fredy could use some help too," said Parker. "I think with Brek (Shea) coming back, once we get Brek all the way healthy, he's going to be a guy that's going to come in and play right away." The 27 year-old Shea was a full participant at training on Tuesday. Marcel de Jong also trained fully, and Kyle Greig did some brief light work on the sidelines, but he remains out at least another week. Andrew Jacobson was 'Man of the Match' against Montreal with a brilliant goal, and an assist on Cristian Techera's winning tally. When it comes to transfer talk, he's prefers to do his talking on the pitch, with transfer news left to fans, and pundits. "Oh gosh," said Jacobson. "I'm the worst guy to ask about that. I can't even comment on that." Centre-back could be a pressing concern for Vancouver. Christian Dean has a crack/fracture in his foot, David Edgar is out for the season, and Seiler is sidelined. WFC2 players, Sem de Wit, and Francis de Vries could both be short term stop gaps. "I don't think anyone needs to come in," said Parker. "We have a great group of guys. We all get a long well. It's just keeping guys healthy, and getting guys healthy, that's going to be our problem." A healthy Whitecaps team would reduce the need to acquire a striker, centre-back, or whoever before Monday's MLS transfer deadline. All teams go through injuries during the course of a season. Getting players fit, and back to form could take time. The transfer ball is in the Vancouver Whitecaps pitch and the clock is ticking.



