

Posted by

Steve Bottjer ,

March 9, 2014 Email

Steve Bottjer

On Twitter:

@BottjerRNO

Prior to MLS First Kick 2014 on Saturday, ESPN analyst Alexi Lalas said on Twitter that the season doesn't start for him until TFC plays. Don’t tell that to Vancouver Whitecaps supporters or any of the TFC fans that watched their West Coast rivals play, given that their club had a bye for the opening weekend. All of whom that witnessed a very impressive performance by the Canadian club, as former Reds player Carl Robinson lead his team to a big 4-1 victory over the New York Red Bulls in his debut as an MLS coach. See also: Whitecaps open MLS 2014 with win over New York Realistically, an already injury-plagued Toronto side will be hard pressed to deliver anything near as impressive a performance in their opening game against Seattle as Vancouver did in cruising to a jubilant 4-1 victory over the reigning Supporter’s Shield winners. While one match is rarely indicative of how a team will perform over the course of an entire season, if it wasn’t clear before, it should now be crystal clear that there is plenty to like about the 2014 Vancouver Whitecaps and that the squad could potentially be a lot better than most pundits have predicted. Much will be made about how the newcomers to Vancouver’s squad impressed greatly on Saturday and there will be plenty of validity to those types of statements. That said, veteran striker Kenny Miller was the clear Man of the Match as he paced his side to a win in a game in which the side that missed the playoffs last year was the one that looked like it was coming off a Supporter’s Shield winning campaign. The Scotsman’s chip shot on the third goal was a thing of a beauty and his overall play throughout the game should have Whitecaps supporters praying that he can stay healthy going forward.



Highlights: Vancouver Whitecaps FC 4 - 1 New York Red Bulls:







And what of very recently signed DP number 10 Pedro Morales? He came on in the second half and looked very much like a genuine difference maker. Prior to the match, the Chilean midfielder had spoken of wanting to be Vancouver’s Federico Higuain, and with an impressive goal and a super impressive assist on Miller’s goal, Morales looked very much like someone who will be a goalscorer and playmaker in that vein. While he did not pot a goal in this one, forward Darren Mattocks was another player who impressed greatly against New York. His incredible pace disoriented the Bulls constantly, both on the break offensively and with the Whitecaps forward line applying high pressure defensively. His movement off the ball was also vital in setting up the second goal by Sebastián Fernández. If Robinson can bring out the best in Mattocks week in, week out, Vancouver will quickly become the team that teams really hate to play. Speaking of the newcomer Fernandez, he delivered a contender for MLS Goal of the Week in his first game in the league. That said, his overall game was very impressive, as he looked confident on the ball and tracked back constantly to help defend. Furthermore and probably most importantly for Robinson, there was no drop off in quality when he was replaced by Uruguayan compatriot Nicolás Mezquida late in the game. Many TFC fans likely tuned in to the Whitecaps game on Saturday to watch the Vancouver debut of their beloved former midfielder Matias Laba. While the Argentine did not stand out compared to some of the Whitecaps attacking players, he delivered a solid, understated and effective performance. It was not a coincidence that New York never really threatened keeper David Ousted in this one. With the Young Designated Player and Nigel Reo-Coker still getting used to each other in the middle of the pitch, the pair will certainly only get better as their chemistry builds. Reo-Coker already looked more comfortably in the second half, as he joined the attack more often while Laba held the fort behind him. Overall, Vancouver looked like a side that had balance and depth throughout its lineup, which bodes well for when injuries occur and for when the Canadian Championship tournament rolls around. Carl Robinson has won first match as an MLS Head Coach and done so in an impressive fashion. Furthermore, with a big win out of the gate, his team has already drastically changed the mood and perception around his club. With chemistry still building and new players still being integrated, Vancouver looks like a team that could be capable of exceeding the expectations of many people who have saddled them with the tag of being a young, rebuilding club that will be easy pickings for more established sides. Carl Robinson has said previously that he wants to bring an exciting brand of football to Vancouver. With one game played so far, it appears that he is firmly on track in that regard.