Team Focus: Versatile Vancouver Put Down Early Season MLS Marker

With Saturday’s 2-0 win over the LA Galaxy, the Vancouver Whitecaps secured their longest winning streak in franchise history. Quite simply, Carl Robinson’s side are red hot at the moment, winning four games in a row before drawing against Columbus on Wednesday night, making their best ever start to a Major League Soccer season.

So why have the Whitecaps caught light this season when they were so inconsistent and patchy in 2014? It might be down to the spirit Robinson has instilled in his players more than anything else.

In Chicago, Octavio Rivero scored a late winner just five minutes from time to secure Vancouver’s first win of the season after the opening day defeat to Toronto FC. From there a tone has been set, with the Whitecaps scoring late winners in games against Orlando City and the Timbers.

The Canadian franchise now have a never-say-die mindset that has given them an edge early on this season. But their success can’t be explained solely by stubbornness, although that has undoubtedly been a factor. Robinson should be commended for how he has turned around the Whitecaps in the off-season.

Last season saw the exit of top scorer Camilo Sanvezzo, with Kenny Miller, Nigel Reo-Coker and Jay DeMerit also leaving the club over the course of 2014. However, Robinson somehow managed to forge an exciting, young outfit in acrimonious circumstances, securing a play-off spot on the last day of the regular season.

That progression has continued into the new year, making a mockery of the prediction from some quarters that Vancouver would struggle this season. The arrival of centre-back Diego Rodriguez as well as Pa Modou Kah have bolstered the team’s backline, which goes some way to explaining the Caps’ early season form.

But it is in attack where Vancouver look most dynamic. The signing of Uruguayan forward Octavio Rivero has given the Whitecaps the focal point they lacked at times last season, and has had an instant impact in MLS having scored five goals in his first six appearances. Rivero has already set down a marker in the MLS goalscoring charts, leading the standings early on.

Kekuta Manneh has become an attacking hub of activity for the Whitecaps this season, averaging 3.8 shots on goal per game - ranking him among the most productive attackers in MLS so far this season. The Gambian has just one goal to his name this season - so he might have to work on his conversion rate (6.3%) - but he has become a star man for Vancouver from his position on the left side of Robinson’s 4-2-3-1 formation.

Manneh has been so impressive for Vancouver this season that discussion over his international status has been raised, with some questioning whether he could one day play for the US national team with United States citizenship.

Pedro Morales has also been in impressive form this season, putting on three assists in just five games, while averaging 2.2 key passes and 51.4 total passes per game, with Matias Laba performing well in a different way - as the protecting anchor in midfield, averaging four tackles per game.

But in spite of their recent run of form, it’s still difficult to discern what the Whitecaps’ identity as a team is this season. Are they a counter-attacking outfit, a possession-based side or a more direct team? Nobody seems to know.

Against Cascadia rivals the Portland Timbers, the Whitecaps claimed just 33.6% possession, allowing their opposition to dictate much of the play in central areas of the pitch. In fact, Robinson’s side had yet to claim more possession than their opponents in any of their wins before Saturday’s clash with the Galaxy.

Yet against LA Robinson’s team took 55% of the possession, completing their passes with a season-best 80% accuracy. And that might be the biggest praise of Vancouver this season. They are adaptable and can change their approach according to different opposition and each game.

On Wednesday night Vancouver faced the Columbus Crew; a team which prides itself on keeping hold of possession and controlling the midfield. But it was the Whitecaps that saw more of the ball, playing 562 passes compared to the Crew’s 337. This time they had to make do with a draw, but they did still keep their unbeaten run going.

Somewhat unexpectedly the Whitecaps gave themselves a platform to build upon last season by making the play-offs, even if they didn’t make it past the knockout round. Robinson has indeed built on that, as Vancouver have put down an early season marker.

How far do you think Vancouver can go this season? Let us know in the comments below