Preamble: Please note that the title of this article has little to do with the actual contents found within. It was simply a title that needed using.

During the Whitecaps pre-game show on TSN1040, analyst Carlo Corazzin threw out a rather remarkable fact: the Whitecaps have not fielded the same starting XI in three consecutive games since entering MLS. That’s nearly four years of players rotating in and out of the lineup every match (or two).

Now, odds are that injuries and international duties have played a small part in this phenomenon, but seriously, not once in four seasons? It just goes to show you the constant state of flux this franchise has been in since joining Major League Soccer. And it extends beyond just the players on the pitch — the club’s well-documented coaching changes are no mystery to anyone that follows Whitecaps soccer with any sort of vigilance.

Perhaps, however, an era of stability is finally upon us, and just maybe it started this weekend versus FC Dallas.

Finally, on Saturday evening, the eleven starting Whitecaps players were the same group that started each of the last two matches. After dropping a horrific deuce against the Portland Timbers September 20^th, Carl Robinson showed faith in the group and they repaid him with a 2-1 victory last week over Real Salt Lake. They rewarded their manager again on Saturday as they purged the demon that is FC Dallas.; the dive kings from Texas are a team Vancouver has only managed to beat once before, more than two years ago.

Sebastián Fernández scored two goals in a span of four minutes  early in the first half to lift the Whitecaps to a 2-0 victory over the visitors from Texas. His first was a terrific header off a deft Mauro Rosales cross.

There’s the cross Rosales was brought in for. Good finish by Fernandez on the back post. 1-0 #WhitecapsFC.

— Jason Kurylo (@PuckedInTheHead) October 4, 2014

Seba’s second strike was also set up by Rosales, who pushed the Dallas defence backwards on a counterattack before finding Fernandez to his left. Soon the ball was slotted past the Dallas keeper, and it was two-nil for the good guys. How do we know Rosales was a big part of that brace by Fernández? FC Dallas immediately started chopping down the Argentinian — they did everything short of pulling at that prodigious head of hair of his.

Clearly FC Dallas recognises the goals were due to brilliant setups by Mauro Rosales – they’ve blatantly charley horsed the guy at midfield.

— Jason Kurylo (@PuckedInTheHead) October 4, 2014

The addition of Rosales and Costa Rican giant Kendall Waston has helped to solidify the Whitecaps’ lineup. Waston is filling in nicely for Jay DeMerit at centre back, and is improving with each outing. Rosales has positively sparkled in midfield since arriving in Vancouver; he’s making plays inside, outside and over the top, even if Erik Hurtado’s legendary lead foot as often as not kills the ball on first touch.

The veteran midfielder was acquired in exchange for Nigel Reo-Coker at the end of August in what may ultimately prove to be NRC’s most valuable contribution to the club. The retention of Rosales should certainly be atop the organization’s off-season to-do list.

And the stability extends beyond the players on the pitch.

Carl Robinson could be just the guy to offer some regularity from a managerial standpoint. There are still three games to be played, but Robinson may have found the solution to the late season swoons that have plagued the club over the past three seasons.

Two consecutive wins over clubs ahead of them in the Western Conference standings is a positive start, and while they could have put much of the controversy to rest simply by winning their match against Portland three weeks ago, six points from the past two games is the next best thing.

Perhaps more important is Robinson’s commitment to his players. Throughout the season he has remained faithful to his young group, giving opportunities to those whom deserve them and allowing them to play through the rough patches — a practice that his players certainly appreciate. And through these growing pains, the club has managed to give themselves a credible chance at qualifying for the playoffs.

Regardless of the final outcome of the 2014 season, at the very least the Whitecaps’ faithful can recognize that there is a solid foundation on which to build. There is at last direction and the promise of brighter times ahead. And that is just as valuable as any playoff game could ever be.

The next Vancouver Whitecaps FC match is Friday, October 10 against the dirty rotten stinkin’ Seattle Sounders. Kickoff is at 7pm at CenturyLink Field; the game will be televised on TSN1 and broadcast on your old-fashioned TSN1410 radio. The next home game is the final match of the regular season, Saturday, October 25 at BC Place. Get your tickets here.