Tag Archives: Major League Soccer

Articles, Soccer

Photo Gallery – Vancouver Whitecaps 4, New York Red Bulls 1

The Vancouver Whitecaps FC defeated the New York Red Bulls 4–1 on opening day of the 2014 MLS season, marking the 13th consecutive year — and fourth MLS season — that Vancouver has won their home opener.

Kenny Miller scored twice wearing the captain’s armband, while newcomers Pedro Morales and Sebastián Fernández hit the back of the net in spectacular fashion.

The Red Bulls’ only marker came in stoppage time at the end of the match, as keeper David Ousted was left alone to fend for a long cross — he misjudged his punch, and late substitution Bradley Wright-Phillips took full advantage with a cagey header.

Here are my pics from the match — please forgive what Russell The Soccer Poet Arbuthnot calls “slim pickings”. I have to admit, I’m a little rusty at pitch side after a long off-season!

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Soccer

Whitecaps FC – First Kick 2014

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Phew. That was exciting, wasn’t it? If Saturday was any indication, Carl Robinson’s version WhitecapsLogo300of the Whitecaps will be something to keep your eyes on. The team knocked out a 4-1 win over the Henry-less New York Red Bulls in what seemed like somewhat of a cakewalk.

Granted, the Red Bulls were not playing with their full complement of personnel, but I’m not convinced the outcome would have been any different regardless of rosters. Almost everything went right for the Whitecaps, who have now won all four season openers since entering MLS in 2011.

It was a dream start for the new head coach, who watched his squad outplay their opponents in all aspects of the match. The real story though, was how the Whitecaps’ overhauled midfield controlled the game from the opening kick-off. New recruits Matias Laba, Sebastian Fernandez and Pedro Morales (in limited minutes) looked positively brilliant.

Continue reading Whitecaps FC – First Kick 2014 →

Soccer

Kickoff 2014 – Whitecaps VS Red Bulls

The dawn of a new MLS season is upon us and the anticipation surrounding Vancouver’s squad is positively palpable. A new look Whitecaps team, featuring a handful of new arrivals and a new manager, opens their season this Saturday at BC Place stadium against the New York Red Bulls.

In response to Kenny Miller's brace of goals, Hervé (@1stLineCentre) leads the Southsiders in a stirring rendition of Ludvig van Beethoven's adaptation of Freidrich Schiller's poem, Ode to Joy. Photo by Jason Kurylo for Pucked in the Head.
The Southsiders will be back at BC Place stadium when the Whitecaps 2014 season kicks off Saturday, March 7. Photo by Jason Kurylo for Pucked in the Head.

The defending Supporter’s Shield winners from New York, largely unchanged from 2013, feature a stable of talented forwards and a steady backline. Although, it appears that Thierry Henry may once again sit this one out as his tender French footsies cannot handle the tough turf at BC Place. He has yet to play a game in Vancouver. Shameful.

Continue reading Kickoff 2014 – Whitecaps VS Red Bulls →

Articles, Soccer

Bienvenue, monsieur Henry

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WhitecapsLogo300I was challenged by Whitecaps FC physiotherapist Graeme Poole to Take a Bite out of the Big Apple in a #CapsNomination earlier this week. Needless to say, instead of putting together a half-arsed, iPhone filmed response tout de suite, I took four days to mine the interweb for cheesy sound effects and put together a half-arsed, iPhone-filmed response. FX make all the difference, don’t you think?

The Caps take on Thierry Henry and the New York Red Bulls at 4:30 on Saturday March 8 in their 2014 season opener. As of the writing of this post, there were fewer than a thousand tickets left.

Remember, Whitecaps FC go into the 2014 season with a substantially retooled roster — gone are the underperforming Daigo Kobayashi and the dirty, rotten, stinkin’ traitor Camilo, and in are promising attacking midfielders Matías Laba and Pedro Morales. There are numerous young players looking to stamp their cleats upon this team, and it’s new bench boss Carl Robinson‘s job to get them on the pitch a little more often than his predecessor did.

All the while, this team is looking to defend its fourth Cascadia Cup (more on that here from the ever-eloquent Chris Withers), and challenge for its first-ever Canadian Championship trophy against a massively restocked Toronto FC side (soccer poet Russell Arbuthnot is on tap for some of this action).

The Cascadia Cup looks upon BC Place, its home for the 2014 MLS season, after Whitecaps FC won the trophy for consistent performance up and down the northwest corridor last season. Photo by Jason Kurylo for Pucked in the Head.
The Cascadia Cup looks upon BC Place, its home for the 2014 MLS season, after Whitecaps FC won the trophy for consistent performance up and down the northwest corridor last season. Photo by Jason Kurylo for Pucked in the Head.

Soccer

Pucked In The Head’s 1st Annual Whitecaps Off-Season Playlist

It was an off-season filled with questions after a second half meltdown left the Whitecaps WhitecapsLogoon the outside looking in at the 2013-14 MLS playoffs. Where did it all go wrong? Would Martin Rennie keep his job? Who would step into the departing Y-P Lee’s boots? Could management finally land that elusive attacking midfielder?

Naturally, these questions can only be answered by a rousing playlist, featuring nothing but classic songs by classic artists.

I pored over the YouTube archives, spending no less than 32 minutes searching high and low for the finest musical contributions of the last 50 years. Now, without further ado, I present to you the:

 

1st Annual Whitecaps Off-Season Playlist!

Continue reading Pucked In The Head’s 1st Annual Whitecaps Off-Season Playlist →

Articles, Soccer

Whitecaps Preseason Roundup

Hi. Remember me? I'm Chris Withers. Photo by Jason Kurylo for Pucked in the Head.
Hi. Remember me? I’m Chris Withers. Photo by Jason Kurylo for Pucked in the Head.

Hi, I’m Chris.

You may remember me as that guy who used to write things on this site from time to time before inexplicably going away for several months!

I’m back now, having dusted off the ol’ keyboard, and I have opinions about the Whitecaps that I will be relaying to you presently.

(Note: Mr Withers is not only a snazzy dresser and the co-founder of PitH — he’s also pretty active as the Director of External Communications of the single largest Whitecaps FC supporter group there is. So much so, in fact,  that he appeared on a recent episode of From the Backline podcast to discuss the Southside experience.) Continue reading Whitecaps Preseason Roundup →

Articles, Soccer

Say It Ain’t So Camilo

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The Whitecaps’ offseason of upheaval continues amid reports the club’s MVP, Camilo, is leaving for greener pastures and paycheques in Mexico. The only problem is, according to the Whitecaps, this isn’t even a possibility considering the Brazilian is still under contract with the team through 2014.

Vancouver Whitecaps FC forward Camilo is the ultimate love-him-or-hate-him kind of player. Whichever side of the fence you're on, you can't deny the game is more interesting with him on the pitch. Photo by Jason Kurylo for Pucked in the head.
Vancouver Whitecaps FC forward Camilo is the ultimate love-him-or-hate-him kind of player. Whichever side of the fence you’re on, you can’t deny the game is more interesting with him on the pitch. Photo by Jason Kurylo for Pucked in the head.

Adolfo Rios, chairman of Querétaro FC, contradicted this assertion on January 2nd, telling a website that Camilo’s reps at FootballBrazil had informed him the reigning MLS Golden Boot winner was a free agent.

Continue reading Say It Ain’t So Camilo →

Articles, Soccer

Whitecaps’ Revolutionary Hiring Process Culminates In Appointment of Carl Robinson

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It's official — Carl Robinson has received the bump up from Assistant Coach to Head Coach of the Vancouver Whitecaps Football Club. Photo courtesy of Whitecaps FC.
It’s official — Carl Robinson has received the bump from Assistant Coach to Head Coach of the Vancouver Whitecaps Football Club. Photo courtesy of Whitecaps FC.

This morning, Vancouver Whitecaps FC ended a protracted search for a new manager and settled on Carl Robinson as the 15th head coach in club history. Well-liked by his players, the former assistant coach under Martin Rennie brings a wealth of experience at both the highest levels of English soccer, having played in the Premier League for both Portsmouth and Sunderland, and the lowest levels of Canadian soccer, having spent several years at TFC.

More snark (and press conference video) after the jump. Continue reading Whitecaps’ Revolutionary Hiring Process Culminates In Appointment of Carl Robinson →

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Whitecaps Wednesday – One More Chance

Whitecaps Wednesday

I don’t think it’s much of a secret that the Whitecaps are in a dogfight to extend their season.  Yet if you were to judge the urgency of their situation on in-game performance alone, you’d have to wonder if the players’ copy of the memo ended up in the shredder.

Whitecaps FC forward Russell Teibert injected some late-game energy into the homeside, spurring them on to a 2-2 draw with the dirty, rotten, no-good, low-down Timber scoundrels from Portland. Photo by Jason Kurylo for Pucked in the Head.
Whitecaps FC forward Russell Teibert injected some late-game energy into the homeside, spurring them on to a 2-2 draw with the dirty, rotten, no-good, low-down Timber scoundrels from Portland. Photo by Jason Kurylo for Pucked in the Head.

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Articles, Soccer

Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2, Portland Timbers 2

If it seems the Whitecaps have been playing must-win games for pretty much the entire 2013 season, it’s only because it’s true. The MLS Western Conference is, to quote Roger Waters, as tight as a funeral drum. Sadly for Vancouver soccer fans, that’s exactly what the Southsiders might as well be beating after the club has taken just six points out of a possible 24 since mid-August.

Sunday’s 2-2 draw with the Portland Timbers offered wonderful entertainment — not least of which was Camilo’s world-class scissor kick strike in the 78th minute to draw the homeside even — but leaves Vancouver six points below the playoff bar with just three games remaining in the regular season.

Camilo scored on a spectacular side scissor kick to pull Vancouver Whitecaps FC even with the Portland Timbers in MLS action October 9, 2013. Photo by Jason Kurylo for Pucked in the Head.
Camilo scored on a spectacular side scissor kick to pull Vancouver Whitecaps FC even with the Portland Timbers in MLS action October 9, 2013. Photo by Jason Kurylo for Pucked in the Head.

Continue reading Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2, Portland Timbers 2 →