A look back...
November 9, 2007 11:00 AM
Random thoughts and musings about Wednesday night:
- It's a very heavy and surreal experience to be a part of an event that will be a key moment for an organization. It's like being a part of history. And at least for this modest franchise, Wednesday night will go down as a milestone for the Vancouver Whitecaps. That, in itself, is an achievement.
- I'm very happy that we put on a good show for the 48,000 in attendance. The crowd, many of whom had never been to a soccer game, seemed to be really into it, with towels waving and cheering. I found it interesting to find the crowd behind both the Whitecaps and David Beckham, but deciededly against the LA Galaxy. I originally thought the crowd would be split in their support, but the message was clear - we want Beckham to do well, but we want the Caps to win.
- I'm also glad that we showed people that we can compete well against MLS teams. Certainly, there are far better teams in the MLS than the Galaxy, but we controlled the play and generated far more scoring opportunities. Given the star power on that team - not just Becks, but Landon Donovan, Cobi Jones and others, we showed we belonged. Leading up to the event, I would run into people asking if I thought we would get blown out, and I told each of them that they would be surprised at how close the match would be. Considering the fact that our team had not played competitively in over six weeks and we had a number of recent signings to add to the roster, I think we can certainly be proud of our performance.
- I'm not thrilled about the final score and I'm sure you aren't as well. I really wanted a couple goals to get the crowd even more excited. There were a number of great chances by the Caps, but a number of things stood in their way. With the layoff, they weren't as sharp as they could have been. Nerves certainly played a factor too. The actual turf was not particularly conducive to a wide open game. And the Galaxy played a very sound defensive system that protected the box very well.
- That last point, however, is what bugs me. I really had hoped the Galaxy would have played a more open, offensive style, to properly showcase both their individual talents and the excitement of the sport in general. Instead, they played not to lose, with even Mr. Beckham playing almost a holding midfielder role at times. Things opened up a little toward the end of the match, but by then it was too late. Perhaps they didn't want to lose to a USL club, but given that it was an exhibition and one of the largest attended matches of the year for them, I expected more aggressiveness and flair.
- Beckham himself, was pure class. He was amazing with both the press and the fans, and left everyone touched by his sincerety and candour. I even heard some of the local sports radio personalities compare him to the likes of Wayne Gretzky in terms of charm and friendliness. If he is our ambassador of soccer's growth in North America, I think we are in good hands.
- As for me, the event was a whirlwind. Having just gotten back from Europe two weeks prior (the conclusion to my Europe blog is on its way, I just wanted to save it for after the big event), it felt a little overwhelming being thrown back into the fire. But it was an adrenaline-packed two weeks and I loved the excitement in the city leading up to the event. I remember when I first heard he had landed in Vancouver, it was a little surreal - like, wow, this thing is really happening! When he came out for the press conference on Tuesday morning, it was pretty thrilling. On Tuesday afternoon, I had the unenviable task of checking people in for the VIP Meet & Greet and controlling the line. I was shocked at how many people tried to sneak their way in or come up with a story to get on the guest list. The best, though, was Paul Chapman from The Province arriving in his Steven Gerrard Liverpool jersey. Way to show your allegiance Paul - good on ya!
- The actual game itself was a blur. I didn't have a specific role, so instead I played a bit of gopher, running around the building helping out wherever it was needed. In a way, it was kind of a nice position to be in - albeit stressful at times - as I was able to experience the event from a number of perspectives. I even took fifteen minutes to watch the match, which of course, was the best part!
Well, thank you to everyone that came out and enjoyed themselves. I already cannot wait until next year. We've made a number of changes to the club and I'm sure there are many more ahead. Plus, we have to top this year's international friendly - who will we bring next year?
Posted By: Ryan Mckee on November 9, 2007 11:00 AM
