Levry, Baker learn in German tier, now look to make it here
BY MARC WEBER
Axel Levry was quick to learn a third language during his year-long loan in Germany. We'll soon know whether he also acquired enough skill and savvy to stick with the Whitecaps.
Levry, a 20-year-old from Fort Washington, Maryland, and Jerome Baker, an 18-year-old Torontonian, joined Bundesliga Two side FC Energie Cottbus from the Whitecaps residency program last summer.
They returned to Vancouver last week and joined the Caps men's team on trial. Decision day looms. Head coach Teitur Thordarson said he'll make up his mind on the pair by the middle of this week at the latest.
"Overall it was a great experience for me," Levry said of his time at Cottbus, a town 125 kilometres southeast of Berlin where the Ivory Coast-born defender/midfielder added German to his repertoire. "Being in a professional environment every day, every game you have to win, even in training, it's a lot more pressure. I added that to my game -- wanting to win more and being more demanding on the field; being more tactically aware on the field and not being so naive."
In one-on-one practice drills last week, Levry held his own. He had some impressive battles with Cornelius Stewart, whose speed and strength make him perhaps the toughest Whitecap to defend in that situation.
But the Whitecaps are heavy on young, raw talent these days, and light on experience. There might be too much naivete left for Thordarson's liking.
"Axel is technically and physically very sound, and Jerome is quite the same," said Thordarson, "but they need to develop their tactical game quite a bit.
"It's going to be a tough decision because at the moment they are not starters, so we have to look at the roster and measure that."
Baker, 6-foot, was playing for Cottbus's under-19 side, while Levry, 5-foot-10, helped Cottbus's under-23 side win the reserves league.
Being younger, and Canadian, could play into Baker's favour, though Thordarson said he's unlikely to consider keeping the Canadian under-20 forward with the residency team. Either he's ready to make the jump, or he'll be free to test the market.
The Whitecaps desperately need help at forward, but that will come in the form of experience, likely during the summer transfer window, which opens Thursday.
Levry was a winger during his three years with the U.S. under-17 residency program and a season of NCAA soccer at George Mason University in Washington, D.C. He was converted to an attacking right back in Germany and the Whitecaps already have youth at that position in Wes Knight, 23.
Both Baker and Levry see Vancouver as a great opportunity but said they have other options.
"Since I'm a young player, it would be good to come here, play at the men's level and get some experience," Baker said. "Maybe follow Marcus Haber's path -- come here, do well, and head back to Europe.
"I'm glad to be back in Canada and MLS is a great opportunity, a great stepping stone."
Two other Whitecaps residency players, midfielder Kyle Porter, 20, and goalkeeper Julien Latendresse-Levesque, 19, remain on loan to Cottbus.
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