Editor’s note: The following feature concludes a four-part series breaking down the Whitecaps FC roster by position followingTuesday’s contract update.
Part I:Goalkeepers
Part II:Defenders
Part III: Midfielders
UNDER CONTRACT FOR 2016: Erik Hurtado, Kekuta Manneh, Darren Mattocks, Octavio Rivero
This is the position most people will be watching heading into 2016.
It’s a young group with an average age of just over 23 years old, but it’s also a group with a lot of potential. They’ve all shown that at one point or another.
The big challenge is to get them to perform on a more consistent basis.
Kekuta Manneh, for example, has proved to be one of the most dangerous attacking players in MLS on his day. That’s why he was ranked as the second best player under 24 in the entire league. The 20-year-old left winger had seven goals and six assists this past season, which were both career-highs.
The hope is that Manneh will continue to get better and improve his production with another year of experience under his belt – and the same could be said for the rest of Vancouver’s attacking players, including striker Octavio Rivero.
The 23-year-old Uruguayan made the move to Vancouver in January to join Whitecaps FC – his first experience playing outside his native South America.
And then, as Carl Robinson put it, “he started like a house on fire.”
Rivero scored five goals in his first six matches and was named the MLS Player of the Month for March. But his production cooled off from there.
Highlights from Rivero's first season in MLS
The 6-foot-2 striker finished the season with 10 goals, a team-high, and added three assists. Though he continued to play a big part in Vancouver’s success with his hard work and hold-up play – the ‘Caps finished the season second in the Western Conference and third in Major League Soccer – Rivero was never able to rekindle his early-season goal-scoring form.
“Expectations in this city are brilliant because you go from being the best to being the worst in a short period of time,” Robinson said. “He’s certainly not the best and he’s certainly not the worst. We know he’s a work-in-progress. We know he’s got the potential, but he’s 23. So we’ve got to work with him.”
Robinson’s faith in Rivero doesn’t mean he won’t be looking to bolster the strike force this offseason, however.
“Will we be looking to add other pieces? Yes, 100 per cent we will,” Robinson said. “Will we be looking to supplement [Octavio’s] strengths? Yes, without a doubt we will. Will we be looking to keep Pedro fit? Yes, without a doubt. There are a number of factors.”
One such factor is the status of Cristian Techera.
The 5-foot-2 Uruguayan, who was most often used on the right wing, was one of Vancouver’s most productive players in the second half of the season. He finished the season tied for second on the team with seven goals and five assists, which is remarkable considering he started just 17 matches. Like Rivero, he’s also only 23.
Techera was on loan from Uruguayan side Club Atlético River Plate Montevideo this past season. Suffice to say, the ‘Caps are looking to bring him back – on a permanent basis.
“Cristian I think showed last year what we can do in relation to goals and assists and he’s exciting to watch,” Robinson said. “Cristian’s family will hopefully come back with him as well, which might make him more comfortable. He’s a big player for this club and we’ll do everything we can to bring him back.”
Be a part of the best sporting atmosphere in Vancouver! 2016 Whitecaps FC Season Tickets are on sale from $39/month all in. In addition to Season Tickets, Whitecaps FC offer a flexible range of ticket products, including Half-Season Packs, 5-Packs, a Youth Soccer Half-Season Ticket, and single match tickets. For more information, visit whitecapsfc.com/tickets.
