One of the toughest stretches of the season is now at an end, and although it did not end with a result, there is a lot to look forward to at Whitecaps FC.
As for Saturday’s match in Chicago. One of the things that every ‘Caps fan can appreciate is the quality of players across MLS.
The Fire have such quality in the form of Pavel Pardo. A Mexican soccer legend, his pedigree in a free-kick situation ultimately secured Chicago a very good result after finishing the game with ten men.
The visit to Chicago’s Toyota Park ended one of the more challenging spells of the season for Martin Rennie’s side and some results in that extended road schedule might have been different…
Yet, to be sitting in a good position in the Western Conference standings with four of the next five games at home, it is all about looking forward and what can be achieved against our conference foes in the 14 games to come.
On Saturday, ‘Caps fans got a chance to see the club’s newest acquisition in action. Dane Richards came on in the second half and showed glimpses of what makes him an attacking threat in MLS.
The Jamaican international offers speed and skill when he gets forward, and against the Fire, his presence was a boost to the Blue and White’s attack that had more life after halftime.
With the ‘Caps schedule soon to have several days in between league matches, new faces like Richards will have the chance to be well incorporated into Rennie’s set-up with numerous training sessions.
And after several MLS seasons as a New York Red Bulls player, Richards offers valuable experience to a club in their second season in the league.
He has been through the battles in the Eastern Conference since 2007 and it will interesting to know if the winger will find the Western Conference playoff chase to be a reinvigorating one.
We welcome Dane to his new home on Canada’s west coast and hope he enjoys his time in Vancouver. I’m sure fans will enjoy him hitting the jet afterburners in a ‘Caps uniform!
The winger will surely be looking forward to this week, as we all will at Whitecaps FC. The visit of LA Galaxy is a highly anticipated one on Wednesday night, and after the display they put in against our Cascadia Cup rivals Portland Timbers, a very challenging one as well.
A big performance will be needed by the Blue and White that night, and with a passionate crowd at BC Place supporting Rennie’s side, it might be the type of match that inspires an unlikely hero or a new player like Richards.
Remember, it has been less than a month since Richards got a taste of the BC Place experience as a New York player. We now have a chance to make him feel welcome by getting behind every move and run he makes on Bell Pitch.
Should Richards get that chance against the defending MLS Cup champions, he will surely remember the moment fondly as a player and a person. Let’s make it happen!
On to Wednesday!
