Editor’s note: The following is the second in a series of features breaking down the Whitecaps FC roster by position following Tuesday’s contract update. Yesterday, we examined the goalkeepers. Stay tuned to whitecapsfc.com this week for more.
UNDER CONTRACT FOR 2016: Sam Adekugbe (LB), Christian Dean (CB), Jordan Harvey (LB), Tim Parker (CB), Jordan Smith (RB), Kendall Waston (CB)
No team conceded fewer goals or recorded more clean sheets than Vancouver Whitecaps FC this past season. The back line deserves a lot of credit for that.
How’s that for analysis?
Kendall being Kendall: The big man's biggest plays
The anchor of Vancouver’s defensive core, centre back Kendall Waston, will be back in 2016. He agreed to a multi-year contract extension last month, which was music to the ears of the ‘Caps faithful.
After all, Waston was the 2015 Whitecaps FC BMO Player of the Year, runner-up for MLS Defender of the Year, and one of three defenders named to the 2015 MLS Best XI.
The Costa Rican international has been a tower of strength in the middle of Vancouver’s defence since joining the club midway through 2014. Since that point, no MLS player has won more aerials or recorded more clearances.
He’s also been among the league leaders in blocks and interceptions.
So his return alone will bring a great deal of stability, but there may be a few changes around him.
We know for sure that centre back Diego Rodriguez won’t be back – his loan has ended and Whitecaps FC are not pursuing an extension. The Uruguayan got off to a promising start, but after an early suspension and string of injuries he was never able to find his feet again.
We also know the club did not pick up the options on centre back Pa-Modou Kah and right backs Steven Beitashour and Ethen Sampson, though it’s still possible they could negotiate new deals.
“Obviously, [Steven was] a big piece for us this year,” Robinson told reporters on Tuesday. “We know that. We’d like to do everything we can to keep him … Steven likes it here. We like Steven here. In a salary cap league, sometimes you’re able as a different club to take advantage of a high cap number, so we’ll have to wait and see. But we’ll do everything we can to try and bring him back … and hopefully Pa will be back as well.”
If that does not happen, Kah and Beitashour would both be eligible for the MLS Re-Entry Draft (Stage One on December 11 and Stage Two on December 17).
As Robinson alluded to, the ‘Caps leaned heavily on both players this past season.
After Waston, Beitashour played more minutes than any Whitecaps FC defender. He also contributed five assists, which was tied for fourth among MLS fullbacks. The 35-year-old Kah also chipped in offensively with three goals and two assists and developed a steady partnership with Waston in the middle of defence, playing 2,164 regular season minutes.
Both players offer a lot of veteran guidance off the field, too – something Robinson values greatly. But in a salary cap world, sometimes tough decisions need to be made.
Does that mean Kah and Beitashour won’t be back? Only time will tell.
Certainly, the emergence of rookie Tim Parker as a bonafide MLS centre back will factor into the thinking here – not to mention the continued development of centre back Christian Dean.
That was also the reason why Rodriguez’s loan was not extended.
“I want to give young players chances,” Robinson said, adding that he sees Parker as a starter. “Part of the reason why I decided not to pick up the option on Diego Rodriguez is because Diego was brought in last year to be a starter. I still believe Diego will go on to be a top, top player but Timmy and Christian have both jumped above him. I don’t want to block Tim and Christian’s pathway next year.”
Along those lines, Robinson said he’d have “no problem” entering the season with three or four centre backs. He will, however, need to address the situation at right back if Beitashour doesn’t return. Currently, the only right back under contract is 24-year-old Costa Rican Jordan Smith, whose loan has been extended through the 2016 season with an option to transfer.
Things appear to be the most settled at left back, where veteran Jordan Harvey and youngster Sam Adekugbe are both returning. Adekugbe started seven of Vancouver’s first nine matches this past season, but then ran into some injury problems – at which point Harvey drew back in and proved his reliable self, starting each of Vancouver’s 23 regular season matches.
It will be interesting to see how much the duo split time in 2016.
So that’s where things currently stand.
While revamping the back line certainly won’t be a priority this offseason (far from it, in fact), it’s still a position that will require some attention.
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