VANCOUVER, BC – Vancouver Whitecaps FC announced today that the club will kick off their 2017 preseason training camp in Wales before participating in Portland’s preseason tournament for the fourth straight year. Here are three thoughts from the announcement.
SHAKING THINGS UP
This will be Vancouver’s first preseason outside North America since joining MLS in 2011.
They’ve spent some time in Arizona during each of the last six seasons, in addition to trips to Seattle, Orlando, Cary, Charleston, and Portland. For the most part, they have faced North American competition also just starting off their seasons.
So why the change?
“When you play in preseason and early games, you’re playing against players who are also not fit and you’re able to maybe coast through games based upon you being 60-70 per cent fit and them being 60-70 per cent fit,” Whitecaps FC head coach Carl Robinson said in September.
Robinson also referenced Vancouver’s season-opening losses to Toronto and Montreal over the last two years. Starting slow simply isn't an option in 2017.
“What I need, especially now that we’re in the Champions League, I need my players if they’re 60-70 per cent fit to be playing against players who are 100 per cent fit because it’s harder for them and we need to get up to speed a lot quicker,” he said.
The ‘Caps will play a series of matches in Wales during their 11-day stay. It's going to be a grind.
Then, they will play three matches in Portland before visiting New York Red Bulls on Wednesday, February 22 in the first leg of the CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinals.
"This will be a tough, competitive training camp right from day one," Robinson said. "It's been made very clear to all players and staff what our expectations are come January."
HOMECOMING FOR ROBINSON
Robinson, of course, was born and raised in Wales.
He spent the first 19 years of his life there and went on to represent his country 52 times, helping bring along the current generation of Welsh stars including the likes of Aaron Ramsey (Arsenal FC), Gareth Bale (Real Madrid), Joe Allen (Stoke City FC), and Joe Ledley (Crystal Palace FC). He remains close with many of them today.
“Everyone else was so much younger and inexperienced,” said retired ‘Caps striker and current U-15 head coach Robert Earnshaw, also a former Welsh international. “When Carl was involved, because he has a clever football IQ and he also played the right way – sharp, hardworking, enjoyed the ball, very unselfish – he could just help everyone else. The likes of Ramsey, Bale, Joe Allen … he was always ready to help the youngsters with their game on and off the pitch.”
In a way, that’s when Robinson really started his coaching education. Now, he comes full circle, returning to his native land as head coach of Whitecaps FC.
GEARING UP TO THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
In 2014, Whitecaps FC ended the preseason with a hard-fought draw against Portland Timbers, before cruising to a 4-1 win over New York Red Bulls in their season opener.
The next two years, the ‘Caps played Chicago Fire and Minnesota United FC in their preseason finales. Suffice to say, those games didn’t quite have the same intensity, and Whitecaps FC went on to lose their season-openers to Toronto and Montreal, respectively.
Coincidence? Maybe. Maybe not.
This year, the ‘Caps will once again conclude the preseason against Portland – just a week before their Champions League quarterfinal tilt in New York.
Just saying.
