It’s almost time.
On Friday morning in The Vale of Glamorgan, Wales (very, very early in the morning for those of you in Vancouver), Vancouver Whitecaps FC kick off their 2017 preseason schedule against English Championship side Cardiff City F.C. in a closed-door friendly.
Kickoff is set for 3 a.m. PT (11 a.m. local). The friendly will not be streamed online. Fans can follow Whitecaps FC on Twitter for updates and visit whitecapsfc.com for post-match coverage.
VANCOUVER WHITECAPS FC
The most important part of this match from Vancouver’s perspective is to start “getting players up to speed,” as head coach Carl Robinson put it this week. That’s the main reason Robinson brought the team to the United Kingdom, to pit them against competition already in midseason form.
At the same time, Robinson said he doesn’t want to throw players into the fire too fast, which is why most of them will only be playing 45 minutes on Friday.
“We’ve just got to be careful in relation to rushing a few of the guys who are carrying a few small knocks and bits and pieces like that,” he said.
Robinson said he plans to field a “mix and match” lineup featuring a combination of veterans and youngsters, which could mean first appearances for recent MLS SuperDraft selections Jakob Nerwinski and Francis de Vries.
The 'Caps may also take a look at some of the camp invitees currently in Wales with the team, including former Toronto FC midfielder/wing back Daniel Lovitz, Hungarian midfielder Attila Filkor, former Watford FC midfielder Ross Jenkins, former Rangers midfielder/winger David Templeton, and Trinidad and Tobago youth international Isaiah Hudson.
CARDIFF CITY FC
The Bluebirds, as they go by, compete in the English Football League Championship, which is the second highest level of professional soccer in England after the Premier League.
Some notable players on Cardiff’s roster include Canadian international Juinor Hoilett, former Liverpool, Southampton, and West Brom striker Rickie Lambert, and Icelandic midfielder Aron Gunnarson, who captained Iceland to the quarterfinals at the recent Euro 2016.
With Cardiff set to face Reading on Saturday, however, they’re expected to field a team composed primarily of U-23s with a few first-team players and trialists mixed in on Friday.
At any rate, the ‘Caps are expecting a stiff test.
DID YOU KNOW?
- Whitecaps FC defeated Cardiff in penalties after a scoreless draw on July 23, 2006 as part of the Whitecaps Nations Cup at Swangard Stadium. Tony Donatelli, Steve Kindel, and David Morris converted for Vancouver in the shootout.
- Retired Whitecaps FC striker and current U-15 Residency head coach Robert Earnshaw enjoyed an illustrious spell as a member of the Bluebirds. A product of Cardiff’s youth program, Earnshaw made his professional debut with the senior side in 1998 and went on to make 201 appearances across all competitions, scoring 105 goals.
- Whitecaps FC assistant coach Martyn Pert was an assistant coach and head of conditioning with Cardiff in 2013 before joining the ‘Caps the following year.
