'Lots of talk' with close of MLS secondary transfer window looming

Carl Robinson clapping - BC Place - wide

VANCOUVER, BC – Major League Soccer’s secondary transfer window is set to close on Wednesday and Vancouver Whitecaps FC head coach Carl Robinson said it might “come down to the final few minutes” as to whether or not the ‘Caps make a move.


“I’m trying to maybe get one or two in and one or two out,” Robinson told reporters. “We’ve been working on it the last few weeks, really.”


Robinson mentioned centre back cover and midfield as potential areas of interest.


“We’re a little bit light in the centre back position,” he said. “Obviously, Kendall was away on the weekend for various reasons and AJ stepped in brilliantly I thought next to Timmy Parker. We probably need a little bit of cover there. And if we decide to go with AJ as a centre back as well, then maybe we can look at midfield. But the midfield is strong at the moment with Tony, Mati, and Rusty.”


“It will just be to get one or two bodies in that can affect the team,” he added. “I won’t bring squad players in. I want players that can come in and play some minutes at certain times because we do have a busy stretch of games ahead of us.”



The ‘Caps, who have one of the best records in MLS over the last five matches, conclude their three-match road swing on Saturday vs. New England Revolution (5 p.m. PT on TSN2 and TSN 1410 radio) before playing six of their next seven matches at BC Place.


Although Whitecaps FC currently sit seventh in the West, just below the red line, their 1.48 points per game is tied for third best in the conference.


In fact, the ‘Caps are only three points out of second place with games in hand.


Robinson said “there’s lots of talk” around the league, as is usually the case at this time, with teams looking to bolster their rosters ahead of the playoff push.


“We’re all in the same boat,” he said. “We’re trying to make moves for various reasons, some for cap restraint reasons, and others for next year reasons. We’re all working the same people, the same reasons. Sometimes you get them, sometimes you don’t.”


Although the window closes on Wednesday, teams are still able to add free agents at any point before the roster freeze on September 15.