Tuesday, April 8, 2008

Veteran USL-1 coach Bob Lilley turned the perennial contender Whitecaps into a champion for the first time in his second season in 2006. A year and a first round playoff exit later, he found himself without a contract extension.

While the defense, a staple of Lilley, was still among the best in the league with just 24 goals allowed in 28 games, the injuries and lack of production up top left the Whitecaps ranking third-worst in the league with just 27. A midseason departure of goalkeeper Tony Caig also left the side scrambling as the focus concentrated to the back, resulting in a 7-2-3 start giving way to a run of 0-5-6 throughout the middle of the campaign.

Vancouver, having used 32 different players on the year, finished strong, however, with a run of 2-0-2 to secure their spot in the playoffs, where they would be eliminated by northwest rival Portland 3-1 on aggregate when Portland erased a first leg 1-0 deficit with a 3-0 win at home.

The 2008 Season

While the club will have several returning veterans in the form of Jeff Clarke, Jason Jordan, Steve Kindel, Geordie Lyall, Martin Nash, Eduardo Sebrango and Alfredo Valente, the team will also have an influx of new talent throughout the lineup in addition to the new coach on the sidelines.

Starting from the top down, the new coach for Vancouver is Teitur Thordarson. He is an Icelander that has previously served as the head coach of the Estonian National Team and has extensive coaching experience from the Norwegian First Division.

While Thordarson’s experience is European, the club’s player moves have revolved around anything but. The Whitecaps brought in DC United duo Nicholas Addlery of Jamaica (striker) and Jay Nolly of the US (goalkeeper), Atlanta’s Omar Jarun of Kuwait as well as Hampton Roads Piranhas PDL standout Andrew Wheeler, an All-League selection after leading the Piranhas to an unbeaten season and finishing fifth in the league in scoring with 33 points (14 goals, 5 assists). The club also brought in former Bolivian youth international midfielder Vicente Arze and former J-League standout and Japanese National Team midfielder Takashi Hirano.

Also on the minds of the club this year will be the CONCACAF Champions League Canadian Qualifying competition. After years of their USL-1 peers south of the border having had the burden of US Open Cup play over the years, the Impact will experience for the first time the stresses of competing in an additional competition aside from league play as they take on Toronto FC and USL-1 rival Montreal Impact in a round-robin group playoff for the lone spot in the confederation’s club championship event.

The First Five

Vancouver will face a stiff test out of the gate when they face the Montreal Impact (3rd in 2007), regular challengers for the regular season and league championships in the home opener April 12. They then play host to Minnesota (11th) two weeks later April 26 and the Rochester Rhinos (5th), who also have a new head coach, May 10. They hit the road for the first time May 16 to visit Miami (9th) before serving as Montreal’s opposition in their home opener at the brand new Stade Saputo May 19.