Vancouver Whitecaps News Thread & other media

stench... just going to let that one go.

Curious where this leaves Bob Lenarduzzi once again. With 3 Chief Executives, I hope there isn't any further power struggles.

Great pick up though, Furlong was impressive with the Olympics, and his ability will really tie together loose ends within the organization.

 

i think that JF will be a great fit for both BL and RL-- they each have defined roles and yet the 3 will make a great team; it was apparent that the team of BL/RL and PB were not in sync with one another, hence a major reason for a bad 2011 season

that still leaves TS's role with the Caps as the only part of the 2011 season to figure out-- i am surprised it has gone on this long

Kudos to the Caps owners for hiring JF

 

I agree. I think Furlong boosts the WC standing and potential at every level: with the league, corporate sponsors, sports in Canada, you name it. What I like about him most, though is that he's a died-in-the-wool Canadian, BCer, Vancouverite, and WC fan, so his comittment to everything the team stands for here is real.

From what I've read about his management style and drive, I think he and Rennie will get along very well. So we've got a situation now where there is truly shared vision from the residency and first team staff right up to the very top of the organization. And all of those people have real skills, vision and drive. I say we'll have a chamionship here within the next ten years as long as that leadership and coaching team stays in place.

As for Soehn still being here, I'm not that surprised, for reasons I've made clear before. Maybe Furlong will either find a genuine spot for him within the organization, or will have the guts that others have not had so far, and will move him on. I think Furlong has the talent and clout to do either. Interesting too that Furlong's title is different than Barber's, and that it has been reiterated multiple times by the WC and in media that he will be the HEAD of the FO, almost as if someone there needs reminding of his own position. I'd like to see anyone take on Furlong, though. He's got the clout to stand his ground, but I also think he's a lot tougher than he looks when the chips are down.

An unqualified great move, I think.

 

There is no genuine spot for TS. He is there at the mercy of the Caps because they know he could not put food on the table if they fired him. He will be here until someone else is dumb enough to offer him a paycheck.

 

Just finished listening to The Sport Market on Team 1040. The host Tom Mayenknecht talked about the John Furlong hiring, and confirmed that his title of Executive Chair will be a very different position from Barber's as CEO, even though Furlong will be the head of the organization like Barber was. In Mayenknecht's words, Furlong will have a direct connection to ownership that Barber could only have dreamed of as CEO. Sounds to me like the owners are strengthening the position by bringing it cloer to themselves. Here's the link to the podcast. The piece is about 2hrs 15 mins into the show:

http://feeds.feedburner.com/TEAMRadio-TheSportMarket

 

IMO, that is great news-- owners who are involved and passionate about their team and sport usually lead to more success on the field-- in no way do i anticipate JF ever, ever being a puppet of the ownership group-- that just wont happen-- and its not what the ownership group want either

but the owners were far too patient and seemingly removed from the FO during the 2011 season under PB's leadership... and look what happened!

i think the ownership group realized their mistake and have taken HUGE strides to rebuilding the integrity, planning and vision in the FO-- at least now we are in the middle of the pack and hopefully when the forwards get more ambitious (beyond le toux) for goals, the caps season will really take off

 

http://www.theprovince.com/sports/Whitecaps+chose+wisdom+over+wealth/6475400/story.html

such a great story...
Marc

 

I'll post this here because it's not thread-worthy, but LOL at the Portland GK:
[ame="http://www.flickr.com/photos/vosie/7107118853/sizes/l/in/set-72157629884625119/"]All sizes | 2012-04-22 Brian Rowe, Atiba Harris, Chris Taylor, Michael Nanchoff, and Chris Andre | Flickr - Photo Sharing![/ame]

 

Looks like FC Edmonton decided to take the low road: https://twitter.com/#!/FCEdmontonNow/status/195952432730210304

@FCEdmontonNow: Thanks to @LAKings for knocking out @VanCanucks Heres to making you proud when we do the same vs @WhitecapsFC @SteveNash #davidvsgoliath

Of course, the TFC fans find something to gloat about:
@U_Sector: @FCEdmontonNow Ask them if they plan to allow a Canadian on the field during the Canadian Championship.

 

Given that the LA Kings stepped (ran) away from the initial comment immediately, that's a pretty dumb move by someone in the Edmonton organization. As for TO, when you have as much crap swirling around the centre-of-the-universe sports bowl that is is Toronto, I guess all you can do is pick on a completely irrelevant fact. Professional sports is about bringing in the best players to do the job, wherever they may be from. But then TO doesn't have any truly professional teams--in any sport--so no wonder the distiction's lost on the fans.

 

Richard Grootscholten talks Whitecaps Residency and the future of youth development in Canada​

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When it was announced towards the end of last month that Richard Grootscholten was moving on from his role as the technical director and head coach of Vancouver Whitecaps' Residency program, it was met with genuine sadness.​

Richard has spent two years with the program and played a pivotal role in developing the Caps of the future. The building blocks for seeing local BC talent playing for the Whitecaps in MLS have now firmly been laid and the future looks very bright indeed.​

AFTN's Steve Pandher sat down with Richard and chatted about the past two years, the current state of the Whitecaps Residency program and what the future could, and should, hold in store for youth development not just in Vancouver, but throughout the Canadian game...​

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What a fantastic interview--thanks for that. Grootscholten, imho, is a quality person, and a very smart soccer guy. The way he and Rennie seemed to hit it off right away, I'm sad to see him go, as it looked like they would have been able to cooperate very well to create consistency in the club from top to bottom. But hopefully others will now carry forward the system Grootscholten has put in place here.

 

another person who is beginning to ask questions about the value of eric hassli-- is he really worth all the efforts and focus of the coaching staff??the frustration to his teammates? the few WOWS!! and many UGHS!! from the fans

http://blogs.theprovince.com/2012/05/26/whitecaps-hat-trick-who-is-eric-hassli/

 

Vancouver Whitecaps suspend Long Tan over Tweet


http://www.vancouversun.com/technol...pend+Long+over+Tweet+bleat/6753906/story.html


Maybe they should just let him move on if he isn't happy.

 

He cant offer anything if they won't play him.

 

I think he earned a chance but it didn't seem to matter to the coach. The coach doesn't like him it seems. He would rather play the high paid bum!

 

Just a thought--if this were the NHL, we might say Hassli's being played to showcase him for a trade. I haven't watched MLS enough to know if that's done here, but plausable? Anyone hear if the WC have had interest in him or Camilo from other teams? Moving Hassli would allow Le Toux to move into the middle, where he's most comfortable and has been the most productive over the last two years, with Mattocks as his understudy. And the WC may be able to get a midlielder back in a trade in mid-season(?)

 

Coming in at the 86th minute two games in a row is not "showcasing him for a trade".... his trade value drops when you play him like that

even you should be able to see that.

 

hassli is just about done in vancouver-- the writing is on the wall- dehun is absolutely correct and a trade is the best solution

 

bit who will pick up hassli's fat pay cehque the way he plays??? the caps may have to subsidize the other team or just release him if his attitude is a distraction to the team...something has got to give