Canadians to consider for Whitecaps

[Harry Caray's Ghost]

I wanted to start a discussion about what Canucks-abroad you would like to see in a Whitecaps uniform in 2011.
To start off with here's the list by jpg75:
http://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1084978&page=2

I would say the only players that are off limits would be the EPL players, Hutchinson, Friend, and if he can find a team, de Guzman. And while I'm sure there are some young diamonds in the rough, Vancouver already has one of the better youth programs in North America. Maybe Stalteri or Mckenna would want to end his career with the Whitecaps. Josh Simpson impressed me in the gold cup; he seems he would be a starter for most MLS teams. I'm not familiar with the current Whitecaps team. What positions do you think the Whitecaps need to address for MLS play?

[sportie1]

I wanted to start a discussion about what Canucks-abroad you would like to see in a Whitecaps uniform in 2011.
To start off with here's the list by jpg75:
http://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1084978&page=2

What positions do you think the Whitecaps need to address for MLS play?

start with the middle-- experienced goalie, strong in the air central defender, creative, ball-controlling central midfielder and attacking forward

[Krammerhead]

The Whitecaps already have an MLS quality keeper. Jay Nolly is worth keeping. Other than him, I'm not sure about the rest. Yes, I know he's an American, just pointing out that he's MLS starting quality.

[footballfreak]

The Whitecaps already have an MLS quality keeper. Jay Nolly is worth keeping. Other than him, I'm not sure about the rest. Yes, I know he's an American, just pointing out that he's MLS starting quality.

Not to mention the fact that there's no Canadian keeper that fits the bill.

Asmir Begovic, if he's still Canadian, is too good to play MLS for a long while.

Lars Hirschfeld will be 33 in 2011 - probably still too young to come back unless he doesn't stick at Cottbus. He would certainly be one of, if not the best pure shot stoppers in the league, but his distribution is crap and he may cost more than we're willing to pay.

Then you're left with guys like Wagenaar, Stamatopolis and Djekanovic (who could turn into a decent gk in a few years but I'm not so sure).

I think bringing Canadian players back from Europe may be more trouble than it's worth given the inflated salaries they might bring with them. I would prefer to see a group composed primarily of young players brought through the system, older guys with MLS experience aquired through the expansion draft, with at most 2-3 EU players. Those guys do not neccessarily have to be established players like Bernier or Hutchinson either. Take a look at what young guys like Will Johnson, André Hainault and Dejan Jakovic have done for their MLS teams. It's those type of guys we should be looking for - the ones still hungry to proove themselves.

[WhiteCapArmy]

done forget bonsu and gage and haber Id like to see these 3 make the MLS team.

[sportie1]

iain hume and kevin mckenna

[footballfreak]

iain hume and kevin mckenna

Hume is notoriously injury prone. I mean just look at how easily he fractured his skull. ;)

In all seriousness, I hope Iain is still playing at a higher level than MLS in 2 years time.
Kevin McKenna might be ready to come back - not sure I would sign him, but it's worth exploring.

As a sidenote: I had no idea Jim Brennan was only 32. Man his play has dropped off in the last few years.

[Macksam]

done forget bonsu and gage and haber Id like to see these 3 make the MLS team.
Gage is good. Reminds me of Ronald De Boer. Or was that Frank De Boer? Reminds me of one or the other.

[JohnnyRanger]

neither. Ronald was a winger/striker while Frank was a sweeper.

Gage is a CMF that can play the stopper role also.

[Macksam]

neither. Ronald was a winger/striker while Frank was a sweeper.

Gage is a CMF that can play the stopper role also.
Ronald was an attacking mid mostly I think, which would fit your description I guess.

[JohnnyRanger]

Gage is not an attacking player, he is a holding midfielder.

He played most of the last half of last year between Clarkey and Nash.

I digress...

If the caps had anyone that remotely reminded me of either of the deBoers I'd be a lot happier with the team. ;) as specifically those are two areas the team is lacking in, a creative playmaker that has any consistancy and a big hard tackling centrehalf with good ability on the ball.

[ElCommandante]

What about Pat Onstad?

[Johnnie Monster]

I'll probably take heat for this, but.... have you seen how poorly Canada plays as a team? Do we want a piece of the old guard, or do we want fresh blood out of our own development system?

There is nobody on the Canadian national side who stands out as a "must have" addition to the Whitecaps. Sure, guys like DeGuzman and DeRosario would be nice to have, but beyond that... who?

Onstad? Are you kidding me? That old man went to God's prom, FFS.

[Krammerhead]

Onstad? Are you kidding me? That old man went to God's prom, FFS.

It's true. I saw him there.

[loben52]

Simeon Jackson

[Macksam]

I'll probably take heat for this, but.... have you seen how poorly Canada plays as a team? Do we want a piece of the old guard, or do we want fresh blood out of our own development system?

There is nobody on the Canadian national side who stands out as a "must have" addition to the Whitecaps. Sure, guys like DeGuzman and DeRosario would be nice to have, but beyond that... who?

Onstad? Are you kidding me? That old man went to God's prom, FFS.
Klukowski is probably the best left back in CONCACAF. In my opinion, he was argubly the best player other than De Guzman for Canada in the Gold Cup. Other than that, I see your point. However, I think the purpose of finding Canadian players now when Vancouver enters MLS is to fill the void before the Residency program starts bearing fruit.