Yea, but everybody in Vancouver thinks this is a winable game. We need to build up our reputation, especially at home.
I think Vancouver fans would have considered this winnable with a couple more players not injured/suspended. With today's roster, I think most Caps fans are just hoping for a draw. And I do think our defense is quite good. DeMerit is awesome, but Rochat is excellent too, and Boxall and Leathers more than competent. I know we have a lot of goals scored against us thus far, but I think that will prove the exception, not the rule. We have had a lot of injuries and callups. Anyways, not trying to talk smack. I just feel like this game will be a 2-1 or a 1-1 game. We'll see if the D is as good as I think it is.
Well, first of all the 'Caps have played 4 games. Moreover, two of the goals have come with the team at least one man down. Finally, the back four has been decimated by injuries. Context is a funny word, isn't it?
My trick dating back to my HFA days is look at the NWS' hourly weather graphs. Usually give you a good ballpark for temps and stuff. In this case, low 80s at kickoff perhaps dropping into the 70s during the game, gusty winds. [Cold front and thunderstorm chances overnight.]
Not trying to be mean, but you came to this forum and were the first one to talk about expectations, this year, being that you are a brand new team, pretty much everyone's fans consider any game against your team a winnable one.
Which is true, but being the expansion team, playing an away game and thinking that is a winnable game is a little bit funny to be politically correct.
Join Date: March 2011 Don't get cute with me bro. I offered my opinion, you guys have a very impressive attack, I'm jelly you have Hassli, Salgado, and Camilo. Chuimiento is a great mid too, true #10. But if you asked me to pick any of Vancouver's defenders + GK to start over ours, I would only take Demerit.
I think both sets of fans are underestimating the other. Can't really say I know much about Houston's team but I think that a tie is definitely possible for the Whitecaps, a win with some luck. That's strictly going by how the season has gone so far and the adversity the team has had to go through. As for names on a roster, sure, it's nice to have high profile names. But as in any sport what matters is that the team is coherent and has a good coach. Both of which, we as Whitecaps fans, believe we have. This has been the source of our confidence. But believe me, going into our first MLS season we were crapping our pants at our seemingly lacking scoring talent.
First, I'm not your "bro". Second, what are you trying to imply by noting my join date on this forum? Third, I've probably been watching and attending Whitecaps' games before you were born, which gives me just a little bit of insight. Finally, does the fact that I just found out about this forum a couple of weeks ago mean that my opinion is less valid than yours? Here's to a good game.
A recent join date is USUALLY a sign someone made a quick extra account to come troll another teams board. GG to you too.
I just came back from the game and I am so relief that we were able to defeat a power house like the Caps, even tough they are an expansion team. Ok, really, I was thinking that a tie was the most likely outcome and a win if we were veeeeeeeeeery lucky. What do you really want me to say Caps fans?, You are an expansion team, we were playing at home, the most likely outcome happened, we won, not because we are a great team, but because as I mentioned before, we were playing at home against an expansion team.
I come in peace. I am here, first of all, to eat crow. I think you guys are right: our defense is not that good. I know we've allowed a lot of goals but I thought that was primarily due to injuries, etc. Turns out that even with our starting back 4, we aren't tough to exploit. So... *gulp* done. But I will say this: you didn't beat us because we were an expansion team, you beat us because we were exhausted from the Wednesday game (our team is normally very quick), we were down a few key players, and our defense sucks and you exploited it incredibly well. The Caps are much better offensively than they showed today (and I think that if you watch their past matches, you'll agree with me). The expansion tag is unfair because we really did get a leg up from our div-2 roster - and when I say "unfair," I mean that as a compliment to your team. It is precisely because we more than an expansion team that your win (I think) is that much more meaningful. Congrats. Your game plan worked very well (and I think you caught us on an off-night). See you in Vancouver!
How can a tag be unfair when it is a fact?, Maybe San Jose moving to houston was an unfair tag because it was a relocation but the tag ib expansion was used to protect SJs history, but in your case, you were actually assigned a new MLS team. Talking about unfair, why is expansion such a bad word?, many leagues have expansion teams, most have a hard time, a few don't. The owners decided to keep players from a team they had in a different league, but that only means that instead of expansion, maybe we can say you are the closest we will get to a promotion. Look at teams that win promotion, the difference between a 1st and a 2nd division is huge, so they end up keeping some players and spending a lot of money to bring quality players, they still end up having a hard time, a bunch of players with the quality of a lower league and a bunvh of good players that are new to the team and/or league. 5 point in 5 games proves my point.
I was impressed by that Camilo kid. We need to look for something like that. Good to see the team attacking again. Davis and Cruz looked dangerous. I might not have the best eye for the technical side of things, but this was an enjoyable game to watch as a Dynamo fan.
I agree y'all did look tired. Also it was pretty hot tonight, not July heat, but pretty warm. Maybe that had something to do with it too...
Congratulations on your win. Like you said, you were the home team and showed it on the field. You stayed composed, kept possession and pushed your attacks well. Our back line was exposed for being slow, defending from corners was average at best, DeMerit and our goalie (thinking he was Rene Higuita) both cost us a goal each! Every team will play tired so that doesn't factor for me in this loss. Too bad Cruz isn't ambidextrous. He has a mean right foot. Frustrating match for us. Looking forward to discussing Houston @ Vancouver in August.
To the Vancouver visitors: Hey guys, your team faced a very motivated club. Houston didn't perform in the home opener against the Union and the orange boys were on a mission this time. You were facing the wrong team on the wrong night for ya. You got some building blocks there. The Camilo find was like . He got skills. Chiumiento (hard to spell and harder to pronounce) I thought was giving Houston real headaches. A playa. In my case it is NOT the first time I've seen the Whitecaps. I should be VERY familiar with the USL version, being from Puerto Rico and all.
Just wanted to say that the Cruz miss where he tried to strike the ball with the outside of his foot on goal and it ended up out for a throw in about 15 yards back horizontally...was so, so sad. Possibly one of the worst shots I've ever seen. Good win though!
Really? I was cold what with all that crazy wind at my back. That was a beautiful night weather-wise.
I actually thought it ended up being surprisingly comfortable too, just a tad humid but really pleasant.