The break both felt entirely too long and very short. Kinda weird. News out of RSL is that Luiz is back to full training and Wood has been able to participate briefly. I don't expect the latter to jump right into the lineup, but wouldn't be surprised if Luiz was starting this Friday. The ads for this game on the radio have been comical with the "crashing on the couch" take for Vancouver. Their stay here has been rather uneventful thus far, which is a good thing, so a little comedy shouldn't hurt anyone. The Whitecaps sit at 7 points through 7 games, but similar to RSL, haven't won a game in quite some time. They opened the season with a win against Portland followed by a draw with TFC, but then lost 4 of their next 5 and have lost their last 3 in a row and have only scored a single goal in that run. Their roster is very similar to RSL's in that it has decent enough depth talent but nothing in the top end. Cavallini always impresses me and I consider him their best player, but otherwise they're rather toothless. Cristian Dajome leads the team in goals, with 3 (two of those are pk's), and Cristian Guiterrez leads the team in assists at 2 from left back. Their setup has been listed as a 4-4-2 most of the season, with an occasional 4-2-3-1 thrown in just to mix it up a bit. I expect this to be a choppy affair that RSL should be able to dominate, but will have to win the midfield battle to do so. So long as the game is tied or within a goal for Vancouver, the threat of a late push look as Cavallini is pretty strong in the air and RSL is worse in the league at defending late. Lineup I think we'll see: Rubin Meram Kreilach Rusnak Luiz Ruiz Brody Glad Silva Herrera Ochoa Bench: MacMath, Holt, Toia, Morgan, Besler, Portillo, Meram, Wood, Menedez(?)
The July 7th game is our "away" game with the Whitecaps. I was hopeful that things would be good in British Columbia by then for Vancouver to host us in their first game back at BC Place. This sadly isnt the case.
I do wonder how many players for Vancouver are living here temporarily vs. traveling back and forth. Anyone know? It would be interesting if they are utilizing the altitude advantage, which would be more prominent if they lived and trained here.
They are living here for the most part, otherwise they would have a quarantine requirement when they travel - can't find the link, but as I understand it players have a 5 day quarantine and 14-day testing requirement if coming back into the US for MLS play. I think there may also be requirements by the Canadian govt for inbound travel.
I don't have anything to back it, but I swear there was a report that RSL helped put these guys up in housing. Which, in the current housing environment in this state/valley, is no small feat
as much as we talk about the altitude advantage, I can't remember a home game where it felt like it was actually a thing in our favor in a long time. in fact, the trend this year is for RSL to wilt late
This used to be claimed at RES, and seemed real at times. But I think it was really shitty turf advantage. Haven't seen many signs of altitude advantage at Rio Tinto that I can recall.
The post-Nations League lineup looks a lot like the pre-Nations League lineup: Ochoa Herrera Glad Silva Brody Ruiz Besler Julio Kreilach Rusnak Rubin Bench: MacMath; Toia, Holt, Morgan; Portillo, Chang, Meram, Everton; Douglas
That's a good encapsulation of Albert 2021: great hustle and strength to keep that ball and put it back into play, and then crosses it ten yards further than needed. Early yellow to Vancouver for a rough foul on Brody.
I think Julio let that go to a poorer angle than he needed to, and the save was easier than it should have been on the break. Great ball from Damir.
Not sure what Silva was doing committing a yellow-card worthy foul, in Vancouver's half and way out on the left sideline. 12th minute, and pointless.