MLSsoccer.com continue our look back at the 2014 season that was for all 19 clubs in Major League Soccer, starting with the Montreal Impact and ending with the MLS Cup-winning LA Galaxy. We'll also take a peek at the two new clubs coming in and pour one out for departed friends Chivas USA. You can find the 2014 Year in Review HERE, and the club-by-club history of MLS HERE.
2014 record: 12-8-14 (50 points); 42 GF / 40 GA (+2 GD)
After an offseason of turmoil that saw the Vancouver Whitecaps search for a new head coach, lose leading scorer Camilo Sanvezzo to a controversial move to Mexico and rebuild the core of their squad, 2014 turned into quite a remarkable season in Carl Robinson's first year in charge.
They said it...
Head coach Carl Robinson:
"It’s a very good start for us. We've created a culture now in getting to the playoffs with a certain points total. A lot of positives from that but we’re disappointed because we feel we could have gotten a little bit further and we know we’re not far away."
Captain Pedro Morales:
"It was a very good experience for me this year in MLS. I feel very good about the team, the coach, the players, my teammates, and next year there's a great opportunity for us to have again a good season. The future is good."
Center back Andy O'Brien on Robinson:
"He's set a standard and an environment that is breeding playoffs, breeding cups and we've got something to build on. The players that he's brought in, his ability to know good players, both technically and ability-wise and attitude-wise can make or break you as a manager and he's certainly proved this season that he knows players."
Those wintertime woes were mostly forgotten as the Whitecaps made the postseason for the second time in three years, collecting a club-record regular-season points total in the process. That total of 50 points was also the most recorded by a Canadian club in MLS.
Although they struggled to score goals at times, the Whitecaps were strong defensively and led the league with 13 shutouts, losing only eight games during the regular season.
Even a disappointing season-ending defeat in the Knockout Round of the MLS Cup Playoffs to FC Dallas could not temper the positive feelings about what lies in store for the Whitecaps. Robinson has set strong foundations for his young team to build upon and has created an excellent locker-room atmosphere, led by a strong Latin American contingent spiced with some Canadian flavor and an academy that is starting to produce real talent.
Best Moment of the Year
The regular season finished on quite a high for Vancouver as they clinched back-to-back Cascadia Cups, a 2015-16 CONCACAF Champions League spot and a place in the MLS Cup Playoffs in consecutive weeks in October. It was the latter that provided the best moment for the Whitecaps, however. Needing a win to make the postseason, Vancouver served up a nerve-wracking final game against Colorado. Kendall Waston's winning goal in the 1-0 home win cemented what had been a great first year with Robinson at the helm and sparked joyous post-game celebrations.
Worst Moment of the Year
Vancouver's worst moment of the year came early, off the pitch and before the 2014 season had even begun. Losing top goalscorer and MLS Golden Boot winner Camilo in January to Mexican side Querétaro, was a massive blow. The Whitecaps searched for a consistent goal scorer all season. Their goals had to come from a wide variety of sources, with 11 players finding the scoresheet. That was good enough to see the 'Caps make the playoffs, but with 14 draws on their record, one had to wonder what the season could have produced with Camilo on board to bury some more of the squandered chances they created.
Best Goal
Sebastian Fernandez hit a couple of impressive long-range golazos this year, but the skill and build-up play of Erik Hurtado's goal at home against Seattle on May 24 takes the honors. Hurtado both started and finished the play, dispossessing Osvaldo Alonso just inside Vancouver's half. Three passes later, Hurtado left two Sounders on the ground in the Seattle box before drilling high into the net from a tight angle to tie things up at 1-1.
Team MVP
David Ousted's league-leading 13 shutouts and Matias Laba's consistently solid defensive midfield contributions are worthy of mention, but without Pedro Morales, the Whitecaps' attack looked stagnant. Morales was outstanding for Vancouver in his first season in MLS, leading the team with 10 goals, 12 assists and a never-ending array of Beckham-esque, field-switching diagonals. No-one else even came close to the offensive impact of the Chilean. But it also meant if Morales wasn't on his game, neither were the 'Caps, and 15 straight months of soccer started to take its toll on him by the end of the season.
Best Move
The signing of Morales needs mention in this category, but the acquisition of Laba from Toronto FC was a key component in Vancouver's strong defensive showing. Laba's skill and composure in the defensive midfield role played a significant role in the Whitecaps' 13 shutouts and fourth-best goals-against total (40 goals) in MLS. Now the trick will be holding onto him for the long term, because he's bound to catch overseas interest at some point.
Quotable
"When I say we have something special in this locker room, I really mean it. Whether we're at training, whether we're off the field, guys get on really well here. Guys believe in each other, and the talent speaks for itself." – Midfielder Russell Teibert on team’s chemistry
Three Offseason Needs
1.
A consistent goalscorer
: Vancouver's goalscoring woes were well documented last season. The Whitecaps waited all season for one of their strikers to catch fire on a consistent basis, but instead players produced in spurts. Robinson has targeted an extra 20-25 goals next year and is looking at bringing in two strikers to help achieve that. Is there another Camilo out there waiting to be discovered?
2. A proper winger: Vancouver's pace is among the best in MLS, but what they seemed to lack last year was a true winger. Young strikers Erik Hurtado, Darren Mattocks and Kekuta Manneh all had turns on the wing to varying degrees of success. Hurtado and Mattocks are clearly more suited to an out-and-out striker role, while Manneh - who turns 20 later this month - is still positionless (if electrifying) at this stage. He could be the answer, but chances are he'll have some new competition for the role.
3. Bolster the center-back options: The signing of Waston bolstered the Whitecaps defense and added a much-needed aerial threat in both boxes. Who will partner the Costa Rican next season is still up for grabs. Andy O'Brien is out of contract, Vancouver declined the option on Johnny Leveron (but are looking to renegotiate) and SuperDraft pick Christian Dean is still young and unproven. The 'Caps may look to bring in an experienced head to add some competition for places.
