Never accuse Sporting Kansas City coach Peter Vermes of taking the Vancouver Whitecaps lightly.
While some have wondered if Carl Robinson’s ‘Caps are getting the respect they deserve from the rest of the league, they certainly have Vermes’ attention as he prepares to welcome them to Children’s Mercy Park on Saturday night (9 pm ET | TSN, MLS LIVE in the US).
“I think they’re probably the hottest team in MLS,” Vermes said, ‘In the run that they’ve been having and the way they’ve been climbing the ladder.”
The Whitecaps enter Wednesday’s Cascadia Cup match at the Seattle Sounders (10:30 pm ET | TSN, MLS LIVE in the US) on a seven-game unbeaten run that has taken them to the top rung of the crowded Western Conference standings.
That's tied with Columbus for the longest unbeaten run in the league, though Vancouver's 5-0-2 mark is one better than Crew SC's 4-0-3. Atlanta are unbeaten their last six (4-0-2) while outscoring opponents 25-5, but the last five of those matches have come at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, their new home.
With Seattle and Kansas City close behind, Vancouver's perch atop the West could be gone by the end of Week 30. But it won't be easy for anyone against Yordy Reyna, Fredy Montero and the rest of Robinson's group, Vermes said.
"I really think that their team has come together in regards to some of the new acquisitions that they made this year, whether it be it be at the beginning of the season or at the summer break," he said. "They’re all starting to converge together right now. It's the time you want to start to peak. So they’re on it, and they keep getting results, whether it be home or away."
What do you think? Is Vermes right? Are the 'Caps in the best form right now in MLS? Or does it belong to one of the East's upstarts? Let us know in the comments.
