Whitecaps have the look of true MLS Cup contenders
The Vancouver Whitecaps don't have any big stars and, in terms of buzz, they are often dwarfed by the Seattle Sounders and Portland Timbers in the Cascadia rivalries. But just because they are often left out of the hype machine doesn't mean they aren't building a very strong club. The Whitecaps finished second in the Western Conference a year ago and only got stronger in the summer. The Sounders may have the name recognition, and the Timbers may be defending champions, but you would be hard-pressed to argue that the Whitecaps don't have the Pacific Northwest's best squad going into 2016. What will be worth watching as Vancouver goes in search of Canada's first MLS Cup?
The Whitecaps were a good team last season, but they struggled to score goals at times. It wasn't a matter of creating chances, those were plenty, but their finishing left a lot to be desired. That's why they brought in Blas Perez and Masato Kudo to complement Octavio Rivero. With that trio, finishing should no longer be a problem. Toss in the additions of Christian Bolanos and Vancouver won't be short on midfield creativity either. The Whitecaps went into the offseason knowing they had to bolster attack and, at least on paper, it looks like they did just that.
Robinson won't have an easy time picking his starting XI each week. The Whitecaps have so much depth that he will have tough choices time and time again. The good news is he's picking between quality players, so whatever he picks will put them in position to win. Perez, Kudo and Bolanos don't even figure to start from the beginning, while the Whitecaps' academy keeps churning out more players that Robinson can turn to. All that depth will be crucial late in the season when the CONCACAF Champions League starts, but it should be an advantage all season long.
Most everyone has already penciled the Whitecaps into the playoffs. Barring serious injuries or a level of ridiculousness that only MLS can provide, they're too good not to make the postseason. The question is whether they can go from another good team to serious contenders and compete for MLS Cup. They were rendered impotent in the playoffs last season and while they did win the Canadian Championship, that's hardly a top notch competition. It's time for them to make the leap from good team to true contenders.
Costa Rica midfielder Christian Bolanos controls the ball during the second half of their 1-0 win over Italy in a 2014 World Cup game
Vancouver Whitecaps head coach Carl Robinson
