Moving On

I started this blog to cover the Vancouver Whitecaps.  It was fun first season despite the losing and turmoil.  I have been asked to write for some bigger publications.  You can find my work AFTN and Prost Amerika.  Thanks for the support.


Steve

FINAL PIECE TO CAPS PUZZLE?

It was a position that was a need for the Whitecaps since the retirement of Martin Nash and it seems that the Whitecaps have finally filled it with the addition of Barry Robson.  The Scottish midfielder, who will count as a designated player, will join the club once his current season is over with Middlesbrough. However he will not be eligible to play for the Caps until the MLS summer transfer window opens in late June.

After starting his pro career with Rangers of the SPL, where he was unable to crack the lineup, Robson moved on to Inverness CT.  After six years with Inverness, where he helped the club earn promotion to the premier division, Robson moved on to Dundee United in the summer of 2003.  It was at Dundee United where Robson played with current Whitecap assistant coach Paul Ritchie for two seasons.  His final season and a half at United saw Robson score 24 goals which earned him a contract with SPL giants Celtic.

CAMILO SIGNS NEW CONTRACT WITH CAPS

The Whitecaps alleviated the fears that most supporters suffered through the offseason when they announced that they had come to a contract agreement with the 2011 leading goal scorer and player of the year Camilo.  It was uncertain early in the offseason that Camilo would return to the Caps mostly due to the Brazilian’s comments through his twitter account and the rumours that there offers from clubs around the world.  The chances of his return seemed to diminish even more as Rennie continued to acquire forwards, from re-signing Harris, drafting Mattocks, and bringing in former RailHawk Barbara in for a trial.

The first signs that Camilo situation would be resolved was last Thursday when the striker arrived in Vancouver, after an excused absence, and it was revealed that there were ongoing negotiations between the club and the Brazilian’s agent.  When Sebastien Le Toux was acquired from the Union, once again Camilo was mentioned as a possibility of leaving through trade or transfer.  But the early morning announcement cleared up any concern as it was clear that the Caps were excited to be the only MLS club to have three players that scored in double digits last year.

WHITECAPS BRING IN 3 TRIALISTS

The Whitecaps confirmed that there will be three new trialists who will join the club in their training sessions in Casa Grande, Arizona.  All three players are listed as being able to play the midfield, a position still considered a need by most MLS and Whitecap pundits. 

It was revealed a few days ago that Victor Turcios, 23, would be joining the Whitecaps in Arizona by newspapers in El Salvador.  Earlier in the year the midfielder/defender attempted to secure a contract in with several Eastern European clubs when it was revealed that there was interest from a Canadian MLS club.  The Salvadorian international has 25 caps for his country scoring once and was a standout in the 2011 Gold Cup for the surprising El Salvador who made the quarterfinals.  Turcios, while listed as a defender, has the pace and vision to play in the midfield as a holding midfielder for the Whitecaps.  While on his tour of Europe, Turcios suffered an ankle injury which will hold him out of training for the first few days.