Whitecaps Local Broadcast Options Plus Other News

With TSN gaining MLS national rights in Canada to broadcast 13 Whitecaps matches on TSN/TSN2, there are 21 games available to be aired locally.  The Whitecaps have stated they will try to broadcast every match this season and as tweeted by Matt Kieltyka of Metro News the Caps hope to get it finalized in the next few days.  In addition to the games the Caps would most likely require their new partner to put together a weekly recap show with features on players.

If the Caps are looking to reach the widest audience then Rogers Sportsnet or CBC would be the obvious options.  Both networks have the announcers in place as well as the large potential audience and Sportsnet has multiple channels in their hand.  Since Sportsnet is owned by Rogers there may be some conflict with Bell being major sponsors of the Whitecaps.  Will CBC feel it's worth the cost to produce games for just a western Canadian audience instead of the national audience it normally did in the past.

Gage Completes Move From Whitecaps to Reading

A week after the local media discovered that Ethan Gage would not be training with the Caps and was on trial with Reading FC in England, it is official and the reigning U20 player of the year has transferred overseas.  When he did arrive a couple days after news broke Gage told reporters that he felt the trial went well and he were waiting to hear from his agent if a contract would be offered.  The signing of Gage is another example of how successful the Whitecaps residency program has become in developing young football players.  Gage will be the fourth player in four years to move to Europe on transfer or loan with Straith (2008), Latendresse-Levesque (2009), Haber (2010) being the other previous higher profile prospects to make the move overseas.

New Quota Is Not A Problem For Whitecaps

After much negotiation with the CSA, the MLS announced that there would be a Canadian player quota for the Whitecaps and TFC in 2011.  Overall it was reduced from eight players that TFC required last year to each team needing to have three Canadians under contract.  Both teams already have the quota filled on their roster as the Whitecaps have three signed for 2011 and Toronto have five on their roster.  There may be even more Canadians signed by each team as they a number of players on trial during the preseason.

Ethan Gage Trials With Reading FC

On the first day of training it was revealed by Whitecaps management, through Marc Weber's tweet, that U20 Canadian Men's Player of the Year Ethan Gage is on trial with Reading FC of The Champions League in England.  There has been no word prior to today on the trial but the Whitecaps have said Gage will be welcomed back to camp anytime.  If one is to believe management, there wasn't a player on contract for the 2011 season and so we are left wondering whether the Caps will get anything or this falls under as a free transfer.  If the trial is not successful for the young Canadian it will be good experience and it will give him a benchmark as he learns what he needs to work on.  This won't be the first time that Gage is trialing with Reading as prior to signing to the Residency program in 2007 he had training sessions with academies in England with Reading, Middlesbrough, Newcastle, and Charlton.  He also spent time in Germany with Hamburger SV and in Scotland with St. Johnstone.

Post Draft Whitecaps Roster Analysis: Part II

While they have only signed only five midfielders to a MLS contract, the Whitecaps have many more in camp that have the potential to see significant playing time next year.  Versatility is the word for their center midfielders as the ones in camp have shown the ability to play as an attacker while being responsible defensively.  While the following players can definitely score goals, they are more in the playmaker mold and will create opportunity for the attacking players we will look at in Part III.