Vancouver Whitecaps: Friday Links

--Marc Weber of The Province reports of the Whitecaps front office belief that Omar Salgado a world-class striker in the making

--A different view from the Globe & Mail's Matt Sekeras as the Whitecaps roll dice with 17-year-old striker

--The Vancouver Sun's Bruce Costantineau writes of how the Vancouver Whitecaps stun MLS, take Omar Salgado as top SuperDraft pick

--Local article from El Paso Times tells of El Pasoan Omar Salgado a surprise No. 1 pick in MLS draft

Vancouver Whitecaps SuperDraft Review

One thing was clear from how the Whitecaps went through the selection process at MLS SuperDraft.  They weren't just going to select players just to make the draft experts happy as the management team selected a player who while young, flashes a high upside and spent over a week training with the team last summer.  There were some definite themes in the way the Whitecaps made their draft picks with all four players being able to use the left foot.  Both first rounders are left footed players while the two Notre Dame selections are considered to be two footed players.  Except for Nanchoff, size also seemed to be a factor with the other three players being 6'1" and taller.

At the combine earlier in the week, the Whitecaps stated that they felt they were not looking at any of these players to come in on day one to start for their team.  With the selection of Salgado it gives a definite message that the Whitecaps are going to operate their club on their own terms.


F OMAR SALGADO-1^st overall selection

Vancouver Whitecaps SuperDraft Preview

In a year of firsts, the Whitecaps will select college players in their first MLS Superdraft and in the week leading up the speculation is running wild.  The stories started at the MLS combine that the consensus top prospect, Darlington Nagbe, was not attending the combine as he was told by the Whitecaps  that he was assured the top pick.  By the end of the camp a rumour was spread that Nagbe did not want to play in Vancouver as it would affect his citizenship in the United States.  Vancouver's front office, Sohen and Lenarduzzi especially, have fueled some of this speculation by disclosing to the media that they open to listening to offers and that they had narrowed their choice down to two players.

With the winter transfer window open soon, the Caps will be bringing in a number of veterans to fill in the opening roster against TFC in March.  It makes it difficult to identify what players they may select, however they do have three picks in the top nineteen to help fill out the roster.  After winning the coin flip last summer against expansion cousins, Vancouver have their own selections at 1, 19 and 37.  In addition the Whitecaps traded Nathan Sturgis, an expansion selection, to TFC for their 1st round pick which is 8th overall.