One the one hand the Vancouver Whitecaps were missing a whole slew of players due to international call ups and injury but, on the other hand, the 3-0 loss in Kansas was symptomatic of the lack of consistency that prevents them from ever really breaching the top four of the standings.
And there remains a lingering concern that every top notch performance convinces the coach and the players that they have solved football once and for all and don’t need to bring the same levels of focus and effort to the game that follows.
But, whatever the reason, everybody on the Whitecaps teams looked lethargic (both physically and mentally) and nobody really seemed to know where they were supposed to be on the pitch or where their teammates were supposed to be either.
Raposo was once again targeted as a defensive weak link, Schopf remains bafflingly invisible in the midfield and even Cubas seemed reluctant to chase the ball down.
And Simon Becher should never be asked to lead the line from the start of the game again. He doesn’t have the physical presence to do so.
I suppose that Cordova continues to improve slightly? Although his casualness in getting back from an offside position probably foreshadows frustration to come.
But, once again, the Whitecaps have forced themselves into a situation where they can’t afford to slip up in the three upcoming home games.
That is starting to feel like tempting fate a little too much, but let’s hope that this debacle in Kansas can be cast aside as just one of those things in a season that has been mostly positive.
Oh, and Laborda’s moustache isn’t helping anybody to enoy these games.
Time for the Soccer Shorts player ratings!
Takoaka-2, Raposo-1, Martins-2.5*, Veselinovic-2, Laborda-1.5, Cubas-2, Schopf-1, Vite-1.5, Gauld-2.5, Becher-1.5, Cordvoa-2.5 (Berhalter-2)
Soccer Shorts (The Director's Cut) 