Fern Mc Costigan

Monday, February 22, 2016

Vancouver Seeking its Chance to Write History as a First Canadian Squad

To win it all and write history as a first Canadian squad to win the MLS Cup and the bragging rights from the Boys up north.

These awesome Caps can write their own history; after all last campaign saw a squad that almost won it all and dominated the league. With its indisputable game and elegant style, one thing this initial eleven always displays in the field.

After a terrific run for the Supporters Shield and being in the Western Conference top for some time, the Caps were victim of those infamous injures that some of its key players had and hence the results.

Still a squad accustomed to net a shield or two in every campaign- especially considered as a dominant entity in its internal competition over its Cascadia foes and so far, the Canadian Boys dominate it with an all-around authority.

Very well, the optimism shown by its man at the helm in Manager Carl Robinson, who is very excited for his new talents identifying with its veterans and their game, is somehow looking very positive on the eve of another campaign.

In the eyes of the Welsh Boss, much work is seen ahead for his initial eleven looking very impressive and with some absences, the moment this squad is all complete, they may have another brilliant and successful campaign ahead.

Something that the Whitecaps top man known for his creativity in each one of his lineups- filled with lots of thrills and electrifying plays along a reputation of not going down that easily.

As mentioned one thing the Caps Boss is betting on his youth and with three new players, being two of them a couple of two promising strikers in Christopher Hellmann and Thomas Sanner along of Centre back Cole Sieler.

No, wonder the joy for his squad bright future ahead, that the Welsh Boss cannot hide after seeing some positives in his squad preseason and his new Boys delivering and adapting so far to his scheme.

The arrival of consummated veterans in Costa Rican Christian Bolaños, Japanese Masato Kudo, Canadian Fraser Aird and Blas Perez to add to its armada.

By far this squad may look complete, but in the eyes of its Manager details are needed and those corrected, after that, look out league as the new Vancouver Whitecaps are one solid squad and ready to cause havoc in all of MLS.

With a game hard, to predict and decipher by the opposing defenses as well tough for the strikers to penetrate a not so easy defensive backfield as well a top of the line keeper in David Ousted, delivering when most needed.

At the end the Vancouver Whitecaps not only will aim for the league title but for all of the league trophies and maybe more as this squad can do it and with style and a good fighting stance from its top of the line roster.

Indeed, this will be the year of the Vancouver Whitecaps, as many situate this squad on the top, with no doubt about it and lots of confidence!

Crest Credit and Property of Vancouver Whitecaps 2016

Sunday, February 21, 2016

After a Modest Campaign Left Behind, will RSL Rally

That is the idea for second year Manager Jeff Cassar, who after his promotion at the helm of the Royal Army, last campaign debut was not a very memorable for him and the fans of the RSL.

With a record of 11 wins, 15 losses and 8 draws, the Claret &Cobalt saw a modest campaign and finishing a rare ninth place in the Western Division.

Leaving them out of their division playoff spot and for many in MLS circles was seen as a rarity from a squad known for its hardened stance and always participating in the grand fete of the postseason.

That was then and now is time to focus on a new campaign and make this entity one competitive group of individuals as well display in every match that touch of class and all around spectacle, that the RSL known for.

For the RSL Boss his stance and direct goals are to make this squad a force not to be mess with, playing as a home team , very well making such important improvements in their away record, if they want to become a contender.

It is where the think tanks at the Royals front office really went in the task of netting important players to make a stand to what many are seeing ahead a much-competed Major League Soccer.

Here come the new faces recently acquired in the league draft, very well a new attacker in Yuve Movsisyan from Spartak Moscow, who will add a new depth to the new offensive attack of Manager Cassar.

That for sure will adapt quickly to the talents of Plata, Morales and Martinez in what many foresee a 4-3-3 formation it used by the newcomer in his Old Russian squad and for sure will deliver lots of fear to its opponents.

Alongside many of the followers of the Salt Lake squad who are seeing a positive outcome of this squad recent draft and deposited their trust in these new prospects to shine in an immediate future for the Royals.

Another bright and hopeful outlook seen in their preseason, it is the ability to show off many good results and some not so great, still the imminent success seen in this group is one bright one at the end.

Nobody told Manager Cassar that this was going to be a walk in the park or the level of easiness was going to there, not at all, because the challenges for this RSL squad will be all campaign long and to deliver to that loyal fans base.

That last campaign saw its disappointment in its Claret & Cobalt, who played above mediocrity and many of what many saw a lot of indifference from its initial eleven, in what many expect a better performance and much greater game.

At the end, this Real Salt Lake squad is poised to make a good stand, compete for position, and return its almighty reputation and position as all around contender lost in last campaign fiasco, will this squad return.

There will be one way to find out, for now the RSL is up and ready for a much-disputed 2016!

Crest Credit and Property of Real Salt Lake 2016

Thursday, February 18, 2016

The Union Seeking a Winning Campaign

Will this be the year of the Union Boys, after all this club front office has been busy making all sorts of deals and getting the right players and by filling its weak spots, seen as a plus for this club to become a top notch contender.

With plenty of work and putting more hunger in every match, so far in training camp Manager Jim Curtin has put all of his efforts in getting this club to move forward.

Still despite of not making the postseason, the Union was a finalist in the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup, where the Philly Boys lost a heartbreaker to SKC.

That was then and now the hopes and stakes are high, that many are belief of wonderful things can happen at Talen Energy Stadium.

The arrival of Manager Jim Curtin as the third of this club after its inception in 2010 in MLS, his hopes are high and with new faces and the current roster returning, maybe the Union Boys can make a run to the league postseason.

Something that this club only experienced this event in 2012 were they went all the way to Semifinals in the Eastern Conference, their unfortunate side was their elimination by the Houston Dynamo.

Its why this club front office men and gurus went on the task of netting important names into this club roster to incorporating them with the current state of players in need of new blood and ambitions.

The arrival of Chris Pontious after a stellar career with DC United and now a Union man, will indeed give a new dimension alongside Keeper Matt Jones, Roland Alber and Tranquilo Barnetta these last two with European experience.

In addition, the arrival of SKC CJ Sapong, Anderson Conceicao, Walter Restrepo, and Georgetown draftees considered utmost prospects in Joshua Yaro and Keegan Rosenberry.

Giving this club the needed boost of creativity and attacking last campaign lacked and with these new players’- the hopes of a renewed squad and new surge seen as one positive one to be witness in this upcoming campaign.

Depositing their hopes in Manager Jim Curtin to get this club mettle back and its competitiveness in what seems a much disputed campaign as the ones were lately accustomed in Major League Soccer.

After all, like this club and others in league play, witnessing the history making by the mighty Portland Timbers unity and brethren showed in the field, many squads like the Union would try to use this club as a model for their championship aspirations.

At the end, the Philadelphia Union will be one serious contender and candidate to net a spot in the Eastern Conference postseason as well other shields in play, with this new squad and the return of this majority of top players.

The Boys from the City of Brotherly Love will indeed be one headliner of a squad in this upcoming 2016 and will present a very spectacular and serious game to watch very closely and for its foes to adopt a very conservative and respectful approach.

The Philadelphia Union is back and with an all-around hunger!

Crest Credit and Property of Philadelphia Union 2016

No Revenge or Pay Backs, still this SKC Squad has Drive

A squad known to be among the top in Major League Soccer as well considered to be among the elite ones, what can you ask from a squad that has written many memorable pages in its history since its inception.

As the lads of Sporting Kansas City, this upcoming campaign once again they are back in business with plenty of drive and a winning hunger.

For the defending past edition of the US Open Cup champions, these SKC Boys will be another campaign and overcome a record of 14 wins, 11 losses and 9 draws.

The SKC has buried its past and going forward as last campaign upsetting loss and elimination by those belligerent Portland Timbers in extra time on a match decided by those always-infamous PKs.

That was then and now is one campaign top look forward to escalate new heights and reach new goals, as many experts once again have labeled this squad as one heavy favorite.

This squad is up and ready to exceed last campaign performances and very well mount an all-around attack to reach the always-coveted MLS Cup finals.

This year Manager Peter Vermes is ready to make a strong stand and show with its squad a drive to perfection as well overwhelmed the competition single handedly, something not impossible for this squad known for its competitiveness.

Known as an utmost fighter in the field and with its initial eleven always are displaying a finesse and great technique that so far has earned them a top class reputation as a squad.

With new faces despite some important players, leaving new faces- being the ideal ones to substitute the absent ones, and to adapt to SKC Boss new strategies, and mount an all-around league attack.

As many know that, this squad is one serious competitor and with its new players in Kenyan Lawrence Olum, Portuguese Nuno Andre Coelho and free agent Justin Mapp, the Kansas Boys are up in ready to cause havoc in all of MLS.

At the end, this squad has plenty of potential and much more to see this squad with a drive to perfection and much more to offer in this upcoming 2016.

One tough customer is what the SKC be for many clubs that will face them very well make its way up the league top in the Western Division and fighting for its rightful place in the league playoffs and maybe delivering a shield or two.

As Children’s Mercy Park is up and ready for its Boys to make another great stand in this campaign and net some of important achievements in what many see it as a much-participated run for the league top.

This squad is poised for the league utmost of glories and maybe more.

Crest Credit and Property of Sporting Kansas City 2016