The Vancouver Whitecaps are in the MLS basement, again. Their game against Austin was supposed to be a good starting point to get them ready and excited. Unfortunately, they lost that excitement now that they are (1-6-1) and eight points behind Real Salt Lake (4-2-2).
The Whitecaps are wanting to take advantage of their home games, but they are really hearing the silence as fans have become apathetic towards the team. The Whitecaps ticket base which was in the top five in 2016, has now dropped down to 16th in the MLS this year. 2000 fewer than the last pre-COVID-19 season.
Head coach, Vanni Sartini has been shaking things up in training and has put everything on the table. Sartini said it would be “insanity” to do the same things and expect different outcomes. He and the players are hoping to see a change and see some wins.
"Stay with us. We're going to start getting some wins. The group is hungry. We got good guys from top to bottom. From Vanni, to the players. They're all hungry to win." – @aliahmed51_ on his message to the fans for this season
🎤 @saritareports#VWFC | @GE_Appliances pic.twitter.com/U1kl76nFus
— Vancouver Whitecaps FC (@WhitecapsFC) May 2, 2022
President and CEO Alex Schuster says “I would say within this and the next two seasons, we would like to have silverware in our hands.” It’s possible but it’s not likely. Granted, the Whitecaps haven’t had the best luck due to injuries to key players, red cards, and an unfavourable schedule against some of the leagues best teams. However, the offensive output, bad defence and the tedious possession doesn’t help.
Sartini has decided that the Whitecaps need to re-evaluate everything and get out of their comfort zone. He wants to change everything in the sense of strategies and quality. He said, “We’re not to make a revolution, because we don’t have time for a revolution. But to make some adjustments that make us always feel secure, and maybe again in the future to become again the relentless, aggressive team that we were before.”
The next four games for the Vancouver Whitecaps will be at B.C. Place. They hope to bounce back. Sartini’s message to the fans, “Last year we bounced back also because of the help of the fans and we’ll need the help of the fans this year.”
Wow. All of #VWFC players singing Stand By Me with BC Place in full voice to celebrate their victory. Goosebumps inducing moment
Safe to say momentum is surrounding this Whitecaps team right now. Love to see it pic.twitter.com/hi7aQf5JTw
— Alexandre Gangué-Ruzic (@AlexGangueRuzic) August 22, 2021