SoccerWhitecaps take shape while TFC ship out

Beginning of Story Content

The Whitecaps picked up veteran goalkeeper Joe Cannon in the MLS expansion draft. (Getty Images)

The Vancouver Whitecaps dipped their toes into the waters of Major League Soccer on Wednesday when they took part in the 2010 MLS Expansion Draft. 

The Whitecaps selected Sanna Nyassi with the second pick of the draft, after the Portland Timbers, MLS' other 2011 expansion franchise, selected Dax McCarty with the first overall selection. Neither player lasted more than a few hours with their new team, as both were promptly traded to other MLS clubs - a trend that would continue.

By the end of the Thursday, the Whitecaps had traded five of their ten picks - Nyassi, Alan Gordon, Alejandro Moreno, Nathan Sturgis and O'Brian White - for combinations of allocation money and international player slots.

One thing that is very evident is the emphasis the Whitecaps are placing on character. 

While some of the expansion draft picks might not end up making the Whitecaps' final roster, there are one or two names that certainly appear to be in the club's long-term plans.

Goalkeeper Joe Cannon, selected from the San Jose Earthquakes, is exactly the sort of character that every successful team needs. An experienced voice at the back will help the team establish a foothold in the league, and the leadership that will be provided by Cannon and Jay DeMerit, the Whitecaps' first signing, will be crucial to the success of the team in its first MLS season.

The spine of the team is generally regarded as an indicator of future success. If a team can have four strong players through the middle - goalkeeper, central defender, central midfielder and striker - it has the ingredients for a winning formula.

There are plenty of other factors that come into play, like coaching, tactics, team chemistry and a slice of good fortune, but every successful team has a strong spine to build on through the middle of the pitch.

The other players the Whitecaps drafted and held onto - defender Jonathan Leathers, midfielders Shea Salinas and John Thorrington and striker Atiba Harris - might not necessarily make fans rub their hands in anticipation, but all will have an opportunity to impress head coach Teitur Thordarson. 

The will all know that aside from having talent, they will have to demonstrate hard work and a team-first mentality if they are to win a spot on the Whitecaps' 2011 MLS roster.

TFC reshuffle underway

Canada's first MLS franchise, Toronto FC, has begun its transformation into what many hope will be a winning organization. 

Along with losing O'Brian White to the Whitecaps in the expansion draft, the club also waived Maxim Usanov, Martin Saric, Gabe Gala, Raivis Hscanovics and designated-player Mista.

None of the moves were a surprise, and quite frankly, should have been done a long time ago. 

Now the club has an opportunity to move itself in the right direction, after four years of stumbling around in the dark. Fans might be worried about the direction the club is going to take, considering that you can place the word 'interim' at the front of both the head coach and general manager positions.

I wouldn't lose too much sleep over that.

Both Nick Dasovic and Earl Cochrane, the men currently holding the positions of head coach and general manager, know that TFC needs to be rebuilt. Both men understand that they need to scour the country - and beyond - for talented players. 

Both men also know that talented players must also have the right character in order to be a part of a successful organization, and both will do their homework when it comes to bringing players to the club.

Supporters get stars in their eyes when big names are associated with their club. That is not something that is unique to Toronto - it happens in all sports, all over the world. 

The reaction of the supporters to a big name is one of the reasons why Jurgen Klinsmann was brought in as a consultant. It wasn't the only reason, as he does bring the club real credibility in the football community. But it also calms the waters and lets fans know that the club is serious about building a winning team. 

But I guarantee you that Klinsmann isn't going to tell Dasovic or Cochrane something that they don't already know. They need to ship out a lot of players and bring in some talented ones who also happen to have strong characters. That is something that both men have known for a long time.

The moves they made this week were the first steps in turning TFC into a contender, and I'm sure that there will be plenty more moves in the weeks and months ahead.

End of Story Content