As people state "well we are an expansion team" I thought on this cloudy afternoon it might be interesting to see how the Whitecaps compare to previous MLS expansion teams. I divided it into teams that effectively started from scratch as new organizations (These teams had to deal with ramping up a new soccer operation as well as a team - a tough situation at best) and teams that had an established organization which effectively "jumped" to the MLS (these teams had a fairly mature organization and could focus more on the team). I did not look at goal differential just wins and points.

1) Teams that started from scratch (e.g. Did not have an established organization prior to the start)

a) Philadelphia (2010) : 8 wins, 15 losses, 7 ties – 31 pts. (30 games we have 34 games now).
b) Toronto (2007): 6 wins, 17 losses, 7 ties – 25 pts. (30 games)
c) San Jose (2007): 8 wins, 13 losses, 9 ties – 33 pts. (30 games)
d) Real Salt Lake (2005): 5 wins, 22 losses, 5 ties – 20 pts. (32 games)
e) Chivas USA (2005): 4 wins, 22 losses, 6 ties – 18 pts. (32 games)
f) Chicago Fire (1998) : 20 w, 12 L – 56 pts (32 games,no ties, won the cup their first year!)
g) Miami Fusion (1998): 15 w, 17 L – 35 pts (again 32 games no ties)

2) Teams that started with an established organization

a) Seattle (2009): 12 wins, 7 losses, 11 ties – 47 pts (30 games, and they made the playoffs)
b) Portland (2011): 6 wins, 9 losses, 3 ties – 21 pts. This is after 18 games thus far
c) Vancouver (2011): 2 wins, 10 losses, 8 ties – 14 pts. This is after 20 games thus far.

Suffice it to say that with our well established organization prior to this season we should have a record closer to Seattle (and Portland) however as a minimum we need 5 wins and 20 pts have a better record than Chivas (adjusted for 34 games) and avoid being the worst MLS expansion franchise of all time.

We need 7 wins and 28 pts to be able to say we are better than TFC was in their first year (adjusted for 34 games).

I hope we can win at least 3 more games and avoid the tag as the worst MLS expansion franchise ever. Personally if we do not better TFC in their first year then this season has been a failure

RHM