Eighty Six Forever: FanShots

Rochat reveals he had no interest in leaving

2013-06-11T15:36:15Z

Rochat reveals he had no interest in leaving

Interesting comment about being "treated like a human" in the trade process

Richard Grootscholten Interviewing for Youth Coaching Job at PSV Eindhoven

2012-09-13T23:32:03Z

Richard Grootscholten Interviewing for Youth Coaching Job at PSV Eindhoven

Best of luck to former Vancouver Whitecaps Residency technical director and U-18 head coach Richard Grootscholten, who is interviewing for the PSV Eindhoven youth coach job.

Grootscholten was technical director of the Residency program from October 2010 until April 2012, when he resigned to return to Europe while staying on as a consultant into the summer. He had an excellent reputation with neither player nor coach saying a bad word about him to my ear, and I for one wish him the best of luck.

Two Whitecaps and One Eddie Called Up to Canadian U-20 Camp

2012-09-05T18:07:39Z

Two Whitecaps and One Eddie Called Up to Canadian U-20 Camp

Vancouver Whitecaps midfielder Bryce Alderson and forward Caleb Clarke, as well as FC Edmonton Reserves defender Allan Zebie, have been called by Nick Dasovic to Canada's U-20 training camp in Florida for two friendlies against the United States.

Alderson is a regular U-20 international. Clarke missed the last camp as he was training in Germany but is also a regular. This is Zebie's first call-up.

Edinburgh Evening News Ignores Whitecaps Fans, Supports Miller and Robson

2012-09-05T16:34:44Z

Edinburgh Evening News Ignores Whitecaps Fans, Supports Miller and Robson

Even on home soil, Kenny Miller still has plenty of detractors. It would appear the Edinburgh Evening News' Anthony Brown isn't one of them, saying in his column "MLS Switch Shouldn't Count Against Miller":

"...when it comes to the likes of Miller and Barry Robson – two players who have spent the bulk of their careers in the SPL and English Championship – the notion that they have somehow taken a step down in moving across the Atlantic is utterly ridiculous. If anything, they have bettered themselves. This league [MLS] has levels of cash, support and quality which the impoverished SPL can only dream of."

As for Miller's scoring slump, Brown continues the defense:

"Only two seasons ago, Miller was arguably the hottest striker in the SPL as he banged in goals on a weekly basis. However, the fact the nets haven’t bulged quite so regularly in his early days with Vancouver suggests he is now operating in a vastly superior division, despite claims to the contrary from those still living in the 1990s. The reduction in goals certainly can’t be put down to any notable deterioration from Miller. If anything, he’s at his peak, with his last four outings for the national team having seen him score twice – including the wonder strike against  Cyprus – and set up three more."

To be fair, I would rank a "wonder strike" against Cyprus as about as difficult a feat as a nutmeg against nine-tenths of the Chivas USA outfield, but there you have it. Not a bad motivational read, though my nagging internal cynic wonders how many 'Caps matches Brown actually sat through prior to posting the column.

Four Whitecaps Called Up for World Cup Qualifying

2012-08-30T17:58:02Z

Four Whitecaps Called Up for World Cup Qualifying

Congratulations to forward Darren Mattocks, midfielder Dane Richards (Jamaica), forward Kenny Miller (Scotland), and forward Etienne Barbara (Malta) on being called to their respective national teams for World Cup qualifying.

This is one of many calls for Richards, Miller, and Barbara, but it could see Mattocks's competitive debut for his country. He appeared in Jamaica's friendly earlier this month against El Salvador.

Random trivia: I believe Kenny Miller is the first player to be called up to one of the Home Nations while a member of the Vancouver Whitecaps. I'm trying to look this up; Peter Beardsley played for England after joining Vancouver, and Willie Johnston played for Scotland before... is Miller the first "during"?

EDIT: he ain't! Thanks to Russell Berrisford via Twitter for digging up that midfielder Terry Yorath made the last three caps of his international career with Wales in 1981 while a member of the Whitecaps.

If you missed the Vancouver Southsiders' tifo in tribute to the Canadian women's national team,...

2012-08-12T04:34:51Z

If you missed the Vancouver Southsiders' tifo in tribute to the Canadian women's national team, here's a picture from my cell phone. Christopher Vose of Away from the Numbers took a proper picture here.

The banners read:

"BRONZE IN LONDON
GOLD IN OUR HEARTS"

with a list of the medal-winning players, plus head coach John Herdman. It was completed in less than twenty-four hours by dedicated Southsider volunteers and raised in the twelfth minute in honour of Burnaby native Christine Sinclair.

Russell Teibert receives first call-up to Canada

2012-08-10T17:49:16Z

Russell Teibert receives first call-up to Canada

Congratulations to Russell Teibert, who at 19 years of age has earned his first call up to Stephen Hart's senior Canadian national team for a friendly next week against Trinidad and Tobago.

Teibert joins a team that is deep at left back with Chivas USA's Ante Jazic and the return of Marcel de Jong, so please let this mean he will be in midfield. However, the press release has him wearing the #3 shirt (de Jong's old number).

Quibbling about position is beside the point, however. Congratulations all round, and to Carlyle Mitchell, Dane Richards, Etienne Barbara, and Darren Mattocks who have also been called up this friendly window.

Three Vancouver Whitecaps Make Canada's Women's U-20 World Cup Roster

2012-08-08T03:41:08Z

Three Vancouver Whitecaps Make Canada's Women's U-20 World Cup Roster

Congratulations to lady Whitecaps forward Jenna Richardson, midfielder Nicole Setterlund, and midfielder Jaclyn Sawicki on making Andrew Olivieri's 21-woman roster for the forthcoming Women's U-20 World Cup in Japan.

None of the three are surprises, as all are youth international regulars and played important roles for the Whitecaps W-League team this past season. With three players on the roster the Whitecaps are contributing the third-most content, behind the Toronto Lynx and Olivieri's hometown club Comètes de Laval.

Canada's World Cup kicks off August 20 against Argentina.