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It’s early in the season, but man oh man, does this Whitecaps squad ever look like they are in trouble. Despite significant changes to their attack, a bolstered backline and youngsters that most managers would kill to have on their roster, the Whitecaps have looked just as flat and dull as they did last year. Spoiler alert: This is not a happy report card.
Brek Shea: F
An easy early pick for most disappointing Whitecap. After his embarrassing flop versus The Tigres, I’m sure many fans were wondering how the 27 year old would top himself this time out. Well, he certainly didn’t disappoint, getting a yellow for a challenge in the second half. Incensed, he directed some, well, we’ll call them unpleasantries, towards the official, which earned him a second yellow, and an ejection from the match.
The only bright side of the idiocy was the banter it inspired on social media.
Brek Shea vs Toronto:
— James Tyler (@JamesTylerESPN) March 19, 2017
- yellow card for foul
- swears at ref
- immediately shown second yellow card, sent off
- had two ponytails pic.twitter.com/1HwMkP37sn
Ever get the feeling Brek Shea is this year's Sébastian Le Toux?
— Non Muse (@NonMuse) March 19, 2017
So it seems Brek Shea harnessed the power of the double man bun to act like a bit of a lobcock.
— Richard Wyatt (@RichardLWyatt) March 18, 2017
I understand we are very early in the 2017 MLS season, but eventually this guy is going to have to show something, right? By the way, memo to Carl Robinson, stop starting him over Kekuta Manneh.
Carl Robinson: F
I’m not really going to add anything to this discussion that hasn’t already been stated in the comments section. The game-plan of, ‘Lets kick the ball really far and hope someone cane run underneath it’, is abysmal, and opposing teams must be laughing when they review the match footage of the Whitecaps every week.
I haven’t gotten my feet fully on the ‘Fire Robbo’ bandwagon; I think it’s too early in the season and he should have some time to work with his new roster. That being said, the attack is looking very similiar to 2016, and that’s simply unacceptable. Robbo needs a new game plan, and that means switching up his formation to something other than a 4-2-3-1. The ‘Caps had one shot on goal on Saturday. Give me a freaking break.
By the way..
#WhitecapsFC with 10 red cards in their last 36 #MLS matches. Seattle and Portland have picked up 6 red cards each since 2015 (71 matches)
— Mike Martignago (@MikeMartignago) March 20, 2017
Robinson really needs to get this undisciplined group into shape.
Tim Parker: B
Parker had a tough assigment in trying to keep TFC striker Jozy Altidore off the score-sheet. Parker put forth a great effort, although Altidore was able to score the 2-0 goal in the 80th minute, when the ‘Caps were down to 10 men. The 24 year old is entering his third season in MLS, but is already looking like a polished MLS veteran. With Kendall Waston looking like his old self, the Whitecaps look to be set at the Center Back position.
Any grades you want to give out? Submit them in the comments section.