Coffee with the Caps Monday, May 13

Good Monday morning Caps fans, a day made even better given the team’s 1-0 victory over Portland on Friday. The victory sent them to the top of the Cascadia Cup standings and creates a little momentum for the team ahead of a week with two matches.

Given the attendance at the match, I’m guessing a lot of you watched at home and if you happened to check Twitter while doing so, you may have noticed this fun little gem from JJ Adams:

Did you see it? No? Look again, more closely this time.

Yes, that is T-Swizzle making an appearance. You see, much like JJ, Coffee with the Caps has been known to listen to Tay-Tay from time to time and this tweet got us thinking: If each member of the Vancouver Whitecaps’ starting XI were a Taylor Swift song, which song would they be?

Because its a slow news day at work, here is my best guess. If you have a better idea, though, I’d love to hear it—hit us in the comments with your #takes. Without further ado...

Maxime Crepeau: End Game

During preseason, Crepeau was probably singing “I wanna be your first string, I wanna be your A-Team” to MDS between training sessions. Well, it paid off and now he’s got a big reputation as the starting keeper.

Jake Nerwinski: White Horse

I’m not quite sure why but I feel like these lyrics just suit Jake well.

Donneil Henry: Don’t Blame Me

Probably the Caps’ player of the season thus far (and one of their top goal scorers!), Henry was once poison ivy but now he’s the baby of the defense. For sure don’t blame him for the way the season’s gone thus far.

Erik Godoy: Safe and Sound

Because whenever he makes a last ditch tackle I feel all safe and sound, as if no attacker ca hurt me now.

Ali Adnan: You Belong With Me

Given that Adnan’s loan deal runs out in a little over a month, the Caps are probably feeling that they’re the “girl on the bleachers” versus the La Liga or Seria A clubs who are the “cheer captain” of the global soccer community. Don’t go Ali, what you’ve been looking for has been here in Vancouver the whole time!

Felipe: I Knew You Were Trouble

This one speaks for itself.

Russell Teibert: Ours

Seems like there’s always someone who disapproves of Teibert. But don’t you worry your pretty little mind, Rusty, people throw rocks at things that shine. And this love between a thoroughly mediocre yet endearing midfielder and the Caps’ fanbase? That love is ours.

Hwang In-Beom: Wildest Dreams

I have to say, when the Hwang rumors first started, I didn’t think they would happen, even in my wildest dreams. But now? When he’s in the Bundesliga in a few years, we can see him in hindsight, tangled up with us all night.

Yordy Reyna: Style

Does Yordy have that James Dean daydream look in his eye? Probably not, though tbh I’ve never looked that closely. But when he goes crashing down on the pitch, he comes back every time and his tricks and flicks and pace never, ever go out of style.

Fredy Montero: Blank Space

When Vancouver first signed Fredy, it could’ve been forever or it could’ve gone down in flames. With him back, I guess we’ll have to see if it all was worth the pain. But don’t worry Fredy, I’ve got a blank space and I’ll write your name.

Lass Bangoura/Lucas Venuto: We Are Never, Ever Getting Back Together

This is the song I want to play after these guys sky a wide open chance from eight yards out. Then I fall for them again after they slalom through five defenders and the cycle starts all over again.

I’ll be waiting for the Pulitzer Committee to give us an award for that content. In the meantime, here are the links:

Shameless Self Promotion

We have all the reaction to Friday night’s win, starting with Sam Rowan’s post match recap from BC Place. Jitsuo caught up with MDS and two of the key cogs behind the win, Fredy Montero and Max Crepeau, in the locker room. And AtlantisB gives out his grades in this week’s Report Card.

Best of the Rest

Just ahead of Vancouver’s midweek match with Atlanta on Wednesday, Five Stripes superstar Pity Martinez finally found the net in a 1-0 win over Orlando City

Both the US and Canadian youth teams will be headed to Brazil for the U-17 World Cup after they advanced to the semifinals of the CONCACAF tournament this weekend. The two sides will meet on Tuesday

Scott Arfield had a big goal to help lift Rangers over Celtic in the Old Firm Derby on Sunday but his side will still come up short in the title race

And a nice profile of FC Dallas wonderkid Paxton Pomykal from The Athletic’s Will Parchman and perhaps a good guide for the Caps going forward to #playyourkids