Coffee with the Caps, Friday September 20

It’s Friday Caps fans and if your week has been anything like mine that is a welcomed development.

But Saturday is just another day away and that also means Vancouver will be back in action—and against another beatable opponent to boot! Caleb Porter’s Columbus Crew have massively underachieved despite their new leadership and, as the worst non-FC Cincinnatiteam in the East, represent an opportunity for the Caps to scoop up another three points.

In fact, in the last month and a half the Caps have been far from the worst team in MLS, besting even teams that are on the cusp of making the playoffs.

Granted, a lot of the Caps’ success came against teams lower on this list than they are but hey, we take what we can get at this point. Any sort of momentum has to be welcomed ahead of what promises to be another tumultuous offseason in Caps world.

As an aside, some USL news caught my eye yesterday principally because it made me harken back to the days of the Thundercaps (truly the good ole days). Former VW2 boss Alan Koch, who unfortunately flamed out as an MLS head coach in Cincinnati, has apparently been tapped to manage the Colorado Springs Switchbacks in the USL Championship.

First and foremost this seems like a pretty good gig for the South African, as the Switchbacks are usually in the mix for a playoff spot, have a nice partnership with the Colorado Rapids and play in a decent soccer specific stadium. It also is a level in which he has a very strong track record of success.

But what really intrigued me about the hire is the indelible connection between Colorado Springs and the Thundercaps. That, of course, is the epic 2-1 upset victory that launched the Thundercaps’ run to the western conference finals. Along with their victory over the Oklahoma City Energy, it is on the shortlist for the most famous victory in the team’s short history.

Going back and reading that match brings back a flood of memories. Goals from Kyle Greig and Kianz Froese lifted them to victory again. The entire roster basically reads as a throwback to when we were younger and more innocent vis a vis the Caps’ player development—Daniel Haber, Sam de Wit, Kaden Chung, Marco Bustos. There was a young Spencer Richey between the pipes and Brett Levis, before his injury troubles, at left back. Times were simpler then and Koch moving to Colorado Springs makes it seem like we’ve all come full circle.

Ugh now I’m all nostalgic. Maybe my offseason project will be an oral history of that team and the unfulfilled potential there. But until then, how about a few links?

Shameless Self Promotion

Get yer lineup predictions in ahead of tomorrow’s 2 pm kickoff!

Best of the Rest

Not to keep kicking FC Cincinnati while they’re down but the expansion side is all but certain to shatter the current record for goals conceded in a season. Yikes!

Jonathan David did Jonathan David things as Gent surprised Saint-Étienne 3-2 in their Europa League opener Thursday, helped by a brace from the young Canadian

The MLS brass handicap the upcoming awards season. Spoiler: LAFC will be well represented and the Caps will not

Today in “aging European superstars rumored to be joining Inter Miami,” David Silva actually appears to be close to signing with Beckham FC

And an interesting read on former New York Red Bulls skipper Jesse Marsch’s Champions League debut with RB Salzburg—the first time an American has been victorious in the UCL

Have a great weekend Caps’ fans and we shall see you at the match tomorrow