March 24, 2011 Whitecaps Key Squad Players and Formation

Starting line-up: (4-4-2)

Nolly (Cannon)

Leathers Janicki(Boxall) DeMerit Rochat

Chiumiento (Salinas) Koffie (Thorrington) Dunfield Teibert (Khalfan)

Harris (Camilo) Hassli

GOALKEEPERS

18 Jay Nolly (USA age:29) GK

Earned goalkeeper of the year recognition with Whitecaps in USSF last year. Had previous MLS experience with Real SaltLake and D.C. United before joining Whitecaps in USSF.

1 Joe Cannon (USA age:36) GK

Experienced MLS veteran goalkeeper who has won MLS goalkeeper of the year in 2002 and 2004. Previously played for San Jose Earthquake, Colorado Rapids and L.A. Galaxy and has also earned 2 caps with U.S. national team.

DEFENDERS

25 Jonathan Leathers (USA age:25) RB

Played as right back for MLS Kansas City Wizards for the last 2 seasons and has also represented for U.S. under 23 national team squad 2 times.

4 Alain Rochat (Switzerland age:28) LB "POTENTIAL MLS ALL-STAR"

Reliable and skillful left-back who played in a key role in helping FC Zurich winning Swiss League title for 2 seasons. Has appeared in UEFA Champion League for FC Zurich and was praised for his performance vs AC Milan. Has the quality to establish himself as the best left back in MLS. Since he was born in Canada, he also qualified for MLS local player status.

6 Jay DeMerit (USA age:31) CB "POTENTIAL MLS ALL-STAR"

Whitecaps captain was the first player to be signed for MLS contract for Whitecaps. The experienced American international has never played in the MLS, but has established as one of the top defenders in the English Championship Division with Watford FC, where he was named captain for 3 consecutive seasons. Starting his career as a centre forward, the physical and powerful defender scored fair amount of goals in corners. He has started for U.S. national team for all 4 games during World Cup 2010.

14 Greg Janicki (USA age:26) CB

USSF Defender of the year last season with Whitecaps. He will play alongside DeMerit to form a solid central back pairing. Had brief spell with D.C. United before joining Whitecaps in USSF division. Has never represented U.S. national team in any age level.

2 Michael Boxall (New Zealand age:22) CB

Young New Zealand defender who was selected first overall in the 2011 MLS Supplemental Draft by Whitecaps. Has represented New Zealand national team in all youth levels in major tournament. Has not made the squad for New Zealand team in World Cup 2010, but has recently earned his first selection to national A team.

MIDFIELDERS

7 Terry Dunfield (Canada Age:29) CMF/DMF "POTENTIAL MLS ALL-STAR"

Vice captain of WhiteCaps and Canadian international who progressed through Manchester City youth team but has subsequently spend his career with Bury, Macclesfield Town and Shrewsbury Town in English lower divisions. Had played for Whitecaps in USSF near the end of past season for 7 games and has quickly established as a key midfield general with his field vision, diligent play and range of passing.

11 John Thorrington (USA Age:31) CMF/AMF/WG

Versatile and experienced MLS veteran playing 6 seasons for Chicago Fire. Prior his MLS career, he was a product of Manchester United youth system and has spend 3 years with Huddersfield Town. He has also earned 4 caps with U.S. national A team. He will bring much-needed MLS experience and leadership to a relative inexperienced Whitecaps side in their debut MLS season.

28 Gershon Koffie (Ghana Age:19) DMF

Young Ghana only had 2 games of USSF experience with Whitecaps last year in his professional football career so far. However, he was tipped to be one of the young rising stars in the team and had already be choosen to play for Ghana under-20 national team. He will bring power and hard work alongside Dunfield and Thorrington in the central midfield.

31 Russell Teibert (Canada Age:18) LW

Local Vancouver Residency product winning the odds by not only earning MLS contract with the team, but also winning the starting left wing role after a series of impressive performance during the pre-season. Despite his young age, he has shown ability to take on defenders and provide dangerous crosses. One of the brightest Canadian future hope has earned caps for all Canaidan youth levels. Making the full internaionl team is just a matter of time.

16 Nizar Khalfan (Tanzania Age:22) LW/RW

Tanzania international who can play at both wings and has scored 5 goals in 25 appearences for his national team. Will be an important substitution at both wings for Teibert,Salians,Chiumiento for his versatility.

22 Shea Salinas (USA Age:24) RW

Right wing who has over 60 games of MLS experience with San Jose Earthquake and Philadelphia Union. Could be starter in 4-5-1 formation when Chiumiento plays as attacking midfield behind the lone striker or a substitute behind Chiumiento in 4-4-2. Has never represented U.S. national team in any age level.

20 Davide Chiumiento (Switzerland Age:26) AMF/WG "POTENTIAL MLS ALL-STAR"

Came through the rank from Italian serie A giant Juventus youth and has also played for Juventus and Siena in senior level before spending majority of his football career with Lucerne in Swiss Super League. The playmaker is probably the most skillful player for Whitecaps who brings flair and creativity to the side. His only drawback is his injury problem that has prevented him from staying in top form. Current Switzerland team international who has the potential to be a star in MLS in his debut season.

FORWARDS

29 Eric Hassli (France Age:29) CF "POTENTIAL MLS ALL-STAR"

Whitecaps first desginated signing has been doubted before his 2 goal debut for Whitecaps in MLS debut. Started his career with Metz FC, follwed by brief spell with Southampton, Servette, St.Gallen. However, he has earned his recognition with FC Zurich when he was in sensational scoring form in 08/09 season to lead the team to UEFA Champion League with current teamate Rochat was also in the side. Prior to this season, he was given up by FC Zurich due to injury problem that has kept him from reaching similar height in the 08/09 season. Hassli may be slow, but he is a strong target man with good ball control. He will be the most important player for Whitecpas due to the lack of proven scorer in the side as well as his designated player status.

9 Atiba Harris (Saint Kitts and Nevis Age:26) WG/CF

Saint Kitts and Nevis international, with 9 goals in 25 caps, was a product of Newcastle United youth system. Spending his football career in MLS over 120 games with Real Salt Lake, Chivas USA and FC Dallas. Harris is not a natural scorer. He is more of a wing forward with his strength being his athletic ability, speed and power. He may be a poor finisher but he remains as a handful for opponents. Could partner Hassli to form a physical front-line or play as a wing forward.

37 Camilo Sanvezzo (Brazil age:22) FW

His professional career includes winning the top scorer award for Qormi for Malta League but was then scoreless in Korean League after only paying for 7 games. An unproven and an unknown player. He is in the team only because Whitecaps is still lacking of sufficient scoring power up-front, but who knows until he will be given chances to prove.

THE FUTURE

17 Omar Salgado (USA age:17) CF

The 1st round 1st pick in the MLS SuperDraft. He was unfortunately not allowed to play for Whitecaps by the league until he turned 18 in September. U.S. under-20 international is a very talented 6'4' forward who came through Mexican top side Guadalajara youth set-up and had trained with Everton and Tottenham. Come September, Whitecaps may not find as much problem in their lack of fire-power up-front with the potential dangerous partnership of Salgado and Hassli up-front.

March 19, 2011 The debut season for Vancouver Whitecaps in MLS!!!

This is the first time I have a home soccer team to support! I have never had any interest in Vancouver Whitecaps when they played in USSF before they joined the Major League Soccer, the top quality soocer league in America/Canada. I have never paid attention to the MLS, but I will be a fan for Whitecaps beginning this 2011 MLS season. I will watch most every Whitecaps games on TV as Sportsnets and TSN will air every single game, but I may consider to go to the live games but probably won't go there until the completion for rennovation of BC Place Stadium in September. BC Place Staudium will have a new retractable roof, the world largest of its kind and fans/players will have no worry games being affected by the frequent rainfall in BC. For now till September, all the home games will be played in Empire Field in Burnaby and I have heard that 15,000 out of 25,000+ season tickets have already be sold out.

When talking about MLS, most non-MLS fans will think of David Beckham, Thierry Henry and Landon Donvan. Certainly. Certainly, there are more fascination in the 16 year-old MLS league than a few soon-over-the-hill stars. There are many quality lessor-unknown/under-rated players and dedicated teams attempting to develop teams in the right way! Unlike European football leagues, MLS have salary caps system which restricts teams from spending crazy money to buy a team of star players for instant success. There are draft picks for lowest ranked teams to draft most talented young players every year and temas bascially have to improve their teams through intelligent scouting and internal players development. There are restrictions for number of foreign players signings and teams need to possess around 10 local players (includes Canadian and Americans) in their squad. Of course, every team is allowed to sign 2 designated players which can go over the basic salary (e.g. Beckham and Henry).

There are now 18 teams in the league allocated to Eastern and Western Conference. 10 teams can make the playoffs. Top 3 teams from each conference can make the play-offs; the four teams with the next best point totals will play one-match knockout games to determine the final participant for each conference. The defending MLS champion is Colorado Rapids despite only achieving 7th place in the regular season in 2010. The champion of MLS can qualify for Concacf Champion League to fight with all the top teams in the North and Central American Leagues. The champion of the Concacf Champion League can participate in FIFA Club World Cup to compete with all the champions from Champion League winners from different continents around the world.

Can Vancouver Whitecaps make the FIFA Club World Cup one day? This may be a wild dream, but we certainly do not lack the dedication under our new 4-mean ownership team which includes Steve Nash. For the debut season, we will do extremely well if we can make the last pay-off spot. Realistically, we may only develop into a hard-to-beat defensive solid team with a growing fan base in our long anticpiated debut MLS season.