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Vancouver Whitecaps FC's addition of Sebastien Le Toux raises questions with a crowded group of attacking players
With a huge surplus of attacking players, the Whitecaps are likely not through making moves.
Feb 2, 2012 1:13:00 PM
By Seth Vertelney
Sebastien Le Toux's trade from the Philadelphia Union to the Vancouver Whitecaps sent shockwaves through MLS with the Union's brazenness in handling their most popular and productive player.
After being shipped off to Canada like yesterday's news, Le Toux destroyed his former coach Peter Nowak in the Delaware County Daily Times, saying “I would be happy to just retire than play for Peter again.”
As the smoke clears from the trade though, an even-more intriguing situation than the one Le Toux leaves behind in Philly is developing in his new home north of the border.
That's because new Whitecaps head coach Martin Rennie is stockpiling attacking players like canned goods before a nuclear attack.
Rennie is likely changing his team to a 4-3-3, and even though his formation allows for three forwards, and even though he's saying all the right things following the Le Toux deal, it is highly doubtful the Whitecaps will stand pat with the glut of attacking players they currently possess.
Le Toux joins a Vancouver roster that includes Davide Chiumiento, Atiba Harris, Russell Teibert, Lee Nguyen, Eric Hassli, Darren Mattocks, Omar Salgado, Camilo Sanvezzo and Long Tan as attacking options. With Le Toux, Hassli and Camilo, Vancouver becomes the only MLS side to employ three players who hit double digits in league goals last season.
“I don’t think we need any more (attacking players) but I also think some people look at certain players as strikers or forwards when, in my opinion, they’re more midfielders or wide players,” Rennie said in a conference call following the Le Toux trade.
Though some positions may be negotiable, Rennie will no doubt want his three double-digit goalscorers to see plenty of the field together, and a forward line of Camilo, Hassli and Le Toux from left to right seems probable opening day lineup.
“I definitely think they can play together,” Rennie said of Le Toux and Hassli. “I think Eric’s best quality is his ability to hold the ball up and play with his back to goal. Sebastien’s best quality is his ability to run in behind and run into channels and run off a striker like that.”
With the acquisition of Le Toux, the future of two highly-promising Whitecaps attackers in Omar Salgado and Darren Mattocks is particularly in flux.
Salgado, 18, was the first overall pick of the 2011 MLS SuperDraft, but saw little playing time during his rookie season. He finished the season with just 14 appearances and one goal in 504 total minutes. At six-foot-four and highly skilled, Salgado has attracted considerable attention from European clubs.
Crucially, Salgado also possesses a Spanish passport, which he obtained via his grandfather. If any European club were to swoop for him, the passport would be his golden ticket across the Atlantic, as he'd bypass any work permit issues and roster restrictions.
Mattocks was the second overall selection in this year's SuperDraft, and his Whitecaps career is now in question before it has even commenced.
Despite being selected in the draft a year after Salgado, Mattocks is three years older, and as such, he'll need playing time quickly in order to develop. At 21, he can't afford the year-long apprenticeship that Salgado experienced in his rookie season at age 17.
There are whispers that Vancouver was disappointed to see Montreal select Andrew Wenger – a versatile player who can play defense or midfield – first overall in last month's SuperDraft, and took Mattocks simply because he was the second-best player available, not because the team had a need for him.
With Le Toux in the fold, it appears even more likely a forward-needy team could pry Mattocks free with the right offer.
With so many attackers in tow, and questions in midfield and defense, it would be wise to keep an eye on Vancouver for the next month leading up to the season kickoff. Though they've already made one blockbuster trade this offseason, it doesn't appear that the Whitecaps are done wheeling and dealing quite yet.
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After being shipped off to Canada like yesterday's news, Le Toux destroyed his former coach Peter Nowak in the Delaware County Daily Times, saying “I would be happy to just retire than play for Peter again.”
As the smoke clears from the trade though, an even-more intriguing situation than the one Le Toux leaves behind in Philly is developing in his new home north of the border.
That's because new Whitecaps head coach Martin Rennie is stockpiling attacking players like canned goods before a nuclear attack.
Rennie is likely changing his team to a 4-3-3, and even though his formation allows for three forwards, and even though he's saying all the right things following the Le Toux deal, it is highly doubtful the Whitecaps will stand pat with the glut of attacking players they currently possess.
Le Toux joins a Vancouver roster that includes Davide Chiumiento, Atiba Harris, Russell Teibert, Lee Nguyen, Eric Hassli, Darren Mattocks, Omar Salgado, Camilo Sanvezzo and Long Tan as attacking options. With Le Toux, Hassli and Camilo, Vancouver becomes the only MLS side to employ three players who hit double digits in league goals last season.
“I don’t think we need any more (attacking players) but I also think some people look at certain players as strikers or forwards when, in my opinion, they’re more midfielders or wide players,” Rennie said in a conference call following the Le Toux trade.
Though some positions may be negotiable, Rennie will no doubt want his three double-digit goalscorers to see plenty of the field together, and a forward line of Camilo, Hassli and Le Toux from left to right seems probable opening day lineup.
“I definitely think they can play together,” Rennie said of Le Toux and Hassli. “I think Eric’s best quality is his ability to hold the ball up and play with his back to goal. Sebastien’s best quality is his ability to run in behind and run into channels and run off a striker like that.”
With the acquisition of Le Toux, the future of two highly-promising Whitecaps attackers in Omar Salgado and Darren Mattocks is particularly in flux.
Salgado, 18, was the first overall pick of the 2011 MLS SuperDraft, but saw little playing time during his rookie season. He finished the season with just 14 appearances and one goal in 504 total minutes. At six-foot-four and highly skilled, Salgado has attracted considerable attention from European clubs.
Crucially, Salgado also possesses a Spanish passport, which he obtained via his grandfather. If any European club were to swoop for him, the passport would be his golden ticket across the Atlantic, as he'd bypass any work permit issues and roster restrictions.
Mattocks was the second overall selection in this year's SuperDraft, and his Whitecaps career is now in question before it has even commenced.
Mattocks | Before his club debut, already faces uncertain future with the Whitecaps
Despite being selected in the draft a year after Salgado, Mattocks is three years older, and as such, he'll need playing time quickly in order to develop. At 21, he can't afford the year-long apprenticeship that Salgado experienced in his rookie season at age 17.
There are whispers that Vancouver was disappointed to see Montreal select Andrew Wenger – a versatile player who can play defense or midfield – first overall in last month's SuperDraft, and took Mattocks simply because he was the second-best player available, not because the team had a need for him.
With Le Toux in the fold, it appears even more likely a forward-needy team could pry Mattocks free with the right offer.
With so many attackers in tow, and questions in midfield and defense, it would be wise to keep an eye on Vancouver for the next month leading up to the season kickoff. Though they've already made one blockbuster trade this offseason, it doesn't appear that the Whitecaps are done wheeling and dealing quite yet.
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