Red, White and Green: What in the World is Wrong with the Vancouver Whitecaps?

Jun 1, 2014; Portland, OR, USA; Vancouver Whitecaps head coach Carl Robinson holds his head after a penalty was called in the first half of the game against the Portland Timbers at Providence Park. The Whitecaps won 4-3.Mandatory Credit: Susan Ragan-USA TODAY Sports

Author’s note: Red, White, and Green is Playing for 90′s newest column aimed at focusing on the Cascadian (Pacific Northwest) teams. In MLS, three teams – Portland, Seattle, and Vancouver – battled for the Cascadia Cup each year. Red, White, and Green will give a critical eye to Cascadia teams. The column is named Red, White, and Green based on the team colors. Red for the Portland Timbers as they are known as “Rose City”, white for the Vancouver Whitecaps as it is their primary color when they play, and lastly green for the Seattle Sounders as they wear “Rave Green” for most matches, home or away.

The first Red, White, and Green column previewed Wednesday’s game between the Seattle Sounders and FC Dallas. The second looked at Portland Timbers’ 6-0 win on Tuesday in CONCACAF Champions League play.

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At one point this season it looked as if the Vancouver Whitecaps had finally found the recipe for success. Then they hit a wall.

Since their 1-0 win over the Seattle Sounders on July 5th, the Whitecaps have only won twice in their last 13 league matches. They are 2-5-6 in that span and have been slowly sliding down the Western Conference table. The Whitecaps have also being going back and forth over the dreaded “red-line”.

Apr 12, 2014; Carson, CA, USA; Vancouver Whitecaps head coach Carl Robinson reacts during the first half of the game against the Los Angeles Galaxy at StubHub Center. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

After their latest 3-0 defeat to the Portland Timbers, the Whitecaps found themselves back in sixth place and are currently sitting two points out of the playoff position. With the way the Timbers have been playing, I don’t see the Whitecaps making up any ground.

I see the Whitecaps maybe winning two of their final five matches. Their next matches are against three of the top four teams in the conference in Real Salt Lake, FC Dallas and the Sounders. Those first two matches they play at home and generally play well at BC Place.

The match against the Sounders is on a Friday night in Seattle and the winner will take home the Cascadia Cup (I will have a post at a later date pertaining to the Cascadia Cup if you do not know what is and means to the three teams involved).

I don’t see Head Coach Carl Robinson being on the hot seat or anything, but you never know. It is MLS after all. Also Robinson is their fourth coach in as many years.

I see maybe a possible seven points in their last five matches and I just don’t believe that will be enough for them to squeak into the playoffs this year.