Vancouver Whitecaps head coach Carl Robinson has a new technical team by his side for the coming MLS season. His team were announced this afternoon and there are some familiar faces, with the promise of a further addition "coming very shortly".
Gordon Forrest was named as his new assistant, with the 37 year old Scot moving up from being the head coach of U18 Residency squad, whilst Marius Røvde stays on as goalkeeping coach.
It's a young coaching staff and one which you feel is crying out for an older head with MLS experience to join as a further assistant.
We broke the news last month that <a href="http://www.canadiansoccernews.com/content.php?5161-Robinson-ringing-the-changes-as-Paul-Ritchie-let-go" target="_blank"><u>Paul Ritchie had been let go</u></a>, and the Whitecaps confirmed his departure this afternoon, along with that of strength and conditioning coach Mike Young.
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Robinson and Ritchie have been friends for a long time and the new coach admitted it was a difficult decision to make.
<i>"It was very difficult because me and Paul have been friends and known each other for a number of years, but where we were as a club and an organisation we just felt it was right to go in a different direction.
"From that decision that was made we decided to go this way with promoting Gordon, who is technically and tactically fantastic. I have a very good relationship with Gordon so he'll be a great addition and there will be another addition coming very shortly.
"It happens in modern day football. Whenever there's a change in manager, there is a change in staff as well. Paul was a big part of the club over the last two years and helped it move forward."</i>
Forrest's work with the Residency squad will see him as a key component in the transition of a number of the current U18's to the MLS squad.
With the likes of Marco Bustos, Marco Carducci, Jackson Farmer and Kianz Froese likely to make the step up within the next year, if not sooner, and Sam Adekugbe making the move at the end of last season, Forrest's knowledge of the players and their strengths and weaknesses will be critical.
Having previously been a player and coach at Scottish club East Fife and with close to ten year's experience in soccer development in Scotland and New Zealand, Forrest became head coach of the Residency in October 2012 and took the U18s to Finals Week in July. From talking to a number of players in the past, we know he was well respected and valued by the young Caps.
Under Rennie's tenure, Forrest was tasked as being the go-between with the Residency and the MLS squad, to make the path of progression smooth. It's an area we've talked to Forrest about a lot in the past and he was in charge of the High Performance Program for a number of young players at all levels of the Whitecaps.
Forrest will continue with that role and will also oversee the technical side of the Residency program, with Craig Dalrymple returning as the U18 head coach.
Robinson describes the role that Forrest will play as "massive" and key to his vision for how the Whitecaps will look under his management.
<i>"My vision and aim for this club is to get as many of our top talented youngsters though into the first team as possible. I love young players and I said on my first day on the job three weeks ago that I would give young players opportunities and Gordon's rapport and relationship with those young players that are on the fringe of the first team as we speak, and hopefully making the push forward in preseason, will be crucial to that.
"That's why I believe it's the right appointment, as well as a valuable appointment for me. To give him experience as well. The club have been good to me in promoting me into the head coach's role and I'm giving him the opportunity to step into the first team, as well as being in charge of the High Performance Program, which is a massive part of this club in the future years."</i>
Forrest's vision matches that of Robinson's, as he <a href=" http://www.canadiansoccernews.com/content.php?3836-Gordon-Forrest-chats-with-AFTN" target="_blank"><u>told us</u></a> when he first came to Vancouver.
<i>"For me, it's about developing those players for the first team. That's something that really appeals to me and is something I'm quite passionate about.
"There's obviously groups of players, but the main thing is developing them individually to be prepared for the first team. We know that at that grade they'll be technical and tactical but they've got to be ready that if there's a big game and they get chucked into that environment. There's a lot of different things that we can work with them on."</i>
There is definitely still a place in the coaching staff for an experienced head, and ideally one with MLS experience as the current team don't have that in great quantities right now.
Former Toronto FC player, and current TFC Academy U18 coach, Danny Dichio, is one name that has been bandied about, but for me, I'd be looking at a wily, old veteran. Someone still with a modern vision and who can help nurture Robinson and share some knowledge along the way.
Finding such a person is not always so easy, so it will be interesting to see just who Robinson's final addition to his team will be.
It's not been an easy start for Carl Robinson as the new Caps' coach, with the Camilo saga still dragging on and the issues still surrounding the likes of Jay DeMerit, Darren Mattocks and Nigel Reo-Coker, but hopefully with the festive period now out of the way, his new coaching team in place and the MLS combine and SuperDraft coming up he can get down to some hard work and make some much needed additions to the Whitecaps squad.
As I discussed in my <a href="http://soccerly.com/article/gof/whitecapsneed-to-be-lighting-not-fighting-fires" target="_blank"><u>Soccerly article</u></a> earlier today, there's a fair few holes in the Caps right now and whilst others seem to have been very proactive in strengthening their squads, the Caps are in danger of being left behind.
The Whitecaps have been fighting enough fires this offseason, now they need to start lighting some. A settled technical team is at least a start.
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