When your team is coming off a two week break, you want to see them raring to go and firing on all cylinders.
And Vancouver Whitecaps fans got just that yesterday against Houston Dynamo at BC Place.
The Portland game signalled the end of stage one of Martin Rennie's phases for the season. Houston kicked off stage two and it is a stage that will run through to the end of July, when the Caps have another two week break inbetween back to back matches with Western Conference leaders Real Salt Lake.
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It couldn't have got off to a better start and the win lifts the Caps back into fourth place in the West, two behind Seattle and seven behind RSL, with a game in hand over the top two teams.
Perhaps more importantly, with the race for the playoffs in mind, the win gives Vancouver a massive nine point lead over Portland and Dallas and an incredible eleven point advantage over the reigning champs, LA Galaxy.
It wasn't a perfect performance but it was certainly an assured team one, with some fantastic individual turns thrown in.
There were some great passing moves and the number of chances that the team, is creating is very encouraging, and it will only get better.
Darren Mattocks is a player that is going to miss a lot of chances over a season, but the fact that he gets himself into those positions is what is particularly pleasing.
If he misses five or six each match, but nets two or more, then that's fine with me.
For such a young player, his reading of attacks is exceptional. He knows when to make his runs, when to hold back and that burst of speed he can just turn on is just too much for many defenders to handle. This allows him to create space around him and be in the right place, at the right time.
Considering he must still be a bit rusty after his burns injury, just wait till he really gets his shooting eye in.
He has his swagger back, but his feet are firmly planted on the ground, despite what others would like to think.
That's three MLS goals in two games and doesn't he know it!
He is clearly going to draw the attention of some of the more robust players in the League.
Bobby Boswell, and other Dynamo defenders, had a few little jabs and knocks at Mattocks off the ball yesterday.
He seems to go over fairly easily, and I don't mean that in a Camilo sense, but more that in he doesn't have the biggest build to stay on his feet once clattered.
It's not something he is probably used to coming from the college ranks, but he is going to need to adapt soon as he isn't likely to get a lot of protection out there.
Of course, you then have to wonder how long a player like Mattocks can be kept with the Caps and in MLS.
We want him to develop and keep banging the goals in, but if he does, he isn't going to be here for too long.
Every team in the world wants a quick striker who can cause problems and put the ball in the net.
Montreal must be wondering why they passed on the kid.
The same is true of Gershon Koffie, who had probably his best game in a Caps jersey on Sunday. How long will he stay around in MLS if he continues to develop the way he is.
He was phenomenal and some of the passes with which he set up Mattocks were world class.
I wasn't as enamoured with him as some others were after last season. Yes he was good for such an age, but he still lacked a lot of discipline and accuracy when going forward. He seems to have now added both to his game.
He contributing both goals and assists this season and that's what I love to see from my midfield men.
Joe Cannon was the other stand out guy yesterday.
What can you say about the veteran keeper that hasn't already been said?
Once again, he produced some huge saves to keep the Caps lead intact. He often doesn't have a lot to do in a match and that's the mark of a great keeper, when you can be at the top of the game when needed and cold.
Other plaudits need to be given to John Thorrington for his first half performance and to Jun Marques Davidson for some excellent covering at the back to allow Y-P Lee and Alain Rochat to advance forward.
There were no overtly poor performances, but some of Sebastien Le Toux's passes were terrible.
Too many giveaways from the big man. You can try and place the blame on him not being used to the system he is being asked to play, but to me, that doesn't excuse not being able to pass to a man in the same colour of shirt as your own!
Le Toux and Mattocks certainly do link up well and are one of the better attacking pairings we've seen this season.
The danger the Frenchman poses saw him drag players away from Mattocks as he couldn't be left unmarked and that only gave Darren more room.
Does the rookie play better with Le Toux or Hassli though?
I'd like to see a full match of Hassli and Mattocks to see what they can bring about.
It's great having an impact player like Hassli to come off the bench, but the Caps can't afford the luxury of having a $790,000 DP sitting on the bench every week.
On that salary, it would be hard to see anyone else in MLS taking the risk on him, so will he hang around or will his two wondergoals perhaps have drawn enough attention to earn him a shot back in Europe?
I don't want to lose the big man, but you also need to see him at his best to keep him here.
Rennie said post game that there will be some games where he'll want to go with Hassli. Depends on the opponents.
And where does all this leave Camilo?
There is a case to argue that the Brazilian is perhaps the most dangerous all round striker that we have on our books. He adds something special.
He has certainly been a difference maker in many of the games this season and last, but can he play not just in Martin Rennie's style of team, but in any team?
With discussed several times in this feature this season that he isn't a guy that works that well with others and with that style, it's hard to see exactly how he can fit in to the line-up regularly right now.
With Barry Robson arriving in Vancouver soon, you would have to think that John Thorrington will be losing his place in the long run.
I think we'll find that Robson will be eased into the action over that horrendous five game away stretch. Probably coming off the bench initially before settling in.
Another difference maker is being sought I believe as well, possibly in a DM role.
Next up for the Caps is one of their most important matches of the season so far as Colorado Rapids come a calling.
To open up a six point lead over the fifth placed team would be massive right now and give the team a little bit of breathing space before they hit the road, especially if we can also take something from the New York game.
Let's just hope that the fans come out to see it and can actually make it into their seats before kick off for once.
What must the players think when they come out to all that empty seating? It's getting embarrassing.
At least a number of these fans missed the opening goal on Sunday. That cheered me up a little bit about it all.
But that's something for another day. For now, let's just enjoy a game and a performance that was better and more enjoyable than most of what we've seen at the Euros so far.
'Mon the Caps.
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<b>AFTN 3-2-1:</b>
This was a toughie between the top two. I hemmed and hawed between them both but ended up giving the nod to the two goal hero....
3 points - DARREN MATTOCKS (two goals, dangerous throughout. Just wait till he really settles)
2 points - GERSHON KOFFIE (a stand out performance. Some great assists and general moving of the ball)
1 point - JOE CANNON (kept the Caps in the lead before the half and this probably proved to be the game changer. Couple of huge saves)
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