<i>We've added a new writer to AFTN and his first piece appears today.
Steve Pandher is a long time Whitecaps fan, who has written his own blog, <a href="http://whitecapsbeat.blogspot.com" target="_blank">The Whitecaps Beat</a>, for a while now, and is also a Vancouver correspondent on <a href="http://www.prostamerika.com" target="_blank">Prost Amerika</a>.
Steve will be handling all of our match previews, in his own unique style, kicking off with his thoughts on tomorrow's 'First Kick' against Montreal...</i>
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<b>KEY PLAYERS :</b>
ATTACKING
Eric Hassli- The Whitecaps are hoping their original Designated Player, who had a quiet preseason, can build on last year and avoid the disciplinary issues. With all the additional firepower that is now part of the roster, Eric Hassli will not be relied on so much for goals or creativity this season. Against the Impact, the Frenchman will play against a newly formed backline and look to create space for the other attackers to make their runs. Martin Rennie spoke highly of Hassli yesterday and the progress he feels he has made in training camp, especially adding a missing aerial threat to his game.
Sanna Nyassi- Goals are expected to be at a premium for the Impact and the club will have to rely on a combined effort. One of those players could be Sanna Nyassi, who was picked from Colorado in the expansion draft. The Gambian international scored five times last season, all coming after he was moved to the striker’s position, filling in for Conner Casey.
DEFENCE
YP Lee- The addition of Lee YP to Vancouver’s backline is a major upgrade over who played the right back position last season. The World Cup veteran will be able to provide skill and experience, whether he is defending or pushing forward on the attack. The Impact can be considered dangerous on the wings, with players like Mapp and Neagle, which will be a solid first test for Lee in MLS.
Tyson Wahl- The Montreal Impact will look to former Sounder Tyson Wahl to provide needed leadership to their brand new backline. Normally a fullback, Wahl is by far the most experienced MLS defender on the Impact and will be asked to play as a central defender. Another big role for him will be to help guide his partner Matteo Ferrari in his first MLS season.
WHO'S ON FORM
Sebestien Le Toux- The Whitecaps brought Sebestien Le Toux to add a different dynamic to their group of strikers and he hasn’t disappointed so far this pre-season. In the five official preseason games the Whitecaps have scored 8 goals with Le Toux on the pitch, as opposed to 2 goals when he was on the bench.
Patrice Bernier- The Canadian international and Quebec native was brought in to provide a connection between the club and the community, but he is proving his value on the pitch as well. While his main duty will be as a holding midfielder, Patrice Bernier isn’t shy from making a number of runs at goal while also being a threat taking corners and free kicks.
<b>2011 RECORD :</b>
6W-10D-18L
18th in MLS
Missed the Playoff
9W-8D-11L
7th in NASL
Missed the Playoffs
<b>PROJECTED LINE-UPS :</b>
Ricketts; Gardner, Wahl, Ferrarri, Valentin, Mapp, Arnaud, Bernier, Neagle, Nyassi, Braun
Cannon; Lee, DeMerit, Bonjour, Bonjour; Chiumiento, Davidson, Koffie, Camilo; LeToux, Hassli
<b>INJURIES :</b>
• Etienne Barbara (Out - groin)
• Floyd Franks (Questionable - lower back)
• Atiba Harris (Out - knee)
• Brian Sylvestre (Out - knee)
• John Thorrington (Out - quad)
• Davy Arnaud (Questionable - thigh)
• Gienir Garcia (Out - ankle)
• Evan Jame (Out - ankle)
• Nelson Rivas (Out - hamstring)
• Sinisa Ubiparipovic (Out - knee)
<b>GAME PREDICTION :</b>
The Vancouver Whitecaps are looking to get off to a similar start to last season, an opening day win over a Canadian rival at home. The only difference this season is there is a much longer and sordid history between these two combatants. Also the Caps supporters' hatred for the Impact has little to do with geography and more to do with that history.
Since the first post season camp, when Martin Rennie took over, there has been a slow buildup towards this date, adding piece by piece. The improvements are clear to see, based on preseason, with a much more dynamic attack, a sound defensive system, and an improved starting eleven, along with depth through the entire roster.
In front of Joe Cannon, who returns for his second season, the Caps have a backline consisting of two World Cup starters in Lee Young-Pyo and Jay DeMerit, one of the better left backs in MLS with Alain Rochat, and a big, mobile central defender in Martin Bonjour.
With John Thorrington still nursing a quad injury, expect Gershon Koffie to pair up with Jun Marques Davidson as the central midfield pair, with Camilo and Davide Chiumiento manning the wing positions.
Up front Sebestien Le Toux will slip behind target man Eric Hassli and form one of the strongest striking duos in MLS, with a fired up Darren Mattocks waiting in reserve, and an outside chance for even starting the game.
For the most part Martin Rennie will look to three players to run the attack against Montreal, as Le Toux will most likely take control of the middle. Pushing on the outside will be fullbacks Lee and Rochat. This should help get Eric Hassli better quality service, something that was lacking last season on a regular basis. With the fullbacks regularly moving forward, expect the two wingers to move inside, closer to the box, putting more pressure on the Impact's backline.
When defending, Rennie has emphasized to have the opponent with the ball directed wide, using the sidelines as an extra defender. If the Impact do get the ball into the middle of the pitch they will have to deal with the central midfield duo of Davidson and Koffie. Both players have a high ability to breakdown the opposition’s attack and win the ball back. There is still a little work to do with newly formed pair of DeMerit and Bonjour, and their ability to work together, as there have been some breakdowns in the preseason.
A definite advantage for the Caps will be the crowd noise, which will give a boost to the players on the pitch. While their opponents have improved as the preseason has advanced, this match will be the first the Impact play as a unit against a very hostile crowd.
With this in mind, it would be considered a major upset if the Caps don't come away from the match with the full three points and a win by at least a couple of goals.
AFTN Prediction: Vancouver Whitecaps 3 Montreal Impact 0
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<i>For those of you that weren't readers of AFTN last season, just to let you know that we won't be doing match reports for most of the games this season, but we will do our "In The Cold Light Of Day" analysis feature later on matchday evenings or the following day.
If you want to read match reports for all the Whitecaps games, you can find my reports over on <a href="http://www.prostamerika.com" target="_blank">Prost Amerika</a>.</i>
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