Vancouver Whitecaps must be missing the Arizona heat already.
Their second day back training in Vancouver and it was a damp, dreary and chilly setting at Musqueam Park for a light session before the team headed over to Victoria on an afternoon ferry for Sunday's annual friendly against the University of Victoria Vikes.
The training session lasted around 45 minutes, with some quick scrimmages, drills and stretches to keep the players loose after a hard double shift of training on Friday, including another yo-yo test. Nothing too intense.
[PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
The team were cheered on by a group of around 40 fans from the Curva Collective and Southsiders supporters' groups. Chants, flag waving and even some smoke was the order of the day. The players seemed to enjoy it.
Some points of note from in and around training today....
Some points of note from in and around training today....
*** There were some fun nutmegs in the first drills, including Carl Robinson on Russell Teibert. He enjoyed that one.
*** Kekuta Manneh returned to full training yesterday after his recent back injury and wasn't afraid to put himself about. After one hard challenge on him from Aminu Abdallah, he just got up, dusted himself down then went in hard himself on Abdallah. Nothing malicious, just competitive and good to see he's not afraid to challenge hard, fight back and be strong.
*** Kenny Miller and Mehdi Ballouchy were just doing light training and laps around the field. Both moving well at least. Miller seemed in good spirits and says he hopes to be able to play in one of the games in Portland, but we'll see.
*** Gershon Koffie's hamstring strain continues to limit him to just jogging. He's not had a good camp so far and now with this injury, you have to doubt he'll be a starter on March 8th.
*** There was an old face back in the camp. The recently retired YP Lee was out training, but before people get carried away about him coming back in to the fold, it's been long agreed he'll join in the odd training session to keep himself fit.
*** Lee looked like a retired player! Bryce Alderson was quite dominant against him and looking sharp, with some nice set ups and finishes.
*** Another new face is 17 year old trialist Caniggia Elva. St Lucian born but based in Calgary, Elva had trials in Germany last year but looked a little out of place in today's training. Early days, but a season in the Residency may help the kid settle in a bit more to the Caps set up. Surely has to be named after the Argentinean legend?!
*** Erik Hurtado continues to impress in camp this year. Was showing a great first touch when receiving the ball in tight areas. A marked improvement on last season. Had some great goals today. Laser shots, giving David Ousted no chance.
*** We caught up with both Erik Hurtado and David Ousted after training, so watch out for those interviews in Episode 40 of our podcast, which will be available on Sunday night or Monday morning.
*** Ben Fisk also fired in a couple of impressive goals and continues to look more than ready for his overdue MLS contract.
*** Marco Carducci made some big-time saves and covered the whole net well. Was showing a better range than Simon Thomas in goal.
*** Sam Adekugbe was getting advice from Marius Røvde on a few occasions after some bad passes in the scrimmages and some struggles with crosses.
*** The Whitecaps will take a squad of 22 players over to the island for the Vikes friendly. Very strong group with several expected starters. Both Uruguayans and some of the younger guys looking to get a contract amongst those heading over.
*** Only three strikers making trip - Erik Hurtado, Omar Salgado, Darren Mattocks. Outside chance Kekuta Manneh heads over too. Important match for Mattocks. Needs to show right attitude or patience could be wearing thin with the Jamaican. Big chance for Hurtado and Salgado to cement roles in team. Midfielders Ben Fisk, Bryce Alderson and Michael Kafari need to use stage to shine.
*** Carl Robinson told us it's a key game and a number of players will get 60-70 minutes so he can get more looks at them in game action.
*** All five centrebacks make the trip to Victoria as Robinson weighs up his starting pairing options. Christian Dean continuing to look good at training but could find himself loaned out to Charleston, at least initially. Andy O'Brien and Carlyle Mitchell remain my two choices for the starting pairing.
*** Talking of the Charleston Battery tie up, reports coming out down there on <a href="http://www.chssoccer.net/day-2-keepers-whitecaps-friendlies-numbers/" target="_blank"><u>CHS Soccer</u></a> that first Caps loanees could arrive for the start of their camp on Tuesday. Will be minimum of four and could even be up to eight. Six seems to be the more likely number. Nothing confirmed as to who but players not making the trip to Victoria like Simon Thomas and Mamadou Diouf could be in the frame amongst others.
*** Carl Robinson and Gordon Forrest have different tales to tell about a Valentine's Day stitch up. Who would you believe?!
<i>[We started this last season and did bring you a few, but the plan this year is to bring you a lot more regular "Tales From The Training Ground" updates over the course of the season, along with photos from a lot of the sessions. Some of the photos from the first week of camp can be seen on our <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/aftncanada/sets/" target="_blank"><u>Flickr</u></a>]<i>
<p>