The Good:
Kendall Waston
The question I have is why did Carl Robinson wait until the 79th minute to sub Kendall Waston into the game?
The Whitecaps where lacking offensive possession for most of the game. After the second goal Darren Mattocks pretty much gave up and looked like he didn't give a shit. We needed a change and the big man was it.
As soon as Waston was brought into the game he had two or three good touches in the offensive 18 yard box that created chances. He was able to use his size to push back on Galaxy defenders. Yellow card aside it was an impressive first game for the Costa Rican.
He lacks the pace that is needed by a striker to play defence up near the half line (because he isn't actually a striker of course) but he was one of the lone bright spots in the game. If the Johnny Leveron red card doesn't get rescinded Waston will have a chance to play some quality minutes in a meaningful Cascadia game in his more familiar centreback role next Saturday.
The Average:
Pedro Morales
Looked like he was getting frustrated in the first half with strikers Kekuta Manneh and Darren Mattocks. How many times can he work hard to get the ball, make a good pass then just have the young strikers give it up or turn it over?
You could see a bit of a pep in his step as soon as Mauro Rosales came in at half time. He has an option to pass to that knows what to do next with the ball. Not run with your head down at defenders and turn it over.
With the final third of the season in front of Morales he will have to be at his best to get these Whitecaps in the playoffs.
The Bad:
Lack of Offensive Touch
Where oh where have all the goals gone, where oh where could they be?
Something needs to change. Robinson admitted after the game that they have to go back to the drawing board.
Darren Mattocks gives the impression of someone that has given up, Kekuta Manneh only has one move and defenders have figured it out and Erik Hurtado has lost his scoring touch, which it took him long enough to find in the first place. They only other option they have is Omar Salgado up front and we still don't really know what he can or cannot bring to the team.
Might be time to change to a 3-5-2 and see if it works. What do they have to lose? They won't win without goals and can't draw their way into the playoffs.