He came. He saw. He disappointed. And now he’s gone.
Vancouver Whitecaps Designated Player Mustapha Jarju and the Club have parted ways, after both parties mutually agreed to a contract termination today.
The news was greeted in exuberant fashion from some Whitecaps fans, and the <a href="http://vancouversouthsiders.ca/forum/" target="_blank">Southsiders forum</a> even crashed a couple of times, as supporters rushed to voice their celebration.
In amongst the Jarju joy, there was also some sadness, as long time Cap, and one of the few Canadians in the Whitecaps’ MLS squad, Philippe Davies, was also released.
Mustapha Jarju arrived in Vancouver amidst much fanfare. He was Major League Soccer’s first ever African Designated Player. Sadly for him, the Caps and the supporters, he flopped.
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We’ve poked a lot of fun at him these last few months. I’ve now lost half my gags for the “West Coast Soccer Weekly” podcast. We did also say though that fans hadn’t seen the best of the Gambian and that he was clearly a much better player than what he had shown so far in Whitecaps colours. His goalscoring record proves that. You don’t become a bad player overnight.
Just this morning, I wrote about Jarju in my <a href="http://www.metronews.ca/vancouver/blog/post/1076549--away-from-the-numbers-squad-speculation-continues" target="_blank"><b>Vancouver Metro column</b></a>: <i>"The fans haven't seen anywhere near the best of what he is capable of producing, and his market value has fallen faster than this week's temperatures. It's getting harder to see where he's going to fit in with the Caps"</i>.
Now we know. Nowhere.
Jarju joined the Whitecaps from Belgian First Division side RAEC Mons, where the Gambian's 21 League goals were instrumental in securing the Club's return to the Jupiler League. The newly promoted Mons were keen to maintain Jarju's services but despite offers from Europe and the Middle East, he ended up in Vancouver where he simply did not perform.
He was a proven goalscorer, with 62 goals in all competitions in his four and a half years in Belgium, and captain of his national team. It all looked so promising.
Fans were told he had to get fit, but by the end of the season he ended up as a bench warmer, with the most expensive splinters in MLS.
He made his Vancouver debut in the friendly against Man City on his birthday and went on to make just ten appearances in MLS, with only five of them coming as a starter. 450 minutes played, no goals, no assists and three shots on goal. That’s what the Caps got for his guaranteed $426,883 annual salary.
He did score a peach of a free kick for the reserves down in Portland though, which AFTN managed to just about capture <a href="
We also captured the last thing some fans will ever have seen him do in a Whitecaps jersey – <a href="
The pressure on Jarju was immense, partly because of that salary, partly because of his DP status (which may actually have stood for 'Doesn’t Play') and partly due to the exciting player we were told he was at his press conference in the summer.
In many ways it was a shame for the guy. He was trying to fit in to new surroundings and was billed as this great goalscorer, so fans obviously expected more. It’s best for both parties that he moves on.
He is joined on the plane out of YVR by Philippe Davies.
Davies never got his chance at MLS level. Even with a <a href="http://www.aftncanada.blogspot.com/2011/10/twitter-campaign-supports-philippe.html" target="_blank">supporters’ Twitter campaign</a> trying to help him out.
He finished last season as the only outfield MLS Whitecap to not see a minute of playing time.
A product of the Caps Residency program, he was with Vancouver since 207 and made 34 appearances for the team in our D2 days. The Quebec native had a frustrating 2011 season, although impressed in the PDL.
When AFTN caught up with him after the last MLS game of the season, Phil admitted to us that <i>”It’s been a tough year for me”</i>.
In our <a href="http://www.aftncanada.blogspot.com/2011/10/its-been-tough-year-for-me-philippe.html" target="_blank">interview with him</a> he acknowledged that he needs to play. He needs game time and the chance to show what he can do. If he wasn’t going to get that in Vancouver, he would need to move on and that’s just what he’s done.
Officially, the Whitecaps declined the 2012 contract option on Davies and the two parties were unable to come to terms on a new agreement. Should Davies choose to continue his career within Major League Soccer, Vancouver will have the right of first refusal for the player.
At least he can now get on with his career and if he excels then he may find himself back with the team at some point, although my money would be on the Impact making a move for him down the line.
Jarju’s release, and todays trade with Colorado for a further international spot, helps the team in that capacity, but Davies leaving now takes the Caps Canadian contingent down to the League minimum of three.
This could signal the signing of Residency fan favourite Ben Fisk to the MLS team, which many, AFTN included, would welcome.
The burning question that fans now have is whether Jarju’s DP spot will be filled.
Will a player from Martin Rennie’s UK scouting trip be making the move? Will Camilo be upgraded to that role? Or will the Caps just wait and see if they need someone or whether someone becomes available?
Whatever happens, it’s certainly been an interesting week in Vancouver. Who knows what next week will bring?!
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