If you had to pick one word to describe this year's Whitecaps season so far, "entertaining" would be an excellent choice. Their 1-1 midweek draw with New England might have been <a href="http://www.canadiansoccernews.com/content.php?1483-Whitecaps-1-Revs-1-Bizarre-game-leaves-Vancouver-with-a-point">their strangest game to date</a>, but it faces plenty of competition for the title of most interesting from the likes of <a href="http://www.canadiansoccernews.com/content.php?1459-The-Miracle-On-Hastings-Street">the 3-3 draw against Kansas City</a> (featuring two stoppage-time goals) and <a href="http://www.canadiansoccernews.com/content.php?1382-Thoughts-from-a-tumultuous-Whitecaps-opener">the 4-2 win over Toronto FC</a> in the season opener. Even <a href="http://www.canadiansoccernews.com/content.php?1414-10-man-Whitecaps-fall-to-Union">the 1-0 loss in Philadelphia</a> was more entertaining than the scoreline might suggest, particularly considering the way Vancouver adapted to Eric Hassli's dismissal. If <a href="http://www.whitecapsfc.com/news/2011/04/whitecaps-fc-head-texas-face-houston-dynamo-sunday">today's clash in Houston</a> (4 p.m. Pacific, Sportsnet/Team 1410) follows the script, it should certainly be well worth watching.[PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
One of the notable storylines heading into this one is the presence of top draft pick Omar Salgado, who's available for selection by the Whitecaps thanks to the U.S.'s <a href="http://www.matchfitusa.com/2011/04/aftermath-us-u-20-world-cup-failure.html">ignominious exit from U-20 World Cup qualifying</a>. Salgado may make his Whitecaps debut today, and he may do it in his native Texas. <a href="http://www.theprovince.com/sports/Salgado+excited+prospect+making+debut+home+state/4589820/story.html">Marc Weber</a> and <a href="http://www.vancouversun.com/sports/soccer/Game+Whitecaps+call+Salgado+Houston+with+hopes+earn+playing+debut/4589588/story.html">Bruce Constantineau</a> both have pieces on Salgado's potential debut, which certainly should be an interesting aspect of this game. Salgado's only 17, but he's got plenty of talent, so he may be able to make an immediate impact in front of his family and friends. What will be most notable is how he looks, though; Salgado is one of the young talents who should be a huge part of this club's future, so he doesn't need to produce goals immediately, but if he can do some positive things and showcase his skills in the time he gets, he could make a case that he deserves a chance to become an important contributor to this year's team as well.
It's worth noting that the Salgado storyline is only part of Sunday's clash, though. He's a crucial part of the team's future, and it will certainly be interesting to see how he does at the MLS level, but he isn't expected to start despite Eric Hassli's suspension. The future's important, but there are still three points up for grabs this weekend, and they may yet prove very significant to this current season. With Salgado likely coming off the bench, he may still make an impact, but he probably isn't going to have a huge role in the outcome of this game.
On the lineup front, Camilo and Atiba Harris should get the start up front again, and they looked pretty effective together against New England. The larger issues are in the middle of the pitch; after sticking together for the first four games in central midfield, both Terry Dunfield and Gershon Koffie will be unavailable against the Dynamo. Kevin Harmse <a href="http://www.vancouversun.com/sports/soccer/Short+handed+Whitecaps+Houston/4585939/story.html">is likely to nab one of the midfield slots</a>, but who will pair with him is an open question. John Thorrington is capable, but is still dealing with a calf injury. The Whitecaps do have a small surplus of wingers thanks to Russell Teibert's return, so Nizar Khalfan or Davide Chiumiento could slide into the centre, but perhaps the most intriguing option may be <a href="http://communities.canada.com/theprovince/blogs/backofthenet/archive/2011/04/07/caps-set-for-midfield-experiment-in-houston.aspx">moving Alain Rochat up from defence</a>. Rochat <a href="http://communities.canada.com/theprovince/blogs/backofthenet/archive/2011/04/09/what-we-learned-04-08-11.aspx">has arguably been the team's MVP so far</a>, and he's shown tremendous touch on the ball and attacking ability as both a wingback and a centre back, so he might be a nice fit in the middle of the park. That could lead to Chiumiento and Teibert starting on the wings with Khalfan in reserve, and that looks like quite a formidable attacking lineup.
If Rochat does move up, the Whitecaps will need a replacement in defence. Jonathan Leathers has been a solid fixture at right back so far, and Blake Wagner has been pretty good on the left when called upon, so those two seem likely to hold their spots. (Rochat may be best as a left back, but it seems more likely that he'll play in central defence or central midfield this week, as the Whitecaps have less options at those positions and he could be very good at both.) In the middle of the defence, Greg Janicki appears to probably still be out, but Jay DeMerit <a href="http://www.vancouversun.com/sports/soccer/Whitecaps+Dynamo+Glance/4586004/story.html">could be set to return</a>, and Michael Boxall was certainly pretty solid last week. Both Jay Nolly and Joe Cannon have looked good in goal in their appearances thus far, but I wouldn't be surprised to see Nolly get another start after his superb midweek showing.
On the Dynamo front, Houston's off to a pretty rough start so far. They're <a href="http://www.mlssoccer.com/standings">last among the East's nine teams</a> at the moment with a 0-1-2 record through three games. However, they've played less games than most MLS teams, and their goal differential is only -1 (thanks to a 1-0 loss to East-leading Philadelphia in their season opener). They're not exactly a team that can be written off easily, and <a href="http://www.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter-preview/whitecaps-head-texas-face-winless-dynamo">they've got plenty of talent</a>. Bryan Ching <a href="http://www.vancouversun.com/sports/soccer/Game+Whitecaps+call+Salgado+Houston+with+hopes+earn+playing+debut/4589588/story.html">is likely out</a>, but they still have players like Geoff Cameron and Will Bruin, and they'll be eager to try and notch their first win of the season before the Robertson Stadium crowd. We'll see if they're able to pull that off against Vancouver.