The operative word surrounding the Vancouver Whitecaps to date this season might be inconsistency. The team's shown plenty of spectacular moments, including <a href="http://www.canadiansoccernews.com/content.php?1459-The-Miracle-On-Hastings-Street">an unbelievable comeback</a> to tie Sporting Kansas City 3-3 back in April and the last few minutes of <a href="http://www.canadiansoccernews.com/content.php?1656-Late-Goal-Salvages-another-Draw-for-the-Whitecaps">Wednesday's draw with the San Jose Earthquakes</a>, but they've also looked awfully bad at times, including for the vast majority of both of those games. They've turned in some great showings, but not consistently enough to come away with more than one victory (in the opener against Toronto), and they still only sit at eight points <a href="http://www.whitecapsfc.com/news/2011/05/whitecaps-fc-take-revolution-new-england-saturday"> on the season</a>, thanks to a 1-4-5 record that's left them <a href="http://www.mlssoccer.com/standings">eighth in the Western Conference</a> (ahead of only the aforementioned Earthquakes).
Those lacklustre results become even more concerning when you consider that the Whitecaps have already played 10 league matches, more than everyone ahead of them except the conference-leading Los Angeles Galaxy and two more than the Earthquakes (who are only two points back). If the Whitecaps keep achieving these kind of results all season, they very well could finish in the basement of the league.[PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
There are plenty of discouraging signs for the Whitecaps heading into today's match against New England (4:30 Pacific, TEAM 1410/Sportsnet Pacific) as well. Vancouver is just 0-3-1 away from Empire Field this season, and while the Revolution haven't been great overall this year (they're fifth in the Eastern Conference with a 2-3-4 record), much of their success has come at home, where they're 2-1-2. Moreover, the Whitecaps <a href="http://www.vancouversun.com/sports/soccer/Whitecaps+Rochat+turning+back+Revolution/4782314/story.html">will likely be without</a> superb defender Alain Rochat (fatigue) and <a href="http://www.vancouversun.com/sports/soccer/Vancouver+Whitecaps+England+Revolution+glance/4782309/story.html">designated player</a> Eric Hassli (hamstring injury), and they may or may not have Russell Teibert and Shea Salinas available. Fatigue's starting to take its toll on the team as well, and it's not going to get easier in the short term; this is Vancouver's fifth match in two full weeks (@Columbus April 30, vs. Montreal May 4, @Chicago May 7, vs. San Jose May 11, @New England May 14), and they have the first leg of the Nutrilite Canadian Championship (Voyageurs Cup) this coming Wednesday against Toronto FC. For a tired and injury-depleted squad three time zones away from home before a hostile crowd against a team that's very good on their own turf, this could be quite the challenge.
There are some positives in Vancouver's favour, though. The Whitecaps matched up well against New England in their previous showing at home, and mostly came away with a 1-1 draw thanks to a couple of red cards and a late Revolution goal. If they can keep their composure today and if New England plays like that again, things could work out well for them; they're not ridiculously outgunned from a pure personnel standpoint, although new Revolution acquisition and American international Benny Feilhaber could make a difference. Moreover, New England <a href="http://www.theprovince.com/sports/GAMEDAY+Whitecaps+England+Revolution/4781590/story.html">has plenty of injuries as well</a>, and they're not in particularly good form either; they've lost three of their last five outright and tied one. If the Whitecaps can find some energy and motivation and New England comes out flat, it's certainly possible to see Vancouver picking up at least a point here.
As for predicting the lineup, Jay Nolly looks likely to get the start in goal again. He's generally been pretty good, so there isn't much reason to make a change there unless head coach Teitur Thordarson wants to give him a rest. On defence, Jonathan Leathers looks set to hold down the right flank again, but Jay DeMerit <a href="http://www.eightysixforever.com/2011/5/14/2170981/whitecaps-game-day-men-new-england-4-30-pm-pdt">may be ready to return</a> centrally and partner with either Mouloud Akloul or Greg Janicki (likely Akloul, as Janicki could use the rest more). However, even if DeMerit does start, he <a href="http://www.theprovince.com/sports/soccer/Seat+sideline+been+tough+Whitecaps+DeMerit/4781508/story.html">likely won't play a complete 90 minutes</a>. If DeMerit isn't quite ready to go or leaves early, expect an Akloul-Janicki pairing again. Left back is probably Blake Wagner for the moment.
There are plenty of options in the midfield, but none of them are sure things. The Terry Dunfield - Jeb Brovsky pairing didn't look all that great against San Jose, so Gershon Koffie may spell Brovsky again. Davide Chiumiento, who <a href="http://rednationonline.ca/ChiumientocrossturnsgoalinCaps11draw.aspx">got his first goal midweek</a>, is probably playing on the left again (despite the aversion he's shown to it, <a href="http://www.canadiansoccernews.com/content.php?1668-Chiumiento-fracas-indicates-nothing-except-his-own-ego">as Ben described</a>), while the right flank could be Salinas, Teibert or Nizar Khalfan. The strike force is more assured, as only Omar Salgado and Camilo appear to be healthy at the moment (there's also Long Tan, but he hasn't shown much). It's not a bad lineup, but it's certainly not a first-choice one if everyone's healthy. That hasn't been the case since the season started, though, so we'll see if this group's good enough to pick up a point or three.
Predictions? Leave them in the comments below. I'll go with a 1-1 draw.