2007 Vancouver Whitecaps FC season

Vancouver Whitecaps FC
2007 season
Chairman Greg Kerfoot
Manager Bob Lilley
Stadium Swangard Stadium
2007 USL-1 7th
Highest home attendance 5,539
July 14 vs MI
Lowest home attendance 4,561
Aug 25 vs CH
Average home league attendance 5,135
Home colours
Away colours
← 2006 2008 →

The 2007 Vancouver Whitecaps FC season was the club's 22nd year of existence (or 32nd if counting the NASL Whitecaps), as well as their 15th as a Division 2 club in the franchise model of US-based soccer leagues. After their championship 2006 season despite a number of lingering injuries, the Whitecaps started well and led the league going undefeated until late May. However, with the sudden departure to England of starting goalkeeper Tony Caig and unexpected early season loss of Serge Djekanovic to MLS, the Whitecaps had goalkeeping instability as they gave significant minutes to four goalkeepers in 2007. Combined with injuries, the club never recovered from the challenging schedule due to 2007 FIFA U-20 venue conflicts, the team finished 7th in the USL-1, set a club record twelve game streak without a win, subsequently executed a blockbuster four player trade of 2006 USL MVP Joey Gjertsen, and midfielder David Testo for role players Ze Roberto and Surrey, BC native Alen Marcina, and set a club record for number of draws with twelve. A run of games at home to end the season in seventh place (in the playoffs due to a 2007 format change) and the resolution of injuries left the Whitecaps competitive in the second season of the playoffs. They lost a close playoff series to rival Portland Timbers with a 1-0 home leg getting overturned in a much closer than the score indicated 3–0 second leg loss (in which right back Geordie Lyall suffered a broken leg) to finish their disappointing season. Coach Bob Lilley was released at the end of the playoffs before the LA Galaxy friendly.[1]

Local rivals Seattle (2005 Champion) and Portland both had strong seasons with Seattle capturing league and playoff titles. The schedule was not balanced; it was home and away versus each side with additional matches against Seattle, Portland, Minnesota, and expansion side San Francisco based California Victory. Average attendance increased again and remained above 5,000. Three double-headers were played with the Whitecaps Women, the USL W-League. The season's results for both the men's and women's teams may have been disappointing compared to the club's historical competitive norm, but off the field the club was strengthening its foundations.

2007 club growth

A number of factors raised the profile of the Whitecaps beginning in 2007. First after reaching the semi-final stage a number of times, the Whitecaps USL-1 championship in 2006, the first since the CSL four-peat in the early 1990s, gave the club a higher profile. Second Canada hosting the 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup was significant for building media credibility and soccer infrastructure across the country with stadiums built in Toronto (National Soccer Stadium), approved in Montreal (Saputo Stadium opened in 2008), and partially approved in Vancouver (Whitecaps Waterfront Stadium approved by City of Vancouver pending resolution of Port of Metro Vancouver land transfer).[2] Third the start of play and off-field success of Toronto FC encouraged speculation that Vancouver would pursue a Division 1 MLS franchise.[3][4] Fourth one of the two local rivals of the Whitecaps, the Seattle Sounders, over the course of 2007 had more and more credible rumors of being announced as a 2009 MLS expansion side; this was announced November 13, 2007.[5][6] Fifth David Beckham signed for the Los Angeles Galaxy giving soccer significant and sustained North American media attention as well as national legitimacy.[7] Sixth helped by connections to the LA Galaxy coaching staff, there was ongoing speculation in the local newspapers about a LA Galaxy-Whitecaps friendly almost from when the David Beckham signing was announced.[8] On April 17 Whitecaps announced the friendly against David Beckham and the LA Galaxy for October 3 at 60,000 seat BC Place Stadium. Despite marketing impacts from an August injury, he played, and it was a 0–0 draw played in front of 48,172 spectators.[9] Seventh the Whitecaps started a club for local business leaders to advise and advocate for the team called Kickstarters.[10]

The 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup impacted the Whitecaps’ season with a six-game road trip from June 22 to July 7 kicked off a lull in form where the team went 1-7-5 (W-D-L) and didn’t recover until a six-game home stand beginning in mid August.[11] However, as well as media exposure, the U-20 World Cup also spurred $300,000 upgrades to Swangard Stadium including 1,500 individual seats with backs and 36 VIP seats replacing a section of the grandstand's bleachers, better stadium lighting, and better access and egress within the stadium.[12][13] The upgrades in seating and access/egress reduced Swangard Stadium's capacity from 5,722 to 5,288.[14]

Schedule and results

Tables

  Commissioner's Cup, quarterfinal round of playoffs
  Quarterfinal round of playoffs

Pos Club Pts Pld W L T GF GA GD
1Seattle Sounders 542816663723+14
2Portland Timbers 512814593218+14
3Montreal Impact 502814683221+11
4Atlanta Silverbacks 432812974030+10
5Rochester Raging Rhinos 4228121063936+3
6Puerto Rico Islanders 4028108103534+1
7Vancouver Whitecaps 392897122724+3
8Carolina RailHawks 322881282434−10
9Miami FC 312891543141−10
10Charleston Battery 302881463239−7
11Minnesota Thunder 2628512113235−3
12California Victory 192841771743−26
OverallHomeAway
PldPtsWL TGFGAGDWL TGFGAGDWL TGFGAGD
28 39 9 7 12 27 24  +3 5 3 6 15 13  +2 4 4 6 12 11  +1

Last updated: April 26, 2010
Source: uslsoccer.com
Pld = Matches played; Pts = Points; W = Matches won; T = Matches tied; L = Matches lost; GF = Goals for; GA = Goals against; GD = Goal difference

Pre-season

  Win   Draw   Loss

The preseason schedule was announced March 14, 2007 along with a four-week training camp at Simon Fraser University.[15]

USL-1

Results by round

Round12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728
GroundHHAAAAHHAAHAAAAAAHAHHAHHHHAA
Result W D D W W W W L D L W W D D D L L L L D D D D L W W D D

Last updated: February 28, 2014.
Source:
Ground: A = Away; H = Home. Result: T = Tie; L = Loss; W = Win; P = Postponed.

Results by Round Source[16]

Post-season

Voyageurs Cup

Voyageur Cup standings

Prior to 2008, from when it has been awarded to the Canadian Championship winners, the men's title was decided on regular-season matches between Canada's USL First Division sides.

Year Rank Teams Pts Pld W L D GF GA GD
2007 1 Montreal Impact 42101202
2 Vancouver Whitecaps 1201102-2

Cascadia Cup

See also: Cascadia Cup
2007
Team Pts Pld W L D GF GA GD
Seattle Sounders 8420274+3
Vancouver Whitecaps 3401323-1
Portland Timbers 3401324-2

Staff

Bob Lenarduzzi succeeded John Rocha in the off season as president. John Rocha stepped down in August 2006 to focus on the 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup as Vancouver site chairman while continuing to support the Whitecaps in a consulting role.[17]

Soccer operations

Business operations

Youth program

Event management

Current roster

It was a low-scoring year with many players used over the 28 game schedule. Only three players logged 2000 minutes or more; Tony Donatelli led the Whitecaps with 27 appearances. Eduardo Sebrango led the Whitecaps with seven goals and was in a six way tie for seventh among the USL-1 goal scorers while Martin Nash was tied for third in the USL-1 with six assists in the league.[18]

Player movement

Centre back Ryan Suarez retired due family commitments; in 2006 he was a late season addition to a defense that allowed no goals in playoffs.[19]

Victoria, BC native and eight year Whitecaps right back Geordie Lyall inked a contract with League 2 side Walsall F.C. in December 2006.[20] He wasn’t playing with Walsall FC towards the end of their season however and by mid May was being pursued by the Whitecaps.[21]

Defender Lyle Martin from California was announced on March 26.[22]

Due to injury recovery to forwards Joey Gjertsen and Jason Jordan, the Whitecaps signed forward Joel Baily as insurance on March 29. Baily had been a strike partner of Eduardo Sebrango's previously in Montreal under coach Lilley.[23]

The Whitecaps traded Sita-Taty Matondo back to Montreal Impact for Jason McLaughlin just as preseason was concluding.[24]

With the transition in the back line given the losses of Ryan Suarez and Geordie Lyall plus early season injuries to Steve Klein, the Whitecaps also brought in centre back Narcisse Tchoumi-Tchandja on April 12, 2007.[25]

The signing of two local players defender Nigel Marples of North Delta and Surrey goalkeeper Tyler Baldock was announced April 24.[26]

Goalkeeper Srdjan Djekanović was signed April 27 by Division 1 side Toronto FC after a one-week trial to back up Greg Sutton.[27] The Whitecaps signed former Toronto Lynx goalkeeper Richard Goddard to the new backup goalkeeper position on April 27.

As of the end of the season.[28]

Goalkeeper stats

No. Nat. Player Total USL-1 Playoffs
MIN SV GA GAA SO MIN SV GA GAA SO MIN SV GA GAA SO
1 England Tony Caig 990 32 9 0.818 3 990 32 9 0.818 3
1 United States Matthew Nelson 450 14 4 0.80 3 270 7 1 0.333 2 180 7 3 1.50 1
29 Trinidad and Tobago Richard Goddard 968 26 10 0.929 4 968 26 10 0.929 4
29 Germany Lutz Pfannenstiel 292 5 4 0.1.232 1 292 5 4 1.232 1

|} Last updated: October 20, 2013
Source:

Player statistics

No. Pos. Name Apps Minutes Goals Assists Shots Fouls
1GKEngland Tony Caig 11990000000
1GKUnited States Matthew Nelson 5450000000
2DFCanada Jeff Clarke 26224910122760
2MFUnited States Steve Klein 24(2)2209114911
4DFCanada Adrian Cann 26(1)7420011420
6MFUnited States James Alberts 8(13)80221121010
7MFCanada Martin Nash 26(1)217936233630
8 DFCanada Steve Kindel 23(1)203503132440
9MFCanada Alfredo Valente 15(11)124622273350
11FWCanada Alen Marcina 5(2)408115410
11MFUnited States David Testo 13(3)101211103200
12FWCuba Eduardo Sebrango 13(5)113971321610
13MFCanada Geordie Lyall 11(4)9610171310
14MFUnited States Tony Donatelli 24(5)211142472920
15MFUnited States Jason McLaughlin 5(16)59501132220
16DFCameroon Narcisse Tchoumi-Tchandja 6(3)4700011720
17MFBrazil Ze Roberto 86590081010
17MFUnited States Joey Gjertsen 15(4)136531361110
18DFCanada Graham Smith 0(4)85000000
18MFUnited States Josh Hansen 8(1)5190081010
19FWUnited States Martin Johnston 0(2)13000000
20DFCanada David Morris 7(13)6640071610
22DFCanada Nigel Marples 1(1)7400000
23FWTrinidad and Tobago Joel John Bailey 6(8)60301112410
24DFUnited States Lyle Martin 19(5)15670061820
25MFUnited States Sola Abolaji (1)29000000
26FWCanada Jason Jordan 5(7)3902110510
27MFCanada Stefan Leslie 1(5)10600300
28DFCanada Diaz Kambere 10(6)933003940
29GKTrinidad and Tobago Richard Goddard 11968000000
29GKGermany Lutz Pfannenstiel 3(1)292000000
—–Opponent Own goals ––1–––––

Updated February 28, 2014[29][30]

References

  1. ↑ "Wawrousek reviews 2007 USL-1 season". whitecapsfc.com. September 27, 2007. Retrieved March 12, 2014.
  2. ↑ "caps have image to cultivate and project to sell". The Vancouver Province. April 23, 2007. Retrieved March 11, 2014.
  3. ↑ Stinson, Dan (November 7, 2007). "BC trails Seattle in MLS expansion". The Vancouver Sun. Retrieved March 11, 2014.
  4. ↑ Jamieson (August 8, 2007). "Whitecaps unaware of MLS talks – Major League Soccer has Vancouver in its gunsights". The Vancouver Province. Retrieved March 11, 2014.
  5. ↑ "It's official: Seattle to get MLS team in 2009". The Seattle Times. November 14, 2007. Archived from the original on November 14, 2007. Retrieved March 20, 2012.
  6. ↑ Moroney, Laurence (November 13, 2007). "MLS announces expansion in Seattle". Major League Soccer. Retrieved March 20, 2012.
  7. ↑ Galindo, Erick (May 16, 2013). "Measuring David Beckman's impact on American soccer". twcsportsnet.com. Retrieved March 11, 2014.
  8. ↑ "About that friendly game". The Vancouver Province. January 12, 2007. Retrieved March 11, 2014.
  9. ↑ Soccer United Marketing – Major League Soccer pg 16. "2011 Whitecaps Media Guide" (PDF). Retrieved March 11, 2014.
  10. ↑ "Everything's coming up roses for Lenarduzzi". The Vancouver Province. February 23, 2007. Retrieved March 11, 2014.
  11. ↑ "World Cup under-20s force Caps to adjust". The Vancouver Sun. January 26, 2007. Retrieved March 11, 2014.
  12. ↑ "Whitecaps open in April at upgraded Swangard". Vancouver Province. January 26, 2007. Retrieved March 11, 2014.
  13. ↑ "Playoff format overhauled". The Vancouver Sun. April 20, 2007. Retrieved March 14, 2014.
  14. ↑ Soccer United Marketing – Major League Soccer pg 150. "2011 Whitecaps Media Guide" (PDF). Retrieved March 11, 2014.
  15. ↑ Demosphere International (March 14, 2007). "Championship 'Caps set preseason schedule". uslsoccer.com. Retrieved March 10, 2014.
  16. ↑ "USL First Division 2007 Full Schedule". Demosphere International. Retrieved February 24, 2014.
  17. ↑ "Preparations run full steam ahead". Vancouver Province. December 27, 2006. Retrieved March 11, 2014.
  18. ↑ Demosphere. "USL First Division–Top 10 Stats Leaders". uslsoccer.com. Retrieved February 20, 2014.
  19. ↑ "Whitecaps will defend USL championship without Suarez". The Vancouver Province. November 23, 2006. Retrieved March 11, 2014.
  20. ↑ Ewen, Steve (December 21, 2006). "Loss of Lyall Leaves Lilley Unfazed". The Vancouver Province. Retrieved March 11, 2014.
  21. ↑ Stinson, Dan (May 16, 2007). "Lilley eyeing Lyall". The Vancouver Sun. Retrieved March 14, 2014.
  22. ↑ "Whitecaps secure two more players". The Vancouver Sun. March 26, 2007. Retrieved March 11, 2014.
  23. ↑ "Vancouver adds depth on forward line". The Vancouver Province. March 30, 2007. Retrieved March 11, 2014.
  24. ↑ Stinson, Dan (April 11, 2007). "New Cap hopes to stay here for at least a little while". The Vancouver Sun. Retrieved March 11, 2014.
  25. ↑ Stinson, Dan (April 21, 2007). "Door opens for fleet feet". The Vancouver Sun. Retrieved March 11, 2014.
  26. ↑ Stinson, Dan (April 25, 2007). "Whitecaps wannabe requires patience". The Vancouver Sun. Retrieved March 11, 2014.
  27. ↑ Stinson, Dan (May 2, 2007). "Wait-and-see turns into gig with Toronto FC". The Vancouver Sun. Retrieved March 11, 2014.
  28. ↑
  29. ↑ "2007 Statistics". Retrieved February 28, 2014.
  30. ↑ "Full Schedule". Retrieved February 28, 2014.

External links

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