Make Vancouver Great Again: A (Mostly) Costed Plan to Make The Whitecaps Competitive in 2019

The Vancouver Whitecaps are at a crossroads in their history. They are having perhaps their most disheartening season in the MLS era and have sold their best player. But, as your Aunt no doubt frequently reminds you on Facebook, the Chinese use the same word for crisis as they do for opportunity (this represents a bit of a misunderstanding of the Chinese language but it’s the thought that counts). With the money that will be brought in from the sale of Canadian wonder kid Alphonso Davies (and a number of players on expiring contracts) the Whitecaps have a chance to rebuild and to make sure the 2019 season is a better one. There are, of course, some questions about weather or not the club has the ability to make such a turnaround. We know, for example, that there are some internal limits of spending. We also know, based on what the ‘Caps have said in various venues, that they want to be a development focused club, they want to be an efficient club, and that they want to move into the upper 3rd of spending next year but won’t spend to the level of Atlanta or T.F.C. This may not be what we want but it is the reality of the situation so analysis of future moves should be made with these stated goals in mind. Despite these limitations the Whitecaps can put together a competitive team next year. It will require some luck and full commitment to the principles they’ve set down but I believe it can be done. I’ve put together a (mostly) costed proposal of how the ‘Caps can be good in 2019 without breaking the bank.

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