With MLS pausing due to the FIFA World Cup, the Vancouver Whitecaps and all the other clubs have essentially reached the halfway point of the season.
Some MLS players will be representing their countries at the World Cup. All the others will get a much-needed break.
The Whitecaps are in a good spot heading into the World Cup break. They have a 10-2-2 record and 32 points, which has them first in the Western Conference and (They are tied with San Jose on points but have a higher goal differential.) are second in the Supporters Shield race behind Nashville SC, who have 33 points.
Vancouver’s 34 goals are tied for the third-highest in MLS, and they have conceded just 12 goals, which is the third-lowest in MLS. A lot can change between now and the end of the season, but it seems the Whitecaps are poised to have a better season than last year.
There is still uncertainty surrounding the club’s future in Vancouver, and the #SaveTheCaps campaign has been in full swing. However, life seems good on the pitch.
It is time for our bi-annual player ratings. If you don’t know how this works, we’ll take every single Whitecaps player and give them a rating out of 10 and explain why in five sentences or fewer.
Some players won’t get a rating because they have made fewer than five appearances. They are Ranko Veselinovic, Sebastian Schonlau, Isaac Boehmer, JC Ngando and Nikola Djordjevic.
You can agree or disagree with our ratings as much as you want.
Goalkeeper
Yohei Takaoka: 9/10:
Takaoka has been risky with the ball at his feet and has given up the odd bad goal. But other than that, he’s continuing to prove he’s one of the MLS’s best goalkeepers. Takaoka has come up big with his saves and distribution.
Defenders
Tristan Blackmon: 9.5/10:
Blackmon, the reigning MLS Defender of the Year, has been a defensive stalwart again this season, continuing to excel at progressing the ball up the pitch.
Mathias Laborda: 9/10:
It seems Laborda is having his best season as a Whitecap. The Uruguayan centre-back has been vital at both ends of the pitch with his defensive awareness and aerial ability. He is also very good when it comes to set pieces, as he has three goals in MLS this season.
Ralph Priso: 9.5/10:
Due to his hamstring injury, Priso has only made six MLS appearances this season. However,he has excelled in each game he has played. Priso has been very good defensively and with his passing. He has been called up for Canada’s pre-World Cup camp, and Jesse Marsch has said Priso has a “real shot” of making the World Cup squad.
Tate Johnson: 9/10:
Johnson is showing no signs of a sophomore slump. The 20-year-old left back has started 11 of 12 MLS appearances, tracking back well and contributing to the attack overloads. He’s already looking like an MLS veteran.
Edier Ocampo: 9/10:
The Colombian right-back has also made big steps this season. While there were times when he got flat-footed defensively, he’s been mostly great at both ends of the pitch.
Mihail Gherasimencov: 7/10
The Moldovan left-back has only made six appearances, and two of them were starts. Gherasimencov has not looked out of place. He’s been doing the simple things when it comes to moving the ball forward and defending.
Midfielders:
Sebastian Berhalter: 10/10
Berhalter has been the Whitecaps best player this season. He’s been scoring goals, assisting and putting in the defensive work. He has reportedly been called up to the US team for the World Cup, and it is very well deserved. But will Berhalter still be a Whitecap after the summer?
Andrés Cubas: 9.5/10
Other than a lot of yellow cards (some deserved, others not so much), Cubas continues to be vital to the Whitecaps success. Very few players in MLS intercept the ball better than Cubas. The Paraguayan international is second in the league in tackles per 90 minutes. (5.4)
Jeevan Badwal: 7.5/10
Badwal has been playing as a midfielder, winger and number 10. For the most part, he’s done a fine job. Badwal’s dribbling and defensive play have been solid, but he needs to work on his finishing and play in the final third. There is still a lot of room to grow for the Surrey native.
Oliver Larraz: 7/10
On most MLS teams, Larraz would be a starter. The former Colorado Rapid has been a serviceable depth player for the ‘Caps. He’s been good defensively and is great at long passes.
Thomas Müller: 9.5/10:
The 2014 World Cup winner has had a couple of off games, but other than that, Müller has been great. The Raumdeuter has consistently orchestrated the attack for the Whitecaps and has continued to be a leader on and off the pitch.
Wingers and Forwards:
Brian White: 9/10:
It’s only May, and White has already scored 10 goals this season and is six away from tying his career high set last year. He’s had a few dry spells this season, but once again, White has proven that they don’t define who he is as a player. White is still one of MLS’s elite strikers.
Rayan Elloumi: 4/10:
It does seem harsh to give Elloumi this low of a score since all of his 10 appearances have been off the bench, and he’s only played a total of 81 minutes a season. However, he hasn’t made the most of those minutes and has not looked threatening in front of goal. That being said, the Tunisian international still has potential and more playing time could benefit him. Perhaps the Whitecaps send him out on loan and bring in an experienced backup this summer?
Emmanuel Sabbi: 5/10:
Maybe it’s because he’s generally a slow starter, but Sabbi hasn’t been great to start the season. He’s been lacking the finishing, and his passes have been off. Sabbi recently had sports hernia surgery, and perhaps coming back healthy could bring back the second-half and playoff spark from 2025.
Cheikh Sabaly: 3/10
It seems Sabaly still hasn’t adjusted to MLS and Canadian life. No matter what side of the wings he has played, he has looked lost and out of sync with his teammates. Perhaps the break could be beneficial for him. If he doesn’t pick it up, the fact that he makes over a million dollars isn’t going to look good.
Aziel Jackson AKA AZ: 5/10:
AZ started off well with a goal in the Whitecaps MLS opener against Real Salt Lake. Since then, he has just tallied one assist and hasn’t offered a whole lot. His loan from the Polish side Jagiellonia Białystok is until June, and the option to buy is more than likely not to get picked up.
Kenji Cabrera: 6/10:
Cabrera is also a player with a ton of potential. So far this season, he has shown flashes of the player he can be, but he needs to be more consistent. While Cabrera can be effective as a left winger, it would be nice to see him play as a 10 one of these days, especially when Müller needs rest.
Bruno Caicedo: 8/10:
Caicedo has already become a Whitecaps fan favourite. The 21-year-old Ecuadorian winger has amazed fans with his speed, agility and creativity. He isn’t a polished player yet, but Caicedo’s career is being watched with great interest.
