Whitecaps set to host Houston Dynamo as Vancouver kicks off busy stretch
VANCOUVER — Carl Robinson raised his arm above his head to make a point while addressing the Vancouver Whitecaps in the middle of their training pitch this week.
The head coach’s message was clear for all to see — every player needs to be at their highest level or they will quickly find themselves on the bench with the club set to embark on a critical run of three matches in just over a week, beginning Saturday against the Houston Dynamo at B.C. Place Stadium.
Coming off a 1-1-1 road trip that culminated in a 1-0 loss to the New England Revolution, the Whitecaps (9-9-4) sit a point back of the final playoff spot in Major League Soccer’s Western Conference, but have at least two games in hand on five of the six teams ahead of them in the congested standings.
“Games in hand are irrelevant if you don’t pick up points,” said Robinson. “We’ve been away for a while, we’ve picked up points on the road. We’ve played really well in games and got nothing from them, and we probably didn’t deserve to win games (that) we have won.