Please note that we will be selling away trip packages for Seattle and Portland as well as individual tickets to both away games at the merchandise table at Doolin's.

We are also planning to have some Canadian Women's National Team tifo that we are bringing to the bar so people can sign. We will be giving it to the national team when they return to Vancouver.

So we've had a two-week break and I'm psyched for what is a crucial game - but am I wrong in thinking that there is zero marketing buzz for this game?

Chris said: It says in that article that only Barbara will miss both. Mitchell, Richards, Mattocks and Teibert will only be unavailable for the Wednesday match.

AH Yes! thanks Chris, I must have been reading too fast this morning. Will edit.

Cheers!!

Jay_Duke said: Interesting selection option for Rennie this match. Is Miller fit enought to start? If he is, does Mattocks find himself on the bench? Or do we do the 4-4-1-1?

My hunch is Mattocks gets the start tomorrow, and Miller gets his first start vs Dallas.

A profile of Brad Knighton on the CBC web site today. http://www.cbc.ca/sports/soccer/story/2012/08/11/sp-soccer-mls-vancouver-whitecaps-real-salt-lake-preview.html

Hah!

Camilo!! what a nice goal.

An richards with a nice strike. 2-0 up. Rennie and the players have certainly made BC Place a fortress this year. 6 wins, 1 loss, 4 draws. Hoping it will be 7 wins after this game.

Wow, what a game. So many things happened...

Demerit out after collision with Knighton. O'Brien comes in and plays incredibly solid for what...70 minutes? Miller gets more minutes. Teibert gets some time on the field.

Wednesday though...Koffie out from yellow card accumulation. Demerit looks questionable. No Mattocks or Richards.

Interesting week...

Then Saturday down here in Seattle!!

Thorrington is healthy. Ulisses isn't even in town yet. I bet Thor starts and Alderson has just a chance of picking splinters out of his ass for 90 minutes.

O'Brien played a cracker IMHO as did Bonjour again. Poor old Jay was out for the count - can't believe they let him play...

Camilo was had a great game. Knighton seemed solid - can't be blamed for the goal.

Gersh - great game. Davidson played well.

Richards goal was special eh.

Wow. Whale of a game from everybody who got on the pitch for us tonight. Hard to pick 3 players who stood out. Everyone did. A backup keeper and new CB both thrown into the fray and played very well if not downright excellent. Camillo, Richards and Mattocks are proving to be a real handful for teams. The center of the field was a no man's land due to our marauding mids.

Just an all around great game for the whole team. Well done everyone. 3 points is so nice. Against the second best team in the conf and 3rd in the league we take full points and it wasn't a fluke. That was a great team effort. Not perfect but great all around.

Stupid Question,

Was Sylvestre even on the bench? He didnt jog with the reserves or kick around at halftime and i didnt notice him get up when knighton was hurt....

Nice win. Thought even before the goal Camillo was playing quite well, and the goal was well-deserved. On the flip side, thought Richards was awful before he scored. His first touch is poor, his crossing worse. But his speed does make him dangerous, and both goals have been very good strikes, so he has contributed.

Thought Bonjour and Lee were quite good, and it was nice to see Tiebert get some time as well.

Some interesting decisions for Wednesday.

And one small pet peeve - enough noise gets made it can barely be heard, but do we really have to have that stupid GOOOAAAAALLLLLL shout over the PA when we score. A. It's bloody obvious its a goal, B. That whole call is trite garbage to begin with. Just let the crowd react, even the quiet sections react to a goal.

And one small pet peeve - enough noise gets made it can barely be heard, but do we really have to have that stupid GOOOAAAAALLLLLL shout over the PA when we score. A. It's bloody obvious its a goal, B. That whole call is trite garbage to begin with. Just let the crowd react, even the quiet sections react to a goal.

agreed but nothing will get done. Also great to see Alle-o going for a decent amount of time...

Watching highlights Richards was way less open than I thought when seeing it live. Excellent finish! Also Espindela is a first rate tosser!

Tale of two halfs? Awkward first half, got beat to the ball on most 50-50's. Great pressure from RSL. Espindola a handfull. Looked like RSL was the home team. O'Brien. I was worried....confidence/hadn't played in a while.Fabulous performance. Makes whoever was responsible for this move look brilliant. Stepped in and didn't put a foot wrong. Camillo looked threatening, but not much for offence. This team NEEDS to learn how close out a game. Another late goal(denying Brad the shutout) I've seen SEA/LA/SJ go for the throat after being up a couple goals, while we settle down and ask/soak pressure. Like I heard from above me...........2 is not enough. Good final result

O'Brien imo showed the difference between ex Championship level and MLS. Solid no fuss defending. Organizing the defence, MLS still has a way to go to catch up. Bonjour and De Merit should be looking over their shoulders, their positions are no longer secure.

BledforDays said: OB was awesome tonight. Calm, cool and collected. He totally bossed the defense didn't get caught ball watching. When I saw him positioning Bonjour and Lee, I knew we were good. I was watching him off the ball and he is fucking unbelievably solid. he is the key to the puzzle we've been looking for.

Dallas have a few tricky speed merchants - this will be a true test for OB - tough coming before he's truly in game shape.

Peacock said: O'Brien imo showed the difference between ex Championship level and MLS. Solid no fuss defending. Organizing the defence, MLS still has a way to go to catch up. Bonjour and De Merit should be looking over their shoulders, their positions are no longer secure.

Where do you think DeMerit played?

ynwasouthside said: better lifestyle than Burnley

I'm going to get this on a T shirt

slamo said: I'm surprised no one is mentioning Robson. For me it was his second best game with the club. He did what a class CM does and controlled the center of the pitch, earned fouls, moved the ball, won challenges, limited turnovers, worked the defensive end and never gave up on a play. This is how he needs to play if we are going to win.

You forgot "praised teammates." :)

slamo said: I'm surprised no one is mentioning Robson. For me it was his second best game with the club. He did what a class CM does and controlled the center of the pitch, earned fouls, moved the ball, won challenges, limited turnovers, worked the defensive end and never gave up on a play. This is how he needs to play if we are going to win.

He played very good but was part of a midfield trio that made the center of the field a no man's land. Maybe that is why. JMD, Gersh & Robo all did their parts and I was very impressed with the overlaps that Gersh and Robo did. You go forward I'll stay back, now my turn. Always someone back to help defend, no blown zone coverages. Very solid but to me it was the trio that made it work more than any individual player.

I agree he didn't boss it, but I'd argue when he "bosses" it with a 5 man midfield the team is not as good. An "average" game from a superior player usually translates to victory. Average means consistent. Good point about Morales, but RSL is arguably the best midfield team in MLS and it's not like Gil is Vagenas. If Robson plays like that and pots a few with his left foot - he'll be more than worth the salary and DP spot IMO.

slamo said: Didn't want to start that one up again. ;-) but yeah. He was a stud yesterday.

He did bark at Rochat once in the second half when Alain picked out somebody else rather than give him the ball. Rochat was kind of funny, he very clearly gave Robson the "calm down" signal with his left hand, and they appeared to sort it from there.

I didn't think he was especially good Saturday, but he was okay, and as you say, maybe that's for the best. And even on a bad day, his work rate and calmness on the ball are impressive.

And full credit to Davidson, too. I thought he was much more active in breaking up play, rather than simply shielding the back four passively.