Is this the best opportunity for the Whitecaps to win the MLS cup?

This might sound insane, but this might actually be the best chance for Vancouver to witness a MLS cup win. As due to contracts and other stuff, things might turn for the worst next season.

This team

It's rare that the Whitecaps has such a talented team as this, a team from the village and a rather smaller market in Major League Soccer. As the talent and the soccer ability in this team might even be the best Whitecaps team of the MLS era, as the entertainment and I feel like some enjoyment that you experience as a Caps fan currently has been higher than ever, with the last minute deadline day acquisitions of Laryea and Adekugbe who are wing-backs, it feels like the money you got from selling Alphonso Davies is finally being to used well. As during these 4 games, even though none of them so far has gotten a goal contribution so far, you just feel like both of the players respectively has done superb over these 4 games, as the impact that Richie Laryea and Sam Adekugbe has made in the limited time has been immaculate. While you simply cannot forget the combination between Brian White and Ryan Gauld, who are the I would say the main stars of Vancouver, especially Ryan Gauld as his playmaking, skill and leadership has led the Whitecaps to success this season. While you still have Andres Cubas as a very great CDM, as he plays that role almost perfectly as his defending is spectacular and important to this team. While you have the defender Ranko Veselinovic, who is great with headers and solid defensively. With the goalkeeper being Yohei Takaoka, who has been kinda worse than the beginning of the season, as recently his performances has been pretty mediocre maybe except the Chicago game. But we definitely saw the greatness that he can potentially provide earlier this season, he just kinda have to slowly re-find his groove. So from the positions, no positions are really that much of a weakness that makes the Whitecaps not a contender.

Stats

The Whitecaps are in my opinion a very entertaining team to watch, not only because I am a fan because of their chance creation abilities, as they lead the league in the expected goals category this season with 44.2 expected goals in total, and they are 1 short of that total scoring 43 goals this season so far. They are also the leaders for big chances created, with a total of 55 big chances created, 5 more than the second place. The Whitecaps are also 6th in goals per game, which if you love high scoring soccer than they are a fantastic team to watch in the MLS. On the defensive end, they are the 2nd in the interceptions category so they are pretty stable on the defensive end too. But all these great stats that they've gained, they are still 6th in the MLS Western Conference standings, but they did gain 7 of the 9 points with the recent acquisitions of Laryea and Adekugbe in this road journey so far, so improvements are made with them 2 joining the squad. But with how close the Western Conference is, they are 3 points off the 2nd place with 2 games in hand, which is absolutely close, so when this team clicks it clicks hard, as the Caps seem like they'll keep on going up in the standings and potentially be a dark horse for the MLS playoffs this season. And so many good chances, that the opposition goalie, if luck somehow changes hands and goes to the Vancouver side, I doubt that many teams can stop this team that is so good at creating opportunities.

Contracts

Well we have to remind ourselves that Laryea is not on a permanent deal, as he is only a temporary deal until December 31, 2023. Which will be when the Canadian will return to Nottingham Forest. There was a possibility for a potential Designated Player contract to be negotiated by the Whitecaps, but all 3 of the DP slots have been filled out for the Caps, so they would either have to get rid of one to make Laryea a DP or they can adjust cap room to make Richie Laryea a permanent signing but not as a DP. But if they are unable to secure him on a permanent basis, then it will be more difficult to win that prestigious trophy, without that versatile player, that can put in superb crosses and has great playmaking it was kinda like Gressel and now Laryea has played pretty similar to that role of that playmaker, but it'll for sure by way tougher to win the cup without that role. Now you also have pretty important players like Blackmon and Raposo whose contracts are also running out, for Tristan Blackmon's sake he would have club options for 2024 and 2025, so the Whitecaps management and Axel Schuster can decide if they want the American center back, back to their club for 2024. Now for Raposo, I believe that he doesn't have a option this year, as they triggered the option for him to be back in the last off-season. So there are some potential players leaving this team here in the time where there is no MLS games and the start of free agency.

2021 and 2022 compared to 2023 and 2024

If we go back to a couple seasons prior, you would probably think that these situations are possibly comparable with each other. As the Caps achieved 6th place in 2021, and everyone's expectation no matter if you were a fan, media, player or staff, I believe they were expecting a top 3 finish in the Western Conference. Well they had a horrific start with 4 points in 8 games, which kinda just ruined the groove that they got from last season as the Whitecaps finished in 9th place at the end of the season. You would think that it's a pretty similar situation, as here in 2023 you are a great team and your form is pretty good with a good chance to make the playoffs and I think most people and supporters are saying that this will possibly be a building block for next year, then next year we'll contend for the cup. But it will be slightly difficult to get Laryea back on board, as they'll have to be very convincing and smart with negotiating for the Caps. If they can pull off a deal with Richie Laryea, then I can certainly see the future and a potential contender next year. But if not, this might be the best team you will ever have talent wise, with so many talented and skilled players and almost a role covered with all your starters and stars. As who knows? Who will know that who will depart here, with possible transfers in this offseason and with how unpredictable the Whitecaps can be with keeping their stars and making signings, now you don't have to worry about that in 2023 and just worrying about making the playoffs and sort of be a underdog who tries to surprise people with the results. As in 2021, after the playoff defeat, a lot of Whitecaps fans were just looking forward to next year just kind of assuming that next year they'll be spectacular. But that didn't happen, as they struggled in 2022 and failed to make the playoffs and reverted back to the old Whitecaps ways. Well obviously it isn't certain that the same will happen, but maybe we should look more into this year as the potential is very high for Vancouver standards, and appreciate the guys we have currently as the sky might not be as bright in 2024, so even if we can't make a super deep run, we still need to get some playoff experience and even better win a game, but I believe there is possibility that we can be the dark horses of the playoffs, and be a team that surprisingly makes a great run. And I think we can't entirely rely on next year, as what if injuries and very bad luck with the transfers and stuff happens next season, so this year is also a huge year for the Whitecaps.

Is this the best chance?

I would say if you're a more optimistic person then you would think that we still have so many years to come after this season. But if the Caps keep on trying to build for next season instead of contending or being a sneaky dark horse for this playoffs, then this might not work out as luck is a huge part of the game and sometimes luck is not on your side. So realistically, if you're a more pessimistic person then you might really think that this team with so much talent has the best chance to win the MLS cup, as most supporters think that next year will be the brightest but who knows that for sure? With the combination of contracts, luck and the past it might be worse next year. But I would say maybe in 2 years this team will be in their prime as there are still a lot of players that are young and they can get rid of the players that doesn't fit in the system and if Axel Schuster can bring in great transfers, I do see them being possibly better than this year, this also applies for next year but they'll have to get pretty lucky with the transfers and injuries as I don't believe going for the title next year is always the way to go, so this year if the Whitecaps can be a sneaky dark horse to go to the finals or a deep run, so I would say that this wouldn't be the last opportunity for the Whitecaps to win or go on a very deep playoff run, but they'll have to take this season very seriously as next season might not be as good, as we don't know what will happen, what the management team will do and other stuff. So Vancouver needs to take this season seriously, as we don't know what fortune will go to the Whitecaps next season, the season after that and so on.