Potential Tremendous Canadian Trio for the Whitecaps for the rest of the season and maybe more?

The trio that I'm talking about is obviously the three mid-season acquisitions of Hoilett, Laryea and Adekugbe. All of these players have chemistry for the Canadian national team, all three played the three games that Canada had in the World Cup 2022. Will this trio last longer than just one fourth of the season? Or will they get another year or so repping the Blue and White?

Contributions

For the limited time these three players have had, the contributions they've made has been not that productive. As despite Laryea and Adekugbe's primary position is wing-back and that's where Vanni has distributed them most of the time. With Junior Hoilett being brought in just slightly before the MLS roster freeze. His time to show his ability has certainly been limited. While for the wing-backs in Adekugbe and Laryea, they have had a pretty decent amount of time for them to deliver some results. Despite those two being wing-backs, both of them are pretty intrigued in helping the team on the attacking side especially for Richie Laryea. Then three combined has only had one total goal, and to be fair the only goal that Laryea buried was a goal that isn't important as it was probably already secured a final minute goal that didn't matter much. Laryea made it 3-0 in the 96th minute against St Louis, and the only clear purpose was probably just to be an momentum booster. With a great strike with his left foot was a pretty beautiful goal to be fair but still was pretty meaningless in the realms of an already secured victory. Although Sam Adekugbe did suffer an minor injury that made him sidelined for two games, so he wasn't fully healthy his time so far in Vancouver. Hoilett has not contributed anything in terms of statistics thus far, but there is some wisdom that he shows as he can bring his previous experiences. Laryea did successfully draw a penalty against Portland, whether if it was inadvertently or not he still got the job completed and got the necessary contact to receive a penalty. In conclusion, this trio has not had the best of success in terms of goal contributions only Laryea with a goal that wasn't meaningful and that was the same goal where Adekugbe also got his first goal contribution since returning. While Hoilett in his extremely limited moments in Vancouver, only playing 6 matches most of them being subbed on. So it is intriguing on why these players aren't contributing the best of their maximum ceiling and potential?

Defending

Well the attacking contributions from this trio hasn't been too productive, but how do they look on an defensive standpoint? Well Hoilett known as more of an attacker and with his older age we don't expect too much tracking back probably only when it is completely necessary as his stamina is most likely shrinking because of his age. Not much else to say about Junior Hoilett as he just isn't a defensive minded player in the pressing output or just regular defending he hasn't been the most noticeable. While for the wing-backs who probably is more stood out in the defensive department. They have been pretty good from the back I would say, despite both loving to go and break out not being shy on the attacking side. Laryea and Adekugbe rary forgets about their defensive duties, as they clean things up pretty decently. Giving the team a good balance of the two crucial elements of the game, with them being balanced in a workrate perspective doing both helping contribute or trying to contribute on both ends of the pitch. From my impressions, I always see them on the attacking side a lot swinging the rock to the middle, but there defensive capabilities has been underutilized and underrated by some fans. As some supporters of Vancouver are too aware of their attacking talents, completely forgetting about they being wing-backs and being also extremely capable defensively. Due to the experience of Laryea and Adekugbe in the biggest stage of the world, they have learnt from a lot of different situations on vital decisions while defending. As they can be tight while marking, realizing the consequences if their tackle fails and just with the sheer ability to defend with composure is crucial to a player and that's what they are both capable of. Well granted, I believe Adekugbe especially is a more naturally defensive player while Laryea can be both attacking and defensive and less of an traditional wing-back so sometimes they might be slightly out of position and will be forced to recover but other than that their defensive abilities have been pretty stable.

Possible Improvements

After the Whitecaps qualified for the 2023 playoffs on October 4th. It also guarantees at least 2 playoff game and of course Decision Day. That means at this stage of the year, which has been this dramatic level in place. The playoffs is obviously one of the biggest stages in Whitecaps history. But we need players other than the Gauld and White Dynamic Duo to step up. That's where I believe the experience and leadership of Hoilett comes in handy, him being the oldest player on the squad and a key veteran. He can keep his teammates calm and composed during decisive moments. Combined with the wing-backs of Adekugbe and Laryea who has also had their own share of experiences with soccer. The ability and the talent between these three just seems like the ceiling is so ridiculously high, and what they have achieved thus far just seems like the minimal that Laryea Adekugbe and Hoilett can possibly provide. Although the defending from Laryea and Adekugbe has been solid and well-worked mostly. Their attacking play is usually what stands out, especially for such a versatile and persistent player like Richie Laryea. As he out of the trio is the most recognizable player when in front of the net, so many moments where his dribbling and passing play is superb but his finishing touches is slightly off. As I wouldn't say that Laryea or any of the trio has been there too often, but enough times where results should start to being seen. It is incredibly outstanding how Richie Laryea can provide the possible greatness that he distributed when playing for Toronto FC, being one of the Whitecaps most responsible players, one of the seemingly best players but the finishing product is just a bit iffy. I can comfortably say that this Canadian trio with the chemistry and teamwork necessary to provide so much for the Blue and White has loads more to show for. But time is limited with only the minimum of three more matches in this 2023 campaign, and if things in the postseason goes well it still would not be that insane a reasonable amount of matches for the most outstanding the Whitecaps can do in the playoffs I would generate a number of around 5-6 more matches. But that will be super difficult to pull off with the potential competition in the West. So not much time to perfect their ability, but still time to make adjustments towards these players to get closest towards the greatest version that they could potentially provide. Like Adekugbe might be actually defend a bit more instead of pushing up with the team the way that he is, well a better term to describe that may be to control your positioning. The reason is because I always see Adekugbe just overlapping or inverting just with runs without thinking about his fate if he goes too deep into the pitch and rapidly going forward and then having to track back at the end leaving the defence slightly opened up. Maybe a better mindset would be to time when is it great to make a move if you see the opposing team unready for the wave that your team is generating, while staying a bit back and be in the edge of the 18 yard box if it is too crowded and it would be unnecessary to possibly just be patient and wait for the play to happen or it will take a fortunate bounces back to you. Laryea has been essential for the team so far in his tenure with the Whitecaps, his passing play has been mostly impressive, same with his ability with his dribbling. His finishing touches is certainly something that can be improved but I believe that he should be more risky in possession as sometimes he is just risk-free. Like take a long shot or make a through ball pass that's what I believe sparked him in that goal against St Louis with his bravery in dribbling into the optimal position to score. Hoilett on the other hand, just has to be ready and prepared for certain moments. Like he hasn't had a handful of terrorizing misses but that one where he was open and had a shot for his first as a Whitecaps player and puts it miles off target was astonishing. He just has to run into more open spaces, and next time I trust him to bury the goal or at least test the keeper. Well they can have possible development and added mix of playstyles, will the trio have enough time to perform and show their strengths and gold performances?

Contracts

This is where things get slightly difficult for the board of Vancouver, with Laryea originally being loaned to Vancouver from Nottingham Forest only a loan until the end of 2023 and would most likely to be returned to Nottingham Forest if the Whitecaps do not trigger and discuss possible solutions with the Premier League side. It is an idea to sign him on a DP contract, as Laryea seems to enjoy his reign here in Vancouver so far with his colleague for both the Canadian National team and the Whitecaps Sam Adekugbe. While an DP spot for Richie Laryea is certainly a possible result and not unrealistic another vital factor would be if Major League Soccer decides to add a 4th DP slot. Then that would make it a less of a debatable decision, as most supporters agree that Laryea deserves a DP slot if there isn't any other possible targets and still have one free DP spot to fill in even if they return Laryea back to Vancouver and permanently settling him in to the Whitecaps. Another potential solution, maybe slightly less likely is just that Vancouver settles Laryea as an non-DP like a Target Allocation Money or General Allocation Money if Laryea agrees to it. But if he performances are great in these final few matches Laryea would for sure prefer a Designated Player spot to be his to fill in. While will it be worth it? It will still be a question that's undecided until something starts to happen. But if an 4th Designated Player position gets implemented to MLS, then Laryea as an 4th DP would fit in well and would probably go well with both parties. Next expiring contract is the veteran in Hoilett, as I have mentioned no goal contributions for him yet while not standing out on defence. But he might still be valuable for the squad despite his contributions thus far. Although time is lacking for Hoilett to string together some good performances with the timing seeming off and inconvenient to sign him with only a few matches before the season closes he still had some time to prove himself but hasn't shown it quite yet. With how time is ticking and he doesn't have much time to show his worth, so the time to be the best version of himself is now. Adekugbe is secured until 2026 and a club option for 2027. It will also be intriguing how much money Axel Schuster is willing to give their demands. And how much money will the owners pull out and spend on the Whitecaps in this off-season? So in the off-season or from now until the end of the season, of how Laryea and Hoilett are playing as they might be essentially trying to earn props and a contract at the end of the season. I don't know will they be aware of their own situation. The trio should use the most of their moments together, if this is possibly or even most likely the final year. As with Hoilett being 33 years old and only being signed until 2023, chances aren't high that he stays past this off-season if he doesn't leash off some spectacular performances and show his worth. For Laryea the odds are higher than Hoilett I believe, as he has shown some skill and ability to showcase his potential and worth. It will be really interesting to see how can this trio perform in the last matches if the season. With some minor adjustments, and to see if the trio would last longer than only around a quarter of the season. With their flair and skill, they would certainly contribute more if Laryea and Hoilett is offered brand new contracts and new deals. As there will be some negotiation techniques with Nottingham Forest. I believe it really depends on what can the trio possibly show in these determining matches of the campaign.