The two week break prepares the Whitecaps for the home stretch of the regular season

Schedule

The 2 week break is over as they're preparing to travel to Toronto, but in those 2 weeks hopefully they put maximum effort in their recoveries. Vancouver will still have to wait 4 more games until the Caps will come back to BC Place to play in front of the Vancouver supporters as the Whitecaps are midway through the 7 game road trip with the game on Saturday against our Canadian rivals Toronto FC. With 8 more games in the regular season, there will be 5 away games and 3 more home games, as I mentioned there's four more games in this road journey, which are against Toronto, Houston, Real Salt Lake then it'll be up against Colorado for the final game of the 7 game road journey. Then it'll be 3 out of the 4 games at home for the last four games of the season, where they'll be taking on D.C United, St Louis then it'll be against our Cascadia rivals Seattle away, finally for Decision Day it will be the Whitecaps taking on LAFC which will probably become a crucial game for the playoffs or the standings to be higher up in the standings.

Injuries and Fatigue

Even though the Whitecaps had two weeks of resting and recovery it's not all great as unfortunately Sam Adekugbe will not be appearing in the game against Toronto as he has a problem with his knee and he won't travel to Toronto. While on the other hand, on a positive note Luis Martins is doing some light work on the side, as he is slowly recovering through his injury. Also it is rumoured that the new signing Junior Hoilett will join the Whitecaps in Toronto, whether if the Canadian international will play or not due to the fitness levels or will he even be available, as it is also rumoured that the Whitecaps will not train in Toronto, which might effect if Hoilett will be available or not.

Acquisition and departure

Before the roster freeze on September 15 which is before the game on September 16, so the Caps will have to finalize there roster before the roster freeze, but here you have two big transfers, one departure and one acquisition. With as I mentioned Junior Hoilett is joining the team which is already 100% finalized and announced by the Whitecaps but there is also Sergio Cordova who is planning to depart the Whitecaps, has been finalized. The Turkish club that was planning to sign him has successfully done so and has been announced, so two huge news for the Whitecaps, one signing and one departure with 8 more games left in the MLS regular season.

Standings

I did say in a blog that the Whitecaps I estimate will need about 48-50 points to make a automatic playoff spot with how stacked the Western Conference is, and after a matchweek where 12 of the 29 teams in Major League Soccer played the Whitecaps are still in 6th place of the Western Conference, and this 2 week break may have just given the Whitecaps the energy and the sharpness they needed to help themselves by finishing high in the Western Conference standings. As I think making the playoffs may be the bare minimum for the Whitecaps as most Caps players target a deep playoff run as an potential dark horse. So I believe in these international break, basically everybody but Cubas had 2 weeks of training and recovery which is great and crucial for the final part of the MLS regular season. The Whitecaps as I've mentioned before are only 3 points to 2nd place Seattle with 2 games in hand, with how this tight this MLS playoff race is, the Whitecaps need to get every ounce of fitness possible. So hopefully they spent these two weeks putting in effort, watching film, and recovering nicely as every part of that will be extranational for this rest of the Major League Soccer regular season. To hopefully make the city of Vancouver proud by playing a playoff game in Vancouver.