Will the Whitecaps make the playoffs?

Intro

For the first time in a long time, the Caps look extremely promising. As now the secondary transfer window ended, with the new acquisitions of Laryea and Adekugbe and the departure of Gressel. This team is re-shaped a bit and ready to give their best efforts to go make the Major League Soccer playoffs.

7 games road trip

The seven games in a row on the road looks terrifying. As the Caps has only won one game away from BC Place this season in the MLS, which was against LAFC. They did beat LA Galaxy away from BC Place, in the Leagues Cup. Even though that game was a neutral site and not a Galaxy home game. The MLS resumes on August 20, 2023 with the Whitecaps taking on the Earthquakes at BC Place. Before the seven games away from home, which starts against their Cascadia rivals in Portland. Then Chicago will play the Caps on August 30. Next up for the Whitecaps will be New York City FC, then it's a 2 week break before playing their fellow Canadians in the north, Toronto. It might be a Richie Laryea revenge game, moving on to the Houston Dynamo. Now it's 5 out of 7 games played, then it'll be Real Salt Lake, and the last game in this road fest will be against the Colarado Rapids, as it was originally supposed to be played on June 21, 2023 but due to lightning it was postponed to September 27, 2023 which after the game it concludes their 7 games in a row playing away from BC Place. Currently the Caps place in 7th in the Major League Soccer standings, you might think that 7 games is just destined for you falling down in the standings. We'll see what will happen after that 7 game trip. With the Caps away record being a dreadful 1-3-5 (1 win, 3 draws, 5 losses) equaling 6 points in 9 games, (0.66 points per game when away), in MLS games. While at their familar territory at BC Place they recorded 25 points to their name, with 7 wins, 4 draws and 2 losses in their 13 games, equaling 1.92 points per game at BC Place in Major League Soccer.

Factors

Factor #1 : How well will the two full-backs settle into the squad? As I think they're playing with unfamiliar teammates, especially for Laryea. For Adekugbe the only person you have played with before in this Whitecaps team is Russell Teibert. The chemistry might need some working on, because if the new additions and their star players aren't on the same page, I heavily doubt it'll work on. It will be optimal for Laryea and Adekugbe to work on the chemistry and the tactics by Vanni, before the game on August 20.

Factor #2 : Can Vanni deliver the right tactics and instructions? From my knowledge of Vanni Sartini, he likes to experiment by playing different formations and positions. He also likes to switch players in and out of the starting lineup from time to time. I think he needs to make sure to be less risky, especially in the crucial part of the season.

Factor #3 : Can Yohei Takaoka find his groove again?

With the Whitecaps having their longest shutout streak in their MLS era, recording 443 minutes without conceding a goal in Major League Soccer play. With Takaoka being a pivotal part of that, as he stopped a penalty versus Colarado. Now it seems like that was a total fluke, as the Caps have conceded 15 goals in 8 games, across all competitions. And Takaoka hasn't had a clean sheet since May 24, 2023 vs Pacific FC in the Canadian Championship. And he hasn't grabbed a clean sheet in MLS play since May 20, 2023 against Seattle. That is 1.87 goals against per game, in that span. It has improved slightly in the Leagues Cup. Takaoka has been horrific in the penalty shootouts, as the opposition only missed three out of 24. Across the two shootouts. That's a 87.5% success rate when against Takaoka in the shootout. Hopefully he doesn't lose confidence, as it feels like his performance hasn't been mediocre lately.

Factor #4 : Subs

I think the substitutions have been crucial this season, the the Whitecaps depth has been the best Whitecaps bench arguably ever. It's important for Vanni to utilize all his subs, and adjust to the circumstance. If losing sub in more attacking minded players, if winning substitute in a more defensive minded player.

No more competitions

The Caps have now played all the domestic competitions, as now they can just focus on Major League Soccer and not having to worry about the Concacaf Champions League, or the Canadian Championship or the Leagues Cup it's only Major League Soccer form now on until the end of the 2023 season. Even though it's only one competitions the number of weekday matches has increased. As 3 of the 7 matches away in a row will be played on Wednesday. So the schedule is still busy for the Caps. But it is pivatal that you can just be determined on Major League Soccer and nothing else. You can still win the Cascadia Cup, as currently you are second behind Portland by 1 point, but that's played in the MLS so it doesn't count as a competition, that does mean there's another possible trophy to win.

Prediction

I think that the Whitecaps will be determined to start as they'll win their first game versus San Jose. But then in that deadly 7 game away span, I believe they would only win one game, and draw two games. So that'll drop the Caps down to the 10th spot, and keep them out from a playoff spot, or a wildcard spot, which is the eighth and ninth seed in their respective conferences. But then a huge win against D.C United and St. Louis will bring them up back to the eighth spot, I believe they will get a draw and a win in their final two games against Seattle and L.A. That will help them get the eighth seed, just missing out on a automatic playoff spot. But I think the Caps will win the wildcard match, in BC Place to go to the playoffs. My prediction is for the Caps to drop to eighth by the end of Decision Day, but they win the wildcard match to make the MLS playoffs.