It has been puzzling to watch the Vancouver Whitecaps in recent weeks. One week, they looked like a genuine contender at the top of the conference, but Saturday night in Colorado brought another difficult performance and a frustrating loss.
The Whitecaps never really got going, and by the second half they appeared gassed. The team eventually lost, adding to a troubling stretch.
The reality is that Vancouver have won only three games since the start of September, and they are not closing the season on a high note.
Against Colorado, the Whitecaps were able to move the ball up the pitch, but their attacking work was lackluster. It was arguably the least impressive attacking display of the season. None of the four wingers who came on made much of an impact, Brian White looked ineffective, and Ryan Gauld struggled to find the right passes to release his speedy teammates.
Sure, Colorado were fighting for their playoff lives, but the Whitecaps would have wanted to handle the Western Conference race better. Dropping a game as poorly as they did, with so little attacking threat, was shocking.
They are still first in the West, but with three games to play they are only a point ahead of Dallas, who defeated San Jose 3-0 on Saturday.
It is a simple task for the Whitecaps now: rediscover the rhythm they showed in Austin last week, push aside the struggles of the past month, and get back to their best attacking form in time for the playoffs. Observers can see it. Even the coach sees it.
“We need to to find the rhythm of our play and fighting a little bit better than we did today,” Whitecaps head coach Jesper Sorensen said after the game. That is straightforward stuff.
Otherwise, this season could be over way too quickly.
