Foreign Exchange: Three questions (once again) with The Third Sub's Sam Rowan
Just over a month ago, we checked in with a Whitecaps expert about Austin's matchup with the West leaders. We do the same here now with the race for first place tighter than it was.
If it feels like we did this just a few weeks ago, we did.
You might remember, right before Austin FC's surprise Sept. 13 win over Vancouver Whitecaps FC at BC Place, we checked in with Sam Rowan at The Third Sub to talk about the Western Conference leaders.
As the teams prepare for their second match in just over a month's time on Saturday, the Whitecaps are still top of the West — but not by much, thanks to a red-hot St. Louis pushing them for the No. 1 seed, plus some interesting times for Jesper Sørensen's squad that we'll get into.
With recent losses to Nashville SC and LAFC, it's likely that Verde need at least a draw on Saturday against the 'Caps and then to win out. Losing on Saturday puts Verde's maximum possible points at 43, and with ninth-place Colorado at 38 points, even 44 points might not be enough. (Verde's current goal differential of -17 also makes tiebreaker math difficult.)
To the questions!
Vancouver is 2W 3L 3D in its last eight MLS matches, including a loss to Austin, while St. Louis is on a 21-match unbeaten streak in all comps after tying Vancouver on Wednesday, with just a point between them. What's gone wrong for the Whitecaps that's allowed St. Louis to close the gap?
I think for the Whitecaps, it hasn't been as easy to uphold the "next man up" mentality they had last season. For the first time under Jesper Sørensen, there have been some matches where they've strayed away from their possession and control tactics. The road loss to Chicago and the home draw against D.C. United stand out as examples of that.
Even so, they're 5-4-3 in MLS play since the Leagues Cup break, and they've had some dominant performances, so I think it's really been a matter of consistency.
In your wrapup coverage of that match, you noted Sørensen said the team had gotten away from their style of play and concluded, "It’s good to see this team looking like themselves again." What about that match — a 0-0 draw, by the way — led you to conclude that?
Seeing the Whitecaps concede just one goal over the last 180-plus minutes is a good sign that they're getting back to their style of play. In particular, the combination of Mathías Laborda and Tristan Blackmon at centre-back just hasn't worked for VWFC. While both are good players, they're extremely aggressive, and Vancouver has conceded a number of goals in recent weeks by playing a high line with one player out of step.
The return of Ralph Priso, therefore, is a huge boost. He's a great complement to that more aggressive style, as he's very good on the ball and has exceptional recovery speed. I don't think it's a coincidence that they've looked a lot better defensively with him in the starting XI.
Vancouver's made some summer signings while moving Sebastian Berhalter to Middlesbrough. Has the team gotten better or worse in your estimation, and which of the summer signings are making a difference?
I don't think there's any way you lose Berhalter and get better, at least in the short term. Yadaly Diaby has probably been Vancouver's most impactful midseason addition in terms of transfers, as he's a mature and consistent winger with a Ligue 1 pedigree.
Overall, though, it's really been internally that Vancouver has looked to replace Seba. Ryan Gauld is finally healthy again and has shown flashes of being the dominant player he's been in previous years. Oliver Larraz has also stepped up in a big way, and while he's not a direct Berhalter replacement, he has the potential to be a very good MLS midfielder.
Verde All Day is a reader-supported online publication covering Austin FC. Additional support is provided by Austin Telco Federal Credit Union. For more coverage, check out Emergency Podcast! (an Austin FC Podcast) wherever you get your podcasts, and join us on Instagram to get updates on all our stories and podcast releases.
Verde's leading goalscorer in 2026 has committed to the club through the 2027-28 season. The veteran leader will turn 37 just before that season concludes.
Austin FC let in two goals in five minutes on Wednesday night, turning a draw into a loss. They're ruing the loss but maintaining belief they can win out.
Once again, Denis Bouanga proved too much for Austin FC, as his brace led LAFC to a 3-1 win. It's another two late goals let in to transform a draw to a loss.
If it feels like we did this just a few weeks ago, we did.
You might remember, right before Austin FC's surprise Sept. 13 win over Vancouver Whitecaps FC at BC Place, we checked in with Sam Rowan at The Third Sub to talk about the Western Conference leaders.
As the teams prepare for their second match in just over a month's time on Saturday, the Whitecaps are still top of the West — but not by much, thanks to a red-hot St. Louis pushing them for the No. 1 seed, plus some interesting times for Jesper Sørensen's squad that we'll get into.
With recent losses to Nashville SC and LAFC, it's likely that Verde need at least a draw on Saturday against the 'Caps and then to win out. Losing on Saturday puts Verde's maximum possible points at 43, and with ninth-place Colorado at 38 points, even 44 points might not be enough. (Verde's current goal differential of -17 also makes tiebreaker math difficult.)
To the questions!
Vancouver is 2W 3L 3D in its last eight MLS matches, including a loss to Austin, while St. Louis is on a 21-match unbeaten streak in all comps after tying Vancouver on Wednesday, with just a point between them. What's gone wrong for the Whitecaps that's allowed St. Louis to close the gap?
I think for the Whitecaps, it hasn't been as easy to uphold the "next man up" mentality they had last season. For the first time under Jesper Sørensen, there have been some matches where they've strayed away from their possession and control tactics. The road loss to Chicago and the home draw against D.C. United stand out as examples of that.
Even so, they're 5-4-3 in MLS play since the Leagues Cup break, and they've had some dominant performances, so I think it's really been a matter of consistency.
In your wrapup coverage of that match, you noted Sørensen said the team had gotten away from their style of play and concluded, "It’s good to see this team looking like themselves again." What about that match — a 0-0 draw, by the way — led you to conclude that?
Seeing the Whitecaps concede just one goal over the last 180-plus minutes is a good sign that they're getting back to their style of play. In particular, the combination of Mathías Laborda and Tristan Blackmon at centre-back just hasn't worked for VWFC. While both are good players, they're extremely aggressive, and Vancouver has conceded a number of goals in recent weeks by playing a high line with one player out of step.
The return of Ralph Priso, therefore, is a huge boost. He's a great complement to that more aggressive style, as he's very good on the ball and has exceptional recovery speed. I don't think it's a coincidence that they've looked a lot better defensively with him in the starting XI.
Vancouver's made some summer signings while moving Sebastian Berhalter to Middlesbrough. Has the team gotten better or worse in your estimation, and which of the summer signings are making a difference?
I don't think there's any way you lose Berhalter and get better, at least in the short term. Yadaly Diaby has probably been Vancouver's most impactful midseason addition in terms of transfers, as he's a mature and consistent winger with a Ligue 1 pedigree.
Overall, though, it's really been internally that Vancouver has looked to replace Seba. Ryan Gauld is finally healthy again and has shown flashes of being the dominant player he's been in previous years. Oliver Larraz has also stepped up in a big way, and while he's not a direct Berhalter replacement, he has the potential to be a very good MLS midfielder.
Verde All Day is a reader-supported online publication covering Austin FC. Additional support is provided by Austin Telco Federal Credit Union. For more coverage, check out Emergency Podcast! (an Austin FC Podcast) wherever you get your podcasts, and join us on Instagram to get updates on all our stories and podcast releases.
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