Le Toux signing a big one for the Vancouver Whitecaps

Today the Vancouver Whitecaps signed a top quality Major League Soccer player, Sebatian Le Toux. If I had my doubts about some of the signings we have made in the off season and the overall quality of our new aquisitions, there is no doubt about Seba Le Toux: he is dynamite; a player of undisputed high quality.

Le Toux has proven over three MLS seasons to be a top goal scorer and provider. His strike rate for the Philadelphia Union over the last two years has been very good, with 14 goals in 2010 and 11 in 2011. He had 20 assists over those two years. The other strikers in our squad have just been handed a cold message: Le Toux is a starter, and everyone else in the striker’s pecking order just got demoted. In particular, Camillo and Hassli must wonder which of the two of them will be the starting strike partner?

Or, could it be the case that Camilo and Hassli start up front and Le Toux plays on the outside of midfield to put crosses in? Or perhaps Camilo, with his tremendous ability to beat people, will play on the wing, providing the two big Frenchmen with his crosses. Whatever the case, the addition of Le Toux to the squad has given coach Martin Rennie plenty of offensive options to try.

I rate this signing up there with the signing of Eric Hassli in terms of quality and excitement. Lets hope the two of them get along, because if they do we will have some spectacular moments next year with our own French Connection.

With Le Toux’s signing, our squad is nearly complete. All we lack is a high quality playmaking midfielder to compete with Chiumiento.

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im thinking the starting XI is
cannon
rochait bonjour demerit y.p lee
thorrington/davidsen koffie
chuimiento
le toux hassli camilo

at first glance this looks way to attacking however if we were to play a member of those three strikers in the midfield then they wouldn’t do much defensively. this way we just have three strikers and one attacking midfielder as opposed to two strikers and two attacking midfielders.
of course the alternative is
cannon
rochait bonjour demerit y.p.lee
le toux koffie thorrington/davidsen chuimiento
hassli camilo.

I think the 4-3-3 is more likly though as it is a formation rennie has used in the past. this way our four attacking players get for free regin.

Comment by I.P. freely— January 31, 2012 #

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I’m less concerned about the WC’s attack right now than I am with the back end — at least I remain to be convinced that Lee is as good as he’s touted to be, and that Demerit can go more than four matches without picking up an ankle, calf, thigh, or groin injury.

The Caps were hit and miss on the attack last season, showing brief flashes of potency before fizzling out again…especially in the last 6 weeks or so of the season. What was consistantly a worry, however, was the 911 back line — too often a fire drill effort due to a cobbled together back line because of injuries.

Looking forward to some friendlies to see what things will really look like.

Comment by RR— January 31, 2012 #

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- This is the first signing I am excited about. I say lets be the 1980 Edmonton Oilers of the MLS and win games 7-6.
  
  Lee, Bonjour,Demerit, Rochat
  koffie
  Harris, chuimento
  Camilo, Hassli, LeToux
  
  Comment by rhm— January 31, 2012 #
  
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  - I’d like to see the Caps move to a 4-2-3-1 scheme — giving the side the flexibility to either have have six defenders back quickly, while maintaining the counter attack threat throughout by having at least 4 men up. The team still needs more depth in the form of mids — holding and attacking/wingers but everything else is there.
    ………………………………Cannon…………………………………..
    ……….Lee……..Bonjour/Boxall……….Demerit………. Rochat…………
    ……………….Koffie………………. …….Davidson…………………………………
    …….Le Toux/Tan.. ……Camillo/Harris…………………Chiumiento……………
    ……………………………….Hassli………………………………………………..
    
    Comment by RR— February 1, 2012 #
I think your first suggested lineup makes a lot of sense. I love the fact that if one of these players goes on a cold streak they know that they will be benched right away. I think this is a massively upgraded team this year. Now if only they can sort out that midfield.

Comment by JES— January 31, 2012 #

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[...] this Whitecaps blogger writes, “I rate this signing up there with the signing of Eric Hassli in terms of quality and [...]

Pingback by The Philly Soccer Page » Reaction to Seba interview bombshell, Nowak presser, more— February 1, 2012 #

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Interesting to note that Rennie did in fact move away from his bread ‘n butter 4-4-2 in lieu of a 4-2-3-1 in the friendly against the Sounders a few days ago. We’ll have to see if that was mere experimentation, or if he’s seriously considering making that an option this season.

Comment by RR— February 9, 2012 #

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