VANCOUVER, B.C – It’s been an up and down season for the Whitecaps with a spot in the MLS playoffs slowly slipping away by the day. The Caps are five points out of a tie for the seventh and final playoff spot in the western conference with two matches remaining.
The 11-14-7 (40 points) Caps have picked up back to back home victories as they prepare to host Austin FC in the final regular season home match on Saturday at BC Place.
Throughout this season Whitecaps players have drawn much more noticeable criticism from supporters. One day you’re the toast of the town, the next day, the pitchforks are out.
Russell Teibert and Jake Nerwinski are the two longest tenured Caps players and have drawn the most heat from fans.
Whitecaps leading goal-scorer, Lucas Cavallini has also had a lot of negative comments directed towards him.
Whether it’s on social media platforms like Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube or Reddit, fans have been vocal more than in previous seasons.
The over the top criticism is not only isolated to social media. Fans have also vented their displeasure directed at particular players during Whitecaps games at BC Place.
Vancouver Whitecaps FC CEO and Sporting Director, Axel Schuster knows firsthand.
“First of all I don’t read the stuff online,” Schuster told Har Journalist following training on August 24. “Yes, I also hear it in the stadium. For a period of one year we make a commitment, this is our team, this is our players, we are their club, and we work all together on our aims to win something. We consider every player gets a fair chance to show up and provide his best possible performance to help us. There are players with more quality in the squad, and less quality in the squad. There are players that have a bigger impact to our game or less impact.”
“You need a squad of 25 players,” Schuster said. “You have to have them game ready. We have suffered in this season so often, that so many of our players were not ready. Yes, every one of our players has made mistakes. Players have played bad games, but that’s part of the thing. I really hate it if we call out single players and speak about their one or two bad performances or the games they haven’t played well.”
“Jake Nerwinski and Rusty Teibert played in the (Voyageurs Cup) final,” Schuster continued. “Jake has defended against (Lorenzo) Insigne and he was an important member in that game to win the Canadian Championship. We’re not speaking about his good performances, we also speak about the bad performance of a few guys. That’s not fair, if we do that.”
The 27 year-old Nerwinski has spent his entire MLS career with Vancouver. The veteran defender has played whenever he has been asked by the coaching staff. That includes playing at left centre back and occasionally at centre back. Playing in an off position when you’re accustomed to playing in one spot for your entire college and professional career can be an adjustment for some athletes.
What does Nerwinski think about the criticism directed at him from fans?
“I got caught up in that a few years ago, looking at my name and stuff.” Nerwinski explained to Har Journalist following Vancouver’s 3-0 loss to Nashville SC on August 27. “I don’t go on Twitter anymore, I don’t think it’s good for my mental health.”
“Everybody’s got their opinion,” Nerwinski added. “For some reason, I’m the scapegoat, I’m the guy that gets hounded, it doesn’t feel good. You’ve got to know that sometimes these people are the ones sitting at home, don’t necessarily know the game, aren’t supporting us, they’re not at the games. They can stay in their homes, in their basements, and type away. That’s fine with me.”
In his first full season with the Whitecaps, Brian White knows that fans are always going to have something to say about wins, losses, and player performances.
The animosity directed at the Whitecaps captain and vice captain has been extra this season. Caps players and staff have noticed an up tick. White, a fellow Garden State native, has his teammates back.
“Fans have their opinion for whatever reason,” White told Har Journalist. “At the end of the day, they’re not in there. They’re not in the locker room, they’re not there when you write up the game plan and ask those guys to do what they have to do. They might not have the most stat padding games or they might be put into difficult positions. Jake’s not left footed and he’s played really well as a right footed player and a left centre back. They’re put in difficult positions. They’re going to have their critiques, everyone is going to have their opinions. It’s something as professionals we have to, maybe not pay any mind to.”
“What matters is the opinion of the guys in the locker room,” White added. “The coaching staff and the club. We all have each other’s back. We all believe in Jake and Rusty on the field. We’re happy to have them in the team. We know that they can come in, play, and contribute to help us win games.”
After leading Vancouver with 12 goals last season, White has not had his best MLS season in 2022. He has worked to recover from a variety of injuries and was also placed in health and safety protocols earlier this season. One of his biggest contributions came during the Canadian Championship when he scored three goals in three games.
How does White deal with fan criticism?
“I usually try to not look at it much,” White said. “You have a really good game and the fans can be praising your name. The next day you could have a bad game and fans are on your back again. It’s one of those things where they want the team to win. It’s natural for them to keep a high standard, but at the end of the day we have to know that we’re good players and we’re here to fight for the club. The team supports us, the coaching staff supports us and we’re going to do everything we can to get three points.”
Florian Jungwirth has played football across the pond where the heat is turned up ten more dials on the burner. Jungwirth has experience playing under a microscope and the pressure that supporters and media put on footballers in Europe.
The focus on Major League Soccer is a lot more toned down. Fans aren’t outside the training centre trying to get autographs as players drive up. You’re not getting hounded at the grocery store and nobody is snapping your photo as you walk your dog. There is more of a laid back atmosphere compared to what you see in other parts of the world.
Nevertheless, Jungwirth faced social media strife after recently going viral.
The 33 year-old would rather a discussion take place face to face. Hiding behind a screen and sending text messages about a video game clip is several levels offside.
“That’s the problem in social media right now,” Jungwirth explained to Har Journalist following training on September 22. “You just write a comment. For me, I got bad text messages as well, for me it’s a matter of coward. Go to me and say it to my face. I’ll have a discussion, I have no problem. If you have a problem with me or I play bad, or I’m not working hard and the fans are not happy with that, come to me and we talk, no problem. I don’t like the way that people handle business with social media. It’s a matter of being a coward and it’s the easiest way to insult someone and hurt someone, it’s sad.”
Athletes that have been with a specific team for the longest time generally bear the brunt of a social media storm.
“I feel like every time, they’re on Rusty,” Jungwirth said. “Good thing is that Rusty’s here for 30 years. I think he’s used to it, probably he doesn’t care. It’s very unfair. I’ve been on a couple of clubs and it’s always that fans pick some players and then they talk bad about them. It’s unfortunate, but it’s part of the business. So far, I think Rusty and Jake can take the hit. They are two great personalities. Of course everyone would wish that we go together forward, fans and players without insulting. I think it’s no problem from our side if we tell each other our opinion.
Whitecaps centre back Ranko Veselinovic has also drawn the ire of fans and some media this season.
The noise surrounding the Serbian international fails to point out matches where he has kept opposition goal poachers in his back pocket. Most recently during victories over the LA Galaxy and Seattle Sounders FC.
Are the fans with Veselinovic and the Whitecaps?
“It’s normal,” Veselinovic explained to Har Journalist following training earlier this month. “We’re doing everything we can. If they’re really fans they should be with us until the end and always supporting us. I hope that’s going to be the case in the next games.”
Whitecaps players aren’t taking to the pitch looking to turn the ball over, miss an assignment or score an own goal. They want to perform, score goals, and win games. They put on the kit looking to represent the team, city, and fan base to the best of their ability.
Players can take criticism, it comes with being a professional athlete, vial hatred does not.
“We as a club do a review and we look over the whole season and all the stats,” Schuster said. “Yes, there’s no doubt certain players have some qualities and sometimes players don’t show all their qualities. I don’t want to say that everything is perfect and that criticism is not allowed. Criticism is allowed, but I would like that we discuss that on the good and on the bad side. We wouldn’t have won the (Canadian) Championship if they wouldn’t have done so. Please be fair with them. That doesn’t mean that somebody can’t have a different opinion or can’t criticize them for a single performance.”
Javain Brown and Lucas Cavallini returned to full training on Friday following international duty. Both players will be available for selection on Saturday. The Whitecaps will close out the season on October 9 at Minnesota United FC.
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