Ranking The Whitecaps – The Highs Of March

It’s the end of the first month of the 2018 MLS season and the Whitecaps have started strong with a 3-1-1 record sitting atop of the Western Conference. After each match we have asked you to rank the players from the best to worst on Twitter, and we have been keeping a running total which we will update after each month.

A quick explainer on how this worked. The top player gets 14 points, second gets 13 and so on to bottom player who gets a single point and then we average it out per appearance.

Below we have ranked the top five overall players (using the criteria of a minimum of two starts or three appearances) and the top three substitutes (with a minimum of two sub appearances and only points as a sub counting towards the ranking).

Here’s how the top five players are looking at the end of March’s five matches.

(1) Kei Kamara

The most important acquisition in the offseason has claimed the top spot after the first month. Kamara has already picked up three goals in four starts including the game winner against his former team this past weekend. It’s the striker the ‘Caps have been needing for a few seasons and he’s only just getting started you feel.

(2) Alphonso Davies

So far this season the teenager has shown consistency ranking as one of the top players each game including being voted as the best one in two matches. Davies set up the opening goal of the season as well picking up the winner, his first goal in MLS, on the same day. He nearly had another one on Saturday in Columbus and has put in a strong showing in a multitude of positions so far.

(3) Felipe

Acquired on the eve of first kick, coming on as a sub in the opener, Felipe has quickly become one of the most important players on the squad. He’s capable of playing deep in the midfield and up high where he sent a pin point cross that was headed in by Kamara for the winner this weekend.

(4) Kendall Waston

The ‘Caps Captain continues to be one of the most influential players on team. Vancouver are 3-0-0 when Waston starts and plays a full 90. Speaking of playing a full 90, we have decided to give him an incomplete for the Atlanta match since the red card was rescinded.

(5) Efrain Juarez

Just edging out Russell Teibert, Juarez has been ranked near the top in three of his four starts. The midfielder has been a leader on and off the pitch as well as a calming influence in the midfield.

Moving on to the super subs, there have been three players that have impressed with their performances off the bench.

(1) Brek Shea

The life of a substitute is not easy but Brek Shea seems to thrive in that position getting decent marks in the first four games earning him a start this weekend. He scored the winner in Houston which eventually led to his first start this weekend and his second goal.

(2) Jordan Mutch

A late addition to the roster who has played little football in last couple of years, Mutch was expected to be brought along slowly. Coming off the bench he has provided a calming influence in the midfield especially in Houston where he was able to help kill the game off.

(3) Anthony Blondell

The only other Whitecap who has had more than one sub appearance, Blondell got the majority of minutes against Houston (along with just one at home to Montreal and five against the LA Galaxy) which was his one standout performance.