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MLS: 5 teams who fell short of expectations in 2019

By Matt Coles

CINCINNATI, OH - AUGUST 25: Andrew Gutman #96 of FC Cincinnati controls the ball during the game against the Columbus Crew SC at Nippert Stadium on August 25, 2019 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
CINCINNATI, OH - AUGUST 25: Andrew Gutman #96 of FC Cincinnati controls the ball during the game against the Columbus Crew SC at Nippert Stadium on August 25, 2019 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /
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VANCOUVER, BC – OCTOBER 06: The Vancouver Whitecaps FC starting eleven before their match against Real Salt Lake at BC Place on October 6, 2019 in Vancouver, Canada. (Photo by Devin Manky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
VANCOUVER, BC – OCTOBER 06: The Vancouver Whitecaps FC starting eleven before their match against Real Salt Lake at BC Place on October 6, 2019 in Vancouver, Canada. (Photo by Devin Manky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

Vancouver Whitecaps

Finally, we come to the worst team in the Western Conference. Had it not been for FC Cincinnati’s poor debut season, the Vancouver Whitecaps would have been bottom of the entire MLS. A year ago, they only missed out on the postseason on the final day of the season when Real Salt Lake nicked in to steal the sixth spot in the West. But this time around, and even with an extra post-season berth, Vancouver were nowhere to be seen. They finished with just 34 points, averaging exactly a point a game. The Whitecaps conceded 59 goals in that period, finishing with a goal difference of -22, the worst in the West as well.

The Canadian side lost several key players in the offseason, including the most expensive MLS teenage sale ever in Alphonso Davies, who now plays his trade with Bayern Munchen. The likes of Jordon Mutch, Brek Shea, Kei Kamara, Brian Rowe, Kendall Waston and Erik Hurtado all left the building, and despite some additions to the squad, they were unable to recreate the form that saw them almost reach the post-season in 2018.

More embarrassingly for an MLS side, they failed to reach the semi-finals of the Canadian Championship. Given that there are only three Canadian sides in MLS, that is rather humiliating. It is also the second time that the Whitecaps have finished bottom of the Western Conference, but the last time they did so, it was their debut campaign in the league.

Next. USMNT: 3 things to watch this international break. dark

Will Vancouver be able to recover and fight for playoff soccer again in 2020? They will need to find a goalscorer, among others, ahead of the new term. Marc dos Santos has some serious work to do.

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