Whitecaps Veteran Miller Setting Example for Mattocks

The Vancouver Whitecaps should have all their striking options available for Saturday’s visit of Real Salt Lake. Al Dannity says Kenny Miller, the 33 year old Scottish international, has veteran knowhow that Darren Mattocks can learn from.

There’s no questioning his talent. Darren Mattocks has pace, fire, and skill that can bring the Whitecaps on to the next level. Indeed it’s hard to see Vancouver being the peak destination in the young Jamaican’s career. After an impressive rookie season, Mattocks was surprisingly benched along with Gershon Koffie for last week’s game against San Jose. For all of Mattocks’ talent, Vancouver’s head coach Martin Rennie recognises that there’s plenty for the youngster still to learn.

Kenny Miller also missed that game, not through Rennie’s decision but because of injury. The experienced Scotsman recognised the thinking behind Rennie’s call. “Nobody has got a divine right to have a starting position on the team,” Miller told the Vancouver Sun.

“If you’re not doing the job the manager thinks you should be doing or could be doing, there are lads waiting in the wings,” said Miller. “I’ve been working with a professional club since I was 12 years old. It’s a completely different system here, the college and university system. Darren came and had a fantastic rookie season last year. But that’s not it, that’s not ‘making’ it. You’ve got to be willing to work and learn and put the hours in to try to make yourself better. Maybe the start of the season has been a little bit frustrating for Darren and on Saturday he found himself out of the team.

Crucially Mattocks seems to have reacted the right way. The youngster has been saying all the right things this week. The aim for the Caps, in only their third year in Major League Soccer (MLS), is to build on last year’s playoff trip. Having only managed to make it to the play-in round of the MLS Cup playoffs, the next step is to try and secure a top three finish in the Western Conference, and with it a two-legged conference semi-final. For that to happen Vancouver will need a blend of speed and industry. Miller provides the latter and Mattocks is an excellent source of the former. The continued adjustment of Nigel Reo Coker into the squad will be a big talking point over the coming months. The Englishman could play a big role as the Caps look to break Toronto FC’s hold on the Canadian Championship. An early season trophy would be nice and the prize of a place in the CONCACAF Champions League would sweeten the deal.