The Canadian Premier League’s summer transfer window is wide open right now – it closes on August 2nd – and with that comes the push for Valour FC should pluck some talent from the scoring tree to feed their hunger for goals.
If only it was that easy.
Winnipeg’s professional soccer club hit the midway mark of the CPL season in last weekend’s 2-nil loss to Atlético Ottawa in what was the latest snapshot of the team’s scoring woes. The league’s stingiest team defensively – averaging just one goal conceded per match – they have just 11 goals in 14 matches, with the 0.79 goals per match average the CPL’s lowest.
“We’re only looking at possibilities if they add to the team,” said Valour GM and head coach Phillip Dos Santos following practice on Thursday. “We don’t want to make panic move if we think we might have the solution internally. We’ve also got to look at what a move means for next year. What you get short term might not mean more than what you already have ready to go. These short-term additions that really add to their squad are rare. An example: a European player whose season is over and is free won’t come here for four months without a guarantee for next season.
“I’m not saying there’s not options on the short term that could be interesting, and we are doing our homework. I’m more concerned with the fact that guys that normally arrive in the middle of the season, unless they are playing on a probation for next year, the emotional connection is often not as big or deep. That’s an important factor.
“But when we are committing to a longer term, we have to make sure it’s the right fit. To make it simple: if it’s the right thing for us we’re open to making a move or two in this window, but it has to be the right move.”
Valour is currently seventh in the CPL standings, with 15 points on a 3-6-5 won-draw-lost record. That said, the club is currently just four points out of a playoff spot and seven back of second place as it heads into Saturday’s match in Hamilton against Forge FC.
“Our confidence is still good,” said goalkeeper Rayane Yesli, who has been brilliant this year and leads the CPL in saves (48) and clean sheets (five). “We’ve been playing well for the most part of late and we still trust in our ability. We still have plenty of motivation for the second half of the season. The standings are tight and in this league it’s all about winning two or three games in a row and then you’re back in there. There’s still a lot of football to be played. We still think good things are going to come.
“In soccer you’re only as good as your last performance. If you play a really good game, it’s like your whole team gets a second wind and everyone starts playing better. We’re missing that game where we get a good win, maybe it’s on the road, and then it will start to come.”
Valour has fullback Jordan Haynes and centre back Abdou Samake back to full health, forward Walter Poncé is getting closer to a return, while Jaime Siaj, another forward, is still out of action.
And so for now the push for more goals will continue with the crew Valour has healthy.
“If we had four more points than what we have right now we wouldn’t even be talking about this,” Dos Santos said. “And so we have to stay the course. We’re not closing our eyes to any opportunity that may be good, but we also don’t want deviate from the plan.
“This week was all about perspective and challenging the guys in areas where we feel the team needs to grow and then look at getting different players in different spots. When you challenge them with some differences then everyone is very tuned in, very alert to the information. It’s been, so far, a good week of training. The guys are up for work.”