When we look back on it from the sobering eyes of October, this winless, goal-less, and mostly lifeless week may have actually come at a good time for the Whitecaps. The good news; it took until the end of June to have really poor back to back games. But those pre-World Cup break thrills and spills, with seven goals in two away games feels like much more than two-and-a-half weeks ago. What this past week did was expose a glaring weakness; Vancouvers inability to break through clubs who dont give them space. One dimension the club has been missing since year one in MLS is an aerial threat from a corner, free kick or a Pedro Morales diagonal ball. Whether that attribute is on the resume of a future Centre Back, or they go after a traditional target striker come July 9...the Whitecaps must get more production from the dead ball. With arch rivals Seattle providing the last opposition before an opening transfer window, one wonders how proactive the Whitecaps will be to strengthen. This weekends opponents are runaway league leaders built almost exclusively with well-travelled MLS veterans. Is that an ingredient the club is missing, especially in these dog days of the MLS schedule? Media and supporters alike salivated over the prospects of youngsters Mattocks Manneh and Hurtado all starting together against the leagues worst team in Montreal; especially without three key components in Marco DiVaio, Justin Mapp and Felipe. Its very easy to say now, but what else was Frank Klopas going to do against the Whitecaps, but sit deep? That first hour on Wednesday was like watching three Ferraris trying to race around downtown Vancouver traffic. Lots of revving, but never the space to really get going, and eventually, stuck at a red light on a one way street. The one outfield bright spot against the Impact was the evasive and adventurous Gershon Koffie, who for his efforts, was given a spot on the bench at Colorado. His holding midfield colleague Mattias Laba, was by his standards anonymous Wednesday, and downright leg-less at Philadelphia. But Laba kept his place, and in Koffies absence, Russell Tiebert, a player who many observers find hard to clearly define. One neednt extol the young Canadians virtues - we all know what they are, and he still has enough years to evolve into that ideal position. But the buzzing and supporting and possessing all seemed rather superfluous when the Whitecaps were down two and needing some forward thrust. Koffie did come on at half-time, but even then it felt too late. Most worrisome in Colorado were the performances of Uruguayans Nicholas Mezquida and Sebastien Fernandez. Their country had been dispatched from the World Cup by Colombia earlier that day, and it almost seemed like the two were still in mourning. Neither player could complete a pass, and both looked like featherweights in possession getting brushed aside by stronger opponents. As eight unbeaten suddenly became winless in three, it will be really interesting to watch how Carl Robinson goes about building his team up in advance of the Sounders visit. Does he show patience with his young players to get back to their previous form, or with four games in two weeks looming - does he consider making changes. There must also be a voice in the back of his head telling him about the components his squad doesnt have. We know the man they call Robbo never backs down from a challenge. Hes also not backing down from any incoming phone calls either. Andy Pettitte Jersey .Y. - Rob Manfred was promoted Monday to Major League Baseballs chief operating officer, which may make him a candidate to succeed Bud Selig as commissioner. Jimmy Wynn Jersey . Manager Ryan Nelsen has confirmed Brazilian No. 1 Julio Cesar will be rested for Wednesdays first leg of the semifinal. That opens the door for Bendik, who started 33 games for Toronto last season. http://www.astrosteamproshop.com/Astros-...an-Kids-Jersey/. 1 goaltender tonight when they conclude a four-game road trip versus the Winnipeg Jets. Jake Marisnick Jersey . But sometimes the way you lose takes precedence over the final score. And how the Jets lost the 5-4 game to the New York Islanders on Thursday is what had Coach Claude Noel hot after the game. Roy Oswalt Jersey . - Anthony Beauvillier had the winning goal in the third period as the Shawinigan Cataractes edged the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies 2-1 on Wednesday in Quebec Major Junior Hockey League play. The axe came down on CFL veterans Justin Palardy, Hugh Charles, Jamel Richardson and Martell Mallett on Saturday. All four were released as CFL teams reduced their rosters to 46 players by the league deadline of 10 p.m. ET. The regular season kicks off Thursday with the Toronto Argonauts visiting the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. Veteran kicker Palardy was among 14 players cut by the expansion Ottawa Redblacks. While his release was surprising, the Edmonton Eskimos provided a shocker by including seven-year veteran Charles name in their final 15 cuts. A knee injury limited nine-year CFL veteran Richardson, 32, to only 18 catches for 197 yards last year, breaking a streak of five straight 1,000-yard receiving seasons with Montreal, which also let veteran linebacker Diamond Ferri go. Mallett, the 09 CFL top rookie with B.C., was released by Calgary. The running back was attempting to resurrect his career after suffering a season-ending torn Achilles tendon during training camp in 12 with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. Veteran defensive back Evan McCullough, who earned a Grey Cup ring with Toronto in 12, was among five players released by Hamilton. The Argos were expected to announce their final cuts Sunday. Palardy, a 26-year-old native of Truro, N.S., was looking to kick-start his CFL career with Ottawa but was released along with international kicker Paolo Henriques, leaving American rookie Brett Maher as the clubs only kicker. Howeer, late Saturday night it was reported that Maher had also been released. Maher had a field goal, three converts and single in Ottawas 26-10 exhibition win over the Montreal Alouettes on Friday night, but he didnt exactly receive a ringing endorsement from Redblacks GM Marcel Desjardins on Saturday. "Unfortunately nobody lived up to what we felt the acceptable level of performance would be," Desjardins told reporters. "Even in Bretts case, he knows he need to be better. "It doesnt mean hes locked into being our guy either . . . were still having guys to explore and other options to look at and were going to do that. We have time, we have bye week so we have a lot of time to figure this out." The Redblacks dont play their first game until July 3 in Winnipeg. Palardy, a former Saint Marys star, was taken in the fifth round of the 2010 CFL draft by Hamilton and played in five games as a punter before being released. Palardy joined Winnipeg in August 2010 and made 26-of-30 field goals for a club-record 86.7 per cent success ratio. He followed that up by hitting 40-of-52 field goals in 2011. The following season, Palardy was Winnipegs nominee for the CFLs top special-teams player after making 39-of-45 field goals and averaging a career-high 57.3 yards on 70 kickoffs. But after hitting 9-of-12 field goals in 13, Palardy was replaced by Canadian Sando DeAngelis and released by the Bombers on Aug. 27, 2013. He signed with Ottawa on March 6. Palardy punted 12 times against Montreal for a 39.8-yard average. Redbblacks head coach Rick Campbell said cutdown day is tough for all involved.dddddddddddd "This is not a fun day," he said. "Theres a lot of guys that have put in a lot of work to get to this point and to try and make a football team. "To give people bad news, you never want to do it but its a part of the fact of what happens in pro sports." Over his career, Palardy made 114-of-139 field goals (82 per cent) and boasted a 42.1-yard punting average Also released by the Redblacks were national receivers Aaron Hargreaves, Simon LeMarquand and Steven Adu, international defensive back Parker Orms, international linebacker Devin Arrington, national defensive lineman Stephon Miller, international defensive lineman Dimetrio Tyson,, national offensive linemen James Lee, Brendan Dunn and Aaron Wheaton, international receivers Taulib Ikharo and Travon Patterson. The B.C. Lions released seven players. They were: national running back Guillame Bourassa, international defensive back Tony Burnett, international linebacker, Korey Jones, international defensive lineman Dyrell Porcha, international offensive tackle RJ Dill, national kicker/punter Steven Shott and national linebacker Thomas Spoletini. American defensive end Scooter Berry, who was entering his third CFL season, was among 14 players released by Montreal. The six-foot-two, 275-pound Berry had spent time in the NFL with the Houston Texans and Jacksonville Jaguars, as well as Arena Football Leagues Jacksonville Sharks, before joining the Alouettes. "Lost a lot of good teammates today especially my boy (at)Sdot--Berry," Alouttes defensive lineman John Bowman tweeted. "I wish all yall the best. "This is the non fun part about the game." Montreals moves mean international receiver Chad Johnson made its final roster. Johnson, 36, was a longtime NFL star but was out of football for two years before signing with the Alouettes. In addition to Charles, Edmonton released national defensive linemen Michaell Dadzie and Gregory Alexandre, national receiver Anthony Barrett, international defensive linemen Cameron Sheffield, Daniel Ross and RaShon Harris, national cornerback Raye Hartmann, national centre Gord Hinse, international defensive backs Robert Sands and Myron Lewis, international slotback Brandon McRae, national punter-kicker Zackary Medeiros, national linebacker Kyle Norris and national fullback Smith Wright. The Grey Cup-champion Saskatchewan Roughriders released 26 players, including international linebacker Brandon Isaac, who earned a Grey Cup ring with Toronto in 12 and spent last season with Hamilton. Also let go were national receivers Jade Etienne -- selected fourth overall in the 11 draft by Winnipeg -- and Jordan Sisco, a 2010 second-round pick by the Riders, and international defensive lineman Markus White, who suffered a seizure during camp. Winnipeg made its final cuts Friday, releasing 11 players, including former starter Max Hall. ' ' '