With all the hoopla and backlash following the Alain Rochat trade last week, I was thinking this had to be the worst trade for the Whitecaps in MLS history… in light of that trade, let’s take a look at my top 5 worst Whitecaps trades in MLS history.
5. July 13, 2012: Sebastian Le Toux for Dane Richards…
- Le Toux only played 22 matches in a Whitecaps uniform. That’s not very many games. But compared to the 13 games that Dane Richards played in a Whitecaps uniform, he was a veteran. Le Toux had 6 goals and you never had to worry about him not running the whole game. Richards scored 3 goals in his 13 games. With the Whitecaps coaching staff knowing off Richards desire to leave for Europe after the season this was justa salary cap move.
4. December 3, 2012 : Atiba Harris to Colorado Rapids for 2015 & 2016 International Roster Spots…
- Harris’ career in Vancouver was cut extremely short by injuries. During his time in Vancouver, he only got into 12 games and scored 2 goals. So far for this season in Colorado he already has 4 goals and 1 assist. We are still a few years away from being able to use the international roster spots that we got in this trade.
3. July 20, 2012: Eric Hassli to Toronto FC for 2014 MLS SuperDraft Round 1 pick and international roster spot through 2013…
- The only good thing about this draft pick is that TFC is soiling the bed so bad that we may get the 1st over pick in the draft after this season. The unfortunate thing is that this year’s draft so is rather weak thus far. Players may pull a Manneh and show up at the combine and make a name for themselves. The added anger to this trade is that it occurred 1 week after the Le Toux transfer and the team was destroyed half way through the season. Hassli was and still is a Vancouver fan favourite.
2. June 6, 2013 : Alain Rochat to DC United for 2nd round 2015 MLS SuperDraft & conditional 2016 picks…
- With injuries already to centrebacks Jay DeMerit, Brad Rusin and Carlye Mitchell, this trade was definitely done at the wrong time. Now even though Rochat is not a centreback, he would give Martin Rennie more options. This better be a salary dump of his $190,000 so they bring a starting 11 player in during the upcoming transfer window. The fact that Andy O’Brien got injured the very next game makes this move even worse.
1. July 11, 2012 : Davide Chiumiento to FC Zurich for undisclosed fee…
- At the time of his move, we didn’t know he was the 1st of 3 dreadful transfers in only 9 days. He was a master with the ball and setting up teammates. Ask any current and ex-Whitecap player who played alongside him and they will tell you he was the most skilled teammate they had ever had. You know it is bad when supporters are still talking about him moving back to Vancouver following his recent dinner in with Rennie in Vancouver.
Are their any other Whitecaps FC transfers you were not a fan of that were not listed here? Let us know in the comments section below or on twitter @WhitecapsXI.
Written by ex-WhitecapsXI writer Aaron Campbell.
WhitecapsXI 
Posted on November 2, 2013 by Jake Vendramin
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