As Carl Robinson met the media in Vancouver on Monday, there were plenty of questions to answer about the future. Discount Shoes Black Friday . With the Whitecaps controversial playoff loss in Dallas now in the rear-view mirror, attention is already turning to what the Caps squad will look like next season. After setting a new single season points record, qualifying for the Champions League and successfully defending the Cascadia Cup, there is plenty for Robinson to be pleased about. He has had an excellent first season as a head coach and has laid a strong foundation for future success, but there are some big decisions facing the Whitecaps coach in the next few weeks to ensure the club has the best possible chance of building upon an impressive 2014. Here are five key jobs on Carl Robinsons To Do list: 1. Find a striker (or two) Since the departures of Camilo and Kenny Miller, the Whitecaps have been missing a natural goalscorer. They will likely add a Designated Player striker this winter, and it would be a surprise if the player doesnt come from South or Central America. Robinson will do some travelling in the next few weeks as he narrows down his search as he looks for the ideal signing to complement the pieces he already has within the squad. It’s likely Robinson will not only try to sign a DP, but also bring in another frontman as well, either as a permanent signing or maybe securing the loan of a younger player. “I will turn over every rock,” said Robinson. “I know what is around in MLS, but teams don’t want to give their good players away. We will look abroad, as well, whether it is a European player or a South–Central American player, I will certainly be doing a lot of travelling in the offseason.” 2. Bring back Laba There isn’t much doubt about this one. Matias Laba won the Whitecaps “Unsung Hero” award and was outstanding throughout the year. The young Argentine has quickly developed into one of the top two or three defensive midfielders in Major League Soccer and will be returning to Vancouver next season. After joining from Toronto FC in March, the Whitecaps now have the option to pay a pre-agreed sum to their Canadian rivals in order to keep Laba’s services long-term. Carl Robinson says there isn’t an issue and that Laba will be staying with the club, but ‘Caps fans will still breathe a huge sigh of relief when the ink is dry on the paperwork. “There is a fee agreed for us to take Mati and we will be doing that because Mati has been fantastic for us and is a big part of this club moving forward. That fee will be settled between the two ownership groups,” explained the Whitecaps coach. 3. Mattocks and Salgado As Robinson looks to strengthen his squad and bring in “a few fresh faces next season,” there will likely be departures, either through trades or the Expansion Draft. Two players who seem unlikely to have a future with the club long term are young strikers Darren Mattocks and Omar Salgado. Mattocks is a valuable asset within MLS, despite his lack of consistency in front of goal, and if the Whitecaps are to sign one or two starting forwards, it is possible they could get value within the league for Mattocks to strengthen the team in other areas. Salgado finished the year on trial with Tigres in Mexico after a season where there was more talk about his temperament than his footballing ability. It seems best for both parties if there is a parting of the ways before next year. “We will sit down with him and discuss the best way to move forward,” said Robinson. “I don’t want him to get frustrated. If he feels it is right and we feel it is right for us to part ways, we will. I want to help him personally because he has been injured for a number of years and he wants to play. The one thing I will never do is stop players going to play football somewhere.” 4. Defensive decisions The Whitecaps found their number one starting central defender with the signing of Costa Rican giant Kendall Waston this summer. Now Robinson must decide which other central defenders he wants to have in his squad next year. In an ideal scenario, the ‘Caps will be able to sign another central defender to start alongside Waston and also re-sign veteran Andy O’Brien who had a very good end to the season. O’Brien played more minutes than any other Whitecaps central defender but if he stays with the club, he may have a reduced role moving forward. With the club also set to be in the Champions League, having an experienced player like O’Brien on board would be important. “Andy has been fantastic this year and has got stronger as the season has gone on,” said Robinson. “I would like to try and keep Andy at the club in some capacity, if I can, because I think he is a very good leader. Because we are in a salary cap league, it depends on the financial side of it, as well.” O’Brien has loved his time in Vancouver so far and wants to stay. The former Ireland international says he’s not against taking a pay cut in order to extend his career. “The objective would be to play as many games as possible – I view it as a challenge, he said. It’s not all about money, it’s about being wanted. I’ve been very blessed to have the career that I’ve had and at this stage of my career it’s about being made to feel welcome.” 5. Magnificent Mauro Mauro Rosales was superb, both on and off the pitch, following his move from Chivas USA and the Whitecaps would love to find a way to keep him for 2015. Rosales would need to agree to take a cut in salary, but there is also a possibility the club could sweeten a deal by allowing him to also start a transition to the coaching ranks. Rosales wouldn’t play every match next season, but having his presence within the squad and his undoubted teaching abilities would be a big bonus within a young squad. “He has been excellent since the trade and, in the last game, in my view, he was the best player on the park. He’s got a lot to bring to the table, but, obviously, it is a financial decision, as well. I will be doing everything I can to try and keep Mauro at the club.” Wholesale Shoes Black Friday .ca. Hi Kerry, Love reading your column and loved watching your analysis on the TSN broadcasts!And were now in Round 2! Bruins! Canadiens! We know all about the great games of the past from the players, the broadcasters and the writers. Buy Shoes Black Friday . Thats the feeling that eight Canadian Football League teams are experiencing right now in advance of the expansion draft to stock the Ottawa Redblacks. https://www.cheapshoesblackfriday.com/ . Make the extra pass, take care of the ball, play defence and get more out of his bench.Its not fair to ask Troy Smith to become the next Anthony Calvillo. Its barely fair to ask a Ricky Ray or Travis Lulay - veteran pivots with Grey Cups and Most Outstanding Player awards to their name - to assume the role of face of the league and greatest active player. So its really not fair for a quarterback with four career starts in the CFL under his belt - albeit promising ones - to be put under that spotlight. But, as the de facto replacement for Calvillo in Montreal, fairly or not that could be the measuring stick for Smith. A more realistic expectation, and one Smith has a shot at living up to, is a solid quarterback that gives the team a chance to win week in and week out. After relieving Josh Neiswander (no longer with the team) midway through a late season game, Smith never looked back in guiding the Alouettes into the playoffs and briefly flirting with second place in the division and a home playoff date. His numbers in his short stint as starter were encouraging. While his completion percentage was just a shade over 50 percent, he threw nine touchdowns to just five interceptions and averaged nearly 300 passing yards per contest. And while his stat line from Montreals lone playoff game (14-26, 142 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT) was far from impressive, the poise and leadership he displayed - factoring in nerves, inexperience, and all the rhetoric attached to a rookie making his first postseason appearance - was heartening for Alouettes fans. But that composure really isnt all that surprising for a Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback with tangible NFL experience. Following a strong four-year career at Ohio State, two years as a starter, Smith was awarded the 2007 Heisman Trophy and then embarked on a four-year NFL career, finishing with 1,734 passing yards and 11 combined touchdowns. If youre apt to use the term pedigree to predict future success, a quarterback like Smith would surely fit the bill. And now for the best news of all in relations to Smiths chances of succeeding as a CFL quarterback: Montreals stacked receiving corps. Injuries to Jamel Richardson, proven long ago to be a bona fide stud receiver, opened the door for S.J. Green to elevate his status from very good to great last season; while Duron Carter demonstrated hes very much Pro Football Hall of Famer Chris Carters son in his CFL debut season. Health permitting, Smith will be throwing to receivers with a combined eight 1,000 yard receiving seasons, and four double-digit touchdowns seasons. And Carter almost added to that total in just 12 games last year (enjoy him while you can; the 23-year-old will be making plays in the NFL next season). With those three thoroughbreds in tow, former NFL star and notorious headline stealer Chad Johnson should be battling for fourth on the import receiving depth chart at best. Its of couurse hard to predict how Smith will do this season and in future years, other than to say hell be hard-pressed to make Als fans forget Calvillo anytime soon. China Shoes Black Friday. . There have been several quarterbacks of the future the past number of seasons in the CFL, few of them (less than nine!) have panned out. But Smith has everything youd seem to want to at least take your shot with him. And thats likely what the Alouettes will do. Notes Calvillo Retires 2013 marked the end of an era as Anthony Calvillo, perhaps the greatest CFL quarterback of all time, retired after 20 seasons. The majority of Calvillos career was spent in Montreal, as were the majority of his 79,816 career passing yards (a professional record) and his 455 career touchdown passes (a CFL record). Calvillo also won three Grey Cups and three Most Outstanding Player awards with the Alouettes. Expansion Draft The Alouettes lost three young players to the Ottawa Redblacks in Decembers expansion draft, none more valuable than versatile FB Patrick Lavoie, who was making a name for himself in the two years he spent with Montreal. The Als also lost DT Moton Hopkins and LB Jordan Verdone. Free Agency Montreal was once again quiet on the free agent market, deciding against bidding on any of the top names available. Free agency will be known more for when the team lost some talent, highlighted by LB Shea Emrys departure to Toronto, but GM Jim Popp did make sure to lock up some important pieces, highlighted by the re-signing of LT Josh Bourke. Return man Larry Taylor was also traded for during this period. Higgins Hired Up until Tom Higgins was hired to coach the team, it was unknown if Montreal would hire a coach or just let Popp continue on in the interim role. The Higgins hiring was strange also because GM Popp appeared to not be a part of the interviewing process for Higgins. Quatre-Vingt Cinq Despite an already solid receiving corps, the Alouettes added some more sizzle by signing former NFLer/headline-maker Chad Johnson to a contract in April. The transaction may be as much a publicity stunt as it is a solid football move but Johnson showed up to Montreal in good shape, in high spirits, and looking like he still has some football left to play. Offensive Line Losses Montreal lost two mainstays of their offensive line in the off-season when Andrew Woodruff and Scott Flory announced their retirements. CFL Draft The team helped to replenish their offensive line in the first round of the draft by selecting David Foucault from Montreal. The rest of the draft saw Montreal select Queens DB Andrew Lue 10th overall, Guelph DL Jeffrey Finley 22nd overall, York DL James Tuck 31st overall, Manitoba WR Andrew Smith 35th overall, Manitoba K/P Nick Boyd 43rd overall, Sherbrooke FB Jean-Christophe Beaulieu 49th overall, and Calgary WR Mackenzie Sarro 58th overall. ' ' '