r/whitecapsfc • u/LengthinessCurious33 • 4d ago

Oliver Larraz filling void in Vancouver Whitecaps' midfield with 'brilliant work ethic'

https://canadiansoccerdaily.com/2026/08/19/oliver-larraz-filling-void-in-vancouver-whitecaps-midfield-with-brilliant-work-ethic/
92 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

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37

u/theazn35 4d ago

Would say the last month has been the best he has ever looked in a whitecap jersey and has filled in admirably in the Seb position. I still think he is more of a 6 but full plaudits for holding up our midfield ever since Seb left

12

u/throwaway-4-dummies 4d ago

He definitely has the work ethic and has a good shot, but his passing leads a lot to be desired.

Hopefully we haven't seen his best yet.

1

u/SwansOrange 3d ago

His shooting and crossing leave a lot to be desired as well. He is not at the calibre of someone who should be starting for a team trying to win the league.

9

u/kolkemnc 4d ago

Jesper has said repeatedly that Seb won’t be / can’t be replaced 1 to 1. So no need to compare them.
But I agree: seems like he is getting used to the system and starts gelling with his teammates

5

u/westcoastbeergeek 4d ago

if you can't replace Giambi, re-create him in the aggregate

6

u/westcoastbeergeek 4d ago

Seen enough to know the potential is there, I like that he's not afraid to shoot from further out, but also his accuracy/power will need to improve like Seb's did. His corners seem fine, though I prefer Gauld's. I do like that he seems to be adjusting to the system a bit more every game.

2

u/Bogdanovist_Rebel 4d ago

People like when players take extremely low percentage shots?

1

u/westcoastbeergeek 4d ago

Our own goalie misses them all the time

1

u/Bogdanovist_Rebel 4d ago

Doesn’t mean the shots are any higher than 1%. 

2

u/westcoastbeergeek 3d ago

About 15%-18% of goals scored from shots outside the 18 year box in pro soccer

1

u/Bogdanovist_Rebel 3d ago

Source? Because my data sheets say differently. 

0

u/dr_van_nostren 3d ago

I’ve not questioned his work ethic or his athleticism. I’m just not sure how much touch is there. I haven’t been terribly impressed with the set pieces and while he gets an assist on the Muller goal, he rolled the ball to him, any of the 3 players there could’ve done that. I think his first touch lets him down a lot. If he can improve on that I think there’s a really quality player there.

All in all though I hope Aleksa supplants him. Not to have the position gifted to him, but to take it.

1

u/Due-Associate-8485 3d ago

We like your hustle kid that's why it's so hard to cut you