With Tuesday’s signing of reigning NASL MVP Etienne Barbara, Rennie has a wealth of attacking players at his disposal. The Maltese striker — who has been injured and hasn’t been able to see any preseason action so far in 2012 — joins Sebastien Le Toux, Eric Hassli, Camilo, 2011 No. 1 draft pick Omar Salgado, Atiba Harris, Davide Chiumiento, Long Tan and 2012 No. 2 overall pick Darren Mattocks in what is the most top-heavy roster in MLS.

Tan drew two penalty kicks, the first one which was converted by Sebastien Le Toux, as the Whitecaps beat the Houston Dynamo 1-0 Sunday.

It’s hard to read too much into a preseason game, but Friday night’s Walt Disney World classic opener between the Vancouver Whitecaps and Montreal Impact presented a couple of interesting storylines.

The team announced Thursday that Scottish international Barry Robson will join the team in July as a Designated Player. Because Robson will join at the halfway mark of the MLS campaign, his cap will be US$167,500 in 2012.

Asked to comment on the trade that sent French striker Sebastien Le Toux to Vancouver Montreal coach Jess Marsch said that the Impact had made an offer to the Philadelphia team but that Vancouver had made a better one.

Make no mistake, even though Camilo scored 12 times last year, this is a calculated risk being taken by Vancouver Whitecaps’ coach Martin Rennie. Yes, Rennie: It is clear that the Whitecaps are in the same boat as when Preki took over Toronto FC. The coach is also the de facto GM, in charge of all player moves.

“By expressing interest… we were one of the first calls that they made,” said Whitecaps’ President Bob Lenarduzzi during a conference call Tuesday.

“I am already excited,” said FCE forward Kyle Porter, who left the Whitecaps before the start of last season. “It’s going to be the biggest game of my career. I think there will be a great turnout in Vancouver, hopefully 5,000 to 7,000 people here. I think we are going to have a great rivalry.”

But maybe the most remarkable moment in the game came right before the final whistle, when midfielder Hernandez went off the pitch favouring his right knee. He fell awkwardly. If he can’t go against TFC in the CCL match, well, that’s huge.

ebastien Le Toux is the MLS Player of the Month for September. The Philadelphia Union’s French forward got the award after the ballots from the membership of the North American Soccer Reporters were counted.