While there isn’t a coach or manager in the world who doesn’t want to see his or her team’s defence prevent as many scoring chances as it can, it might serve the Whitecaps to see their keepers’ feet put to the fire.

The Whitecaps may have signed a slew of attacking players over the last week, but Darren Mattocks re-established himself as the big man on campus after the team’s first preseason game of 2013.

Kobayashi will now call Vancouver home, as the Whitecaps announced Monday that the 29-year-old had signed, adding yet another attacking player to group of hopefuls that include three young project players the team signed last week.

Unfortunately for Argentine defender Martin Bonjour, the final memory most Whitecaps fans will have of him is this: Looking back towards referee Silviu Petrescu, arms raised in innocence, as the official points to the spot.

USL President Tim Holt said it was a “seamless transition” to bring the Vancouver Whitecaps and Montreal Impact back into the USL-Pro fold.

MLS and USL will hold a joint conference call Thursday to announce more details. But, from the release issued Wednesday: “For 2013, the partnership will include interleague play between USL PRO and MLS Reserve League teams, and the establishment of several exclusive team affiliations.”

The Whitecaps announced the signings of three men Wednesday who fall very much into the “project player” category: Paulo Jr., Tom Heinemann and Corey Hertzog.

“We are thankful for the contributions Barry made during his time with the club. Unfortunately Barry and his family never fully settled in Vancouver, and we’ve mutually decided to move in different directions,” said Whitecaps FC president Bob Lenarduzzi in that release.

Kyle Bekker and Emery Welshman are going home.

With no real consensus No. 1 pick at this year’s MLS SuperDraft, Toronto FC decided to take the money.