Whitecaps 2011 vs. TFC 2007 — through three games

It is an unfair comparison. But sportswriting, like life, is filled with unfair comparisons.

Toronto FC was a raw expansion side when it came into MLS in 2007. The Vancouver Whitecaps are not. The club has been preparing for its MLS debut for the last couple of Division-2 seasons. It came into MLS with a running start. It signed several players to Division-2 deals, like Swiss playmaker Davide Chiumiento, knowing full well that they would be integrated into the system before the team made the move to the top flight.

Still, we have to compare how the Whitecaps progress against TFC’s expansion season. It is as close to apples to apples as we have.

So, in 2007, after three games, TFC hadn’t won, hadn’t scored, and had given up nine goals.

In 2011, the Whitecaps, through three games, have scored seven times, given up six and have a respectable four points.

Another comparison? It has taken the Whitecaps just three games to score seven goals in MLS play. Toronto FC went scoreless in its first four, and it took until Game 8 of the season, a 2-2 tie for with Columbus, for TFC to score its seventh goal of the season.

Toronto scored three or more goals only twice in its inaugural season; a 3-1 win at home over the Chicago Fire — the first win in club history — and a 4-0 dismantling of FC Dallas at BMO Field later in the year.

Vancouver has already equalled that in its first three games; with the 4-2 win over Toronto FC and the 3-3 draw with Sporting Kansas City.

On opening day, the Whitecaps fielded just two Canadians in the starting lineup — Russell Teibert and Terry Dunfield. Three if you want to count Swiss international Alain Rochat, who was born in Canada.

Toronto FC started three Canadians in its April 7, 2007 2-0 loss to Chivas USA. Greg Sutton started in goal, with Marco Reda and Jim Brennan in the back. Sub Adam Braz brought the Can-con total to four.

Danny Dichio led TFC with six goals in 2007. Eric Hassli and Camilo are each only four off that pace.