VANCOUVER -- Jordan Harvey didnt quite know what to make of the Vancouver Whitecaps coming into the 2014 campaign. Bruce Bochy Jersey . After a tumultuous off-season that included the teams head coach getting fired -- as well as its best player forcing his way out of town -- the defender wasnt alone. "I had a lot of questions," Harvey said this week. "It was a young team and everything, but we acquired some really quality players. We had that first game (a 4-1 home victory over the New York Red Bulls) and the expectations were huge, but we also saw how high we could reach and the bar was set. "I think we have the consistency, the depth to maintain that." Nearly a third of the way through the season, those characteristics will be put to the test on Saturday when the Whitecaps (4-2-4) host the top team in Major League Soccer at B.C. Place Stadium as the Seattle Sounders (8-3-1) travel north to face their bitter geographic rivals. Watch the game live on TSN2 and TSN GO at 7pm et/4pm pt. "Arguably theyre the best team in Major League Soccer at the moment. The league table doesnt lie," said Whitecaps head coach Carl Robinson. "Its a good test for us to see where we are. Its a test that Im looking forward to as a coach, and I know my players certainly are. "Theyre a very a good team, but let me tell you, so are we." The Whitecaps enter Saturday with 16 points through 10 games, but just one of their four wins have come against Western Conference opponents -- a trend from last season that Vancouver will have to shake if it wants to return to the playoffs after missing out in 2013. "Its vitally important. Winning any game of football is good, but obviously every time you dont win against a Western team youre losing points and theyre gaining points," said Robinson. "Its very important and we need to make sure that we compete with the Western teams and beat the Western teams. Thats a big focus for us this year because we didnt do it enough last year." The Sounders have 25 points from their 12 games, but will be without midfielder Clint Dempsey, who is away with the U.S. national team as it prepares for the World Cup in Brazil. "Its a test for us because Seattle are where they are," said Robinson. "Weve had a very positive start. Weve still got a lot of work to do, a lot of improving to do, and well continue to do that, whatever the result on Saturday. Its just a marker for us to see where we are." The Sounders have won five of six and are coming off a 1-0 win over the San Jose Earthquakes last weekend, while the Whitecaps will have had 10 days off since bowing out of the Amway Canadian Championship semifinals to Toronto FC on May 14. "I think its going to be a game thats going to be a bit open," Sounders head coach Sigi Schmid told the clubs official website. "Theyre a team that likes to counter attack and get forward, so it might open up at certain times during the game." Theres no doubt the Whitecaps have turned heads around MLS ten games into the schedule after a tricky off-season. Robinson was promoted from an assistants role to replace former head coach Martin Rennie in December after a prolonged search, with the Welshman taking over just in time to watch star striker Camilo Sanvezzo refuse to honour the final year of his contract. Undaunted by that setback, Robinson brought in talented fresh faces, including Matias Laba and Pedro Morales and the roster has gelled quickly. "I think weve surprised a lot of people. I dont think weve surprised the dressing room, though," said Vancouver captain Jay DeMerit. "I think the manager has kept the squad that he wants here because he believes that we can be capable of the things weve been doing the first 10 games. "Its up to us to make sure we go beyond that." The veteran defender has been with the Whitecaps since the club joined MLS in 2011 and knows the importance of beating the top teams in the West -- something Vancouver did twice last season against Seattle. "It has to come from us," said DeMerit. "It has to come from the fact that we believe in it and we believe we can do it and do it consistently." While the Sounders will be without Dempsey on Saturday, the Whitecaps will have to be wary of Seattle striker Obafemi Martins, who has five goals and six assists. "Hes a top player. Hes a world-class footballer," said Robinson. "Hes someone who scores goals and thats why hes paid big money. Weve got to make sure we eliminate the service into him and eliminate him on the ball because hes a fantastic player." Apart from its importance in the standings, the game is also Vancouvers first of the season in the regional Cascadia Cup -- a mini-tournament played between the Whitecaps, Sounders and the Portland Timbers. The team with the most points in the games played amongst the three clubs at the end of the season takes the title, which Vancouver did in 2013. "Its like a playoff atmosphere," said Harvey. "You can feel the support, the energy from the fans and its always one that we want to win for them. The Cascadia Cup -- thats some hardware that we want to keep." DeMerit likens the atmosphere to the local derbies he was a part of during his time playing in England. "You get that full atmosphere, that constant hum of chants, that full intensity that comes with that rivalry and that only rivalry games seem to create," said the 34-year-old. "Both sets of fans are very passionate about their clubs and thats what we want. Thats what were trying to build here in North America and in MLS and theres no better example than the Cascadia rivalry." Notes: The Whitecaps are 3-1-1 at home so far this season, while the Sounders have the same record on the road. ... Seattle and Portland tied the only other Cascadia game played so far this season 4-4. Each team plays six games in the competition. The Whitecaps visit the Timbers on June 1. ... Vancouver announced Thursday that striker Darren Mattocks has obtained a green card in the U.S., freeing up an international roster spot. ... Harvey and DeMerit, who are both American, said they were surprised that Los Angeles Galaxy star Landon Donovan was left off the U.S. World Cup team. Said Harvey: "Thats a crazy decision. Im really shocked by it. Hes a quality player -- best U.S. player in history." Deion Sanders Jersey . Theres little time for rest, too. The Flyers and Rangers play again Wednesday night at Madison Square Garden. Simmonds scored in the first period and twice more in the second for his first career post-season hat trick. Mason survived a busy first period and stopping 31 straight shots until Carl Hagelin scored late in the third. Denard Span Jersey . -- C.J. Wilson parked his car and laughed while signing autographs for faceless fans who handed bats, balls and cards to the pitcher from the other side of a brick wall. http://www.sfgiantsapparelsshop.com/matt-williams-jersey-c-12/ .com) - Hassan Whiteside scored 20 points with nine rebounds in the Miami Heats 83-75 win over the Boston Celtics on Sunday.He entered college football an undersized, somewhat unknown quarterback from Kerrville, Texas. He leaves as a potential first overall pick, and one of the most dynamic, breath-taking players in college football history. Johnny Manziel declaring for the NFL draft means Texas A & M will have to find a new pivot. It also means college football will have to find a new folk-hero. The numbers Johnny Manziel put up in his all-too brief career read like a stat line from a video game. In a pair of seasons, Johnny Football threw for 7,820 yards, ran for 2,169, and accounted for 93 total touchdowns (63 passing, 30 running). Manziel fell just 11 yards short of becoming the first sophomore in NCAA history to accumulate 10,000 career yards. His 2012 season - in which he became the first redshirt freshman ever to win the Heisman – broke Cam Newtons single season SEC yardage record. His 2013 follow-up ranks second all-time. In all, Manziel set 35 school, conference, and NCAA records in two seasons in College Station. But more than the statistics, its the highlights themselves that blew everyone away. Time and again, Manziel did things on the field that made all of us look around and ask, "did that really just happen?" Who could forget his 2012 fumble-turned-touchdown in A & Ms 29-24 upset of eventual national champion Alabama? Or this past season against the Tide, when Manziel retreated 25 yards behind the line of scrimmage, escaped a defenders grasp and heaved a jump ball to Edward Pope for a first down. In the Chick-fil-A Bowl, Manziel delivered one final trademark moment, a scramble that became a hurdle that became a 19-yard touchdown pass. On the field, Manziel never shied away from the spotlight, delivering over and over in big games. In his two bowl games, Manziel accounted for 9 touchdowns, almost 1000 total yards, and a 72 percent completion rate. As a first-year SEC entrant, all but the most ardent Aggie supporters thought A & M would struggle in 2012. Instead, the 61" redshirt freshman from Tivy High led the Aggies to an 11-2 record that included the shocking upset of Alabama at Bryant-Denny, and a 41-13 blowout of Oklahoma in which Manziel set the Cotton Bowl record with 516 total yards. This past season against Bama, Manziel outdid himself, accounting for 562 total yards and five touchdowns. In his final game against Duke, he led his team back from a 21-point halftime deficit to a 52-48 win. He was named offensive MVP after completing 30 of 38 passes, throwing for 382 yards and four touchdowns, while rushing for a team-high 73 yards and a score. Manziels 455 total yards marked thhe ninth time in 26 games in which he amassed more than 450 total yards. Mel Ott Jersey. In the 111 years in which Texas A & M has played major college football, only two other players have ever had a 450 yard game. Off the field, there were issues to be sure. Manziels 2012 Heisman campaign almost didnt happen. The 21-year-old was initially suspended by Texas A & M after a June 2012 arrest in connection with a fight in College Station. He has since pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor, but Manziel was only reinstated as a redshirt freshman after Sumlin wrote the administration on his behalf. This past season, Manziel was suspended for the first half of Texas A & Ms opener against Rice for inadvertently breaking NCAA rules by signing autographs, after he was alleged to have accepted money from memorabilia brokers to sign. Even after he returned to the field, he grabbed headlines by taunting players, making autograph gestures. But as much as he was a thorn in the side of college footballs governing body, Manziel was also a money maker for it. Just as likely to appear on TMZ as ESPN, Manziels games became appointment viewing more than any other player in the sport. Texas A & Ms September loss to Alabama drew an average of 13.6 million viewers, making it the second highest rated regular season game on the college football schedule. En route to their 9-4 record, the Aggies drew three of the top 15 television audiences of the season. Four separate times they had the highest rated game of the week. And with 8.69 million viewers, Manziels last game was the most viewed non-BCS bowl in ESPN history. Back in September, A & M announced that over the past 12 months, they raised $740 million in fundraising. Thats almost double the highest total raised in any other 12 month period in school history. With the NFL Draft less than four months away, JF is skyrocketing up draft boards. In his first mock draft of the year, draft guru Mel Kiper Jr. has the 21-year-old headed to the Texans as the first overall pick. No matter where he is drafted though, Manziel will continue to excite. No player in college football could turn nothing, into something spectacular, quite like the sophomore. When Manziel declared last week, Sumlin said of his quarterback, "in all of my years of coaching, [he] is the most exciting football player I have ever seen. We appreciate everything [Manziel] has done for Texas A & M and Aggie football and wish him nothing but the best." Not just Aggieland, but the whole of college football should appreciate what he has done as well. Johnny Football will be missed. Wholesale Nike NFL Jerseys Disocunt Football Jerseys White NFL Jerseys Cheap Discount Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys 2020 Wholesale NFL T-shirts NFL Jerseys China ' ' '