Whitecaps drop eight players in player roster shuffle as fan lightning rods Kobayashi, Davidson released

VANCOUVER — The Vancouver Whitecaps’ use of Japanese League imports is likely over.

The Major League Soccer club announced Thursday that it has declined contract options on midfielders Daigo Kobayashi, who was maddeningly inconsistent in his one season, and Jun Marques Davidson, a favourite of fired head coach Martin Rennie but a frequent target of fan and media criticism.

Without a new head coach as yet, but with a league deadline looming Sunday for exercising contract options for 2014, the club did pick up the options on 11 players, including star striker Camilo Sanvezzo, influential midfielder Nigel Reo-Coker and youngsters Omar Salgado, Erik Hurtado and Russell Teibert. The club now has 19 players under contract.

“I’m excited about the core of our roster … a sprinkling of a lot of youth and also some experience with guys like Reo-Coker, (striker) Kenny Miller and (centre back) Andy O’Brien,” said president Bob Lenarduzzi.

Kobayashi and the Japanese-American Davidson, who both played several seasons in Japan, were among a group of eight players who did not have their options picked up. Goalkeepers Joe Cannon, Brad Knighton and promising Canadian Simon Thomas were also let go, as were centre back Brad Rusin and second-team strikers Tommy Heinemann and Corey Hertzog were the others.

Kobayashi, who earned $238,833 in 2013, was brought in with considerable fanfare, described as a gifted technical player who could drive the Caps’ attack from midfield. But after a promising start with an assist and a goal in his first two games, he struggled with the physical play and failed to mesh with the players around him except for a brief period late in the season when Rennie used him at the top of a diamond midfield.

“He was on a significant amount of money in the world of MLS and we had hoped he would fill that attacking midfield role,” said Lenarduzzi. “He did it, but didn’t do it on a consistent basis.

“We could wait and hope that he does that next season. But at the same time, our thoughts are we’ll move on at this point.”

Davidson made 48 starts over his two seasons. But as a very defensive-minded player with limited ability to have an impact on a game offensively, he became a lightning rod for those critical of Rennie’s formations and tactics.