During their time in Major League Soccer, the Vancouver Whitecaps have began their season prep in sunny Arizona. This season, the team decided to shake it up a bit, taking the squad to Carl Robinson’s home of Wales, in hopes of facing competition that was in-form rather than against competition in a similar pre-season state as their own. While playing against United Kingdom squads would certainly fit that plan, playing against U-23 squads is not the best barometer. Nevertheless, It was probably better, or at the very least just as good, as playing against USL teams or MLS teams with reserve players.