In isolation, the Vancouver Whitecaps’ decision to trade away David Norman Jr for a conditional pick in the 2022 MLS draft is not of monumental consequence. While Norman was a feel-good home town story, and carried a last name synonymous with the heydays of soccer in Vancouver, it’s hardly the first time that a young player has been shipped off elsewhere in order to be given a fresh start - and if the Whitecaps were in the middle of a playoff chase, it’s unlikely we’d be paying much attention.
But when you consider the kind of year the Whitecaps have had, and couple that with general fan distrust, as well as the growing frustrations regarding the disconnect between the main club and academy/development squads, moving on from Norman Jr looks more like the sign of a much greater problem.