Brek SheaB次元官网网址檚 critics have plenty of pointed questions about the way he plays soccer.

They wonder about the Vancouver Whitecap midfielderB次元官网网址檚 passion for the game. They donB次元官网网址檛 think SheaB次元官网网址檚 production equals the salary paid to the designated player which, according to the MLS union website, was US$670,000 last September.

Coach Carl Robinson answers those critics by pointing to the two goals Shea has scored on the road this season, both in games the Whitecaps have won.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 a big fan of Brek Shea,B次元官网网址� Robinson said after a WhitecapsB次元官网网址� training session this week. B次元官网网址淚 think sometimes he gets unfair criticism. People always look at what players canB次元官网网址檛 do rather than what they can do.

B次元官网网址淏rek has got us six points already this season because of his play.B次元官网网址�

The Whitecaps (3-1-1) will need another strong road performance when they play Real Salt Lake (1-2-1) Saturday in a Major League Soccer match at Rio Tinto Stadium.

B次元官网网址淭hey have a young team and a good team,B次元官网网址� said Shea. B次元官网网址淪ome results havenB次元官网网址檛 gone their way. At the end of last year, I think they were playing really well.

B次元官网网址淭hey have threats all over the field. We have to go there with the mentality like we had the last road games and try and get three points, stick to our game plan.B次元官网网址�

Vancouver obtained Shea in February 2017 in a trade with Orlando City SC for Giles Barnes. The long and lanky 28-year-old from Bryan, Texas, has scored six goals in 30 games with the Whitecaps. Five of those have come on the road.

Shea scored the tying goal in the 51st minute of last weekB次元官网网址檚 2-1, come-from-behind win over the Columbus Crew. Often a man of few words with dealing with the media, he shrugged when asked about his ability to score goals away from BC Place Stadium.

B次元官网网址淚 havenB次元官网网址檛 thought about that,B次元官网网址� Shea said. B次元官网网址淵ou just go out and try to get three points for your team.

B次元官网网址淚f you score itB次元官网网址檚 good, whether itB次元官网网址檚 home or away. If the team wins, itB次元官网网址檚 even better.B次元官网网址�

Some Whitecap fans expected more out of Shea, a former U.S. international who spent two seasons with Stoke City of the English Premier League.

Robinson is quick to defend Shea.

B次元官网网址淵es, there are areas he needs to work at and he wants to work at and he does on a daily basis,B次元官网网址� said Robinson. B次元官网网址淟etB次元官网网址檚 focus on what heB次元官网网址檚 good at.

B次元官网网址淏rek is a key part of his squad because he brings something different. HeB次元官网网址檚 a very direct runner. He likes to get in behind, heB次元官网网址檚 got good delivery. HeB次元官网网址檚 got good goal scoring ability with both feet.B次元官网网址�

The WhitecapsB次元官网网址� 10 points leaves them tied with Sporting Kansas City for first place in the MLS Western Conference. Vancouver and Los Angeles Football Club also have the best road records in the West at 2-1-0.

B次元官网网址淲e just go there with a mentality to get three points,B次元官网网址� said Shea. B次元官网网址淲e canB次元官网网址檛 get them every time, but we enjoy it the times we have.B次元官网网址�

Real Salt Lake is ninth in the West, one of three teams with four points.

Coach Mike Petke said his team needs some mental adjustments following a 3-1 loss at Toronto last weekend.

B次元官网网址淵ou can teach players to pass the ball from A to B,B次元官网网址� Petke told the Salt Lake City Tribune. B次元官网网址淵ou can teach a player to move three yards to the left to receive the ball.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 not a psychiatrist. ItB次元官网网址檚 going to be interesting to talk to individuals and collectively about our mentality. ItB次元官网网址檚 early in the season, but thatB次元官网网址檚 clear. When I say mentality, it covers a lot of things.B次元官网网址�

One of the Salt Lake players the Whitecaps must maintain close watch on is forward Joao Plata. He leads the team with two goals and is second with six shots.

Vancouver defender Jake Nerwinski said the five-foot-two, 157-pound Ecuadorian isnB次元官网网址檛 easy to move off the ball.

B次元官网网址淚 played against him twice last year so I kind of know his tendencies a little bit,B次元官网网址� said Nerwinski. B次元官网网址淗eB次元官网网址檚 a quick guy. HeB次元官网网址檚 small, heB次元官网网址檚 low to the ground.

B次元官网网址淗eB次元官网网址檚 very good with the ball. I just have to be aggressive with him early.B次元官网网址�

Jim Morris, The Canadian Press

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