Vancouver Whitecaps' Jay DeMerit is not surprised by his team's performance. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan HaywardJonathan Hayward/The Canadian Press
As bad as things have gone for the Vancouver Whitecaps during their inaugural Major League Soccer season, captain Jay DeMerit has never lost his belief in the club.
An eternal optimist, DeMerit isn't totally surprised by the Whitecaps struggles. The U.S. international knew what he was getting himself into when Vancouver signed him as their first MLS player last November.
"I knew the challenge that has been in front of me and this club," DeMerit said after the Whitecaps practised Friday. "I don't think anyone was under the illusion ... that things were going to be rosy and easy.
"Sometimes I seem to enjoy the struggle and what comes along with it because, once we come out the back end of this ... then everyone will be better for it."
DeMerit believes the Whitecaps have all the right parts to be a good team. They just haven't been put together yet.
"I've played with a lot of different players before and I am confident enough to say this squad has a lot of very good players," said the 31-year-old central defender.
"We just haven't found the right formula. Whether it's guys being fit, whether it's the right guys on the field. We just have to try and make that individual talent work as a team on the field."
The Whitecaps will be looking for their fourth win of the season Saturday when they play the Houston Dynamo at Empire Field. Houston is third in the Eastern Conference with a 8-7-11 record, but Vancouver can find some inspiration that the Dynamo have no road victories in 2011.
"You have to try and get as many advantages as you can going into any game (and) that is certainly one of them," said DeMerit.
"We know first-hand what it's like to play on the road and not get your results. That comes along with getting out of the gate early and making sure we put them under pressure and possibly score ourselves."
At 3-13-9 the Whitecaps have the worst record in MLS. All their wins have come at home and Vancouver tied a league record by going 14 games without a victory.
With nine games left on the schedule, Vancouver wants to avoid setting a MLS record for fewest wins in a season. The current low is four, set by Tampa in 2001 and matched by Chivas USA in 2005.
The Whitecaps also have three road games remaining to avoid becoming the fourth team in league history not to win an away match.
"Those are things we talk about," said DeMerit. "You don't want to set a precedent in a negative way. You want to try to avoid that as much as possible.
"Just knowing if we get a couple of wins here, you can start to salvage a season."
While the team has limped along this year, DeMerit has battled his own injuries.
A groin-hip problem has resulted in him playing just 12 matches. Vancouver's 2-1 loss in Portland last weekend was DeMerit's first full 90 minutes in two months.
"To play about half the games has been frustrating," he said. "You sign up to be out there and to help lead and to be one of the role characters on this team.
"When you can't do that, and you have to watch from the sidelines, that makes it even more frustrating."
Saturday's match may also be the first time this season DeMerit and fellow defender Alain Rochat are teamed together. Injuries and roster juggling have prevented the two from working together.
"It will be great to try and form a partnership with him and hold down the middle maybe a little bit stronger than we have," said DeMerit.
The Whitecaps continue to draw large crowds despite losing on the pitch. There's a fun atmosphere at games and a growing excitement over the team's pending move to the renovated B.C. Place Stadium in October.
"I'm here for the long haul," said DeMerit. "Hopefully with the right attitude and the right people around we can keep moving this train forward."