Ex-Union player Salinas goes out on a limb

Vancouver midfielder Shea Salinas is looking forward to playing against his former teammates when the Whitecaps host the Union in Saturday's Major League Soccer matchup, and he's not afraid to offer some strong opinions on the outcome.

"I think we will win, 3-1," Salinas said on a conference call with two Philadelphia-area reporters earlier this week.

Isn't he worried about bulletin-board material?

"They are a very talented team, and they don't need to use this as any motivation," he said.

It's quite a prediction, since Vancouver is 1-6-8 and faces a 6-3-4 Union team that shares the Eastern Conference lead with the New York Red Bulls.

"We know Philadelphia is a good team with a great defense, and lately they have been scoring goals," Salinas said.

Yet he thinks that Vancouver is due to break out. Although they are an expansion team, the Whitecaps already are working on their second coach. Teitur Thordarson was fired May 30 and was replaced by Tom Soehn.

"It has been difficult because we all liked Teitur," he said. "We know it's a business and that you need results."

Salinas is on his third expansion team, having begun his MLS career in 2008 with the San Jose Earthquakes.

After his first season in Philadelphia last year, Salinas thought he was going to stay with the Union and said he didn't know until the day of the expansion draft that he wouldn't be part of the team.

When Vancouver suffered a 1-0 loss at PPL Park, on March 26, Salinas didn't make the trip because of a knee sprain. He says he is 100 percent healthy and has appeared in eight games, making six starts.

Salinas says he has enjoyed his time in Vancouver and describes the city as "an awesome place to live."

He believes that the team is ready to start winning, and he isn't afraid to stick his neck out and make a prediction against his most recent former team.

Looking for punch. Even though the Union hold first place and have a game in hand on New York in the Eastern Conference, team manager Peter Nowak is always looking to improve the team. Earlier this week came the long-awaited signing of attacking midfielder Veljko Paunovic.

Even though Paunovic hadn't played since 2008, Nowak believes he can help the offense.

"We're always looking to improve the attack and think he can help us," Nowak said.

Okugo waiting. Union midfielder Amobi Okugo, who has been out since suffering a high ankle sprain on May 21 against Chicago, says he is making progress but is not yet 100 percent.

"It's still a work in progress," Okugo said. "There are still some movements that hurt a little."

Okugo says his goal is to return for Wednesday's home game against Sporting Kansas City.