MLS expansion franchise Vancouver Whitecaps admit they will be prudent during their search for their first Designated Player.
The Whitecaps know that the player they select to be paid outside the salary cap has to do more than just attract people to the game and director of soccer operations, Tommy Soehn, said the club will be cautious in their attempts to bring in a big name for the 2011 season - their first in MLS.
"When you have a DP, there's a lot of responsibility put on that person and having the right person to handle that pressure, in the locker-room, on and off the field, it's not something to be taken lightly," he said.
"We're setting criteria of what that person needs to be and it's a high standard. I think immediately it's going to eliminate some guys.
"You can go around the world and find a lot of guys making a lot of money who can't handle that pressure. We'll be very strategic in how we go about it.
"Early on you saw that DPs didn't work," Soehn added. "But now there's been more success. I really believe that it falls on the DP. What does he come here for? Does he mirror the mentality of the organization?"
