'That's a game we lose last year': How Thomas Meilleur-Giguère, and a more resilient mentality, are helping the Wanderers push through adversity

Good clubs find a way to win and the Halifax Wanderers, despite not playing their best match, found a way on Saturday to beat Vancouver FC 1-0. It was not their finest hour.

But it can't go unnoticed that head coach Patrice Gheisar's squad seem to be made of sterner stuff than the iteration of the Wanderers who disappointed in 2024. They are tough on the pitch, sure, but also have a more mature mindset which is leading to different results. It's no coincidence the club had their best start ever this year and, with Saturday's win, sit second on the table behind only Atlético Ottawa.

The Canadian Premier League (CPL) season has its challenges: playing each club four times means, by the third or fourth round, matches can be less tactical and more a game of wills. Any pugilist worth their salt knows the first round is an amuse-bouche, a sample of what's to come yet not the full story. Yesterday's tilt between Halifax and the Eagles threatened to reverse the 2-0 win the Wanderers earned on May 17 and reset the table for a match — at home versus a struggling opponent — many predicted them to win.

"The way I look at these (matches) is rounds," Gheisar told reporters. "First round, we were great, we did well. Second round, you're going to get everybody's best game. If we're in first place three weeks ago, you're no longer the hunter, you're the hunted."

"That's a game last year I'm confident that sadly we lose. That's a game we lose last year. That's a game we won this year and the difference, one of the differences, is our mental resilience and the other difference is Thomas (Meilleur-Giguère)."

It's been brought up several times this season but the Wanderers feel Meilleur-Giguère has transformed them.

The 27-year old centre-back is not a flashy player. During the Wanderers pedestrian first half versus Vancouver FC, it'd be hard to recall a great diagonal ball or scintillating, line-breaking pass played by the Québec-born defender. Instead, said Gheisar, he sets an example with his standards of play and commitment to defending. Although not eye catching, Meilleur-Giguère's nine clearances, two blocked shots and steady voice helped the Wanderers corral an opposing squad that seemed poised to steal points on the road.

Oh, and Meilleur-Giguère also scored the match winner.

Gheisar said his man of the match couldn't have been anyone other than the confident centre-back who has helped changed the ethos in Halifax.

"He's extremely particular about things," he explained. "Look, defenders in modern day football are able to pass, able to defend, able to head, able to tackle, able to do a lot of different things. Thomas cares about all those things but he really loves defending. I've never met a centre-back — and I've had a lot of good centre-backs in my 20-years coaching — but I've never met a centre-back like him who loves defending."

"It just brings a different feel because it becomes contagious. All of our guys take pride in defending. I feel like he's been a major addition in changing our mindset about how important it is to stay in the game and not make mistakes that lead to goals. He scores the game winning goal so how else could it be anybody else, to be quite honest."

Although good clubs find a way, it'd be dishonest not to acknowledge the faults in a performance that could have easily resulted in a loss as Vancouver FC refused to go quietly.

Both Vancouver FC head coach Afshin Ghotbi and goalkeeper Callum Irving said post-match that the B.C.-based club came to the Wanderers Grounds hoping to hit Halifax on the counter-attack. They had their moments, registering 10 shots, but were unable to find the back of the net.

Finishing, explained Ghotbi, is something that's alluded the Eagles' strikers this season, much like it plagued the Wanderers in 2024.

“It’s so physiological for strikers when they’re in a drought and things aren’t going their way. How do they mentally overcome that and hopefully get the breaks they need to change the momentum for themselves?” he quipped.

Although Ghotbi was speaking about Vancouver FC striker Terran Campbell, he could have been addressing Halifax's Tiago Coimbra, who had several looks on goal Saturday but was unable to convert.

Coimbra had his first opportunity only eight minutes into the match as he sent a dangerous header towards goal but was robbed by Irving. Later, Giorgio Probo sent Coimbra in alone but Irving stepped up to close the space and ultimately blocked the 21-year old's attempt. Coimbra also had a breakaway in the 48th minute and, interestingly, attempted to dribble into the box instead of shooting. He went down when pressured by Vancouver FC defenders and it's interesting to wonder if he would have made the same decision if Irving hadn't already stood tall on his previous chances.

It's also important to note Coimbra's blocked shot in the 75th minute led to the corner for Meilleur-Giguère's goal.

Now, Coimbra leads the Wanderers with four goals this season. His 0.87 goals per 90 minutes speaks to a greater capacity, a genuine goal scoring potential Halifax hopes he realizes this year. It's one of the reasons Gheisar said he'd tweaked his formation to include both Coimbra and fellow striker Ryan Telfer in his starting XI the past few matches.

Irving certainly deserves credit for keeping the score level for so long. But it's also fair to say the Wanderers are relying on Coimbra to score on one of his opportunities to put the match to bed before Meilleur-Giguère's winner in the 77th minute. Giving Coimbra the platform to prove himself, and deliver on his potential, means there will be matches where he needs to find his way.

Importantly, though, he's getting the opportunity.

"One of the looks we wanted was having Tiago as a central figure and Tiago was not available earlier in the season and now he is so it's given us different selection opportunities," said Gheisar.

By their own admission, Saturday wasn't the Wanderers' best performance. But they did what they had to do to secure an important three points and continue their push up the table.

Maturity is recognizing the good and the bad, something full-back Wesley Timóteo highlighed post-match.

"The message at half time, we just told each other the truth: it wasn't good enough, the energy was lacking a bit. I think we saw in the second half, especially with the guys that came in, it brought us a lot of energy and a great assist from Sean (Rea) and (Meilleur-Giguère), a great goal," he said.

"I think we all know as a team it wasn't our best performance but at the end we got out with a clean sheet."

 Good clubs find a way to win and, 12 matches into the season, the Wanderers continue to show they should be considered one of the best clubs in the CPL. They are three points from first place. And their Canada Day match versus Valour FC is an opportunity for Gheisar's squad to again highlight how much they've changed.

Cover Photo Credit: Trevor MacMillan / Halifax Wanderers FC