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Aaron Nielsen ,

April 8, 2014 Email

Aaron Nielsen



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@ENBSports

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With the close relationship between MLS and USL Pro, it looks like, at least on the pitch, the NASL is becoming the independent alternative in North American soccer that it wanted to be. The 2014 season sees the New York Cosmos being part of the league for the complete year and trying to retain the title they won last year, and potentially two expansion teams with major upsides. Indy Eleven are playing in an American soccer mecca that included Notre Dame winning the 2013 NCAA Soccer Championship and the Ottawa Fury have a good reputation in developmental soccer and are moving into an MLS quality stadium. The league is still fairly ambitious and one might worry about its long term future with teams such as Atlanta, San Antonio, Minnesota and Ottawa looking toward a potential MLS spot. As well, distances traveled by teams in the league are the most in world only behind the Russian 2nd Division. The league is hoping to grow and has already added three new clubs in Jacksonville, Oklahoma City, and Virginia planning to join the league in 2015, and unlike some clubs in USL Pro it seems that teams in the NASL are more financially secure. There is enough talent to populate growth in the league and following this level of soccer for close 20 years, I feel the league’s talent is as good as it ever has been. However, what still needs to be established is the league being used as a feeder league not only to MLS, but World soccer, with teams generating additional revenue for developing players and giving them the opportunities to showcase their abilities. Like last season, the 2014 season will be split into two seasons: a nine game Spring Season and an 18 game Fall Season, and there will also be playoffs with four teams to be contested by the winners of the spring and fall seasons hosting the next best two teams in the full year regular season table. Here is my preview for the 2014 season and who I think will be playing for the 2014 Soccer Bowl.



ATLANTA SILVERBACKS

2013: 10-7-9 (1st Spring Season/7th Fall Season/Lost Soccer Bowl 1-0)

Head Coach: Eric Wynalda

Key Returners: Pablo Cruz M (23gp 1g 2a), Mike Randolph D (20gp 1g 1a), Borfor Carr F (17gp 0g 2a)

Key Newcomers: David Estrada F (Seattle MLS), Blair Gavin M (Seattle MLS), Junior Sandoval M (Marathon Hun)



Analysis: I underestimated Atlanta last season and their group of young players mostly from amateur club Cal FC as they went on to win the Spring championship. The Fall Season went as expected with Atlanta finishing 7th partly due to the loss of some key players like Mark Bloom to Toronto and teams in the league figuring out what to expect. Atlanta has gone through another season of major turnover this offseason with only three returning players: Cruz, Randolph, and Carr who played 1000 minutes with the Silverbacks last season. Coach Eric Wynalda has brought in former MLS players Estrada and Gavin as well as Sandoval from Honduran club Marathon, although again most of the starting eleven lack quality pro experience so I risk similar ridicule by saying Atlanta will struggle again this season.

2014 Prediction: 9th Place CAROLINA RAILHAWKS 2013: 12-7-7 (2nd Spring Season/2nd Fall Season)

Head Coach: Colin Clarke

Key Returners: Ty Shipalane M (20gp 3g 3a), Kupono Low M (25gp 1g), Akira Fitzgerald G (25gp), Nick Zimmerman M (DNP)

Key Newcomers: Jun Davidson M (Vancouver MLS), Aaron King F (Haka Finland) Conor Tobin D (17gp 1g 1a - Minnesota), Uriah Bentick D (17gp 0g 2a - Wilmington) Analysis: Carolina suffered the biggest issue with a split season where despite having the most wins in the NASL last season they finished 2nd in both seasons, so they missed out on the 2013 Super Cup finals. Gone is NASL leading scorer Brian Shriver, although Carolina return with a strong squad and hopefully a healthy Nick Zimmerman, who missed the entire season with injury after scoring 15 goals during the 2012 NASL season. The Railhawks also have a number of players with MLS experience, including former Vancouver Whitecap Jun Marques Davidson who with Kupono Low should give Carolina a strong defensive midfield. Other key players are creative midfielder Enzo Martinez as a permanent player who joined the club on loan last season and was a highly regarded prospect going into the MLS after leading UNC to a national championship. I expect the RailHawks to be competitive, although a striker will need to be established if they are to challenge for a playoff place.

2014 Prediction: 7th Place FC EDMONTON 2013: 6-12-8 (5th Spring Season/6th Fall Season)

Head Coach: Colin Miller

Key Returners: Daryl Fordyce F (24gp 7g 1a), Neil Hlavaty M (24gp 2g 4a), Albert Watson D (20gp), Edson Edward D (20gp), Lance Parker G (20gp)

Key Newcomers: Ritchie Jones M (Grimsby England), Frank Jonke F (Jaro Finland), Mike Banner M (Jaro Finland), Milton Blanco (25gp 1g 2a - Atlanta) See also: 2014 FC Edmonton season preview Analysis: Edmonton were one of the more difficult teams to beat last season, although part of this reason was that the Eddie's played defense first and as a result tied 12 of their 26 NASL games last season. Coach Colin Miller brought in experience this off season including former Manchester United and English youth player Ritchie Jones and Canadian International Frank Jonke to provide a threat on offense that the team was lacking last season. There is no doubt that Edmonton has improved, but the biggest issue for the Eddie's is the rest of the league has as well, making it difficult to show great strides within the standings.

2014 Prediction: 6th Place FORT LAUDERDALE STRIKERS 2013: 7-5-14 (7th Spring Season/5th Fall Season)

Head Coach: Gunter Kronsteiner

Key Returners: Mark Anderson M (12gp 2g 1a), Ivan Guerrero D (22gp 0g 6a), Darnell King M (26gp 3g)

Key Newcomers: Marius Ebbers (Germany), Oka Nikolav (Philadelphia MLS), Chris Nurse (22gp 3g - Edmonton), Shawn Chin (22gp 4g 2a - VSI Tampa) Analysis: Austrian coach Gunter Kronsteiner joins the Strikers as their new coach after the club had struggled last season, although much of this could be attributed to the injury of Mark Anderson. A healthy Anderson returns with Guerrero and King and are joined by Ex-Eddie Chris Nurse and midfielder Shawn Chin, although the most interesting off-season moves are the signing of German Bundesliga veterans Marius Ebbers who scored over 75 goals in the top leagues in Germany, and keeper Oka Nikolav who played close to 400 games for Eintracht Frankfurt. With five players in the starting 11 over 30 years of age it’s hard to imagine the Strikers will be fit enough to challenge for the league championship, however their experience may surprise teams on a good day.

2014 Prediction: 8th Place INDY ELEVEN

2013: No Record - Expansion Team

Head Coach: Juergen Sommer

Key Newcomers: Jose Kleberson M (Philadelphia MLS), Kristian Nicht G (24gp - Rochester), Walter Ramirez M (24gp 2g 2a - San Antonio), Mike Ambersley F (18gp 2g 1a - Tampa Bay), Pedro Mendes F (24gp, 8g, 1a - Atlanta) Analysis: Indy has gone the more traditional development direction than fellow expansion club Ottawa with only 18 players connected to the roster and only 1/3 them with a pro footballing pedigree. This doesn't mean there isn't some exciting additions, including former Manchester United and Brazilian international Jose Kleberson, Hondurans Walter Ramierez and Erick Norales, veteran keeper Kristian Nicht and forward Pedro Mendes, who I talked about in my list of overlooked players by the MLS. Depth will be the biggest issue for the club going into this season and are currently trialing a number of players who played at local universities.

2014 Prediction: 10th Place MINNESOTA UNITED FC 2013: 10-4-12 (6th Spring Season/4th Fall Season)

Head Coach: Manny Lagos

Key Returners: Simone Bracalello F (23gp 7g 5a), Miguel Ibarra M (26gp 1g 4a), Matt Van Oekel G (18gp), Justin Davis D (19gp)

Key Newcomers: Tiago D (Sydney Australia), Jamie Watson M (20gp 10g 7a - Orlando), Christian Ramirez F (23gp 8g 4a - Charlotte), Tyler Polak (18gp - Rochester) Analysis: Without a chance for a playoff run, Minnesota had a mediocre 2013 season despite a number of quality individual performances. Players such as Bracalello, Ibarra, Van Oekel and Davis hope to continue their strong play although the loss of last season’s top goal scorer in Pablo Campos to a season ending injury will hurt their depth, especially up front. Minnesota brought in three players who were highly thought of in USL Pro including Jamie Watson, who scored 10 goals and 7 assists with Orlando last season, and former GA signing Tyler Polak. Forth year coach Manny Lagos also brought in Brazilian veteran Tiago who has played in Europe and Australia. With the new NASL system of less playoff spots, Minnesota will have to show a greater consistency through a number of games to challenge for this year’s Soccer Bowl.

2014 Prediction: 5th Place NEW YORK COSMOS 2013: 9-4-1 (1st Fall Season / Won Soccer Bowl 1-0)

Head Coach: Giovanni Savarese

Key Returners: Marcos Senna M (13gp 5g 2a), Diomar Diaz F (12gp 5g 2a), Carlos Mendes D (13gp 1a), Hunter Freeman D (12gp 1a)

Key Newcomers: Hans Denissen F (21gp 12g 2a - San Antonio), Jemal Johnson F (11gp 1g 1a - Fort Lauderdale), Mads Stokkelien F (Stabaek Norway) Analysis: The Cosmos, in the old tradition of the NASL, out-spent the other teams in the league, put together a quality team led by La Liga and Spanish National Team star Marcos Senna, and dominated the league losing only once all (fall) season long and winning the 2013 Soccer Bowl. The Cosmos kept most of their 2013 team going into the 2014 season and added depth, especially in the forward position led by Hans Denissen who scored 12 goals with San Antonio last season. The question now is with the Cosmos participating in both seasons this year, will they continue to dominate or will the extra amount of games become an issue? I expect them to have the depth and with the added games it will give an opportunity for some of the younger players to get minutes.

2014 Prediction: 1st Place OTTAWA FURY 2013: No Record - Expansion Team

Head Coach: Marc Dos Santos

Key Players: Nicki Paterson M (24gp 7g 3a - Charleston), Sinisa Ubiparipovic M (Montreal MLS) Maykon D (AEL Cyprus), Mason Trafford D (Guizhou China), Tony Donatelli M (26gp 3gl 3a - VSI Tampa), Tommy Heinemann F (Vancouver MLS) See also: 2014 Ottawa Fury season preview Analysis: Ottawa went to great effort to add depth this winter to allow them to be a competitive team in their inaugural NASL season. The club includes two players who played in MLS last season with Heinemann and Ubiparipovic, plus six players from Europe and Canadian Andres Fresenga who played in South America. What should make Ottawa successful is the quality of players they signed from NASL level of play led by the midfield combination of Nicki Paterson and Tony Donatelli. It might take time for them to gel as unit but I feel they will be very strong this season and challenge for a Soccer Bowl place.

2014 Prediction: 3rd Place SAN ANTONIO SCORPIONS 2013: 9-3-14 (3rd Spring Season/8th Fall Season)

Head Coach: Alen Macrina

Key Returners: Javier Saavedra M (22gp 1g 6a), Greg Janicki D (20gp), Pat Phelan D (20gp), Thomas Zahorksi (14gp 9g)

Key Newcomers: Daniel Barrera M (21gp 4g 7a - Atlanta), Richard Menjivar M (21gp 2g 2a - Atlanta), Sainey Touray F (26gp 12g 5a - Harrisburg), Shaun Saiko M (17gp 2g 3a - Edmonton) Analysis: San Antonio had a very poor fall season and have made drastic changes over the last six months, including the manager and seven to eight of the starting eleven. It's Canadian manager Alen Marcina’s first job, although to help him the Scorpions brought in midfielders Saiko, Barrera, Menjivar and Walter Restrepo; all players who I feel deserves a deeper evaluation regarding their MLS potential. They join Saavedra and former Chivas USA player Josue Soto in one of the most interesting midfield’s in all of North American soccer. The defense includes four former MLS players including Ex-TFC'ers Adrian Cann and Julius James, while Eric Hassli joined a forward pack that includes Touray, who scoerd 12 goals, and Zahorski’s 9 goals in 2013. Like Ottawa, the biggest question for the Scorpions is how they gel as a club although I think they will be successful and show their MLS big brother how you can build depth on a budget.

2014 Prediction: 2nd Place TAMPA BAY ROWDIES 2013: 10-8-8 (5th Spring Season/3rd Fall Season)

Head Coach: Ricky Hill

Key Returners: Georgi Hristov M (22gp 12g 5a), Jay Needham D (20gp 2g), Frankie Sanfilippo D (25gp 2a), Diego Restrepo G (23gp), Evans Frimpong M (23gp 6g 2a)

Key Newcomers: Brian Shriver F (22gp 13g 1a - Carolina), Darel Russel F (Toronto - MLS), Anthony Wallace D (Colorado - MLS), Christophe Lallet (Hammarby - Sweden) Analysis: Similar to other clubs favoured to do well this season, the Tampa Bay Rowdies have done a great job recruiting players who were highly regarded in the American youth soccer system and as potential MLS players. The Rowdies forward combination of Brian Shriver, Amani Walker, Lucky Mkosana, and Casey Townsend would be familiar to any person who follows either college or soccer at this level. Although what will make the Rowdies successful this season are three foreign signings in the midfield with Bulgarian Georgi Hristov, who scored 12 goals and 5 assists last season, Christophe Lallet, who was a starter in Sweden Allsvenskan, and Darel Russell who has played 400 professional games including 18 last season with Toronto FC. The Rowdies have good experience and depth in all positions and will feel they have as good of chance as anybody else in lifting the 2014 Soccer Bowl.

2014 Prediction: 4th place

Aaron Nielsen has worked within the soccer/sports industry for over 15 years. His statistical analysis brings the beautiful game in a whole new light. The detailed player data and prospect lists he produces are used by many scouts, agents, and football insiders around the world.You can find updating stats regularly at ENBSports.

