Potential Lineup (4-2-3-1): GK – Cody Mizell; D – Zac Portillos, Neill Collins, Hunter Gorskie, Kyle Curinga; DM – Marcel Schäfer, Lance Rozeboom; AM – Georgi Hristov, Joe Cole, Junior Flemmings; F – Jochen Graf

As strongly as the Rowdies performed in the 2017 season, narrowly being eliminated in the Eastern Conference Semifinals by New York, there seems to have been little complacency in the manner the club has restocked its squad ahead of the new season. The confidence surrounding the Rowdies is clear, and the lineup above has the makings of one of the best in the league for 2018.

The biggest offseason departure for the club was of goalkeeper Matt Pickens to expansion side Nashville SC, but the addition of former Charlotte Independence goalkeeper Cody Mizell – who’ll enter his second stint with the club – to compete with the returning Akira Fitzgerald for the starting spot should mean there’s relatively little drop in performance in net. Local standout Kyle Curinga’s addition should also allow the side’s back-line to remain solid, with the center back trio of Neill Collins and Hunter Gorskie – who we’ve penciled in as starters – and Tam Mkandawire bringing tremendous experience.

The Rowdies’ additions further up the field provide more intrigue, though, especially that of Jamaican international Junior Flemmings, who should fit in well on the right side of the Rowdies’ attacking midfield trio where his speed can stretch the field and open space underneath for Joe Cole to operate. Veteran midfielder Lance Rozeboom is another shrewd addition, with the stay-at-home No. 6 offering plenty of freedom for Marcel Schäfer to step upfield and join the attack, while the arrival of Jochen Graf to spearhead the attack as the replacement for Martin Paterson gives the Rowdies a versatile forward who showed off great instincts in the penalty area last season.