Indy Eleven's first USL roster is barely recognizable

There are typically two methods for roster reclamation projects: keep a core group together and tinker, or practically blow the whole thing up and start from scratch.

Evidently, new Indy Eleven manager Martin Rennie is a fan of the latter approach.

And that's not necessarily a bad thing. A year after reaching the 2016 North American Soccer League's final, the Eleven backslid last season. They won just seven of 32 games played and parted ways with coach Tim Hankinson and a host of familiar faces.

The only returnees from Indy's 2017 side are Ben Speas, Justin Braun and original member Brad Ring — just three total holdovers as the franchise transitions from the NASL to the United Soccer League this spring.

Former Butler midfielder Zach Steinberger also returns to the team after playing for the Eleven on loan from Major League Soccer's Houston Dynamo in 2015.

Beyond those familiar faces, Rennie has assembled a few NASL standouts whom fans might recognize from Indy's previous rivals, particularly the San Francisco Deltas and New York Cosmos. The club signed midfielder Juan Guerra, defender Ayoze Garcia Perez and forward Eugene Starikov from the 2016 champion Cosmos, and added defenders Reiner Ferreira and Karl Ouimette from the 2017 champion Deltas.

Steinberger (Jacksonville Armada FC), defender Brad Rusin (Miami FC) and midfielder Seth Moses (Puerto Rico FC) are also from Indy's old NASL stomping grounds. Several of the ex-NASL guys are likely to contribute immediately.

Monday, the Eleven added potentially its most recognizable name to soccer fans with the acquisition of 25-year-old forward Jack McInerney from the L.A. Galaxy. Since 2010, McInerney has scored 43 goals in 175 MLS appearances and he has been called up to the U.S. Men’s National Team’s U-17, U-20, U-23 and Senior squads.

“He’s very hungry to keep scoring and we’re very lucky to have him join our team," Rennie said in a news release.

The club has also made good use of its international roster spots. Rennie, who hails from Scotland, hasn't been bashful about importing foreign talent.

On Wednesday, Indy signed two Trinidadian players in defender Carlyle Mitchell (East Bengal FC) and forward Nathan Lewis (San Juan Jabloteh). The club also recently added a host of other internationals: Ghanaian midfielder Amass Amankona (Dayton Dutch Lions), Canadian wingback Tyler Pasher (Swope Park Rangers), Welsh goalkeeper Owain Fon Williams (Inverness Caledonian Thistle FC) and English midfielder Matt Watson (Phoenix Rising). Indy also brought in right back Kevin Venegas (Minnesota United FC) and backup goalkeeper Jordan Farr (Timbers III U23).

How will the Indy Eleven line up for the season opener? Rennie hinted to IndyStar shortly after taking the job that a 4-3-3 (four defenders, three midfielders and three attackers) is his oft-used formation, but that'll obviously depend on his final personnel.

"I’m open-minded on that part," Rennie said. "A lot of games that I have coached I’d say have kind of been a 4-3-3 formation."

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If it is in fact a 4-3-3, which is generally a more offensive setup, it likely won't be a traditional one given Rennie's knack for staying organized defensively. It could involve starting two central defensive midfielders — perhaps Ring and Guerra — sitting behind a more attack-minded midfielder like Steinberger or Speas. Such a formation would play more like a 4-2-3-1 regardless of how it looks on paper, and would require a little more two-way play from the wing forwards.

WRALSportsFan.com's Neil Morris, who covered Rennie for two-plus years during the Scot's Carolina RailHawks coaching stint, recently dissected Rennie's style

"Your team is going to get better immediately," Morris said. "That has been the hallmark of his every stop along his coaching way.

"How that translates to years two, three and beyond is always the big question mark when it comes to Martin. But you're going to have a guy who has a keen, keen, keen eye for talent."

Win or lose, Rennie has molded the 2018 Eleven roster on his own terms. He cares less about club nostalgia and more about finding guys that fit his system. In a USL Eastern Conference that has only improved this offseason, time will soon reveal if Rennie's troops are up to the task.

The Eleven will open their 2018 USL campaign on the road March 24 at the Richmond Kickers. The following weekend, their debut at Lucas Oil Stadium is set for March 31 at 7 p.m. against FC Cincinnati.