

Posted by

Stuart Mactaggart ,

February 11, 2015 Email

Stuart Mactaggart

On Twitter:

@FuryFanatic

It’s been over three months since Ottawa Fury FC last saw any action, and it’s apparent to anyone who follows the club that both the staff and players are just itching to get back into action. Fury players are scheduled to report to TD Place on Monday, February 16th, where they will undergo medicals and begin their pre-season training, ending what has been a very long off-season.



There has been a lot of activity coming out of TD Place this offseason, with both the introduction of new faces and the return of some familiar friends. Dos Santos and his coaching staff have been hard at work, putting together a roster that they feel can challenge for a spot in the NASL Championship during the club’s second season.



“The first year you put a base, and you have an idea of play. There is no doubt you have to improve in the second year” Fury coach Marc Dos Santos explained. “However, because we already had a strong core together and a good idea of how we wanted to play, it was important to really build this team from the back, and push it forward”



Dos Santos has insisted that this year will be much different than last. “Last year, the only guys we were able to bring from the NASL were the leftovers, the players that nobody wanted. This year we are able to go get guys that other teams wanted, so we got into the market for that. That was important for us.”



“Our first move for 2015 was Romuald Peiser” Dos Santos said, with the French keeper expected to start in the #1 position, and Canadian keeper Marcel DeBellis taking the #2 spot. Ottawa Fury decided not to extend the contract of Devala Gorrick, who is now a free agent.



Canadian centre-backs Drew Beckie and Mason Trafford will be retuning for the 2015 season after sparking a successful partnership in the defense, while Omar Jarun has also been locked in for this year. Two internationals have also been brought in to battle for the centre-back position, Brazilian Rafael Alves and Irishman Colin Falvey. Alves brings a lot of NASL experience to the club, including featuring in the 2014 NASL Championship Final, while Falvey brings experience both from the USL Pro and abroad in India, Ireland and Asia.



American right-back Ryan Richter has been brought to the club on a full time contract following a successful loan period last year, while fellow American Mike Randolph has been brought in at left-back.



“When Maykon left, right away we started looking for someone to fill that position” Dos Santos explained, “As soon as we met Mike (Randolph) and grew a relationship; we knew this was the guy”.



Brandon Poltronieri has joined the club from Atlanta, where he played last season in the same position as Silverbacks captain and Fury offseason addition Mike Randolph. Both Kenny Caceros and Ramon Soria were let go by the club at the end of the 2014 season.



The Fury midfield remains much the same as last season, with Canadians Philippe Davies and Mauro Eustaquio joining American Sinisa Ubiparipovic, Irishman Richie Ryan and Scotsman Nicki Paterson. The loan addition to the midfield during the offseason is Canadian midfielder Patryk Misik, who will fit in as a replacement for American Tony Donatelli, who didn’t have his contract renewed for this season.



The frontline has been bolstered with the addition of American centre-forward Andrew Wiedeman and Brazilian winger Paulo Jr. The two newcomers will join Tommy Heinemann, Oliver Minatel and Carl Haworth on the front line this year.



With the majority of the squad returning, Dos Santos is expecting to see an improvement from the core players.



“A guy like Oliver, he has adapted to the league and city, I think he will be better. I think Tommy [Heinemann], if he is injury free, will be better. Drew Beckie, who before coming to Ottawa Fury didn’t have a single pro game in his belt, he is going to be better. I think Richie Ryan who has adapted to everybody, and Nicki Paterson, if he stays injury free, will be better. Carl [Haworth], another kid who had played zero pro-games, now he has 20 pro games under his belt.”



Needless to say, with the introduction of a several new players, and high expectations of those returning, there will be a lot of pressure to see Ottawa Fury FC perform well this year. Dos Santos is certainly expecting the club to perform better than last season, and is shooting for a place in the NASL Championship playoffs.



The club plays both Toronto FC and Montreal Impact reserves this pre-season, before opening up their NASL season against Carolina Railhawks on April 4th. Ottawa Fury FC will also be fielding their U19 Academy team in the first division Première Ligue de soccer du Québec beginning this season.