What's Going On In The NASL vol. 2

Sock it to me, sock it to me!

By: Aaron Gunyon

We are now just 38 days away from opening day in the NASL. The off-season continues as we thought it might as teams are preparing for training camps and begin preseason training. It's time to check in and see how everyone is doing up to this point. The silly season breeds silly articles and this will be no different.  

Note: Roster counts will be taken from team websites. While every attempt has been made to ensure accuracy, some players haven't been re-signed and some will still have options declined.  

NASL

The league is already minus two teams in an expansion year.  Not a solid start.  Rayo OKC and Miami FC will bump that number back up to a total of 11 once the Spring Season kicks off in April and Puerto Rico FC will make 12 competing clubs in the Fall Season. The departing teams were the weakest ownership groups which is why this grade isn't lower.  

Grade: C-

San Antonio Scorpions

You are gone but not forgotten. Kindof. The NASL web admin has done their best to scrub you from our memories, but you will live on. Kindof. Your players and coaches will all be on other teams, but we will never let go. Have fun in the USL.

Grade: Withdrawal

Miami - Roster Count: 21

Miami has every intention of packing the house for opening day, but season tickets start at $242. Ouch! Pablo Campos didn't fit with the new look in Minnesota, but a lot of older people head to Florida this time of year. I'll call them snowbirds for now, but they will be tough out of the gate.  

Grade: B+

Minnesota United - Roster Count: 20

Defense much? Minnesota United FC has been so busy trying to protect their name that they have seemingly forgotten to protect the defensive third. There is certainly something in the works, but the Loons only have 4 true defenders on the roster. It looks like they are planning on outscoring everyone and using the checkers defense...never moving their back row.

Grade: B-

Rayo OKC - Roster Count: 10 (rayookc.com) 16 (nasl.com/transactions)

It's definitely still early buy Rayo leads the league in the "Pull yourself together" category. The NASL.com is not really known for the best and most up-to-date statistics and the team from OKC is worse. Interesting naming your 9 trialists in camp.  I don't hate it, but other teams keep that info private when they think that the players are any good. Its been 10 days since the last player announcement for an expansion team.

Grade: D

Like, OMG! I totally hate scorpions

Ottawa Fury - Roster Count: 20

There were 9 championship defectors the last time I counted.  9 players that took the field for last season's Soccer Bowl are no longer with the team. Three such players have joined the Indy Eleven. I have no idea what's going on in Ottawa, but Marc Dos Santos' departure really destabilized a rock solid fall team. Defense wins championships and so does money. Pay up, Fury.  

Grade: F (current winner of The Bloody Shambles Award of Shambolitry)

New York Cosmos - Roster Count: 23

The Cosmos are getting ready lead the league again, but without mega-star signings on their roster.  What's up with that? Cosmos fans still believe they are the only team worth watching, but that doesn't explain their middling and declining attendance numbers. Cosmos are also probably the only team that isn't excited about a potential TV deal with CBS. "We really like our relationship with One World Sports."

Grade: A

Jacksonville Armada - Roster Count: 25!

Finding game time for this swollen roster might be a tough task for first time head coach Tony Meola. Team owner Mark Frisch just ousted Team President Steve Livingstone and absorbed his responsibilities.  Perhaps he was trying to find money for more players yet to be announced. Frisch's family business is frozen fish manufacturing and distribution so day-to-day operations is really just a plug and play scenario here.

Grade: A 

Carolina Railhawaks - Roster Count: 19

Well, Dumbnames. Your preseason started yesterday so the boys definitely have work to do before they play host to Toluca FC in a little over a month. *All games and field location at WakeMed Soccer Park are subject to change so be careful when ordering the "Toluca Two Pack"

Grade: C+

Atlanta Silverbacks - Roster Count: NA

Atlanta is the feel bad/feel good story of the offseason. They are also not playing in the NASL, but they deserve a ton of R.E.S.P.E.C.T. for fighting to keep the dream alive. ATL will be in NPSL. Take care, TCB

Grade: Sock it to me, Sock it to me, Sock it to me, Sock it to me.

Indy is ready Mon!

Indy Eleven - Roster Count: 23

The Eleven have signed their fourth Jamaican for the upcoming season so there is going to be some serious bobsledding going on in 2016. It's not that weird because the head coach just came back from Montego Bay with a deeper appreciation for Rasta culture. Seven different Reggae Boyz have suited up for Indy since the inaugural season.

Grade: Redemption Song

Tampa Bay Rowdies - Roster Count: Freddy Adu

I have 3 obsessions in the NASL. I have already covered Indy Eleven and the Travishmamockery that is Ottawa.  It's all you need to know. I only mention Freddy because more people will read this if I tag him in this post.

Grade: B

Ft Lauderdale Strikers - Roster Count: 24

Have fun taking your Brazilian team to China. The real competition will be just a few miles south.  2016 opens with south Florida Derby on April 2 and the Strikers are serious about being serious about soccer. Let's hope they aren't trying too hard and they don't burn themselves out by the time the fall season comes around. Strikers will start off hot.

Grade: A-

FC Edmonton - Roster Count: 23

I would be pleased if I were an Edmonton fan.  Few have the pleasure of cheering for an Eddie named Eddie Edward. And to be real, I think it's fantastic that the organization has kept so much of last season's roster in tact. Eddie's Eddies will have many challenges this year though as many teams took this offseason to upgrade. Edmonton didn't. Wouldn't want to. What would you change?

Grade: A+

As always you can follow us on Twitter @Bloody_Shambles, Aaron Gunyon is @agunyon and James Cormack can be found at @BShambles_JC.

Thank you for checking us out!

Bloody Shambles Soccer Show Ep.23 - with James Cormack, Aaron Gunyon and Noah Buonanno

Noah loves his Guinness!

In Episode 23 of the Bloody Shambles Soccer Show, Jamez pays up his bet with Aaron over the Atlanta Silverbacks and also sweetens the deal with a very nice gift!

Noah Buonanno the Bloody Shambles resident musician tickles the ivories as much as possible at any given moment.

Aaron Gunyon dips into old skool with his "Bloody Shambles Rap"!

We discuss the announced schedule, new Indy Eleven Presidente Jeff Belskus and other offseason signing news.

You can follow all episodes on Soundcloud and iTunes, also follow the BS Crew on twitter @bloody_shambles or at our website Bloodyshambles.net we are also on Facebook.

Bloody Shambles Soccer Show Ep.22 - With guest Kartik Krishnaiyer

In Episode 22 we went inside the mind of Kartik Krishnaiyer. We talked about Kartik's latest project "NASL Off The Pitch", Indy Eleven's offseason activity, Miami FC, Rayo OKC and Atlanta Silverbacks. We also discuss the general health of the NASL.

For more information on news of Kartik's new project by following Total NASL TV @TOTALNASLTV on twitter, and also follow Kartik @kkfla737

Keep up to date with all our podcasts on iTunes and at Soundcloud, to track all our writing and shows you can visit us at Bloodyshambles.net and follow us on twitter @Bloody_Shambles

Are The Silverbacks An Endangered Species?

Playing the waiting game!

By: Aaron Gunyon

I have a lot of questions about Atlanta and none of them have been answered up to this point.  It all stems from the question I keep asking myself.  

Is the NASL a healthy league? 

Yes, there is expansion in the near future, but there has also been collapse in recent weeks.  I feel like I am singing a Paula Abdul song about opposites and that this will be a recurring theme for the next few years.

People that already follow the Silverbacks closely will be aware that the team has been league owned and is intended to be sold.  The NASL is hoping an investor will come in and #SaveOurSilverbacks .

Only a handful know if an investor has been identified or if new ownership is even a possibility.  Last December, the NASL announced that Atlanta would be league owned for 2015 and that the search was currently underway to secure a better tomorrow for a team with diminishing habitat.  

What is concerning to me is the lack of team preparation that would be necessary if the NASL, or anyone for that matter, were to attempt to field a competitive team in 2016.  Time is running out for Atlanta.   

The roster page on the Silverbacks website is non-existent.
There has been no news published since November 12th.
Atlanta has not announced any signings or contract extensions.  
Atlanta's PR has not responded to my inquiries. 

But, NASL has! Spoiler alert: There is very little useful information here, but I did copy and paste an email chain I had with Neal Malone who is the Director of Public Relations with the NASL.  

Can you name the 2 teams from NASL 2015 that are not promoting season tickets for 2016?  I'll give you a hint.  One of them is no longer playing in the NASL.  

These questions and answers have not been doctored in any way. I did bold and highlight to make the conversation more clear.  It is true that I have poor email etiquette so I changed my greetings and salutations to appear more flattering.  

Neal,

Could I have an official comment or statement with regards to the future of the Atlanta Silverbacks?

I have not received a response from Atlanta and Matthew hasn't gotten back to me yet.  

Thank you.

Aaron

www.bloodyshambles.net

To: Aaron Gunyon
Subject: Re: Fw: Fw: NASL Transactions

We're still working to secure local ownership in Atlanta and we hope to have some news soon.

Neal

-- NEAL MALONE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC RELATIONS

Neal,

Thanks again and just a couple follow ups.  

What will happen if local ownership cannot be found? 

Will the NASL continue to operate the team? 

Have any player/personnel moves been made to prepare for 2016?

That's all I have for you on Atlanta, Aaron. Wish I could provide you further information, but I'm unable to do so at this time. I do really appreciate you reaching out, and let me know if you might need anything else.

Happy New Year! 

Neal

-- NEAL MALONE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC RELATIONS

  

Final Thoughts

What is the advantage to dismissing my question if the answers are "Yes"?  I wasn't asking for a playbook, but rather if the team or the had been busy making preparations.  I would assume they have been making preparations so the fact that no one can tell me makes me wonder what else they aren't telling me.  

Something is going on in the background. Spring schedules for 2016 have not been released yet and that currently puts them about 3 weeks past last years release date.  Could it be they don't know if they need to schedule for 11 or 12 teams?

Indy Eleven are billing their season ticket package as a 16 ticket package, one would assume on advice by the league. A 32 game season would align with 11 teams in spring and 12 in fall.

Follow me @AGunyon

Keep up to date with Bloody Shambles here there and everywhere......

Facebook

Twitter

Website

SoundCloud - Our shows are also available on iTunes!

Please direct any email questions to info@bloodyshambles.net and feel free to use the comment section below!