Indy's Home Opener A Great Success But Without Points - Indy Eleven V FC Cincinnati REVIEW (3/31/2018)

New stadium, new players, new league. Tifo game on point!

By: James Cormack

Indy Eleven kicked off their first home game of the 2018 USL season against FC Cincinnati at their new home Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. It was a new beginning for everyone, from tailgating to the final whistle. Despite the scoreline, everything was a huge success for the team, the supporters, and the city.

As we mentioned in the run-up to this game it was always going to be a difficult game to call, I felt that Indy Eleven could have and probably should have come out of this game without losing, a draw would have been a fair result, we had our chances but didn't take them. FC Cincinnati did and finished the match with a 1-0 victory over the Eleven.

Indy had opportunities to be first on the board early in the game, with some silky skills from Tyler Pasher on the left Indy's number three made a great solo run all the way to the goal line and looped a cross beyond the goal and found Jack McInerney at the back post whose header came off the upright. A couple inches to the left and there was no saving that one.

Cincinnati scored the goal that would win the match in the 26th minute. A crossfield pass from left to right found Emmanuel Ledesma with time to control before sending in a cross towards the penalty spot that probably could not have been any more perfect and found Emery Welshman between Ferreira and Mitchell who nodded the ball past Fôn Williams to open the scoring. As the wonderful Greg Rakestraw was pointing out Fôn Williams to be the first Welshman to play for Indy Eleven, Emery became the first Welshman to score against us. (ah ha)

Tyler Pasher had another outstanding 90 minutes for Indy Eleven

People love to argue penalties and pour over replays, I didn't need to, the replay on the big screen once was enough for me and I have watched it again since it was a clear penalty. With the ball already out of his reach, Newton brought both hands to McInerney's feet and brought him down. Last man tackle, could have been a red card on any other day but referee Badawi decided it didn't even warrant a yellow. Fair enough?

With around five minutes to go before the half Indy had a great opportunity to tie the game up. Jack McInerney went for placement rather than power to the right side of goal but Newton guessed right and pulled off a fine save followed by a second block on a Speas shot to deny Indy an equalizer.

During the full ninety minutes, Indy Eleven had plenty of opportunities to find the net which is encouraging, but it was not going to be our day. Shots from McInerney, Watson, Starikov, Saad, and Speas were all kept out. It's early, it's our second game of the season against one of the championship favorites, if we keep creating those chances we will score them and nothing about this game really indicated that Indy Eleven was in any way the weaker of the two sides.

Not even the BYB could get that ball into the net, McInerney denied by Newton.

One concern is that Indy appears to be having injury issues early in the season. Saad was unavailable to start because of a knock, Ayoze and Kevin Venegas have still not made a bench in the first two games meaning we are thin on left and right back cover. An unfortunate ankle injury for Reiner Ferreira saw him leave the field in the first half with Brad Ring coming in to cover at right back and Ouimette moving into center.

It's not a huge concern at this moment and luckily it's coming at the beginning of the season. Defensive depth is critical to any team so hopefully, we don't have any more early casualties and Ferreira's injury is not too serious.

It does no harm to take a beating early and move on, Rennie and the coaching staff have plenty to look at and a week to repair and prepare before heading to North Carolina FC to renew a rivalry started in the NASL. Richmond Kickers who fell to Indy in our opening game achieved their first win this weekend defeating NCFC 2-1. North Carolina will be looking for their first win, maybe Indy Eleven can find their second as Rennie returns to face one of his former clubs.

Never a good sight. Reiner Ferreira departed the back line in the first half.

So what about that game day experience?

Considering the short space of time the club and the supporters have had to prepare for a new league in a new stadium I am pretty sure I was not the only person walking away from the match suitably impressed.

The Brickyard Battalion, Slaughterhouse 19 and all supporter groups deserve a round of applause for the gameday setup. The choice of Gate Ten facilities and parking for tailgate setup was top notch with outdoor and indoor space available. The main parking was also easily accessible and myself like others got in before the allotted opening time and there was no real difficulty in leaving the stadium, nothing more than you would expect from a large event. The supporter display of tifo was incredible, the best we have seen and the Brickyard Battalion were as loud and as passionate as ever AND considerably bigger.

The front office staff must be worn out, I hope they were treated to several adult beverages after the match because they thoroughly deserve it, there were a lot of unknowns and all you can do is the best you can and see how it goes. From what I saw they exceeded all expectations not only on game day but in the weeks leading up to the game. I cannot imagine how much hair was lost and how many fingernails were bitten off. Everyone did an outstanding job. Everything gets easier from here. Take a bow Indy Eleven Staff.

FC Cincinnati brought a large following to the first meeting of these teams in USL.

The attendance is very encouraging, I had thought if we made 16,000 and filled the original advertised space it would have been amazing, to exceed our previous largest attendance by 6000 was incredible. This bodes well for the team and puts weight behind the need for a soccer-specific stadium in the city. I think this support will continue to grow as the team itself evolves more on the field more people will come to games. The officially announced attendance was 17,535.

Kudos and respect to the traveling Cincinnati fans who brought around 1500 supporters to the game and put in a solid ninety minutes of support for their team who rewarded them with three points. Hopefully, we can bring the same to Cinci and take those three points back.

Thoughts from Brandon Cockrum

Indy Eleven were unfortunate to come away without a point from Saturday evening's electric match against FC Cincinnati. Indy was superior in most statistical categories, except for the one that matters most - the final score. Martin Rennie's squad clearly needs some more matches to become a truly cohesive unit and it is fun to watch the team's style of play and connections between players develop.

On Saturday the team played very compactly at times, probably by design to take command of the midfield. However, there was time and space available for players on the wings and Tyler Pasher was the only Eleven player that took advantage of it. After getting the ball taken off his foot trying to dribble out of the 18 and a wayward cross in the match's early minutes, Pasher put in a man of the match performance for Indy with numerous attacks up the left side and dangerous balls served into the box. In the first half, Jack McInerney nearly finished one of those crosses but was denied by the frame and others narrowly missed the heads of attacking teammates.

Jack Mac checks the replay after Saad's free kick is tipped over by Newton late in the game.

It's interesting that after two matches fullbacks Ayoze or Kevin Venegas haven't been on a match day roster and we've had only a 20-minute runout from Juan Guerra in the first match. All three players were among the best at their positions while in the NASL. Coach Rennie appears to be favoring a defense-first approach, which makes sense early in the season as the team learns to play together and against a tough Cincinnati side. 

It's not that the players in front of them have played poorly, however, I have to wonder if Venegas would have been able to get forward, like Pasher, and cause more problems for Cincy than Karl Ouimette or Brad Ring did. Guerra has proven that he can unlock defenses at this level; might he have delivered a moment of creative inspiration that Nico Matern was unable to provide? Coach Rennie has a lot of capable tools on his belt this season and I suspect he will soon start trying more of them out.

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Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and our website BloodyShambles.com. The Bloody Shambles Soccer Show podcast will returning during the course of the season and is available on iTunes or directly from Soundcloud. 

If you are interested in being involved in supporter media with Bloody Shambles Soccer, possibly you have an idea for a supporter related article about your experiences or the team or you have an idea for a podcast please email james@bloodyshambles.com or contact us through Twitter. 

Indy Eleven needs more supporter driven content and we are more than happy to give fans a platform to express their opinion on the team or just relate their experiences from match days, road trips, community events etc.

Don't panic: Indy Eleven unveil new Adidas kits.

Credit: Indy Eleven

By: Brian Cook

Long rumored to be coming, Indy Eleven have made their next step as a club by ditching the Diadora kits of old and ushering in a new era with the introduction of Adidas as kit manufacturer. No news on the length of the deal or other details (like how often, if ever, we could expect updated kits in the future) but the new kit brings the club another step toward on and off the field growth.

Adidas gives a new flavor to those tracking the boys in blue as the brand is prominent with and liked by many American fans. Many didn't know a terrible amount about the Italian brand Diadora, but Adidas is a household name and should provide a superior quality product than the previous manufacturer.

Change Can Be Painful

With the change in brands also comes a change in design. Obviously change can come swiftly, and, occasionally painfully as many will feel with the lack of checkers on the new kit.

The checkers, while insignificant for the outsider, have been a calling card to the grassroots origins of the team. It's repeated often, but Indy Eleven grew inside a community that was organized and strong and helped bring the entire club up. The checkers represent something that many of the supporters take much pride in.

Not bad, but where are the checkers @IndyEleven? @ErsalOzdemir told us checkers on the home would always be part of the club's tradition. https://t.co/UYksubNhpy

— Slaughterhouse-19 (@sh19indy) April 25, 2017

@prpodcastshow @IndyEleven It is when your club's owner promises they're part of our tradition. That the home will always have checkers & breaks it in the 1st new set.

— Slaughterhouse-19 (@sh19indy) April 25, 2017

The move to Adidas and the general reaction of the dropping of the checkers and the introduction of the pinstripes is display of what young sports teams would call "growing pains." Growing pains coming from fans who have been here from day zero and are now watching a club with the ambition and desire to play at the highest (and most corporate) level make difficult decisions that some may feel abandon what the club was founded on.

It's not to say that the club itself is losing it's grassroots philosophy and is fully embracing their potential MLS overlords; but, in order for the club to get out of the shadow of their current (and struggling) league it has to start forging it's own path and making it's own moves in order to give itself stability for it's future.

It's a difficult decision that had to be made. For now, let's remind ourselves that this club is still our club. It's still the club that plays in our city. It's the club that saw it's first silverware and saw the owner of the club walk it through the West End. It's a club that has often sought to deliver the best match day experience to helped fans. It's a club that's given us tears of joy and sadness. But most of all, it's Indiana's professional soccer team and for that we can be proud of this significant move.

Well Hung: DIY Supporter's Flagpole

Let your freak flag fly!

By: Brandon Cockrum

Got a beautiful new flag you want to take to the next match but not sure how to make it street legal? It's really quite simple and not too expensive. Below is a quick guide to making a flagpole that you can take to the stadium and also proudly display at home when it's not match day. 

Assuming you already have a flag, you'll need to gather just a few other items.

Just a few simple tools needed to make a nice flagpole.

Necessary Items

• PVC Pipe: Indy Eleven allow spectators to bring PVC flagpoles up to 6' long and 1" diameter into the stadium. However, rules vary at different stadiums, e.g. MLS venues only allow PVC poles that are up to 3'6" long and .50" diameter. I like precut 5' long by .50" diameter pipe because then don't need to be cut down, they are more than sturdy enough to fly a 3'x5' flag, and that diameter easily fits into a common flagpole holder. In addition to the availability of different diameter sizes (0.50", 0.75" or 1"), you can also buy 10' PVC pipe (or larger) sections to cut down if you want a 6' pole or more than one pole.
• Zip-Ties: Two nylon cables or zip-ties, or one for each grommet in the flag. (Tip: Get extra ties just in case you make a mistake when attaching the flag to the pole and need to cut one off to reposition.)
• Drill & Drill Bit: The bit needs to make holes large enough for the zip-ties to slip through.
• Utility Knife (or Scissors or Side Cutters): To cut the extra length of zip-tie after it's tightened. (If you're accident prone it's probably best that you go with scissors or side cutters instead of the knife.)

You an buy 5' pieces of PVC pipe for less than $1.50 at most home improvement stores.

Optional Items

• PVC Pipe Cap: Not vital but they only cost about $0.30 and I think they make the flag pole look nicer, important if you want to hang the flag at home.
• Sandpaper: Used to smooth out the rough edges on the cut zip ties and the bottom/top of the PVC pipe. You don't want to cut your flag, your hands, or worse, someone else's hands with a sharp edge.

After acquiring each of the necessary items for the project we can start to build the flagpole. 

First, if you bought one, put the pipe cap put on the pole so that you don't mount the flag too high to use the cap (and waste your $0.30 investment). A dab of glue helps it stay but is not necessary.

Second, hold the flag's grommets against the pole in the spots where it will attach. While holding the flag tight to the pole, make a mark on the pole at each of the grommet holes to indicate where you need drill holes.

Third, whip out your drill and make holes through both sides of the pole at your marks. It can be difficult to drill 100% accurately since the pole is round and smooth, but, no worries, just make sure you're close. (Also, make sure your hand is not directly underneath the holes you're drilling.)

Perfection while drilling is not vital, just be close.

Fourth, ensure that that the zip-ties fit in the holes (drill the hole out wider if they don't) and feed them through the holes and then the flag grommets. Make sure your flag is right side up before securing the zip-ties. Pull the ties tight after they're all installed. (If you're picky, you might end up going through a few ties to get everything looking nice and orderly.)

Use the zip-ties to attach the flag to the pole.

Fifth, with a sandpaper or file, smooth the rough edge of the zip-ties and bottom of the pole (and, if you don't have a cap, the top as well).

A bit of sandpaper can help avoid cuts or tears from sharp edges.

Finally, take your well-hung flag with you to the next match to show off your DIY skills and support your club. Swing the flag in a figure 8 pattern, not side-to-side. Hold the pole at a 45 degree angle, not over your head. Be aware of how big your flag is and others around you, try not to hit people with the flag (or the pole). Between matches, place the flag in a holder and fly it over your homestead. 

Boom! Perfect for showing your pride at home, tailgating or at the stadium.

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If you enjoy tifo or supporter culture you definitely need to check this event out...

Indy Forever, A Visual History

Come see what goes into making Saturdays at Carroll Stadium possible

First Friday at Indy Fringe's Indy Eleven Theater
April 7, 2017, 4-8 pm

On Saturdays during the warmer months of the year, Indy Eleven supporters can be found on the west end of the stadium creating a unique match atmosphere. Behind this show of support and love for their team, there is a whole lot more than three hours on Saturdays.

Over the last three years, photographers who belong to the Eleven supporters group, Slaughterhouse-19 have been chronicling the culture that surrounds the group. The triumphs, the sorrow, the community, and the countless hours of work.

Join Slaughterhouse-19 for First Friday at the Indy Eleven Theater (719 East Saint Clair Street, Indianapolis) attached to IndyFringe. Doors open at 4 pm and admission is free. 

#EamonZayedRule - Playworks Day in Broad Ripple Park (8/27/2016)

This Saturday August 27th Playworks Indiana will host a fun day for people of all ages in Broad Ripple Park from 2pm - 4pm. We encourage all members of the Brickyard Battalion and all Indy Eleven supporters to come along and get to know Playworks and what they do for children in Indianapolis Schools.

If you were not aware Bloody Shambles and Permanent Relegation along with Indy Eleven's Éamon Zayed have been raising money for Playworks in a season long initiative to support what they do in our community. You can read more about #EamonZayedRule HERE.

The event on Saturday is free, please come along and have fun with us, bring your kids and enjoy. Donations are welcome if you would like to help us reach our target of $2000 we have set for Éamon's charity of choice. If you would like to learn more about what Playworks do for children in our Schools CLICK HERE.

If you cannot attend but would simply like to make a donation we have a secure donation page set up by Playworks Indy DONATE HERE.

You can also help by sharing this information with friends and fellow supporters and encourage people to come along and attend. We will also have "Playworks" present at the Indy Eleven Watch Party at Union Jack Pub in Broad Ripple on Sunday 28th for the 2pm game against Ottawa Fury.

If you work up a thirst and an appetite on Saturday, head on over to Union Jack pub afterwards for some great food and beer choices!

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Broad Ripple Park:  1550 Broad Ripple Avenue, Indianapolis, Indiana 46220
(event at grass area in north of park, parking available at south entrance)

From Hat Tricks to Champagne! - Indy Eleven 4 v Carolina Railhawks 1 REVIEW (6/11/16)

Justin Braun scored a crucial goal on the stroke of half time.

By: James Cormack

As you no doubt already know, Indy Eleven went into their last game of Spring against the Carolina Railhawks knowing if they could score four goals and win by a margin of three, we would be in the driving seat to win the Spring Championship. We needed to win 4-0 or 4-1 to do that, and we did it, in miraculous fashion the game ended 4-1.

It was never going to be easy, the temperature in the air was 95 degrees at the start of the game, the surface temperature on the field was probably 110+. Indy Eleven were going to go for it from the start, in extreme heat that can presents its own dangers. As I said in our preview, I was going to be content with just getting three points at home. What happened on Saturday was incredible.

Indy started with a similar line up to their previous game in Miami and came out of the traps fast. The first goal came in the 15th minute when Éamon Zayed slotted home a diving header from a Vukovic cross in front of defense to set the stadium rocking.

My biggest concern was that Indy Eleven would go too hard too fast during the hottest temps in the game and wear themselves out. When Carolina equalized in the 29th minute through Nazmi Albadawi it was a concern. After 30 minutes in the game the heat was taking it's toll, almost every player on the field was using their shirt to wipe their face, it was intense and energy sapping. Indy did not let up.

Zayed's hat trick takes his tally to six in NASL, league leading scorer.

Had Carolina taken advantage and scored another we probably would not have seen the same post game celebrations, had we gone in at half time at 1-1 it also may have ended up a different game. The most crucial goal in the game came right before half time. Another great pass in from Vukovic was tapped in at close range by Justin Braun to set Indy in front again right before the whistle.

It's an old cliché but there is much truth in the fact that it helps to send your opposition in at half time with their heads down and bring your own team in for the break with their heads up. Indy Eleven had 15 minutes to breathe, take on water and discuss tactics for the second half knowing they were in the lead and within touching distance of getting the job done. 

We knew we needed to score 4 and at least only let in 1, the next 45 minutes were all about winning 2-0. The second half was all about the tactical brilliance of Tim Hankinson, and of course a lot of team effort. Indy scored their third goal after 65 minutes again from Éamon Zayed with an assist from Omar Gordon. Hankinson threw everything on the line at this point and switched to a back three taking off captain Colin Falvey from central defense and replacing him with Siniša Ubiparipović in midfield to push for the fourth goal. The air was cooling and Indy Eleven cranked up the pace with renewed energy.

Éamon Zayed celebrates with captain Colin Falvey after Indy's fourth goal.

It worked according to plan and with five minutes of regulation time remaining Éamon "Mr Hat-Trick" Zayed scored his third and Indy Eleven could feel the Spring Championship within their grasp, it was a surreal moment and a nerve wracking end to the game. Hankinson wasted no time in bringing on Brad Ring to give a more defensive shape for the final minutes of the game.

Indy Eleven pulled off the miraculous, many of the players have been vocal throughout the year telling people they will get it done when it needs to be done and they did not fail us. Indy Eleven remain undefeated and won the Spring Championship, and it has to be said against the odds at times, we have had numerous problems with injury which began in preseason, we've slipped and stumbled a little along the way but still are undefeated.

We made sure on Saturday night that we are the benchmark for every other team in the league, if you want to win the Soccer Bowl, you'll have to come through Indy first, and it will be far from easy with the roster being strengthened in time for the fall.

Of course, at the final whistle it was cause for celebration for everyone and Saturday evening rolled into Sunday morning for many supporters who continued celebrating into the small hours. There was still the small matter of a game between FC Edmonton and Ft Lauderdale to be played on Sunday. The Strikers could have spoiled the party but it was highly unlikely, having to win by 6 goals on the road in Canada.

Many supporters met at Union Jack's pub in Broad Ripple on Sunday afternoon to watch the game and finally revel in the legitimacy of the Spring title with some champion champagne after FC Edmonton defeated Ft. Lauderdale 2-1 to round off Spring. It was a special moment and chance to celebrate and receive thanks from team owner Ersal Ozdemir, and of course getting drenched in champagne was a lot of fun.



As a supporter it was an overwhelming weekend. When you look back at where we have come from, these are moments we only dreamed of before. It was rewarding to see Peter Wilt who built everything we have now in tears on the field. Ersal Ozdemir with his willingness to back this project to the hilt bounced around with the fans. The staff deserve this as much as everyone and it was a joy to see all of them taste the fruits of all their hard work in the last few years. Alongside and around them the fellow friends and supporters just soaking it all up, it was a crazy magic night, the best so far.

Peter Wilt shares tears with staff, players and supporters after the final whistle!

In the first two years Indy had to learn to crawl then learn to walk. Now we are running and teams will be trying to stop us. Indy Eleven has come of age and yet we still have not even reached our full potential. 

It must have been bewildering for international players like Gerardo Torrado and Souleymane Youla to witness this having just arrived in Indianapolis. The best is yet to come and the team can look forward to an Open Cup meeting with Chicago Fire on Wednesday and a friendly tie with Liga MX champions Pachuca on June 26th before getting back to NASL business against Puerto Rico on July 2nd.

Prepare yourself for many more nights of celebration in the coming months! It's going to be a great year. It is already a great year!

Caleb Ramp’s Take:

Eamon Zayed after beating the New York Cosmos on 4/16/16: “I think we can win the spring season. I think we can go unbeaten in the first ten games.”

Fast forward almost two months later. It’s been nearly thirty minutes after the final whistle sounded at Michael A Carroll Stadium. Thirty minutes after the Brickyard Battalion poured onto the field to revel in the greatest moment in Indianapolis soccer history. Thirty minutes after the first hugs were shared, tears shed, and beers chugged (looking at you, Brad Ring).

The request for the last of the fans to leave the pitch plays over the PA system in the background. The celebration – which for many would go into the early hours of Sunday morning – would slowly relocate.

The Prophet Zayed is giving his post-game interviews with a trio of bricks at his feet. A shirtless Nemanja Vukovic sprints into view, wrapping up the Irishman while belting out a chant of “Big Z! Big Z!”

That’s why I love this sport. That’s why I love this club.

We’ve said for weeks that this squad was different. That this squad was special. Since early April we were given repeated rhetoric from players and coaches—however cliché—that this team was a family. That everything was clicking.

Time and again the group proved their resilience on the field, defying odds and earning results. Time and again they proved a willingness to fight for each other, the fans, and the badge. On the night they would overcome an incredibly improbable goal differential to win the 2016 NASL Spring Season? Of course they would celebrate together.

Éamon Zayed celebrates with Coach Tim Hankinson

It would be easy to write thousands of words detailing the greatness of every individual performance and every tactical decision which led to the 4-1 victory – The Miracle at the Mike. From the opening whistle, every man on the pitch in a blue shirt and shorts was dominant. In the words of our hat trick hero, “There were eleven Man of the Matches out there.”

Eamon is right once again. The combination play was as good as we’ve seen all season. Skills were successfully pulled off with a frequency and consistency fitting a team with limitless confidence and everything to play for.

Nemanja Vukovic, whose own post-game comments would be crashed by a teammate high on the moment (Don Smart), said it best: “This city, this club, everything around the team is amazing.”

Amazing. Undefeated. Trophy winners.

And we’re only ten games in.

Turn Up The Heat - Indy Returns to Florida - Miami FC V Indy Eleven PREVIEW (6/4/2016)

Indy Heads South for Final Road Game of Spring 2016

By: James Cormack

This weekend for supporters of NASL teams around the country will likely be the most nerve wracking of the season so far. There is a lot on the line, six teams are still competing for the Spring Championship which brings with it an early berth in the post season playoffs.

As I have mentioned previously in our Spring Championship article, the game to watch this weekend for everyone will also be in Florida. The Cosmos travel to Fort Lauderdale with one task in mind, win against the Strikers and win Spring, and of course the Strikers have to win to stay in the race, a draw for them means failure but gives a lifeline to Indy Eleven, a loss for the Strikers means the Spring Championship will be awarded to New York for the second year running around 9pm on Saturday night.

Despite all the scenarios and different things that can happen it all boils down to one thing, Indy Eleven really need just win this game and forget what else is happening. The only way a draw will keep us in it is if the Cosmos lose, then we would have to hope that we can run riot on Carolina in the final game and score plenty of goals to make up the difference on the leaders. 

Setting New York aside Indy Eleven are the only team that can finish on 20pts by winning out. If we win in Miami and Cosmos lose or draw then our destiny is back in our own hands in the final game of the season on June 11th.

We still remain the only unbeaten side in the NASL and our midweek heroics in the US Open Cup have put us on a streak of nine games without a loss. Indy are continuing to prove despite a catalog of injuries and illnesses that they can dig things out, and once again on Wednesday night we showed that we simply will not give up on anything.

No game is ever going to be easy this year...

Make no mistake, with the split season format every game is important for every team. Despite being the first team eliminated from winning the Spring title, Miami FC have to set their sites on improving their points haul for the long term. 

They have won 4 points in their last two games. They have added Richie Ryan and Michael Lahoud since their last defeat, both have gone straight into the starting lineup. Last weekend they took their first NASL win and proved they can be spoilers by defeating FC Edmonton and ending their hopes of a Spring success. In the previous week they held Carolina to a 0-0 draw, so Miami have not conceded since strengthening their roster.

That win over Edmonton lifted them off the bottom of the table and above Jacksonville Armada, Miami have the potential to win out and end Spring on 12pts which is a good enough base to build on for combined season points.

Like most NASL teams Miami played in the US Open Cup on Wednesday night, making their debut. They fielded a strong starting lineup including former Indy Eleven players Blake Smith and Dane Richards, but they fell short and lost to Wilmington Hammerheads. Wilmington sit 11th of 14 teams in the same USL conference as Louisville City FC and in the two games they played against LCFC last year they lost 3-1 and 3-0.

It will be tough for any team coming off a midweek game, Miami have a little advantage with not having to travel and can rest up a little longer and do a little more training than Indy Eleven can. They will no doubt do everything they can to win this game in front of the home crowd.

How are things for Indy, will we have enough players... ?

Duke Lacroix looking to start again.

Indy Eleven's roster is being tested without doubt, in the midweek win over Louisville our bench was sparse, we had 16 players to choose from and one or two of those probably would not have been risked anyway. The question is will we have a full bench in Miami and will any players return this week.

Greg Janicki could make a return after his facial fracture, hopefully wearing a pretty evil face mask and Colin Falvey should be good to start after a midweek rest. Lovel Palmer will be out for a while but this gets us back closer to our starting back four.

We know Nicki Paterson will be available for league duty, he served a suspension in the Open Cup. Siniša Ubiparipović could also make a return but most probably as a bench player for this game.

As ever I will hazard a guess at the starting lineup being as strong as we can get it, Indy need to go for the result in this game and use the next week to get as many players as fresh as possible for the home finale!

Starting XI: Busch, Franco, Falvey (c), Janicki, Vukovic, Gordon, Paterson, Mares, Lacroix, Braun, Zayed

Bench from: Cardona, Larrea, Miller, Ubiparipović, Keller, Shaffer, Smart, Reinoso (all may travel one will not suit up)

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Schlabst Cup T-Shirt

Other news........

If you need more live action from your Boys in Blue don't forget that Indy Eleven NPSL plays back to back games this weekend and both are hugely important. Indy plays Friday at 7pm against Erie Commodores and 7pm on Saturday against AFC Cleveland. Entry is $5 per person without a season ticket. Season ticket scarves are still available to buy at the games. Both ties will be played at the Championship Field, Grand Park, Westfield.

As always Bloody Shambles and Permanent Relegation are supporting Playworks Indiana children's charity with our #EamonZayedRule initiative. We are donating money for every goal Éamon Zayed scores this year and you can choose to play along or just make a one off donation to help us reach our target of $2000. Click Here for More Information.

As Part of that cause and thanks to the Brickyard Battalion a special t-shirt has been issued to commemorate the US Open Cup tie between Chicago Fire and Indy Eleven on June 15th. The Schlabst Cup is a supporters trophy created in honor of Peter Wilt, and is awarded to the supporters of the winning team in any tie between Fire and Eleven. 

All proceeds from the sale of this shirt will go to the winning teams supporters charity of choice. The BYB has elected to donate the proceeds to the #EamonZayedRule initiative. If we don't win Chicago Fire Supporters, Section 8, will donate to The LampStrong Foundation, a charity for cancer patients founded by Fire goalkeeper Matt Lampson. If we win we are helping people, if we lose we are still helping people! Follow the link below for more info and a better look at the t-shirt design. 

CLICK HERE TO PRE-ORDER YOUR SCHLABST CUP T-SHIRT

Siniša Ubiparipović: Indy Eleven's Number 10

Siniša Ubiparipović in preseason vs IU Men's Soccer Photo: Lucas Carter

By: Aaron Gunyon

It has been a busy offseason for the Indy Eleven.  Wholesale changes have taken place all across the organization and many were needed for a team that has underachieved on the pitch since joining NASL competition in the spring of 2014.  

A new team president Jeff Belskus joined the club in January when Peter Wilt announced his intentions to join an NASL group in Chicago.  A new head coach Tim Hankinson came on-board in early December and bumped interim head coach Tim Regan back to an assistant role.  With Hankinson's arrival came the departure of many familiar players and many fan favorites who aren't likely to wear checkers for Indy anytime soon.  

The team's roster was toppled over like a Jenga game.  The players were examined, evaluated and placed back on the squad block by block.  This is a careful process and one that Head Coach Hankinson will take full responsibility for.  Indy has, by their own accounts, underestimated the level of competition in this league since the beginning and some roster choices have failed to pay dividends through two seasons. 

Gone are the rookies making their first professional appearances.  Gone is the reliance on local talent or diamonds in the rough.  Gone are the days when too many eggs are placed in one basket and gone are the days when any of that was acceptable.  

The same excuses cannot be used year in and year out and this is the year that Indy Eleven will be expected to come fully prepared.  The team has made great strides this offseason that begin with the coach and end with the players on the field.  This is the best and most complete roster the team has assembled to date.  

In my first meeting with Tim Hankinson, he described a type of player that he was looking for.  He said he was looking for a conductor on the field, he used the word maestro and it's no coincidence that Siniša Ubiparipović was announced less than 2 weeks after that conversation.  Truthfully though, Hankinson wasn't really describing the player that he was looking for.  He was describing the player he already had and he was more specific to the midfielder's qualities in the teams official press release.  

“A team’s attack is only successful if it’s based on the ability to break down a defense and create chances for strikers. Those are exactly the skills Siniša brings with him to club,” -Tim Hankinson  

Siniša Ubiparipović was Indy's first new block in this stack-em-up offseason game and he was the first puzzle piece for Hankinson's new era team.  He was billed as being the #10 by the team and the 32 year old who comes to Indy by way of Ottawa Fury FC is that middle piece the rest of the game balances on.  It's one of the things that Indy has been lacking in it's two previous seasons and it was addressed early.  It is worth noting that Ubiparipović was the 10th announced player on this new squad. 

Photo: Lucas Carter

Training camp is in full swing for this team and Indy Eleven will make every moment count as the clock keeps ticking toward April 2nd and the begining of the 2016 season.  Indy will face Tampa Bay to open the campaign but Ubiparipović has been here before so he is very calm and professional when he speaks about preseason.  

"The game in Indiana...It was a good little run around, but I don't think it was ideal.  Now we are down here in Arizona trying to take care of some business and trying to progress a little bit."

The team didn't look very strong during it's scrimmage with IU Men's soccer and everyone was aware of that elephant in the room.  Still Ubiparipović took a seasoned point of view as he explained a bit about his experiences in preseasons past.  He acknowledged that Indy "did not look amazing", but he elaborated on how important fitness is and where the value comes from in a small sided match like that.

Ubiparipović himself was coming back from a self described "knee knock" so perfect form wasn't his goal.  Preseason seems to be about more than measurable results, which is tough for anyone covering sports because we need measurables and quantifiable data to make outlandishly unfounded predictions.  We can't know that what's going on inside of an athlete's head or if they are improving...unless we ask.  

I think it's good that this team and these players maintain focus on improving.  It's a sign that Hankinson is pushing and setting goals.  The team is the most important thing here and Ubiparipović mentions additional goals a few more times during our conversation.  

"We want to make playoffs and we want to go far in the playoffs. I feel like if I set a goal for myself to be the best in every game that I can, I feel like I am giving myself a good chance."  

Ubiparipović comes to Indianapolis on the heels a great 2015 season and postseason run where he notched 5 goals and 8 assists for a team that simply forgot how to lose.  I told Ubi that Coach Hankinson said he was looking for a maestro and Ubiparipović laughed nervously and excitedly.

"I know one player they call 'Maestro' and that's Messi!" he said not wanting to take full responsibility for that comparison.  He did not seem to entertain the possibility that was even an option.  

I was told that Colin Falvey and Nicki Patterson did not carpool or share a UHaul down from Ottawa and that 3 former Fury members was sufficient to beating Ottawa in the Spring Season. Siniša Ubiparipović said he will do everything in his power to attain victories over Indy's more fortunate expansion twin.  

I asked him what it's like to be the #10.

"It means a lot. Growing up we were always told that the #10 always like the famous shirt on any team on any club...It's one of those things that everybody likes to wear, but the number doesn't play the game."

Lastly, I said "Super-cala-fragalistic".

He said, "Longest last name ever."

The interview can be found below in its entirety.  

Don't forget to follow Bloody Shambles on Twitter, and like us on Facebook. 

Many of our contributors can also be found on Twitter:
Aaron Gunyon
James Cormack
Soccerbits
Caleb Ramp

Bloody Shambles Soccer Show Ep.24 - With James and Aaron

Emergency Mexican Radio!

After driving across town to appear on La Pura Mega 88.1 FM's Casillero Deportivo show and finding out it was cancelled, we picked up some Modello and drove home to record an impromptu podcast instead!

We discussed all the new signings, the entire roster and potential starting line ups for the Indy Eleven and some other NASL related chatter.

James took a wild guess at who our left back might be and get's it completely wrong! Possibly a worthy guess though.

We also discuss "El Jefe" new Indy Eleven president Jeff Belskus and his lack of scarf action in public appearances!

We also did some name dropping, please give a follow to Casillero Deportivo @indylockerroom, also to new Bloody Shamblist Seth Garrett @Soccerbits and also check out @brew_wallace and his latest blog on Indy Eleven's Roster Depth.

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.