Halfway Marker: Preseason and Beyond

Bald Spot Vantage Point?

By: Jordan Kalt

Forget about the 1-1 scoreline. Where first and second teams swap the field at the half, it hardly matters whether Indy Eleven wins or loses these preseason matches. What does matter is that these contests show us something of the team’s chemistry and the individual development among players. Two matches into the preseason, here’s what I see:

The Early Attack

Drawing with USL’s Swope Park Rangers inside the gorgeous facility at the Grand Park sports complex in Westfield, Indiana, our Indy Eleven starters showcased a downright sparkling attack. Neat work from the center midfield sprung Eamon Zayed for a one-on-one with Swope’s keeper and a 5’ goal.

The cohesion and pressure displayed in the first twenty minutes of this game built upon the the fast start we saw against Butler last week and hints at an intentional trend. A year ago, this club made a habit of struggling to press and score early in games. They couldn’t shake that attitude for weeks into the 2016 Spring season, but habitual lackluster starts are off the table for this year. Hankinson seems to have made sure of that.

Netminder Club
In contrast to last week’s game against Butler University, Jon Busch started on goal for the Eleven this afternoon. He looked sharp in his first action and readily assumed verbal command over the field in Colin Falvey’s absence.

Time is not at this point a friend to Busch’s career, though he will be fully appreciated on the field as long as he can remain there. Both he and the Indy coaching staff seem eager to bring Keith Cardona into a more critical role for the club and Cardona is making good strides toward that.

Under Jon Busch’s tutelage the young keeper displays far better on-field communication than we glimpsed last year, staying much more involved in directing his team’s shape and spotting trouble. Buschy seems to think he can do better and he consistently—and quite loudly—lets him know. That kind of persistent push may be just what Cardona needs to develop into a starter. It seems to be paying off.

Seeing this dynamic play out between the two netminders both on-field and on the bench will be one of the key friendly matchups to watch this season. Hankinson and the Eleven seem committed to Keith’s future with the club and Jon Busch is exactly the kind of person to help him get there.

Grand Park Indoor Action against Swipe Left Rangers

Missing Mares

Now that Dylan Mares is sipping Pina Coladas and gettin’ caught in the Miami rains (we’re not bitter, really)... the Eleven have some important shoes to fill.

Enter: Ben Speas.

Having toured with Minnesota United last year, Speas looks to play a vital role for the Eleven at left midfield. And for my money, it’s been a shaky start. This afternoon he looked a bit more settled than he did at Butler, but I'm not sure he has the confidence of his teammates yet—especially on that left side.

When Vukovich was on the ball, for instance, he almost always opted to pass for a cutting and partially covered Justin Braun rather than send the ball ahead to Ben. While Speas has shown some good determination to create plays, he seems weak on the ball when confronted with physical contact.

Perhaps getting more time with his teammates and deeper into the preseason will reveal some promising traits that are obscured at this point.

Defenders, Assemble!

Beginning the season with a backline short of Colin Falvey’s tenacious presence may be overcomeable after all. Consisting of Marco Franco, Palmer, Watson-Siriboe, and Vukovic, it looks like our first team defense will hold up just fine.

 Kwame Watson-Siriboe, a newcomer to the Eleven, is fitting in immediately. Intelligent and passionate, he is an imposingly strong defender of classic center back stock, taking and receiving punishment with impressive willpower in aerial battles.

 For the time that Captain Falvey is sidelined Lovel Palmer looks to fill in at center back alongside Kwame and he really couldn’t be looking more confident in the role. Building on the several times he subbed in at the position near the end of last season, all of Palmer’s strengths are finally on display and the back four are humming to a nasty, badass tune.

So yes, the land on the other side of the 2017 NASL kickoff looks promising and plentiful. See you in a few weeks!

Down the Armada! - Indy Eleven v Jacksonville Armada PREVIEW (8/3/2016)

Easy Target? Someone get Tony Meola a Lifejacket!

By: Brandon Cockrum (@Brew_Wallace)

This is a very short, direct preview this week: Indy Eleven should fight like dogs to get a positive result at home against Jacksonville Armada FC. Not only is the club looking to rebound from a loss in Miami, but they are extremely difficult to take points from at Carroll Stadium and the Armada have yet to win a match away from home in their one-and-a-half years of existence, 25 games to be exact. To make matters worse, the coastal club has not scored since July 9, shut out in four straight matches, and are in such a downward spiral that whispers have already started regarding the lifespan of rookie head coach Tony Meola. Anything less than three points earned in convincing fashion on Wednesday evening should be considered a letdown against the league’s poorest performing club.

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-30- 

Fin. 

The end.

(Still here? Okay, since the Bloody Shambles blog pays me by the word, generously I might add, I can write more for you; I do need some spending money to buy myself a fancy new shirt from the Eleven’s updated merch store.)

The Boys In Blue have sailed a totally different course this season than the Armada. With a spot in the playoffs guaranteed, the Circle City club is now trying to secure home-field advantage in the playoffs and prepare themselves for a championship run. They've built a monster defense, capable of shutting down the strongest opposition the league provides. On offense, they’ve mostly got the job done, but while they’ve flashed the ability to break out for three or four goals if the stars align, they have also struggled for significant stretches to score goals.

Let’s look at the numbers: Across 16 league games, the Eleven have scored 22 goals, an average of 1.38 goals per match. That’s the third best strike rate in the league. Not too bad. (Only New York Cosmos at 1.71 and Minnesota United at 1.87 are superior.) However, half of Indy's goals (11) were scored in just three matches (vs MNU, vs CAR, vs FTL). Remove those three outbursts from the equation and Indy is averaging just 0.85 goals per game in 13 matches. Not too good.

Indy’s four most recent games reflect this paradigm. After erupting for three goals in the first 27 minutes against a listless (and soggy) Fort Lauderdale Strikers, Indy struggled to put the ball across the goal line in the three matches that followed. In a 2-0 loss to Minnesota United FC, Indy controlled the match for nearly all of the final 60 minutes, but were unable to nick a goal. Defender Greg Janicki slipped a set-piece header past the Edmonton FC goalkeeper early in the next match but the Boys In Blue were stonewalled for the final 75 minutes of a 1-0 victory. 

Aim for the net thing JB! You can do it!

Finally, despite controlling the game from nearly start to finish against Miami FC, the Eleven were shut out for 89 minutes of play before Eamon Zayed connected with a cross to put one goal on the board in a 2-1 defeat. In each of these three matches Indy had plenty of possession, plenty of shots, plenty of crosses, and more than enough opportunities to put a crooked number on the scoreboard, but were unable to do so.

As Indy moves into the second half of the season, I’m hoping to see the club build upon the great foundation they’ve established thus far. To realize their ultimate aspiration of hoisting the NASL Soccer Bowl in November, the team cannot sit on laurels earned in the Spring. Although we’re all proud of their achievements, the mission has not been accomplished. With three games at home in the next eleven days, the Eleven have a great opportunity to begin addressing their few weaknesses in the friendly confines of Carrol Stadium and set themselves up for a strong playoff campaign.

Three things I’m looking for in the second half of the season:

1) Maintain focus, intensity and cohesion on defense. It’s a long grind, April to November, and complacency can easily creep in. Defensive leaders Jon Busch and Colin Falvey probably won’t let those around them slip up much, but clubs that win the spring season are notorious for fizzing out by the playoffs. Indy's defense has been key to their success and it must remain strong.

2) Get more shots on goal. This past Saturday night, Zayed and Omar Gordon put four of their combines six shots on frame. The rest of the Eleven? Only one of 14 shots were on target. This has been a season-long issue. When it comes to shots on goal, quantity does not always trump quantity, as evidenced by the result in Miami. A bit more restraint on attempts from outside the box and improved focus and composure in front of the net should increase the goal tally.

3) Develop creative playmaking and new attacking strategies. Indy has relied on a lot of direct football, flying up the wide channels with their speed and powering down the middle with bruising forwards on the counter attack to create chances. Opponents seem to be aware of this and seem to be coming content to focus on shielding their goal, allowing Indy to take shots from distance and dump in unsuccessful cross after cross while looking for opportunities to counter attack. If the opponents are able to score an early goal, it makes a bunkering game plan even more appealing. 

As mentioned earlier, the Eleven have encountered stretches where Plan A is simply not resulting in goals. Indy needs to develop a Plan B, which might consist of unlocking goals from sustained possession and creative playmaking in the final third. If I’m Tim Hankinson, over the next two to three months I’m focused on finding out who among Gerardo Torrado, Dylan Mares, Nicki Paterson, and Siniša Ubiparipović can drive the offense when handed the keys to the car.

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It's a 2014 Clash Reunion! Indy Eleven V Ottawa Fury Preview (04/09/2016)

Several ex-Fury players looking for a win!

By: James Cormack

The “Class of 2014” as the two teams are often collectively known as, are preparing for a clash reunion this Saturday night as Ottawa Fury come to Indianapolis for Indy Eleven’s home opener of the 2016 NASL season.

Since their inception both teams have led quite different paths. In 2014 both teams struggled somewhat, not surprising for any ‘new’ team. Indy and Ottawa finished on the same combined points with 27.

In 2015 Indy was the team that got off to a more positive start in spring, but it would be Ottawa whose progress chart went through the roof as the year progressed.

Ottawa went on to a place in the Soccer Bowl final which they lost to New York Cosmos. Indy Eleven finished ninth in the combined standings as they had done the previous year. Both teams have drastically changed in 2016. 

Indy have overhauled their coaching setup and their roster including taking three players, Colin Falvey, Sinisa Ubiparipović, and Nicki Paterson from the Ottawa side. When Indy kicked off against Tampa last weekend, only one starter on the field, Brad Ring, played in the opening game of 2014.

Ottawa Fury have had one of the biggest roster overhauls in the league. Marc Dos Santos the coach of 2015 has moved on and Paul Dalglish has taken over. In Fury's opening game last weekend, not a single player from their inaugural NASL match was in the lineup or on the bench. The only remaining player from their start in 2014 is Carl Haworth and he was not listed in the game roster.

Although Indy Eleven don’t have any real recognized rivalries in the NASL, I think Ottawa comes pretty close to one. Combine the fact we started in the league together with them having defeated us five times from six and Indy now having signed three of their Soccer Bowl team from 2015, there is a pretty good edge to this matchup!

Of all the teams Indy Eleven has played in the NASL, it may surprise some to know that Ottawa has scored more goals against us than any other team so far. A total of 16 goals against (and 8 for Indy) in all six previous encounters. Ten of those goals have been scored in Indianapolis. Surely there is some payback required here!

Ottawa Fury defeated Indy Eleven in all three matches played in the 2015 NASL season! These two sides have never been involved in a drawn game!

How the teams may line up…..

Honestly I am not expecting a lot of change in the Indy Eleven side if any at all. Jair Reinoso is starting to look like a very strong option in attack, whether he has enough time yet and whether Coach Hankinson will want to displace anyone for him is another matter.

I still think Nemanja Vukovic looks more comfortable at center back than he does out left, but all in all the Indy defense did very well in the previous game. I don’t think there will be any tinkering, if there is it will most likely either be in the wide midfield or possibly some rotation in the back line, 'if' Tim Hankinson has a mind to. I don't think so. We’ll see.

The 18 man roster for the match will likely remain the same, as of this moment there is no new information about injuries or illnesses, Indy returned from Florida unscathed.

Ottawa only managed to field 5 substitutes for their opening 3-0 defeat to New York, one goalkeeper and four outfield players, none of which were defenders. Ottawa started the match the only three recognized defenders and used midfielder Lance Rozeboom as a makeshift center.

I cannot find out any information about former Tampa back Rich Balchan, he did not travel, unknown whether he will be available for the game, or fit to start. English defender Onua Obasi is contracted to finish playing with MASL team Baltimore Blast and will not be available until April 16th. Defender Kyle Venter is out through injury for up to 8-10 months.

Unless Balchan returns Ottawa may be reduced to playing three recognized defenders again. Striker Carl Haworth, the only player left from 2014 is also injured. Ottawa played a 4-3-3 against the Cosmos and from back to front their left and right players played pretty wide. it is likely we will see a similar lineup against Indy, the only changes may come in formation or midfield personnel if any.

Ottawa Fury have added to their midfield this week with the signing of Uruguayan Bryan Olivera, so they have a possibility of having a deeper bench on Saturday.

This match is a cast iron opportunity for Indy to take three points, based on my viewing of both teams opening games, I do not see Ottawa scoring in this game, their best chance would be from a cross, corner or set piece or wild shot from distance. If Indy Eleven can score one goal we will win, not a big ask.

Caleb Ramp's take on the game.......

Reflecting on the importance of every match in a 10-game season is a redundant, played out, cliche narrative. Yet with this team -- in this spot -- I don't think we can overstate how critical it is for Indy Eleven to secure a victory on Saturday.

Having successfully executed the defensive gameplan in Tampa required to earn a point, week two offers nothing but opportunity: Opportunity for Colin Falvey, Nicki Paterson, and Siniša Ubiparipović to exact revenge on their former team. Opportunity for the fans to witness a squad of experienced players who feed off the energy from the stands, and can turn that energy into results. Opportunity for Tim Hankinson to prove that he's truly brought the club into a new era.

Now is the time to kick start the 2016 campaign. Now is the time for this squad to distance themselves from the frustration and futility which has plagued the club since its inaugural season. Defeating the Fury (a team, on paper, Indy should be able to handle with relative ease) not only puts the Eleven in a position for a possible Spring title push, but services as quantifiable evidence that 2016 will be different -- an invaluable confidence boost for players, fans, and ownership.

I anticipate a near-identical lineup to last week (only potential change from Hankinson might be Reinoso starting over Lacroix, depending on the former's fitness), but mentally we'll be approaching this game much differently. We'll be looking to get on the front foot right out of the gate and maximize meaningful possession. We should see the fullbacks push forward early and often, and their average position ultimately sit at or even beyond the halfway line.

Finally, Ottawa showed a susceptibility to the quick counter in their opener against the Cosmos, while Indy leads the league in interceptions. Expect a lot of reversals of play, with early balls played into space as Indy looks to get on the break and take advantage of this weakness.

2014 Indy Eleven would lose this game outright. 2015 Indy Eleven would establish a first half lead but concede an 80th minute equalizer. 2016 Indy Eleven? It's time for these players on this squad to write their own narrative.

Hopefully they write something worth reading.

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For the 2016 NASL Season we have teamed up with Éamon Zayed and Playworks Indiana to raise money for children's charity. For every goal that Éamon scores this year in all competitions we will be donating a cash amount to Playworks. We encourage you to help with this initiative even if just a dollar per goal.

Please CLICK HERE for more details,if you would like to take part and pledge an amount per goal, please send an email to info@blooyshambles.net with your $ amount per goal and name, we will inform you closer to the end of the season how you can make your donation. For more information on Playworks you can visit their website here. Please share details of this using hashtag #EamonZayedRule.

Coach Is Pissed: Indy Eleven Struggles Continue

Photo: Lucas Carter

By: Aaron Gunyon

People get worked up over preseason.  Should they?  The teams are preparing and training and in the case of Indy Eleven they are playing all in the hopes of being ready for the actual season.  These games and practices don't count in the standings and no points are awarded from the strength of schedule.  

The team doesn't look great, but its tough to expect greatness this early on.  There are more than a few rusty players and not everyone is on the same page yet.  The average age on this team is up and there are quite a few experienced guys out there so I assume transitions ought to come more easily.

However, Injuries are mounting and this team is already dealing with unexpected obstacles and roster questions.  Projected starting LB Steven Deroux has not made it to Indianapolis.  He has had surgery for injuries sustained in training while in Wisconsin with the Milwaukee Wave.  It will be months before he takes the field wearing checkers if he ever takes the field at all.  

Dino Williams is another player that we will probably not be seeing anytime soon.  The 25 year old striker was coming off of a great season in the Red Stripe Premier League but he has yet to suit up for the team.  He was wearing jeans and sneakers for last Saturday's 1-1 clash with FC Cincinnati and he was not to be found on the bench yesterday as the team took on Louisville City FC.  Coach Hankinson revealed in a post-game interview that Williams also had surgery to injuries that prevent him from playing in the near term.  

Williams was the worst kept secret in Indy Eleven history when a Jamaican Observer article linked him to the team a solid 2 months before the official announcement.  The news of his injuries becomes more troubling when you consider Williams has worked very recently with Hankinson at Montego Bay United and he was hand picked for this squad.  Williams also currently occupies one of the seven coveted international slots that each NASL team is awarded. 

There is another signing on the way.  A Colombian.  It's an attacking player and that will raise questions about how to play with 8 international spots meaning somethings gotta give.  

Other minor knocks for players are common in preseason as most fans will be aware and most of them aren't too concerning for the long term, but nagging injuries do prevent training at 100%.  Indy Eleven are dealing with that now.  There were players like Nicki Patterson and Sinisa Ubiparipovic who were held out last week and held to limited preventative minutes against Louisville.  I do see their fitness lagging as you would expect so other players will have to step up and play a more solid game.  Gorka Larrea was out and he is another player Indy would like to have available as soon as possible.  

This most recent game continues a long trend of the Indy Eleven under performing and underwhelming in the preseason.  Indy dropped Saturday's match to visiting Lou City  0-1 and are now winless in their last four attempts.  This marks the second time Indy has been blanked by a USL side since March began.  Indy conceded first in both of last weeks 1-1 draws and failed to generate much of an attack through long spells during the most recent contest.  

Indy is now 0-3 lifetime in what I am calling the Ohio River Derby.  Its a lopsided rivalry with our neighbors to the south as they were the team to bounce the boys out of the Open Cup last summer.  

So why do we care so much? 

Coach Hankinson cares... and so does the Indy Eleven front office.  Peter Wilt, Jeff Belskus and team owner Ersal Ozedemir were all at the game yesterday.  You play like you practice and preseason is practice for the regular season.

It was quiet after the game and it was the first time that I have seen Hankinson address the team behind closed locker room doors.  A team huddle was all that was required in the center of the pitch a few days ago, but Hankinson had more to say in private on Saturday.  There was a sense that tensions were high and that expectations were not being met.  Peter Wilt had poked his head into the locker room for a short time, but appeared to let Hankinson run the show and he waited to talk to and catch up with players from just outside the doors.

It's obvious the team isn't winning and this team is yet again struggling to put balls in the back of the net, but Coach Hankinson identified some other troubling issues and he discussed those in his post game Q & A with myself and a few others.  These issues seem to nag at him a bit more than the scoreline. 

"The inability to close down opponents on the ball and around the ball faster is a big issue.  We basically allow them to play."

Hankinson elaborated and then expressed concerns over another issue.  Players are taking too many touches.  

"We have a few guys that just enjoy watching themselves play and that means they are not playing for the team.  So I am very angry about that.  And that will change because I will squeeze it out of them."

Always that calm and measured demeanor that I have come to expect from this coach but you don't have to listen long to hear the disappointment in his voice.

"Obviously this was a more reserve oriented squad and it wasn't up to the task and there will be some roster changes.  I let these players know that if they are crying looking for playing time...this is about the guys that can get it done and leave the rest to rot on the bench."

As I soak all that honesty up and glance at my phone to make sure I got it all.  I realize that the coach just spoke continuously for two plus minutes about his frustrations with the team and he hadn't been asked a single question.  Hankinson is not a man who is afraid to speak his mind.  

It does not really take a lot to knock me off my interview game but Hankinson did it early when he spoke so bluntly and without provocation.  Uncharacteristically, I started to have a bit of sympathy for these professional athletes so my first question to Hankinson had him describe who had impressed him.  

The beginnings of his reply didn't shock me when he named players like Duke Lacroix who has stood out in almost every game this preseason.  But when he steered the answer back to disappointing play, and away from the safety of my softball question, I got a much better sense of how much work is let to do before April 2nd and the Tampa Bay Rowdies.

"There were a lot of inefficient players as well that couldn't understand how to close guys down.  Couldn't cover passing angles that we have talked about tactically.  Not making the next pass...Those are the guys we have to asses more shrewdly and make some hard decisions at this point."  

This is not just preseason.  For some of these players, it might be the only season they get.  They have to perform week in and week out.  They have to attack together and defend together.  Hankinson said that was not happening  and that "Defensively we weren't good enough."

There are still some weeks left before the season kicks off but the clock is definitely ticking.  I have a feeling that its going to run out on this team and a few players before we see what Indy 3.0 can do.  I was given an indication that we would see a more first team selection for the game against Butler University on Wednesday and that we will see starters get closer to 90 minutes.  Some players will still have their time monitored closely to prevent further injury, but we should get a better sense as to where everyone shakes out. 

Where are the goals going to come from?  He thought about it and then replied.

"Not from that."

Is this team ready to face Tampa Bay on the 2nd?  The answer was the shortest of the afternoon.  

 "Not today."