by Kartik Krishnaiyer
ESPN 3 deal
While MLS has stuck to a pay formula to show games outside market online, NASL this season will have a free package on ESPN3. That’s a win for the league and for fans. In one calculated and smart move, NASL as a whole became more accessible as whole than MLS.
Edmonton looking to push on
FC Edmonton has struggled the past few seasons, but this year’s Women World Cup gives the Alberta side an opportunity. Coach Colin Miller’s side plays five of its first seven games at home in the short ten-match unbalanced format of the NASL Spring Season. Edmonton returns more starters than any side other than Minnesota and the format allows for a team that has coalesced already to start quickly out of the gates and claim a trophy. Edmonton made two key additions this offseason to a team that finished very well last season – Óskar Örn Hauksson and Matt Van Oekel. Both will mesh with an established group of players well led by the likes of Lance Laing and Albert Watson. While nobody would question Minnesota has the most talent in the league, Edmonton has the most favorable spring schedule and thus is the pick to surprise and win the title.
Jacksonville joins NASL
NASL’s newest club, the Jacksonville Armada has spent big money on players and marketing. On the marketing side, the team could break NASL’s single-game attendance record in its Saturday opener against Edmonton. On the field however, the club — which is relying on foreign coaches and players — might learn quickly that the American second division rewards local knowledge and experience more than talent on paper or success abroad.
Tampa Bay raid Fort Lauderdale and Orlando City SC
The Tampa Bay Rowdies, coming off a disappointing season, retooled the club’s front office and coaching staff. “Mr. Fort Lauderdale Striker” Thomas Rongen coming in as Head Coach struck a nerve with the faithful of the Rowdies biggest NASL rival. The Rowdies also signed seven players who started last season for either in-state rivals Fort Lauderdale of NASL and Orlando City who played in USL in 2014. The club also has renovated Al Lang Stadium and opened up its own team branded pub in downtown St Petersburg.
New look Strikers
Fort Lauderdale has had the most confusing offseason in the league. After having reached last season’s Championship, the team was dismantled from top to bottom and reassembled late. But on paper, the Strikers — who are now heavily reliant on imported Brazilian talent — appear better than last season. However, the 2014 edition of the club was led by Günter Kronsteiner, a highly experienced and well-regarded European manager. This year’s side is led by Marcelo Neveleff, a local Argentine-born youth coach. So despite the improved roster, the jury is out on how strong Fort Lauderdale actually will be.
Minnesota’s Miguel Ibarra has received four straight call-ups to the USMNT
NASL is more in the spotlight than ever thanks to Minnesota’s creative midfielder Miguel Ibarra. When Jurgen Klinsmann first called Ibarra into the USMNT camp last October, many saw it as a novelty. Now that he’s become a national team regular, some fans who had previously dismissed NASL as irrelevant are now fully engaged in following the league.
Atlanta, league owned but doing some interesting things
Based on player and staff budget, Atlanta should finish in last place. But the league-owned team has made an interesting management hiring in Gary Smith, an MLS Cup winner, and aggressively signed bargain players in the offseason. The Silverbacks won’t win anything this spring, but could be very strong come the Fall Season, when the side that was cobbled together in the last few weeks gets more game time together.
Predicted final table
1- Edmonton
2- Minnesota
3- New York
4- Fort Lauderdale
5- Tampa Bay
6- San Antonio
7- Carolina
8- Atlanta
9- Ottawa
10- Indy
11- Jacksonville
