It was a busy week in the North American Soccer League with plenty of player transactions and front office announcements taking place in the last few days. In this edition of Movers and Shakers, we recap some of that movement and what it could potentially mean for the respective teams and the league itself.
Atlanta Silverbacks
Silverbacks Announce Technical Staff
Just a couple of weeks after announcing that they would “remove the Head Coaching position” the Silverbacks announced the men that will assist Technical Director, Eric Wynalda, in the day to day coaching and management operations. Ricardo Montoya, Alejandro Pombo, Juan Castellanos and Eduardo “Lalo” Liza all join the staff as assistants for the Silverbacks. Their duties will basically be to run training and facilitate recovery and conditioning while Wynalda does other things that happen to somehow be more important. People are still struggling with the idea of the head coach-less squad, but lets see how it all works out.
Silverbacks Sign Striker Matt Horth
The Silverbacks dipped into the past and brought back Matt Horth to lead their front line in 2014. Fans of the NASL will remember Horth for leading Atlanta in scoring in both the 2011 and 2012 seasons, collecting 18 goals in 49 appearances. The Silverbacks lacked a proven goal scorer last season, even though they found themselves in the Soccer Bowl at the end of the year. Ruben Luna did a decent job for them up top, but bringing Horth back into the fold gives them a proven option up front in a league where goal scorers tend to dictate most of the results.
Carolina RailHawks
RailHawks add Connor Tobin?
Neil Morris of IndyWeek Sports (@MarqueeMarquis) reported that sources have told him that Minnesota United FC captain, Connor Tobin, will join the Carolina RailHawks. The central defender was one of the more consistent players in the league in 2013 and his departure would be a blow for Minnesota. After losing its original captain, Kyle Altman, to medical school after the 2013 Spring Season, it would be even worse to lose their next captain to an NASL rival. Meanwhile, Carolina has been the one team in the league to be pretty stagnant in the offseason so far, with their only headline being the fact that leading scorer, Brian Shriver, left for the Rowdies. This move, if true, would be a big add for a RailHawks side that won the Woosnam Cup in 2013.
FC Edmonton
FC Edmonton Add Two: Mike Banner and Ritchie Jones
Edmonton have had a mildly active offseason so far to date, but their additions last week may prove to me their most impressive. Firstly, they added Mike Banner who comes from five seasons of experience in MLS, most notably with the Chicago Fire. Secondly, they added English born Ritchie Jones, who started his career with the one and only Manchester United in their academy. Jones has spent time with numerous clubs in England, but he impressively helped lead Bradford City to a Capitol One Cup Final by playing a part in their impressive win against Arsenal during the run up. Bradford beat Aston Villa in the semi-finals, but lost to Swansea City in the Cup Final.
Fort Lauderdale Strikers
No Recent Movement
Indy Eleven
No Recent Movement
Minnesota United FC
No Recent Movement
New York Cosmos
Cosmos Announce Coaching Staff Retained; Savarese Promotion
The Cosmos announced that they did the sensible thing and retained their coaching staff from the 2013 championship season. Heck, head coach Gio Savarese even got a promotion to Sporting Director and Manager.
Cosmos sign, then loan, Andre Lewis to Vancouver
So, in quite the entertaining story, The New York Cosmos signed Andre Lewis, who was the seventh overall draft pick by the Whitecaps in the MLS SuperDraft. Lewis decided to join the Cosmos instead of negotiating with the Whitecaps, however, the Cosmos decided to troll us all by allowing Lewis to go on loan with the Whitecaps anyway. The NASL now uses MLS to help its players grow. And if you believe that, I’ll tell you another one.
Ottawa Fury FC
Fury Sign Hamza Elias and Marcel DeBellis
Ottawa continued to build their squad in advance of the 2014 season by adding Ghanaian midfielder, Hamza Elias and goalkeeper, Marcel DeBellis. DeBellis joined after impressing at the club’s open tryout. The former Benfica U-19 product is the first goalkeeper signed to the club. Elias spent last season in the Ghanaian second division and was discovered as part of a scouting combine. It seems as if Ottawa is doing their homework and finding players the old grassroots way.
San Antonio Scorpions
Scorpions Re-Sign Sainey Touray
The Scorpions welcomed Sainey Touray back for the 2014 season this past week. Touray scored one goal for the club in his few late appearances after signing in September. The 24 year-old is a promising prospect who showed some impressive attacking skills after joining from the Harrisburg City Islanders in USL pro where he was named to the Best XI. Touray will join the MLS one day, and interest was there this offseason, but ultimately he is returning to San Antonio.
Scorpions Sign Adrian Cann
The Scorpions also signed veteran defender, Adrian Cann. The former Toronto FC captain and Canadian international looks set to fill the boots of the departed Luka Vucko and partner Greg Janicki in the center of defense for the Scorpions. Alen Marcina continues to find gems from his home country of Canada and Cann will help provide stability to one of the worst defenses in 2013.
Tampa Bay Rowdies
Mulholland trades NASL for MLS
The Rowdies have made some serious additions in recent weeks including Blake Wagner and Brian Shriver, but they lost arguably their most important player. Midfielder, Luke Mulholland joined Real Salt Lake of MLS this week and the two-time NASL Best XI midfielder’s departure leave a gaping hole in the middle of the park for Tampa. Mulholland earned his right to give MLS a go, and he will certainly get his shot.
(image courtesy of Rob Kinnan)
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