Wednesday, April 9, 2014

2014 NASL: Atlanta Silverbacks Preview, Depth Chart & Key Players






























2013: 10-7-9 (1st Spring Season/7th Fall Season/Lost Soccer Bowl 1-0)

Head Coach: Eric Wynalda
Key Returners: Pablo Cruz M (23gp 1g 2a), Mike Randolph D (20gp 1g 1a), Borfor Carr F (17gp 0g 2a)  

Key Newcomers: David Estrada F (Seattle MLS), Blair Gavin M (Seattle MLS), Junior Sandoval M (Marathon Hun)

Analysis: I underestimated Atlanta last season and their group of young players mostly from amateur club Cal FC as they went on to win the Spring championship. The Fall Season went as expected with Atlanta finishing 7th partly due to the loss of some key players like Mark Bloom to Toronto and teams in the league figuring out what to expect.

Atlanta has gone through another season of major turnover this offseason with only three returning players: Cruz, Randolph, and Carr who played 1000 minutes with the Silverbacks last season. Coach Eric Wynalda has brought in former MLS players Estrada and Gavin as well as Sandoval  from Honduran club Marathon, although again most of the starting eleven lack quality pro experience so I risk similar ridicule by saying Atlanta will struggle again this season. 

2014 Prediction: 9th Place

Key Players






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