Who's going to win the NASL's spring season?

After finishing last in 2012 and missing the playoffs F.C. Edmonton needed to change things up in the off season, and they did!  The organization has had the most squad changes in the off season changing out a total of 16 players with only three regular first team players returning.  The front office also bought in Colin Miller as manager of the team.  Miller has an impressive record as both a player and manager and it will be up to him to take a team of new faces and make them play as a team.  The team starts with three games on the road so they will be tested early taking on the Strikers and the Rowdies in Florida and Minnesota before their home opener against San Antonio.  Look for the team to start gelling late in the Spring season but too late to make an impact before the season's break in July.Carolina RailHawks: A lot is expected of the RailHawks.  They narrowly lost to the Tampa Bay Rowdies in last year’s playoff semi-finals and they have maintained the core of their squad to help in their challenge in 2013.  Preferring continuity over change they have added to the squad by necessity beefing up a defense that tied for conceding the most goals in the NASL last season.  They added Paul Hamilton who comes in from FC Edmonton after an 2012 all league XI season but who became surplus to new coach Colin Miller’s requirements.  It will be difficult for the RailHawks to reach the same level as last season as almost every other team has improved significantly, at least on paper.  The team surpassed expectations last season and could again this year.Atlanta has gone out and brought in some very good players, Richie Menjivar, defensive midfielder and current member of the El Salvador national team has come in on a season long loan from Salvadoran side Turin FC and forward Ruben Luna who spent time with FC Dallas and trained with the Colorado Rapids to replace Reinaldo Navia has also been brought in.  With several other changes this is now Brian Haynes's squad rather than the one he inherited midway through the 2012 season when he and Eric Wynalda engineered a great second half to the season.  While the notable players he has recruited are at the top of their games and will undoubtedly help this team you wonder just how deep this squad is; there looks to be a lot of enthusiasm but not much team wide experience and not much strength in depth.  The team lost its leading goalscorer in Matt Horth who went to the New England Revolution in the off-season and also lost its starting goalkeeper from 2012, Daniel Illyes, whose contract was not renewed. Midfielder Tony McManus was the Silverbacks' only other loss of substance. Pre-season allowed Haynes to evaluate a bunch of trailists but the anticipated starting line-up has not had much playing time together. It could be tough for the Silverbacks in the early going.View the list »
The NASL's Spring season get underway today

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With less than 24 hours to go before the start of the North American Soccer League's 2013 Spring Season it's time to consider who will do what and who will end up where in terms of standings. The new split season format means there’s a lot a stake before the July break. The winner of the NASL's spring season will host the season ending event in November. So why not try and predict the final placement of the teams. Each of the teams' likely form is considered and at the end of this article each will be ranked according to this writer's opinion.

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  • Atlanta has gone out and brought in some very good players, Richie Menjivar, defensive midfielder and current member of the El Salvador national team has come in on a season long loan from Salvadoran side Turin FC and forward Ruben Luna who spent time with FC Dallas and trained with the Colorado Rapids to replace Reinaldo Navia has also been brought in.  With several other changes this is now Brian Haynes's squad rather than the one he inherited midway through the 2012 season when he and Eric Wynalda engineered a great second half to the season.  While the notable players he has recruited are at the top of their games and will undoubtedly help this team you wonder just how deep this squad is; there looks to be a lot of enthusiasm but not much team wide experience and not much strength in depth.  The team lost its leading goalscorer in Matt Horth who went to the New England Revolution in the off-season and also lost its starting goalkeeper from 2012, Daniel Illyes, whose contract was not renewed. Midfielder Tony McManus was the Silverbacks' only other loss of substance. Pre-season allowed Haynes to evaluate a bunch of trailists but the anticipated starting line-up has not had much playing time together. It could be tough for the Silverbacks in the early going.
  • Carolina RailHawks: A lot is expected of the RailHawks.  They narrowly lost to the Tampa Bay Rowdies in last year’s playoff semi-finals and they have maintained the core of their squad to help in their challenge in 2013.  Preferring continuity over change they have added to the squad by necessity beefing up a defense that tied for conceding the most goals in the NASL last season.  They added Paul Hamilton who comes in from FC Edmonton after an 2012 all league XI season but who became surplus to new coach Colin Miller’s requirements.  It will be difficult for the RailHawks to reach the same level as last season as almost every other team has improved significantly, at least on paper.  The team surpassed expectations last season and could again this year.
  • After finishing last in 2012 and missing the playoffs F.C. Edmonton needed to change things up in the off season, and they did!  The organization has had the most squad changes in the off season changing out a total of 16 players with only three regular first team players returning.  The front office also bought in Colin Miller as manager of the team.  Miller has an impressive record as both a player and manager and it will be up to him to take a team of new faces and make them play as a team.  The team starts with three games on the road so they will be tested early taking on the Strikers and the Rowdies in Florida and Minnesota before their home opener against San Antonio.  Look for the team to start gelling late in the Spring season but too late to make an impact before the season's break in July.
  • Much of the focus during the Strikers off-season was on building the brand for the club.  In a difficult market in southern Florida with a lot of other sports options the club has worked very hard creating its identity.  It has also worked on rebuilding its team.  With third year coach Daryl Shore keenly focused on putting a winning product on the field he has kept the core of a team that included two all NASL XI midfielders in Walter Restrepo and Mark Anderson and added some considerable experience in Shavar Thomas and Ivan Guerrero.  That experience will keep them in a lot of games but it is unlikely they will challenge for the spring season title.
  • The new owners of Minnesota United made their intentions very well known in the off-season.  They rebranded the team, now known as United rather than the Stars and they went and brought in a lot of NASL based talent.  First they brought in the league's top scorer from 2012, Pablo Campos from San Antonio; then they brought in two of Campos' teammates from the Scorpions, Darryl Sattler, the Scorpions starting goalkeeper for most of the season and Aaron Pitchkolen, a midfielder; then they bring in Etienne Barbara to parter with Campos up front.  A good season pre-season came to its head last week when United beat the Chicago Fire of the MLS 1-0.  No the Fire are not the Galaxy but Minnesota looked good and will likely be the team to beat if Manny Lagos can get this group of NASL all stars to play as a team.
  • Last year's 2012 NASL Champions have had the most extensive pre-season of all the teams of the NASL playing 10 games and taking on a lot of quality opposition.  While the results have not gone their way in pre-season (4-6 in the ten games they played) they will look to put those results behind them and start their defense of their title in earnest when they open agains the RailHawks.  It will be tough for this team to repeat, not because they have gotten significantly weaker, they haven't, but because almost everyone else has gotten stronger and, as defending champions, they will be wearing a big target on their backs.  They have had a couple notable additions up front with Amani Walker and Georgi Hristov coming in to support former English Premier League player, Carl Cort. The Tampa Bay Rowdies will challenge but they are unlikely to win the spring season, there is simply too much pressure to repeat! Once they no longer have to deal with that, in the fall season they are likely to be more serious contenders.
  • The loss of Pablo Campos and his 20 goals will be difficult to replace but while the team may no longer have the league's top scorer in Campos, management believe the team is deeper and stronger all round.  Now in their sophomore season the Scorpions have brought in some quality and experience in the forms of Pat Phelan and Bryan Jordan, both of whom have extensive MLS experience.  In addition the team has recruited heavily in Croatia with three Eastern Europeans likely to start on Opening Day.  The loss of goalkeeper Darryl Sattler who left, with Campos, and went to Minnesota is lessened by the return of former starter, Pat Hannigan.  San Antonio should finish in the top half of the league in the spring season.
  • So here is my prediction for the final standings for the spring season of 2013 in the NASL:1 - Minnesota United2 - San Antonio Scorpions3 - Tampa Bay Rowdies4 - Carolina RailHawks5 - Atlanta Silverbacks6 - Ft. Lauderdale Strikers7 - FC EdmontonThis promises to be a great season and should be very close. Most every team should be there or thereabouts and there is no doubt that on any given day upsets will happen. Here's to a great first half of the season.
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, North American Soccer League Examiner

Andrew Snook is a professional photographer residing in Alpharetta. He is a lifelong Leeds United supporter and is quite happy that they have been outside the Premier League for as long as they have - honestly! He is currently a credentialed photographer for the Atlanta Silverbacks but still...

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