Fern Mc Costigan: January 2016

Sunday, January 31, 2016

The Black and Gold Crew are Back in Business this 2016

They are back and with a new attitude and resilience that many squads’ at Major League Soccer, had better be ready for the new Black and Gold Boys of the Columbus Crew!

A squad that always had been accustomed to be in the spotlight of the postseason and fighting their way up the Eastern Conference like an all-around contender.

As always many have witness the way this squad always been a tough customer and never experienced a mediocre of a campaign or a visit into the cellar of their division.

Very well focusing on a new season and entering into their twentieth one, as many know this squad, as one of the original ten, since the inception of Major League Soccer.

Showing off a new attitude and focusing into the future, by forgetting their postseason fracas in the grand final against a determined and hungry Portland Timbers squad.

The Columbus Crew past is already buried and for their man at the helm Greg Berhalter, its business as usual in the continuance of their success and seeking new goals in this and many campaigns to come.

Being one of the major ambitions of this Manager are to deliver more shields into the halls of Mapfre Stadium and keeping the winning tradition alive and kicking for the Gold and Black.

It’s here were this club front office really embarked on the task of offering new contracts to its Manager and players of the likes of Kei Kamara and Ethan Finley, keeping the core of their initial eleven intact.

Very well adding three new players in former Union striker Conor Casey, Danish side Odense Boldklub Emil Larsen and former Dynamo Corey Ashe to reinforce their roster and giving this club more depth into their attacking options.

Alongside a very promising and successful draft with players in Marshall Hollingsworth, Kyle Parker, Chase Minter, Vincent Cicciarelli and Rodrigo Saravia as top-notch prospects for this club future.

Also with three players in the in Ethan Finley, Will Trapp and Tony Tchani currently on assignment with the United States Men’s National Team.

At the end the Columbus Crew wont recur to any rocket science to be the contender that were accustomed too as well seeing them in the league postseason once again and with new tactics and push.

With new faces and the prospects of many exciting things to come in this campaign, the Crew will indeed put on a show for its supporters and will make all sorts of headlines in this upcoming 2016.

Once again, we can state that this club will show a resolve to continue in its winning ways, despite the many ways the league will undoubtedly show off a much-contested campaign.

Still for the Crew Manager Greg Berthalter will be a challenge well taken in his quest to perfection with his club, seen as a heavily favorite to repeat in the league finals.

Crest Credit and Property of Columbus Crew Soccer Club 2016

Saturday, January 30, 2016

Can the Colorado Rapids Rebound from a Rocky Campaign and Shine this 2016

Maybe, but with a determined Rapid’s front office working overtime and making the necessary moves to reinforce its ranks ahead of opening day this 2016.

The arrival of Zach Pfefer and goalie Zack MacMath profiled as the starter, both of these coming from the Philadelphia Union and Midfielder Marco Pappa from the Seattle Sounders to strengthen their current roster.

Colorado offensive attack can start generating some spectacle and the possibilities abound positively.

Reinforcing their midfield attack and Pappa by joining forces with Marcelo Sarvas, this club can show a peak in its offensive attack, especially in its midfield-something this club lacked in last campaign.

With rumors of Mexico’s National Team and Spain’s Real Sociedad top-rated player Carlos Vela, Olympiakos forward in Mexican Alan Pulido and Everton most celebrated goalie in USMNT Tim Howard- to join this club.

The Colorado Boys are wheeling, dealing and linking a series of big names to this Rocky Mountain squad to front ahead a very challenging and competed edition of Major League Soccer entering in its 20th edition.

The Rapids front men are working overtime to net some of these above-mentioned player’s signatures and try not to lose another of their targets after their failed attempt to land USMNT Alejandro Bedoya after French side Nantes refused to authorize their transfer.

This to prevent another disastrous campaign and form a competitive entity as in their past ones, as of 2015 were the Colorado squad displayed a poor record of 9 wins, 15 losses and 10 draws, netting them a place in the Western Division cellar.

Despite this club successful draft and netting important prospects, this looks like a long run compromise and for now, they have to focus on reinforcing every weakness this club has- ahead of opening day nearing rapidly.

Something that Manager Pablo Mastroeni, who is in the need of reinforcing every position in his squad and present a contentious and hungry initial eleven that, can take on any of MLS squad’s life impossible.

At the end, this squad really needs to reinforce all of its holes and weak spots they presented all campaign long and with the return of its Irish lads in Sean St Ledger and Kevin Doyle, who cannot take the whole team in their backs.

This club will need plenty of determination and vindication to consider a stand out of a campaign and return to their old successful ways, very well fight back with such desires of winning that at the end they can deliver many satisfactions.

Still the goals and strategies ahead for this upcoming campaign will indeed put in evidence by its current Boss Pablo Mastroeni who needs to put some impressive numbers in this campaign despite the vote of confidence after a disastrous campaign.

The former USMNT prodigy now playing a tough role as a Manager and really has to mount a top of the line and impressive run for the league postseason as one of his first order of business that possibly can make a run for the shield and rebound for their best.

Crest Credit and Property of Colorado Rapids 2016

Photo Credit and Courtesy of Eric Stinson and the Centennial 38 Supporters

Friday, January 29, 2016

The Windy City can see its Fire Ascent with a Renewed Ambition

After last campaign struggles and mediocre play, the Chicago Fire front office, went on the task of assembling a decent and contentious squad, to make front to a much anticipated and contested 2016 campaign.

With a series of new faces and the prospects of netting an important big name player into their ranks, the Fire is looking forward to a positive run in this 2016.

In addition, those many question marks in reference to the Fire poor performances, by having a squad and a roster that included some top-notch players and at the end performed badly.

The Men in Red with those results mentioned became a pure disappointment for its fans.

Very well, with a roster that included a superb and dynamic midfield filled with many talented chaps, this club had many question marks in how they got into a hole so deep and posting a lowlight record of 8 wins, 20 losses and 6 draws, finishing with just 30 points.

Still going into this campaign, the Boys from Chicago are looking a bit positive with a new man at its helm in former Serbian U-20’s Manager Veljko Paunovic.

Also marking their debut in the Windy City are Michael Harrington and Nick La Brocca both coming from the Colorado Rapids, Portugal’s Premier League Belemenses and midfield artist Joao Meira and goalkeeper Patrick Mc Lain.

Alongside the return of Razvan Cocis who will play another important role in this club offensive and defensive scheme.

Challenging will be the role of the new Chicago Boss, with his initial eleven not complete after several of his players called for their national squads duties.

Being Daniel Cyrus and Joevin Jones Trinidad Tobago, Daniel Accam Ghana and Matt Pollster and Sean Johnson to USMNT, the arrival of these players will definitely make a big difference for the Fire after their return.

At the meantime, Manager Paunovic will do wonders with this current line of players and perform his magic.

Alongside the many positives are among the new draftees and homegrown players, this club can return to its old winning ways as well be among the top squads to beat in tis upcoming edition of Major League Soccer.

At the end, this club with a new man taking over as well his experience speaks for this club positive outlook in this 2016 that they can achieve many important things, among one of them their return to the league postseason.

Also their imminent return to their old winning ways, absent in last campaign- their hopes and trust are placed on new Boss Paunaviv who can return this club to its old glory days and possibly add a few more shields.

Considered a new era and Chicago Fire hungry to return to its rightful place among Major League Soccer foremost and top class contenders, can this be the year of the Men in Red, the possibilities are endless!

Crest Credit and Property of Chicago Fire Soccer Club 2015

Thursday, January 28, 2016

A Contested Year and Many Challenges Ahead for the Mighty Portland Timbers

A set of good news was announced at the Portland Timbers Adidas training facility at Beaverton, this for their third man this club had at its helm since its inception to Major League Soccer.

It was a big day for the Mighty PTFC announcing a nice extension in the contract of their Boss that put this club last campaign, in the horns of the moon and made all around history by netting the always impossible and coveted MLS Shield.

For Caleb Porter to rewrite history once again will be one of his utmost goals again, very well with new faces in his roster, he will try to work his old magic as the way he has delivered it in last campaign.

Since his arrival, this club has seen a significant improvement in its game and this squad has played a wonderful football without any inhibitions to any of its rival’s, regardless the squad.

Still this campaign will see a much contested event were the majority of the squads will try their best to really make life a bit impossible to the defending champions.

It is here where the Cheesmaster will implement his magic and with his new players obtained in the postseason, he can face any of the upcoming challenges thrown at him.

So far, the squad has seen how an experienced Ned Grabavoy adapting quickly to his new teammates along with Chris Klute who will have a challenged campaign ahead of him, in filling that left side being the core of Porters offensive attack.

The arrival of Jermaine Jones from the Dynamo along of Zarek Valentin from the Impact will reinforce indeed the defensive backfield until the arrival of its lead man in defense Liam Ridgewell currently playing in Championship side Brighton and Hove Albion.

With squad’s in all of Major League Soccer confines, reinforcing in every position and seeing up ahead the way this campaign will turn out, the Portland Timbers could not ask a better rival to open up the campaign, than the Columbus Crew.

Very well starting a preseason at Tucson, Arizona and returning to the Portland Invitational, the PTFC will indeed get its initial eleven ready and tuned up for opening day on March 6, when the league opens up officially.

Goals and many goals are becoming the center of objectives for Manager Caleb Porter and his Band of Brothers in his initial eleven that will try to make the best of every match and generate much excitement.

Very well, in their quest to perfection, they will try to net more shields, by making more history by delivering to the halls of Providence Park a possible foursome, something not impossible for this spectacular squad.

They already delivered the impossible in the MLS Shield, maybe this campaign we can see a possible run to the top spots in the prestigious and tough to play CONCACHAMPIONS tournament.

Something that the Portland Timbers will make their second presentation and possibly make a good run that can net them a possible date in this tournament final, nothing is impossible!

At the end this club is looking like a sure contender once again and seen as a heavy favorite to return to not only to the league postseason but its finals.

Crest Credit and Property of Portland Timbers Football Club 2016