Fern Mc Costigan

Monday, February 10, 2020

Fran De Boer and his Atlanta United ready to rock the league

Not a bad season Frank De Boer had with Atlanta United after his debut and a slow start the former Netherlands international in the end leveled this club season and taking this club to the finals of the Eastern Conference.

Still, these fell short of their objective of defending their hard-fought title in 2018 by losing in the conference finals to Toronto FC and seeing their efforts going down in a repeat of another league finals.

As several players departing to other horizons as Miguel Almiron was, the first leaving to Premiership side Newcastle United, Leandro Gonzalez Pirez going to Xolos Tijuana, Darlington Nagbe moving to Columbus Crew, Tito Villaba to club Libertad in Paraguay.

Still, the club went directives went into the task of netting important players to front another contested edition of Major League Soccer as well in the Eastern Conference welcoming a new member in Inter Miami FC.

So far, in the preseason the Five Stripes have been busy at work to replace some of those players that left the club and currently the club directives replacing them with several important players as well re-signing others.

By assuring the likes of international goalkeeper’s Brad Guzan and Alec Kann and midfielder Jeff Larentowicz and Emerson Hyndman to new contracts and seeing their stay in Mercedes Benz Stadium.

In addition to these players return, the Five Stripes are also betting on this club future after selecting two new players in the pas SuperDraft in Patrick Nielsen in the number 23 pick and Phillip Goodrum in the position 75.

Very well reinforcing their USL affiliate Atlanta United II with a few players of importance by seeing the development of many of its academy prodigies is the aims of the Five Stripes to see one day some of these prospects in the big team.

However, the club front office went into the task of shopping for some new talent to plug some holes left by some of these players that left the club and arming another contender to counter the heavy competition in the Eastern Conference.

So far, the arrivals of Brazilian midfielder from Ferroviaria, Republic of Ireland midfielder and Hearts of Middletonian Jack Mulraney, Phoenix Rising forward Adam Jahn, Revolution defender veteran Edgar Castillo.

With other newcomers in Necaxa defender in Argentinian Fernando Meza, Portsmouth defender Anton Walkes and Real Salt Lake midfielder and its academy promise Brooks Lennon, building up another contender ahead to this 2020 season.

No doubt the Five Stripes for sure will deliver another amazing season and despite the serious competition Toronto, NYCF, New York Red Bulls and newcomer Inter Miami, by the way, these are arming a top side.

For manager Frank de Boer now familiar with Major League Soccer and his confidence restored, for sure his United Boys will deliver us another amazing season and with no surprise playing in the league finals.

Photos Credit, Courtesy and Property of © Atlanta United Football Club 2020

Photos Credit and Property of © Copyright Major League Soccer. com 2020

FC Cincinnati looking for a positive turnaround this 2020

Last season the Orange and Blue had a reality check of what is Major League Soccer all about but is normal for an expansion team to have its share of struggles but in the end, this made its directives to plan ahead for this side future.

For a team situated in the Midwest and started getting all sorts of headlines since that record attendance against Premiership side Crystal Palace from its USL, and consequently n their days in its minor league days.

This is when the league top brass didn’t hesitate to bring professional soccer to Queen City, making it the 24^th expansion team to make its debut in 2019 with the promises of building their own stadium to be open in 2021.

In the meantime, these have used Nippert Stadium to call home for quite some time, as this University of Cincinnati venue, is when this team came into primetime and netted all sorts of headlines.

However, reality stinks and in their debut season that saw the demise of their former USL manager in South African Alan Koch getting the boot and replaced by interim France’s Yoann Damet later replaced by Netherlands great Ron Jans for 2020.

As last season the Orange and Blue record in 34 games was of 6 wins, 22 losses and 6 draws finishing in the Eastern Conference cellar and 24^th place overall in the league final standings.

Still, that was then and now the Queen City team is looking forward to building up a contender for their new man in the helm that last season had its share of troubles after taking over in August with a record in six matches of one win, one draw and four losses.

As the team builds up a contender in what seems to be another contested season in all Major League Soccer the club directives have been busy at work in building a winner for manager Ron Jans.

Among the first needs, the club is in need is to be building a strong and more creative midfield with the additions of Jimmy McLaughlin III their USL academy, Moroccan national Adrian Regattin from Akhisarspor of the Turkish League and Bosnian Haris Medunjanin from the Philadelphia Union.

Going forward with three strikers acquired in Jurgen Locadia on loan as a designated player from Brighton Hove & Albion from England’s Premiership, another DP in Yuyo Kubo from FC Nuremberg and Brandon Vazquez from Atlanta United 2.

On the defensive side the arrivals of goalkeeper Bobby Edwards, Saad Abdul- Salaam from the Seattle Sounders and USL side Tacoma Defiance and Tom Pettersson from Östersunds FK of the Swedish League.

With the team currently on its preseason, for manager Jans the idea is to adapt the returning players with the new arrivals to build upon that in what is to be his starting eleven for their away opener on March 1 against the New York Red Bulls.

By the way, this club has reinforced many of its most areas of need, per FC Cincy's new manager asking for experience alongside young talent to build on that a total contender to face off a very contested Eastern Conference pack.

In the end, FC Cincinnati if everything falls as a plan by its manager and directives, the Orange and Blue for sure they can have a decorous run into their first postseason but will not be among the top three spots, maybe a finish in sixth place.

Photos Credit, Courtesy and Property of © Football Club Cincinnati 2020

Photos Credit and Property of © Copyright Major League Soccer. com 2019

The Blues four-point lead headlines a recap in the NIFL

A valuable win for the defending champions Linfield over an anemic Warrenpoint Town on the road but with Coleraine win over Glentoran, Cliftonville sharing points and Larne going plum loco along Carrick Ring earning a valuable three points.

So far, in the table, the Blues are four points on the lead over Coleraine, Glentoran, and Crusaders, these latter ones being six points back after their draw against a trouble Swifts these welcoming the share of points.

In the Showgrounds of Ballymena, the local Sky Blues fell to the push of an inspired Carrick Ring- side looking at any cost to add points in the final stretches of the Dankse Bank Premiership to seek their salvation.

With goals from Kyle Cherry in the 40 minute and later Daniel Kelly 56 minutes both scores coming in the second half, these along with the clean sheet in the end for the Rangers earning a valuable win.

Ballymena United 0-2 Carrick Ring

In Solitude Park the visiting Dungannon Swifts and Cliftonville Reds share the spoils with a draw at one goal apiece, with the Swifts score by Douglas Wilson 26’ and Joe Gormley equaled 34’.

Cliftonville 1-1 Dungannon

In Mourneview Park Glenavon got a valuable win over title chasers Crusaders with a couple of second-half scores from the Lurgan Blues strikers and assuring a win at home.

For the Mourneview side with scores from Josh Daniels in the 67 minutes and Conor McCloskey in the 86 minute these scores were enough for the local Mourneview Aces cruising for the victory.

Glenavon 2-1 Crusaders

Back in the Oval at Glentoran the visiting Coleraine Bannsiders earned a valuable win in a match that seemed like a Derby with both sides looking to earn the win that would uplift them to second place.

A goal in the 64 minutes by Coleraine by Jamie Glackin was enough for the visitors to earn three valuable points and move up second on the chase for the top held currently by Linfield.

Glentoran 0-1 Coleraine

In the colossus of Buncrana, the local Stute side was a victim of a goal frenzy by the visiting Reds of Larne sentencing their destiny to the ranks of Championship with this loss, Institute sealed its doom.

The scores from Larne came from Lee Lynch in the 52’, followed by David McDaid 63’ and a double from Jeff Hughes 68’ and later 70’ to crown a goal rout and a clean sheet for the win.

Institute 0-4 Larne

Back in Milltown, the local Point Boys could not keep up with the visiting Linfield Blues and defending champions, succumbed in the end and seeing their efforts in vain in the fight for their permanency.

With the Blues striker Andrew Waterworth in the 23 minutes and later 60 via a penalty was enough to seal a win and keep four points away over its closest chasers, for the Point scored Ryan Swan 47’.

Warrenpoint Town 1-2 Linfield