What an utterly baffling spring season it’s been in the NASL. Halfway through, there were clear divisions starting to form. Then, as if someone flipped a switch, the top teams through the first half became the bottom teams for the second. Soccer is a game with significant random variation baked into each match, and the ten game spring season is bound to have some bizarre turns. But not this bizarre.
The result is a complete logjam at the top of the table. Eight teams are between 11 and 18 points. Six are between 13 and 15. A full three teams have 15 points, and actual chances to win the spring title (though they all must score tons of goals in the final week to do so). It’s been a wild stretch of games, and just about every fanbase* has had something to be excited about.
*Except Jacksonville, natch.
#1. New York Cosmos – (6-0-4, 18 pts) – No Change
How do the Cosmos do it?
You can almost forgive the NASL for existing to serve at the beck and call of the green and white, considering that the soccer gods seem to do the same. With the season basically wrapped up, a result in Fort Lauderdale would’ve put the final nail in the coffin. Instead, the Cosmos lost 1-2, continuing their dire road form. Danny Szetela got caught ball watching, Jimmy Maurer got a strange case of the Flappy Hands, and despite a stoppage time consolation, the visitors came up short. That left the door open for what seemed like half the league to take advantage.
And yet, none of them did. First Indy, then Minnesota, and finally Carolina all dropped the ball. Each could’ve controlled their own destiny in the spring title race with a win. Each fell apart. Does this kind of fortune happen to anyone else?
The Cosmos would be deserved winners of the spring, because they’ve been the most consistently not-awful of all the inconsistent teams in this league. Four losses isn’t a great look, but all of them came by just a single goal, and they looked the better team in a few (this past weekend, for instance). Only once were they shut out. They kept five clean sheets. But despite looking better on paper, this Cosmos team will (most probably) win the spring with less points than they had last year, when they finished 5-5-0. Is the league really that much more competitive this season? Perhaps, but the Cosmos also have struggled to find their best style of play (a league-wide theme), especially on the road, where they are 1-0-4.
On the bye for the final week before the break, New York will be preparing for their match against NYCFC in the Open Cup. They will surely be watching the league results, but they ought not to feel too much pressure. Their closest competitors, Indy Eleven, must win by four, or score 5+ and win by three, to take the crown.
#2. Tampa Bay Rowdies – (4-3-2, 15 pts) – Up Two
They haven’t been the best team this season, but the Tampa Bay Rowdies have been the best team in recent weeks. The key man has been, perhaps surprisingly, Joe Cole. Despite being nearly a century old, Cole’s legs have held up so far, and his veteran presence and general skill seem to have made a difference. Good for him, and good for the Rowdies.
After beating Minnesota on the road, the green and gold had an excellent time of the past week. On Wednesday, they held off FC Cincinnati in the Open Cup, which deprived everyone else of an Ohio Derby, but was certainly a credit to the Rowdies. On Saturday, they made it three wins in a row, outdueling an Ottawa Fury team that’s better than it seems.
Tampa dropped so many dumb points to start the season that they’re unlikely to snatch the spring at the last moment (a 6-0 win is needed). But they’ve looked good lately. The injury to Tom Heinemann was a blessing in disguise for Stuart Campbell, because it forced him to play Georgi Hristov. The Bulgarian has been benched by multiple coaches, and always finds his way back into the roster when they realize that he’s one of the league’s best players. With Cole and Hristov added to Alhassan, it finally feels as if the Rowdies are creating enough surprising chances. With Heinemann out of the line-up, those chances are more likely to get finished. Positive steps in St. Pete. A trip to Jacksonville will wrap up the spring.
#3. Indy Eleven – (3-6-0, 15 pts) – Down One
Indy remained undefeated this week, but failed to take advantage of the Cosmos loss. Their spring title hopes are alive, but only just. They host Carolina, and must win 4-0 or better.
The Eleven have been among the simplest teams this spring. I’ve covered this team repeatedly in the past few weeks, and there’s only so much more to say. Tim Hankinson was a “win now” kind of hire, and he’s certainly delivered results. But it’s come at the expense of beautiful football. Only one team has attempted fewer passes, and no team has completed a lower percentage of them. Indy have been at their best against the teams who attempted to attack them and control possession. Against teams with a similar “bunker and hoof it long” approach, they’ve been at a loss. Indy have been excellent on turf, with a 3-3-0 record and a 10-6 scoreline. On grass, they’ve been game-killers, playing to a 0-3-0 record and a 1-1 total score. I can’t begrudge a strategy that has seemed to work so far. But that doesn’t mean I have to mark it highly.
The fall season will be a test for Indy. Teams will not be quite so credulous on the second time of asking.
#4. Fort Lauderdale Strikers – (4-3-2, 15 pts) – Up Three
The Strikers have managed an incredible turnaround, after they started the season looking like a lost PDL team. Head Coach Caio Zanardi must be doing something right off the field, even if he’s repeatedly disgraced himself on the touchline.
On Saturday, the Strikers overcame the New York Cosmos at home. It was a solid win, although the visitors spent most of the time with the ball, ineffectually trying to break down the home side’s defense. The midweek match was much tougher, with the red and gold barely edging the Richmond Kickers in 90+ heat and humidity. The match went to penalties after 120 minutes ended with a 1-1 draw.
The difference in that US Open Cup shootout, and generally for the Strikers, has been Diego Restrepo. You can precisely pinpoint the date of the teams’ revival to the moment where previous starting goalkeeper Bruno Cardoso lost the confidence of Zanardi. Once Restrepo was handed the #1 jersey, he made it clear that there was no going back. While the Strikers haven’t needed him to be the hero each and every game, his steady presence has solidified the defense in front of him throughout. Restrepo hasn’t played many games, but he might have a strong case to make as the NASL spring season MVP on his impact alone.
The Strikers travel to Edmonton for the final match of the spring. They would need to win by six goals to potentially take the spring season.
#5. FC Edmonton – (4-2-3, 14 pts) – Down One
On the bye week, the Eddies were passed in points by three teams. A solid defensive outfit with difficulty scoring, Edmonton figure to be in the mix all season, but they will have plenty of company. Sound familiar?
#6. Minnesota United FC – (4-1-4, 13 pts) – Down Three
Good grief!
The Loons were hit with their third consecutive league loss this past weekend, basically uncharted territory for a club who have been among the league’s best for two straight seasons. Only a midweek win in the US Open Cup against St. Louis FC helped brighten the mood, but even that match was a bitter and troubled slog.
Players are judged by what they do on the field, but some players gain in stature through their absence. Meet Ben Speas. The No. 10’s injury precipitated Minnesota’s fall, and now that he’s returned to health, United fans will be hoping he leads the rebirth. A once prolific offense has dried up without the former Columbus Crew homegrown. The strangest things keep happening to Minnesota. Witness repeated crosses to the top of the box, where only one player has made a run to the touchline. Witness every shot or cross attempt getting blocked. Witness long balls over the top repeatedly being easily snuffed out. There’s been a massive hole behind Minnesota’s lead striker, and Speas looks to be the only guy who can fill it properly.
Despite the adverse results, Minnesota players made a show of preaching patience and confidence on Twitter. They’re probably right. This team is too talented to fall apart so easily. But there must be adjustments made, and the midseason break ought to be a busy one. The Loons must have a post-Speas plan of attack. They must figure out how to get Lance Laing involved. They must figure out how to better incorporate Ibson and Stefano Pinho, even if neither starts in most matches. They must sort out some recent defensive errors, especially when it comes to tracking late runners.
Minnesota have the tools to solve these problems. Perhaps this weekend’s match against Miami will spread hope anew. Or else the US Open Cup match hosting Sporting Kansas City. But until we see evidence of a turnaround, the Loons will have to take their lumps.
#7. Carolina RailHawks – (4-2-3, 14 pts) – Down One
Carolina still haven’t recovered the fire that propelled them to their 4-0-0 start to the season. The men in orange had a truly odd week, failing to score in regular time in either their cup match against the Charlotte Independence or their league encounter with the Jacksonville Armada. And yet, in extra time of the cup, the RailHawks absolutely unloaded on their in-state rivals, scoring a ridiculous five goals in the thirty added minutes. They should’ve stopped at four and saved one for later.
Carolina, remarkably, were actually still in the race for the spring season, and had they defeated Jacksonville, they would’ve been able to win it with another win against Indy on the final matchweek. But their draw against the Armada means they are officially eliminated.
I wrote before that the RailHawks had basically one chance to host a playoff game, and it was by winning the spring. It’s no longer much of a bold prediction, given their struggles. But I’ll flip it around and say that I still believe this team could make the playoffs. Their roster is better than most. But they probably do need to make a summer move and secure the services of a target striker. Whether from abroad, or through an MLS loan, someone more physical and more lethal than Brian Shriver could go a long way.
#8. Ottawa Fury – (2-2-5, 8 pts) – No Change
Ottawa fell 1-2 away to Tampa over the weekend, but their real highlight of the Fury’s week was their Wednesday 2-0 win over the Vancouver Whitecaps in the Canadian Championship. The MLS side didn’t take them seriously enough, and Paul Dalglish’s men beat them up. The return leg this coming week will be a challenge, as the Whitecaps will throw everything into the match in BC Place. But with a two goal cushion, and having not conceded at home, the Fury are improbably in the drivers seat.
I spent the first part of this power ranking arguing that a few teams weren’t as good as their records suggested. I want to make the opposite case about the Fury. As much as I’m skeptical about some of their players, Ottawa have made a positive impression in just about every match so far. They come to play ball, not just boot it mindlessly forward. In the long run, I think they will continue to grow and improve, while more one-note teams will struggle. (Perhaps this is an optimistic assumption)
The Fury do have points of concern. Marcel De Jong is a huge influence. If he gets hurt or goes on Canada duty, that means trouble. Romauld Peiser is finally showing his age in net, and it might be time to start thinking about the timing of Operation Marcel DeBellis. The Fury also really don’t have a consistent goal scoring option up front. One good move, however: bolstering the defense by picking up Mallan Roberts on loan from Edmonton.
The Fury’s high water mark for the season could come in the next few days, if they beat Vancouver. While defeating Toronto or Montreal in the final will be another kettle of fish, it would be fantastic for Ottawa to earn another marquee night against MLS opposition, and come as close as any NASL club has to the CONCACAF Champions League.
#9. Rayo OKC – (3-2-4, 11 pts) – No Change
Rayo won their first ever home match with a smash and grab against visiting Minnesota. On the balance of play, the Loons were far more impressive. But when you factor in Rayo’s ludicrously depleted roster (three of their most important players were suspended), it’s hard to regard their achievement as anything short of highly impressive. The Scissortails have work to do over the summer. They have struggled with their first taste of the NASL. Indiscipline has been a big issue. Depth is also a question, this past weekend’s result nonwithstanding. Alen Marcina has started playing defender Ian Svantesson as his central forward. No doubt he sees some promise in the youngster, but it’s hard to think that if there had been a better option available, it never would’ve come to that.
Rayo were one of two NASL teams to go crashing out of the US Open Cup, and they did it in particularly embarrassing fashion. A week after having three players sent off, Rayo managed to get two (including Michel for the second time) sent off in their derby against OKC Energy. It wasn’t a good look.
Rayo will finish the spring away at Ottawa.
#10. Miami FC – (1-4-4, 7 pts) – Up One
Miami’s week wasn’t spectacular. They lost at home in the US Open Cup to the Wilmington Hammerheads, after conceding twice in the opening minutes and failing to convert a late penalty that would’ve equalized. Over the weekend, they notched a home point against Indy, but it could’ve been more.
The teal and tangerine (the Miami commentator keeps calling them the “Obies” for Orange and Blue, and I think that doesn’t get at the essential Miami-ness of their colors) move up in the ranking all the same, because there’s evidence of improvement. With Richie Ryan and Michael Lahoud acquired, the $1 million dollar defensive midfield has improved the team. Whether those two players ought to have combined to cost $1 million is a different matter entirely, but the fact remains that Alessandro Nesta’s squad are better for it.
Miami travel to Minnesota for their final match of the spring. A few weeks back, that would’ve been a blowout, but now it figures to be a much closer affair. However, considering that your correspondent will in Minnesota and at the game, let’s hope for a Miami meltdown anyway.
#11. Jacksonville Armada – (1-3-5, 6 pts) – Down One
One week after prolifically scoring a goal, the Armada returned to their dreadful attacking ways with a 0-0 result in Carolina. In isolation, that’s not a bad result. But given what we know about the Armada, the struggle is real.
At least the Armada scored (twice!) and advanced in the US Open Cup. But what else can be said about this team? Their offense is truly terrible. Their defense is nothing special, and their goalkeeper makes a horrendous error once every three to four games. No team needs offseason moves more than Jacksonville. At least they’ve got $750 thousand to spend!
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Sound off on the penultimate spring rankings in the comments below!
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