2006 LOVELAND FC PREVIEW
– by Franc Le Mongello
Welcome back to hub of the best that indoor soccer has to offer – Loveland FC Indoor – the best players, the best stories and the best scandals this side of RAW. Let’s take a look back at last year’s season, how it will effect this new year, and expectations for 2006.
The League
Last year Team USA won the final match 7 – 4 over the best of Europe, Team Bosnia. During the year, the USA had established itself as the team to beat, winning all but their first match and pushing aside Team Bosnia twice. Yet this reporter wonders, with the other three teams being European based also (England, Scotland, Ireland) if the “fix” wasn’t in from the start since all league matches were held in America. Crossing the pond on a weekly basis for the other four teams and adjusting to jet lag had to be very difficult.
Last years USA team included Ola Adebaowale, Javier Ayala, Fausto Cambizaca, Javier Cordero, Marco DeLaTorre, Jose Luis Esparza, Andy Hessel (The Golden Ball Winner), Josh Jaggers, Gene Kholodenko, Adam Lux, Jason Stevens, Darren Turner and Tom Walthall. So, where are they now for 2006?
The core of the team has returned including Marco DeLaTorre, Jose Luis Esparza, Andy Hessel, Adam Lux and Josh Jaggers, but with a new name, Collette Masonry. This season, along with a new expansion franchise to create a sixth team, team names have been changed to reflect the sponsors which critics see as an obvious “sell out” by the league to big corporate money. If the “fix” was in for America last year, who knows what kinds of corruption will occur now that big corporate money is involved. Lost from last years team was keeper Jason Stevens, who was not protected in the expansion draft, and now plays for BNT Construction. According to the league, Mr. Stevens’ unprotected status was due to a clerical error in the main office but this reporter is not unconvinced that the Russian mafia may have had some influence.
So where are Adebaowale, Ayala, Cambizaca, Codero, Kholodenko, Turner and Walthall? Adebaowale, Cambizaca, Kholodenko, Turner and Walthall all sign very lucrative overseas contracts with early, but unfound rumors, of a league work stoppage strike this season. Ayala and Codero both left Team USA as free agents with Ayala joining Cougar Photography and Codero joining Mid-America. Cordero is speaking to the press, but a statement released by his agent insists that no hard feelings exist and they were clear that “Javier looks better in blue”.
The Players
Who are the players that will make a difference this year? We will take a look at the difference makers by position.
Forwards – The first name has to be Andy Hessel, last years Golden Ball winner, who will alone make Collette a favorite for the title. A close second would have been last year’s runner-up, Luigi Feola, but he has sign a mega-contract with his home countries reserve team, AC Milan –Geneva, and will be plying his trade in Switzerland this year. Also lost to the European leagues was mister goal, Patrick Ciccia.
Midfielders – Last year’s leading scorer from the midfield, and third overall points leader, was Josh Dorsey and he returns this year to lead team Mid-American. Close behind Dorsey last year, was Midfielder Adam Lux, 4th in total points and once again partnered with Andy Hessel. Also for consideration is Steve Varga who finished 6th overall last year in points despite his team ending in relegation.
Defenders – The competition should be tight here with Arseni Radomyselski, Dave Satterwhite and newcomer Craig Rhodis battling for top honors. Although both were listed officially as defenders last year, Satterwhite finished 5th in total points while Radomyselski racked up enough to finish 10th overall. Rhodis brings an impressive resume to the table from his play with several minor league teams in both the MISL and AISL – the question remains if he will be able to raise his game to the next level and be able to compete week in an week out in the spotlight of big time Loveland FC indoor.
Keepers – Returning starts Phil Fraessler, Jason Stevens and Tim Brannigan all will be striving for top honors this season. Only Fraessler came away with a shutout last year and that was in the first game. Can any of theseyears’ six keepers match that feat? Adapting to and taking advantage of the smaller goals should be key in this years’keeper success.
The Schedule
A close look at the schedule raises some interesting questions. Collette Masonry plays all 8 pm games while Five Seasons plays all 9:40 games, EXCEPT when they meet each other at 8:50 in weeks 5 and 10. This just can point to one conclusion – BAD BLOOD between these teams left over from union negotiations of uniform colors! Please, for the sake of the children, leave them at home weeks 5 and 10.
The Field
The 2005 season was played with seven players on the full size field which is 198’ by 93’ (18,414 sq ft) with 8’ high and 14’ wide goals (112 sq ft). The 2006 season will be played on a shorter field of 117’ by 93’ (10,811 sq ft) by six players with 7’ high and 12’ wide goals (84 sq ft). What will this mean for the game itself? Now, that question is anyone’s guess. With a shorter field, one would think there would be more end-to-end action with more shots from any location. Does one fewer person mean more room? Last year 14 people “shared” 18,414 sq ft, or 1,315 sq ft per person. This year 12 people will cover 10,811 sq ft, or 901 sq ft per person which is a 31% reduction of space to cover per person. And what about 25% less goal area in which to score, 84 sq ft down from last years 112 sq ft? Will these factors favor the goal scores or the defenders marking them? One thing is for certain, with less room in the midfield, first touch and precise passing will be at a premium. This reporter asks, will anyone notice? How many will care? Who is still reading this?