NSC Minnesota Stars Pick Up Option on 11 Key Players from 2010 Roster
NSC Stars fans will see Italian forward Simone Bracalello take the field for the Stars again in 2011. Photo by Jeremy Olson - www.digitalgopher.net
IMS has learned the NSC Stars have picked up the option on 11 players from last year’s 2010 Minnesota Stars Roster.
A source who did not want to go on record said the organizational structure of the Stars, who will now be an NASL league-owned team, is still being worked out with the National Sports Center. The source told IMS that a press conference for the Stars has been delayed until after the holidays and will possibly take place the first week in January. They also stated that while details are still being worked out, several principle figures are working hard behind the scenes to secure players for this coming season.
The following players had an option year on their contract that current Stars management have exercised for the 2011 season. Those players are: Forward/midfielder – Ely Allen, midfielder/defender – Kyle Altman, defender – Andres Arango, forward – Simone Bracalello, defender – Chris Clements, forward – Devin Del Do, midfielder – Geison Moura, midfielder – Kentaro Takada, midfielder – Lucas Rodriguez, midfielder – Daniel Wasson, and goalkeeper – Joe Warren.
Other names mentioned that are out of contract but the team is still interested in talking to regarding the 2011 season are: Defender/assistant coach – Kevin Friedland, defender – Scott Lorenz, forward/midfielder – Johnny Menyongar and goalkeeper – Matt VanOekel.
The team did not pick up the option on the following players contracts but IMS was told the Stars management are still interested in discussing roster possibilities for these players for 2011. In other words, the players would need to renegotiate contracts with the Stars. Those players are: Brian Cvilikas, Neil Hlavaty, Brian Kallman, Andre Gotsmanov.
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PLEASED.
Excellent!
It is great to finally hear something. Come on you Stars!
Looks like a nice start. Most of the key players from last year look to have been locked up for this year. Interesting questions still remain, though. If we wish to improve, I think we need to re-sign at least half of the players your source says the club is still interested in. Also a few of last season’s players not mentioned. I’ll post more detail at usldiscussions.com in the next few days.
I’ll second Jim’s comment.
The chemicals in the human body that cause joy are flowing at just the fact I can play the, “who do I start” game. I wonder if this is what a junkie feels like day dreaming about a huge score.
Great to see some official action.
Here is the list of players from last years roster that were not addressed in that article:
Louis Crayton
Thomas Granum
Two Boys Gumede
Vorgan Less
Melvin Tarley
Warren Ukah
Leland Wright
Great news for you Stars fans. Hope to see them competitive in the league again this year.
@BQ – Regarding the ownership situation, I assume the league owning the team is meant to be a temporary measure, and that the club’s pursuit of new investors is an on-going process?
Pleased.
Super pleased that Glassjawmanov isn’t sticking around.
That guy was Dyanchenko in disguise.
@Bruce, we need forwards with a proven track record of putting the ball in the back of the net. While I think they are all great individuals, I am not losing sleep at this point in not seeing the fates of Melvin Tarley and Warren Ukah addressed in the article. I would like to see Cvilikas back on the pitch for the Stars, along with my favorite–Thomas Granum! Scott Lorenz is a must have as well.
We have a strong midfield and Bracadeldo were putting together some nice combinations up top at the end. I
BQ – do you know if Vorgan Less is still around and if he’s recovered from his injury? He was so solid in the pre-season this year before he got hurt. Experienced & composed – would have been so solid in the backline. A real pro.
From my understanding Vorgan has gone back to South Africa.
Strikers Return, yes, you are correct.
This makes Hoppyguy and very Happy Guy indeed! If next season is in fact going to happen, I hope the FO is not only actively perusing new ownership for the 2012 season, but also developing a more successful and creative advertisement/marketing campaign for the 2011 season. It sure would be nice to see over 2000 people cheering on The Stars at the NSC- excluding the USA cup match. I wonder if they could arrange an exhibition match at TCF Field or someplace else more central?
Glassjawmanov = lol
Where did everyone go that had the ragers for Gotsmanov last season?
Still here MichiganMike, I really thought he would have a turnaround season last year but eh I ain’t perfect and have no prob admitting I was wrong.
No worries smatthew. I do hope he comes good at some point. It would be nice to see a local player play well at a high level. The issue is he isn’t getting any younger and the injury problems aren’t going to get any easier with age.
I really hope Menyongar finds a team for next season. I really liked him when he played for the Rhinos as a supersub. He can still do some damage in NASL or USL when used in the right capacity.
I think the Stars are a well-run organization, soccer-wise. Having seen all their home games, they have most of their best players coming back. season. Can hardly wait.
What does the beer line-up look like for next year??
I hope they add Kiltlifter and Lift Bridge
SIGN GRANUM NOW … then he can return from Norway, and begin his cross-training, and play bandy with us for the rest of the off season … DING, DING, DING … great to hear positive news and hope the club reaches out to the fanatico for some commando marketing.
Peace and futbol, my friends.
So if the league is running the Stars, then why didn’t they do it for St. Louis?
Well, Daniel, my best guess is that with St. Louis, they would be entering into a partnership with a very unstable current ownership structure. With Minnesota, the current ownership is a non-profit corporation created by the State of Minnesota.
Both are currently underfunded for the purposes of running a higher level soccer franchise, but the National Sports Center Foundation has complete control of their facilities no matter what happens to the NSC Stars club. They won’t be declaring bankruptcy, or disappearing as an entity. Check out their site:
http://www.nscsports.org/index.htm
They are virtually guaranteed to be there to deal with, no matter what.
The SLSU, owners of AC St. Louis, is a private investment firm relying on a conglomeration of investors for it’s operating funds. It does not have the institutional backing of a state government created non-profit. A couple more financial reverses, and SLSU could potentially disappear altogether.
Organizational stability is the key difference. And that is probably the main reason that the league will be funding the Stars until the NSCF can find other private investors to partner with.
ELECTRICAL BANANA!
BROCADELDO 4EVA!
(I have never written 4EVA in my life and find myself slightly bemused)
If NASL will own the team, does this mean they’ll lose the NSC in the name?
I’m all for that. I have grown tired of explaining what the NSC means literally every time I try to tell someone about this new Minnesota soccer club.
Keep the connection with the North Stand Chat guys, though. Go Stars! Go Seagulls!
I’ve actually wondered the same thing and think that’s a very good question that will be answered in the weeks to come.