FC Tampa Bay Prepare for 2012 NASL Season
Last Saturday evening, FC Tampa Bay suffered a somewhat surprising 1-0 loss to eighth-seeded NSC Minnesota that eliminated FC Tampa Bay from the 2011 NASL playoffs. But the Florida club has wasted no time preparing for the 2012 season.
On Tuesday it was announced that FC Tampa Bay exercised contract options to ensure that vital members of their 2011 squad — forward Mike Ambersley, defender Frankie Sanfilippo, midfielder Keith Savage and goalkeeper Jeff Attinella — returned for the 2012 season. Ambersley, Sanfilippo and Savage are veterans of D2 soccer, while rookie Attinella impressed when he was called into starting duty for most of the season following the early-season injury suffered to veteran Daryl Sattler. Attinella recorded five clean sheets in 22 starts.
The three veteran players all had strong seasons for FC Tampa Bay, topped by NASL Best XI selectee Mike Ambersley, who scored 11 goals, 7 assists and led his team in minutes played in 2011. Sanfilippo came to Tampa Bay from the Rochester Rhinos, and started 25 matches on the backline for the club, while Savage made 24 starts and two substitute appearances, scoring four goals.
On Wednesday FC Tampa Bay also announced that they were exercising options for the 2012 season on defender Takuya Yamada and forward Matt Clare. Yamada made 21 starts and was a backline regular down the stretch for Coach Ricky Hill, while Clare scored twice in six matches for the club.
The five players join Tampa Bay defenders Andres Arango and JP Rodrigues along with midfielder Tsuyoshi Yoshitake, who were already signed for next season, giving the team eight players already onboard for 2012. The team is negotiating with forward Aaron King and midfielder Pascal Millien, both now free agents, about the 2012 season. Like Ambersley, Millien earned a spot on the 2011 NASL Best XI.
NASL News
GolTV will begin airing a half hour program entitled “Team NASL” on Friday, October 7th. The program will air at least three individual programs and will also be re-run over the course of the next six weeks. “Team NASL” will feature highlights, interviews and other items of interest to NASL fans.
The Atlanta Silverbacks had a tough season on the field, not coming close to making the playoffs, but were supported well by their fans. On October 19, Atlanta fans will be rewarded with the opportunity to see the legendary Mexican star Cuauhtémoc Blanco and his current club, Irapuato, play in Atlanta in a friendly match with the Silverbacks. Blanco, now 38, is the second leading all-time scorer for the Mexican National Team and became a legend at Club America, the very popular Mexican side based in his hometown of Mexico City. Blanco’s gamesmanship has made him a hero to many, a villain to some, but no one can deny that he is one of the great players and personalities in North American soccer history. Since signing with Liga Ascenso side Irapuato in January, 2010, Blanco has played in 38 matches and has scored eight goals.
“I’m excited to be coming to Atlanta to play the Silverbacks in a couple weeks,” Blanco said via a translator. “I know it’s going to be a great match, and I look forward to meeting all the Atlanta soccer fans.”
Comments are closed.
Ok, I will bite. While FC Tampa begins the announcement of a 2012 season, Traffic executives are abandoning the Traffic ship quicker than an iceberg can puncture the Titanic. This forces the not-so-lucky apprentice to pay homage to the throne in the lower latitude.
NASL has failed to secure that cherished agreement with MLS on a reserve team arrangement, and the league is on the chopping block to anyone that can field a team located in the US, and has money to burn. All bets on having to pay a league fee are off.
Meanwhile, the Chardonnay is chilling along with the Champagne in anticipation of a grape shortage due to the drought in France and California, increasing the case price. One can always sign a player on Monday for a hamburger on Wednesday (or in this case, a hopeful glass of Chardonnay).
All of these signs point to a glowing future for the D2 2012 season and beyond.
I really do not see King as that much of an asset…anywhere.
But will 2012 be Tampa’s last? They have to be bleeding money. They only drew 3,000 this year and have no buzz among the locals. They play on a baseball field in St. Pete. I know soccer fans from the Tampa area who don’t know they even have a team. And when they learn, they don’t care.
I’ll also never understand why any player would give a D2/D3 club an option on your contract. Or worse, sign a long term deal for peanuts with a club that might not even survive. You are not making even decent money to begin with. So why give them control over you? I am not saying any of these players would make a MLS roster, but why sign yourself up to the Titanic?
At least Pascal Millien had the sense to tell Tampa to take their low wages and take a hike. Although he is fooling himself if he thinks big European teams want a Haitian from America’s minor leagues. He might not even make a MLS or a Scandinavian club bench.
@Bart – Are things that bad? Traffic = NASL. Any problems with them and the NASL is dead. I also think it is interesting that David Downs can’t get any working relationship with MLS and Garber, despite repeating in every interview the past year that he wants to work together. It’s almost like MLS wants to steer clear of the NASL and USL.
@ Dave….couldnt you say this about every team in NASL, USL? In fact, couldnt you say this about most MLS teams? Actually, couldnt you say this about most sports team in America right now? Look at The NFL, The NBA, The NHL several years ago…all are bleeding money to some degree. Shoot….look at the EPL! How many of those teams are having difficulty? FCTB/NASL are a minor league sports entity in a recessed economy. Im sure the owners in Tampa (very wealthy and business savvy individuals) arent expecting ‘Fortune 500′ numbers from The Rowdies. Everything Im seeing as a season ticket holder from my team/league is pointing towards growth and positivity (I have to come to IMS to get my fill of negativity) In the end…I would wager that The Rowdies suit up in 2013 (sorry, Bart!)
@ Bart….If I had a list of all the negative predictions youve made in the last 18 months about NASL and its teams, it could be considered a historic losing streak! Ive come to recognize your posts as a detailed list of what WONT happen in lower division US soccer. Someone once told me that you are ‘in the know’, but Im yet to see one thing youve said pan out. Posting on a soccer blog can certainly make one feel like they are ‘in the know’, but there arent any gaurantees apparently.
@ Grant Stephens
Actually, I have not had a losing streak. If you check out Jeff DiVeronica’s Rochester blogs, you willl find that Rob Clark said this year was the most successful, financially. It appears that the USL formula that they are spouting is working. Rawlins of Orlando is claiming the same thing.
I have no ego to want to be, “in the know”. It is not important to me. What is important is what is going on without the spin.
@Dave
The next 6 weeks are critical to the survival of NASL. Traffic Brazil is now focused on this losing money maker, and Davidson has real heat on him.
@ Bart…I guess I should say ‘on all things NASL’ you have a terrible record. While I dont have any ill will toward USL Pro, its not in my market and so Im not ‘fact checking’ their media. You might be the ultimate soothsayer when it comes to USL (which, in the end, is impressive considering the teams playing musical chairs with cities and folding at the drop of a hat!) If you can keep up with that circus, good on you!
Sorry if I just view your posts as a forecast from some hapless local weatherman who threatens ‘Dont go outside, Its gonna be a soaker tomorrow!’ Only to find the sun shining away instead. Honestly, since you follow Rochester soccer media…you should team with Soccer Sam and have the ultimate ‘Soccer Misinformation Blog’ or something. Between his unfounded rumors and your chronic mis-diagnosis of NASL, you guys could really dream up some crazy scenarios for lower division soccer that dont/wont pan out. Think ‘National Inquirer’ or ‘The Onion’ of Minor League Soccer (you can use that!)
@ Dave…Bart told us that there wouldnt be a 2011 season because it would NEVER get sanctioned. In the end, I thoroughly enjoyed the 16 games I attended as part of the ‘lost’ 2011 season! Sanctioning for 2012, you ask? My guess is ‘yes!’ Dont be fooled by what you read on these comment sections…there is a ton of ‘prediction’ and a dash of ‘fact’, and in Bart’s case, one rarely becomes the other.