My bold Minnesota Stars FC player prediction for 2012:

Less than 8-10 players from the 2011 team will be back on the Minnesota Stars FC line-up in 2012. Of those, only a few returning will have been born before 1986.

Work hard in the off season to keep in shape guys, and find that plan B while you still can.

Strange yes, but it may just be true!

Nobody from the 2011 Fantasy Camp players will be offered a contract by Djorn. Things are going great for me in Jamaica and I have had loan offers from Wolverhampton and Liverpool. I am holding out for a transfer into the Norweigen first division.

I have a feeling the new combine down in Arizona in February will find some new players that will be very good at playing a stronger defending and even better possession based style of play.








"doin it for the kids"

"Jump on board"

mmmmmmmm....looking into the future i predict this combine will find us some kids who are fast as hell on the wings. stronger defenders, maybe, but i dont see that as the purpose of raiding the american southwest of their youth.

Who wants to road trip down to Arizona. My parents have a great place we can crash at in Phoenix. Let me know.

USL Pro uses the youth
NASL turns them into real men

http://www.insidemnsoccer.com/2012/01/17...ch-of-the-year/

Minnesota Stars FC Coach Manny Lagos Named Field Turf 2011 NASL Coach of the Year

2012 JANUARY 17

The FieldTurf Coach of the Year Awards recognize a coach’s dedication and hard work both on and off the field. The coaches that have been and will be selected for this award all exemplify outstanding leadership skills and enjoy well-deserved success.

Yep

http://nasl.com/index.php?id=3&newsid=1640

Minnesota Stars FC is following its first-ever combine for local players with its first-ever out of state tryout. The club announced Thursday that it would hold a combine March 2-4 at Grande Sports World in Casa Grande, Ari

"To apply, players must submit their résumé or CV to Freddy Juarez"

Well now that is a familar name.

I wonder how many, if any, of the players set to return will be traveling down for the combine. Let’s say there is some overlap with this combine and MLS preseason training down there, could maybe our guys and those combine players we are really interested in play a scrimmage or two against the MLS sides?

Time to head over to IMS and refresh myself on last years articles BQ did on Grande Sports.

A list of young players on trial with DC United

Carl Goody – GK
Also listed at 6-4, Goody compiled 11 shutouts, a goals-against average of 0.79 and a record of 15-3-3 during his senior season at William Carey University (Mississippi). For his efforts, the Englishman was named a NSCAA NAIA 1st Team All American following his final collegiate season.

Will Swaim – GK
The University of Maryland’s first-choice goalkeeper in 2011, Swaim registered five shutouts, a goals-against average of 1.02 and a record of 12-3-2. The 23-year old is originally from Ellicott City, Maryland and stands at 6-2.

Yoni Berhanu – F
Born in Washington, DC and raised in Potomac, MD, Berhanu attended George Washington University. The 21-year old was named the 2011 Atlantic 10 Midfielder of the Year after leading the conference with ten goals during his senior season.

Matt Oduran – F
A former D.C. United Academy player, Oduran spent four seasons at the University of Maryland. The 21-year old made 63 appearances during his time in College Park.

Levi Houapeu – F
A native of the Ivory Coast, Houapeu was drafted by the Philadelphia Union 41st overall in the 2011 MLS SuperDraft. The 22-year old did not make a first team appearance, but saw time in three reserve matches. A product of the University of Maryland Baltimore County, the 23-year old played on D.C. United’s Super-20 team in 2009.

Seth C’deBaca - M
A Georgetown University product, C’deBaca trained throughout much of 2011 with D.C. United’s first team and was also a member of the U-23 team overseen by Jaime Moreno.

Ryan Richter – M
The 22-year old Richter was drafted by the Union in the 2011 MLS Supplemental Draft (fifth overall), but did not see time in any first team matches. A product of La Salle University, he tallied 14 goals during his senior season in 2010 and was named the A-10 Offensive Player of the Year.

jw7, why do we care about any 'players on trial with DC United'? I missed the connection. Do you predict one or more of these players to be MN Stars in 2012?

Last year MLS took a bunch of players for their expanded rosters with the reserve teams coming back. This year there are a bunch of very good players who have not found a good home yet after a year of training with the D1 teams.

The top division 2 team should be looking at the second best group of players who will not be on the MLS playing field in 2012. Many of those players have not played many full league games in a starting 11 during 2011 and may be looking to get back into a starting 11 full league position where they can again show what they have in real games at the division 2 level.

There are a lot of good players looking for a good home right now. Every MLS team has too many... That is where the top D2 teams should be looking right now.

If we don't find them the other D2 NASL teams will. This is not a year to sit back and see who knocks on your door in March.

Explore everywhere and find the best.

JW7 or anyone else,
What is the date when MLS must have their rosters set for the upcoming season?

Well it looks like agbossoumonde will be playing for Carolina...
http://www.soccerbyives.net/soccer_by_ives/2012/01/agbossoumonde-passes-on-mls-move.html

Every NASL team should be able to find 1-2 good players with recent MLS playing experience, and also a few young undiscovered players that are late bloomers this spring.

http://nasl.com/index.php?id=3&newsid=1659

Cary, N.C. – The Carolina RailHawks have announced the signing of Hermann Trophy winner and MLS Champion Jason Garey.

“Carolina is a great organization that has been very successful on the field and it is a great opportunity to be a part of the continued success,” said (Jason) Garey.

“I am ready to get back to the field and compete for an NASL Championship.”

NASL 2011 Roster Breakdown (where the players came from)

California 17
Washington 5
Arizona 4
Oregon 3
Colorado 3
-32 from six states

Florida 14
George 8
Texas 5
Alabama 2
-29 from four states

Virginia 4
New York 4
Maryland/DC 3
North Carolina 2
Pennsylvania 2
-15 from five states

jw7...

Context, please?



Thanks.

That little old jersey collector

Me

Last time Brighton and Manchester United met they drew two-all, and two of these were Manchester United's. - David Coleman, BBC Sports

every time i see a former mls player not live up to their potential, it makes me real glad they are on the opposing team.

seriously, name ONE former mls player playing in nasl who impressed you when you saw them.

id rather have a squad of players hungry to make it to mls for the first time working together than one mls reject with an air of superiority over the rest of their teammates (mike palacio anyone?).

Times are a changing Jim.

If you look at other countries and their leagues many times the top D2 league players are ones that were once D1 players. The same thing will happen here soon.

Finding those new unpolished gems in a country with 300,000,000 people is not easy, and is very risky for D2 teams with small budgets.

Ely Allen

Danny Wasson

okay fine. but most everyone else seems to be a prick.

Kevin Friedland

I think it has more to due with clubhouse culture that being a prick. The Stars are far more fan oriented and closer to the people than most clubs. I also think they do a better job keeping the attitudes in check. Watch a Stars training session or two and tou will see it. They just do a better job keeping those players on short leashes.

MELVIN TARLEY AND ROD DYANCHENKO, jerk.



I have no clue what the hell this list is trying to point out. Regions?

I heard some Interesting banter the other day. It is cool knowing some stuff, but I think it really means I hang out at the NSC too much.

so what is it? or do we not get to know?

I hate it when people say stuff like this.

Other teams like Carolina, Tampa Bay, and Atlanta are finding some very good new players. This league may not be the same next year. Lets hope we keep up with the teams that have owners that can (and are) making strategic decisions to have a better team in 2012.

I don't know; maybe its that I buy the Uhclem/BQ theory, but I think the fact that the club has already exercised the right to so many players from last year is a good sign that our FO has made some wise strategic decisions so far this offseason.

I am "unfriending" Luke M. on Facebook. Yeah, the guy brought energy to the Stars and will be missed, but I think there is a big reason why no team in the MLS or in England (even the lower divisions) will sign him.

This sucks!

They are required by the league to list the players they want to protect. How is that strategic? Just about every team did it.

Sure all clubs had to do it but I think the number of players Nessie protected and hope to have return is very strategic.

Lets hope that works well, again.

I would like to see a more proactive new player scouting system than just a few combines for a league that calls itself D2 in a country the size of america.

last year that group was good at times, and at times they were very disappointing. Are they improving as a group right now in the off season, or are they the same group with the rest of the league moving forward like it has in the past few years?

I think that is the question for 2012.

Move forward, or get out of the way, our train should be always rollin forward. Not just parked at the station waiting for people to get on board.

and that reason would be....?

The MLS is changing, where will the players on the "out" go?

http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/20...ule=from_footer

A few weeks ago, a reader sent me an e-mail that basically boiled down to one thing: Why are we seeing such an (MLS) influx of foreign talent this offseason?

It’s a question that’s been on the mind of a lot of folks, and deserves an answer...

But the biggest indicator is what’s happened with Markus Holgersson, or Kris Boyd, or Hamdi Salihi. These are guys on the right side of 30 who are, to one degree or another, in their national team pool and are hoping to stay there.

And this year, their choice is MLS. It would not have been in 2006.

2011-12 Offseason Transactions
http://www.mlssoccer.com/offseason-transactions/2011-12

The NASL is also changing as far as where the teams find their players. We have seen many players coming from better teams to play in the NASL this season. Why because the NASL is a good place to be seen by the up and coming MLS league scouts.

As the one league grows into the international spotlight, so does the next group of players and their league...

The NASL might just be a great place to now invest a little money for the future...

http://www.insidemnsoccer.com/2012/02/06...ers/#more-31022

Tim Robbie, Fort Lauderdale Strikers
"We’ve also recently announced the signings of Andy Herron from Costa Rica who we are very excited about. He’s played in the U.S. before in MLS and he’s a goal scorer with experience. We think he’s going to add a lot up top".

"We’ve also signed Alfonso Motagalvan, a midfielder who’s ad some MLS experience and played at Cal Berkley and did very well and has had a good career for a young guy. And we are going to have some other players we are bringing in. We expect to have a couple of players on loan from MLS clubs and we are working on getting another player on loan from a Mexican team".

"Luiz Muzzi and Fernando Clavijo are now full time Traffic employees. There job is to locate player talent for Traffic. So any of the Traffic clubs can utilize them in the same fashion. I think anyone, whether a Traffic club or a non-Traffic club could use the services of Muzzi and Clavijo".

This kind of makes me angry. The Stats win it all and are still treated like the bastards of the league. We get no respect.

http://mnstarsfc.com/2012/03/buro-and-ibarra-sign-for-stars/

"Embrace the reality" -Manny Lagos
(18) = 3, -4
+3

http://mnstarsfc.com/2012/03/joe-warren-retires/

http://mnstarsfc.com/2012/03/stars-re-sign-friedland-wasson-and-takada/

http://mnstarsfc.com/2012/03/winger-mart...r-jack-stewart/

http://mnstarsfc.com/2012/03/brian-cvilikas-announces-retirement/

Manny looks a bit nervous this March.

[video:youtube]Rolling Stones Time is on my side

Time to get the NASL Championship Team back working together on the field before this "preseason" is over. We have important work to complete in the next few weeks.





I want my favorite players from last year signed and back on the field ASAP.

The Stars announced 2 new player signed and 1 not returning:

-Bosnian defender Edi Buro from NK Travnik.
Grew up in Brooklyn Park MN and played college soccer for Hamline in St Paul.

-Attacking midfielder Miguel Ibarra.
All-American at UC Irvine was picked by Portland Timbers in Supplemental Draft but not signed.

-Midfielder Ely Allen will not be back this season.

Yep, not thrilled at the trade of players so far this season. Our starting GK gone. One of our top goal scoring forwards, who could also play as the lone player in the 451 system gone. One good solid mid player who had MLS experience with LA Galaxy gone.

And so far we have received in exchange one smaller NASL forward from the team we beat to win the final, and the others are kinda newbies to pro soccer in general...

JW7, please be patient. I share an agent with Peyton Manning. Once he inks his deal with the Broncos he promised to call back Djorn. I am busy getting into match shape. I scored a couple goals on Saturday playing some U8s in the CNS indoor league. 442, 433, 451...just pass me the ball and I will score.

"I'd like to clarify something - I am a Yorkshireman and I am quite broad and if I say something it can be taken out of a little bit of context.

"I was asked about the heritage of the game, I would never want to offend FIFA or UEFA.

"I used a word which was, looking back, probably inappropriate but it is the way I am.

"I just want to say I apologise, it was a comment that probably another person would not have made but I am a little bit broad and I accept that."
-Sir David Richards EPL Chairman

"Any suggestions he had a drink is nonsense. It's a dry place (in Qatar)."

Or...

We've signed a player who's proven he can perform well at this level (Nunez), A player with Bosnia-Herzegovinian First Division experience (Buro), an NCAA Division 1 All American (Ibarra) and now, A current Canadian U-23 (Janssen).

No fan likes to lose old faves. All the above losses were valued contributors to the club. Joe had a great run at GK, Cvilikas contributed some timely goals and who knows how much more Ely could have contributed if not injured for most of the season.

However, none of those players are irreplaceable. We are very well stocked in the midfield. Cosgriff and Walker have shown promise at "target" forward. We have experience (Van Oekel) and potential (Janssen) at keeper.

Both Warren and Cvilikas decided to retire. Not alot we could do about that. If you have any current free agents you can recommend to replace them, I'm sure Manny and Djorn would give you a listen.

At this time of the year, the worriers always appear. Every preseason loss, whether on the pitch or in the roster, is a sign of coming disaster.

At this level of soccer, significant turnover is the norm. If a quality team can retain even half of their roster, they start the season with a leg up on the rest of the league. With 17 holdovers out of the 31 on roster over the course of last season, I think we'll be in pretty good shape.

"I think I'll reserve my concerns for when something actually goes wrong," decides

That little old jersey collector

Me

"Football's about 90 minutes on the day; it's about tomorrows really." - Glenn Hoddle, former Tottenham Midfielder

I am not big into following all the deadlines for trimming rosters. Is this something that has already taken place at the MLS level, or do they get to wait a few weeks and see how players do before the MLS teams are required to trim rosters.

Uhclem, you do make some good points. Manny seems to pull his magic wand out of thin air and make things happen. My motto for this season is "In Manny I Trust!"

PS: Janssen is a stud. I know I got on his bandwagon early. Rumor has it that Superman retired his Joe Warren underwear and may be wearing Janssen's underwear. I have not been inside the Stars locker room so I cannot comment any further.

1. Davis 88 -2380 minutes played 2011
2. Dias 86 -2013 minutes played 2011
3. Hlavaty 86 -2251 minutes played 2011
4. Takada 83 -1419 minutes played 2011
5. Kallman 84 -1305 minutes played 2011
6. Altman 86 -2910 minutes played 2011
7. Bracalello 85 -1439 minutes played 2011
8. Del Do 86 -1344 minutes played 2011
9. Walker 89 -440 minutes played 2011
10.Rodriguez 86 -1881 minutes played 2011


1. Friedland Def -Assistant Coach 81 -14 minutes played 2011
2. Wasson Mid -(Inj )84
3. VanOekel GK 86
4. Lorei Mid 89, Real Maryland -70 minutes played 2011
5. Mauro Def 91, AS Pro Belvedere

1. Buro -Def 87, NK Tarvnik
2. Chin -Mid 89, FC Edmonton
3. Hildelbrandt -GK 88, Oakland U
4. Ibarra* -Def/Mid 90, Universidad Catolica
5. Ibrahim -For 91, Toronto FC
6. Nunez -For 87, FL Strikers
7. Sassano -Def 87, U of California
8. Torbin -Def 87, Rochester Rhinos
9. Venegas -Mid 89, Cal State Fullerton

1 Player from overseas/MN
4 players from college/California
1 player from D3
2 players from D2
1 player from D1



*Started in his first game for MN Stars FC at Left Mid and won the first MN Man of the Match award for 2012.

The 2012 starting 11 for the Minnesota Stars FC looked better in their first game of the season than any first game in D2 I have ever seen. The league has improved its level of play and coaching again this year.

-16 players from the NASL D2 league moved up to D1 this year, one has scored the game winning goal for his team, another is a starting defender for his team. Many more players got a chance to try out with MLS teams = another very good sign for D2 and what it expects to accomplish.

-1 coach has also moved up to the MLS. 1 new NASL coach has D1 and youth National Team experience.

-5 owners have made the move from D2 up to D1 over the past years.

Average attendance was also up to start the season league wide in both the NASL D2 and also in MLS D1.

Things are looking good for pro soccer in america.

Where did you get those numbers?

didnt they though? seriously sharp.

Which numbers?

Most are from the NASL site
Some are from IMS