The only link worth paying attention to from yesterday is this one:
USL all-time leading goalscorer Dane Kelly to Indy Eleven.
Not everyone may share this opinion, but I thought Indy were perfectly mediocre in their inaugural USL season last year. I thoroughly expected them to continue their mediocrity in 2019, but several of their offseason player acquisitions have made me reconsider that take:
- Ilija Ilic
- GK Evan Newton
- Paddy Barrett
- Macauley King
- Kenney Walker
- Neveal Hackshaw
That’s a strong squad. Whether Martin Rennie can do anything with the parts he’s assembled so far remains to be seen. However, on paper at least, this is a formidable team.
That’s not to say Louisville City should necessarily be worried about Indy (or anyone else) taking their crown. It seems like every year, we (OK, I) become convinced that some other Eastern Conference team could be top. In 2018, it was Tampa and/or Pittsburgh. In 2017, it was Tampa and New York. This year, Indy has loaded up something fierce, to say nothing of the continued Rochesterization of Bob Lilley’s Riverhounds and Gary Smith’s second attempt to make his Nashville team overcome his tactical shortcomings.
If we’ve learned anything from preseason prognostication in the USL, though, it is to sell high on Tampa while you still can. And also to trust that Louisville City will still be in the thick of things come playoff time.
Have a great weekend.
