NASL Team Previews: Atlanta Silverbacks

In what seemed like merely a matter of moments following the lights being turned out at Silverbacks Park after Atlanta's loss in the Soccer Bowl, the winds of change began blowing, and indeed with some force. Brian Haynes was not retained as manager, Eric Wynalda took the reins from his position as the club's technical director, and several players central to the Silverbacks' 2013 Spring Season triumph departed for pastures new.

From the outside looking in, this would appear to be something of a transitional season with lowered expectations. However, with the club making some shrewd moves in the player market during the offseason, one could understand why Silverbacks fans would be approaching 2014 with something of a quiet optimism.

Goalkeepers
The loss of Joe Nasco, who garnered NASL Best XI honors last season before heading west to Colorado, is certainly a big one. Yet, despite losing the leadership of a goalkeeper who had a penchant for making saves he seemingly had no business making, the Silverbacks still appear to be in decent shape here.

El Salvador international Derby Carillo was brought in to address the departure of Nasco, and he has performed quite well in Atlanta's preseason. Eric Ati, Nasco's understudy the last couple of seasons, also returns, and we shouldn't forget that he kept a few clean sheets in the handful of games he played last season.

All told, even with Nasco gone to ply his trade in MLS, goalkeeping shouldn't be a problem for the Silverbacks in 2014.

Defenders
Club captain and NASL Best XI selection Martyn Lancaster departed the club, leaving another hole to fill in the back. Willie Hunt, replete with the versatility to play quite literally anywhere in the back, has found a new home in Tampa Bay. Thankfully for Atlanta, center back Beto Navarro returns for what should be a breakthrough season for him, and the ever-steady Mike Randolph is still around to provide leadership and moxy at left back.

The candidates to partner Navarro at the heart of Atlanta's back line are numerous, and all have been given their chances to earn a starting spot over the course of the last month. Bobby Reiss returns for a second season, and he'll be looking to build upon some of the solid performances he had last spring before injuries abbreviated his fall season. Abdul Bangura has arrived from Härnösands FF in Sweden and certainly looks like he could be a strong defender at this level. New man Edgar Espinoza appears to be a good prospect, though he is still acclimating to this level, and former Silverbacks reserve player Rama Canovas also provides an experienced option for Eric Wynalda.

The right back spot still appears to be up for grabs, as the likes of new addition Mitch Garcia and the aforementioned Edgar Espinoza have seen some time there in recent friendlies. 

Midfielders
It is hard to believe that three very instrumental midfielders are gone from last year's silverware winning side, but that is the reality facing Atlanta. The creative Danny Barerra has gone west to San Antonio, as has Richard Menjivar after he went on trial with Portland, and Milton Blanco is now with Edmonton. Such attrition would normally devastate many teams.

As it is, this is another department that the Silverbacks have addressed well enough, even as the likes of Barerra and Menjivar are rather hard to replace like-for-like. Blair Gavin comes in after spending time with Chivas USA and Seattle, former Toronto FC player Junior Burgos has arrived as well, and Junior Sandoval returns for a second tour of duty at Silverbacks Park. Burgos and Sandoval have especially looked instrumental at times this preseason.

Perhaps the greatest impact on the midfield situation will come from Atlanta veterans who had their seasons blighted by injuries to various degrees last years: Lucas Paulini, Borfor Carr, and Pablo Cruz. Paulini, who looked so promising as a creative influence in 2012, was absent for much of 2013 and only returned to full health towards the tail end of the Fall Season. Carr was fantastic in the spring, and his pace was surely missed as Atlanta slumped in advance of last season's Soccer Bowl. Cruz, whether on the right or central, showed himself to be skillful, technically sound, and quite nuanced on free kicks before he, like Carr, saw his year cut short.

Cal FC alum Jesus Gonzalez, who was a Fall Season signing last year, looks to have acclimated to life in Atlanta quite well in the preseason and may very challenge to be the club's starting defensive midfielder once the dust settles.

Strikers
As if to keep the theme of transition alive and well, both Ruben Luna and Pedro Mendes left after last season, with the latter going to NASL new boys Indy Eleven. Both took a lot of goals with them, but indications are that Atlanta will still be lively up front.

In what could prove to be a bit of a coup for Atlanta, Deon McCaulay joined on the heels of a fantastic World Cup qualifying campaign in which he tallied eleven times for Belize. He has lived up to the billing in the Silverbacks' friendlies, looking quick, incisive and displaying a perpetual eye for goal. 

McCaulay's striker partner looks set to be Kwadwo Poku, who was brought on from amateur side Georgia Revolution. While Poku is still developing, he, like McCaulay, has deserved his share of accolades thus far. Poku has looked every bit of the part of a quintessential target striker, and he's offered glimpses of having an eye for setting up his running mates as well.

Additionally, David Estrada has only just joined on loan from Seattle. Estrada showed tons of potential two years ago (as seen by his hat-trick), but, rather understandably, found his minutes hard to come by with the likes of Eddie Johnson, Obafemi Martins and Clint Dempsey in the fold.

It certainly looks like the McCaulay/Poku strike pairing will be the first choice for Eric Wynalda when the season begins. While both are playing in a league that is stronger than those they have encountered in the past, don't be surprised if this partnership, which so embodies the big man/little man concept, ends up being one of the most dangerous in the league.

Verdict
Yes, this is a team that has had more turnover, top to bottom, than one would normally expect from a trophy-winning side, and yes, they haven't spent the same amount of money that the likes of San Antonio, Tampa Bay, Indy and others have spent this offseason. With these two facts in mind, many around the league might pick Atlanta to struggle near the foot of the table.

On the contrary, I think Atlanta can easily finish mid-table, though that may not be their ceiling. With the NASL postseason expanding to four teams this season, the chance that Atlanta may be in the running for honors is there.