With the dawn of a new era of soccer on the horizon in Indianapolis, the atmosphere in town is so full of electricity that one can absolutely feel it. Predictably, club president Peter Wilt has worked yet more magic in cultivating such a rabid fanbase before the club has even played a league match, and owner Ersal Ozdemir has every reason to believe that the future is bright indeed for his fledgling NASL side.
When the season commences Saturday, Indy fans will be taken from the excitement of having a local side to support to the realities of actually seeing this year's squad in action, thus learning if they have the wherewithal to compete from the outset in a tightly-packed and highly-competitive league. Yes, manager Juergen Sommer's side has captured some remarkable, if not surprising signings, but will this be enough to put them at the right end of the table?
Goalkeepers
With Sommer's own pedigree as a goalkeeper, it should have come as no surprise to us that the first player to join his side would be a goalkeeper as well, and a quality one at that. Kristian Nicht, freshly off of a couple of years at Rochester and blessed with his years of experience across divisions in his native Germany, will save his fair share of shots and provide a steadying force for a team that may need some time to find its feet.
The experience drops off significantly behind Nicht, as Nathan Sprenkel and Jon Dawson will serve as his pupils. With these two still developing at this level, Indy's fortunes could change dramatically should Nicht fall to injury.
Defenders
Indy has a little bit of everything here in terms of experience, so accordingly some guys are going to have to earn their NASL stripes quickly to help the cause.
The signing of Honduran international Erick Norales was fantastic, and as a player who has always looked strong in the challenge, he is probably already one of the top two or three center backs in the league. Guadalajara youth product Jaime Frias looks set to start alongside Norales, and while he seems to be a promising prospect, we only have a four game sample size (while on loan to Chivas USA last year) to look at in examining his capabilities at this level.
Baba Omosegbon and Andrew Stone will serve as cover for Norales and Frias, but one has to be concerned about their lack of professional experience. Stone especially looks the part of being that quintessential imposing center back, but both will have to transition quickly from the college game.
Both starting fullbacks, Chris Estridge and Kyle Hyland, have spent time on MLS rosters (Real Salt Lake and Columbus respectively), and Estridge started some games last season for Rochester. Again, both look promising, but seasoned veterans they are not. Chris Wey is the reserve fullback, but likewise, he has little experience outside of college and was out of the game completely last year. With Wey departing his career as a teacher in order to pursue his dream of playing professionally, one can't help but to pull for him.
Midfielders
Without question, Indy has done well for themselves in this department. Their was a collective shock in the US Soccer scene when Indy recently signed former Brazilian international Kleberson, and even though his spell with Philadelphia last season didn't go well, there's no reason to think that he won't give Indy something that just about every NASL team would be envious of. Sure, he'll be 35 in a couple of months, but as this preseason has shown, Kleberson can still hit a dangerous free kick and will certainly make his mark in commanding the heart of their midfield. Brad Ring will start with Kleberson, and as a player who was always a very serviceable defensive midfielder in MLS, he'll do fine as well.
Don Smart and Walter Ramirez will be starting on the right and the left for Indy. Smart is a bit of an unknown quantity in the league, and the NASL represents the highest level he has played at, but he seems to have acclimated decently in Indy's friendlies. Walter Ramirez is certainly familiar to NASL fans after his time in San Antonio, but he can sometimes be a mixed bag. He can be absolutely dynamic and lightning-quick on his day, but he can also try to dribble one too many players at times and forget to play the proper pass.
Southampton youth product Corby Moore could make his mark as an attacking midfielder off the bench, but again, we'll have to see exactly what he has to offer at this level. Indian graduate A.J. Corrado will also look to make his mark in a similar capacity.
Strikers
Sommer and Wilt did a good job in this department, so Indy fans have every reason to believe that Indy will score some goals this season.
Pedro Mendes, who was with Atlanta the last two seasons, has the ability to score breathtaking goals from almost anywhere. Indy fans will be even more encouraged by what his season has in store thanks to how he has looked in the preseason. Mike Ambersley is also in town to provide NASL experience and, hopefully for Indy fans, a return to the form he showed with Tampa Bay a couple of years ago. After last season was so blighted by injuries and a mid-season move to Minnesota that didn't work out, Ambersley will have a point to prove.
The loan move for US U-20 international Ben Spencer from Molde also has Indy fans excited, and for good reason. At 6'5", Spencer is an inviting target forward, and accordingly it will be interesting to see if he ends up being a routine starter should Sommer opt for a more direct approach.
Verdict
Some have picked Indy Eleven to prop up the rest of the table, but I don't think they'll have to endure such a fate in their inaugural season. They have enough dangerous players to make a mark and win some games as the year progresses.
However, I do think that mid-table is their ceiling unless they address some of their depth and inexperience issues as the season goes on. The dichotomy between untried youth and grizzled veterans on the roster is interesting, but it will be the former that keeps Indy from being a contender at the first time of asking.
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