Month: June 2018

Greenville FC hosts New Orleans tonight

By Scott Adamson
Adamsonmedia.com

Greenville FC has earned a share of the spoils in its last three matches at Eugene Stone Stadium.

Tonight would be an opportune time to take all three points in the friendly confines.

With just two home matches left and four remaining in its National Premier Soccer League schedule, GVLFC faces the New Orleans Jesters (5-2-3) at 7 p.m. in a crucial showdown. Lee Squires’ club is currently seventh in the standings at 3-3-4, and sitting three points out of sixth place.

The top six teams in the Southeast Conference Division of the NPSL South Region make the playoffs.

“We are in no position to talk about playoffs,” Squires said earlier today. “We know we control our own destiny still, and that there is so much left to play for, but it’s one game at time starting with New Orleans, and trying to earn three points.”

Greenville is coming off a 1-0 road victory over Asheville SC last Saturday, a clash that served as the first leg of the inaugural “Carolina Clasico.”

Not only did French forward Ismael Noumansana come off the bench to notch the game-winner in the 76th minute, goalkeeper Austin Mullins got the clean sheet – the team’s first shutout of the season.

“That first clean sheet is definitely welcoming,” Squires said. “We made a change in goal with Austin Mullins coming in, and while Austin played well, any clean sheet is a collective effort.”

Winning a rivalry game in a hostile environment was the headline from Saturday, however.

“The Asheville game is one our players, fans, and coaches will remember for a while,” Squires said. “The atmosphere was unbelievable and added to the occasion. Our boys fought hard for 90-plus minutes to earn the points, which we needed.”

With the schedule winding down so is the energy level of the players, who are forced to grind through the last part of the regular season in oppressive heat.

“Our training time has gone down as a result of all the games;  we’re literally in a cycle of Sunday and Monday off, Tuesday preparation, Wednesday game, Thursday off, Friday preparation, Saturday game, and on repeat for the rest of the season.”

Tonight the cycle shifts to game mode against the Jesters, a squad Greenville topped 2-1 in The Big Easy on May 19 for the first victory in franchise history. Nola, coached by Kenny Farrell, is currently one point off the top of the table following Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Inter Nashville FC.

Chattanooga FC (5-3-2) leads the way with 18 points.

“We can’t read too much into last time out against New Orleans,” Squires said. “Our 11 will be different, formation likely different, and I’m sure they won’t be exactly the same as when we played them before. We’ll just prepare as we always do, and try to execute our game plan.”

Alliance of American Football takes regional approach to first season

There were plenty of times during my newspaper career that I wished I had gone into marketing.

Out of Left Field is written by Scott Adamson. Follow him on Twitter @adamsonsl

Aside from making a lot more money, it seemed like it would’ve been a cool job that allowed for a great deal of outside-the-box thinking and creativity.

But I didn’t go into marketing so, really, I can’t speak intelligently about it.

Not being able to speak intelligently has never stopped me before, though. Therefore, it won’t stop me from trying to make sense of the marketing strategy of the fledgling Alliance of American Football, which begins play in February.

Now in terms of the rollout, it was great.

League officials had a mission and a message, and it was all packaged with some solid branding and a terrific league logo.

And you couldn’t ask for a better opening salvo – introducing Steve Spurrier as the head coach of the flagship franchise in Orlando.

But as of Wednesday the league has finalized its eight-team lineup for 2019. Cities represented will be Atlanta, Birmingham, Memphis, Orlando, Phoenix, Salt Lake City, San Antonio and San Diego.

Notice anything strange about the franchise placement?

I did.

There’s not a single team in the northeast, northwest or breadbasket of the United States. And even though the league already has a primary TV contract with the CBS Sports Network (the opener and championship game will be shown on CBS), it has only one city in the country’s top 10 media markets – Atlanta.

That’s puzzling.

As a Birmingham native and an aficionado of off-brand pro football, I couldn’t care less; as long as the games are entertaining, I’ll watch no matter where the teams call home.

But why would a casual fan in New York, Chicago, or Philadelphia tune in?

What kind of overnight Nielson ratings will a game between the Birmingham Battalion and Memphis Bluesmen pull? (And before you start Googling, no, those aren’t the team’s actual nicknames. Yet).

I just assumed the Alliance’s first eight teams would be scattered throughout the country, not mostly across the southern part of the map.

But, a friend of mine has a theory.

AAF founder Charlie Ebersol is the son of Dick Ebersol, who is BFF with Vince McMahon. McMahon, of course, is reviving the XFL, which is set to return in 2020.

Ron Montgomery, a buddy, CFL bon viveur and, like me, fan of fledgling leagues, thinks that perhaps the XFL and Alliance could eventually merge, suggesting it could be part of McMahon’s “master plan.”

As soon as the AAF was announced, he mentioned the ties between the Ebersol family and McMahon, and opined that maybe – just maybe – this is a first-phase launch.

In other words, McMahon will have a chance to see what goes right and wrong with his “competitor” in 2019, make adjustments to the XFL, and perhaps (I can’t resist this) form an alliance with the Alliance.

If this is part of the master plan, as Ron suggests, I think we’ll find out when McMahon (or newly-named XFL CEO Oliver Luck) reveals the circuit’s eight franchises.

If you see, say, New York, Norfolk, Spokane and Chicago among the teams, then that might explain why the Alliance is so south-heavy.

Admittedly, this is all just a case of thinking out loud.

It could be that the Alliance brain trust is already looking ahead, and has plans for a four-team expansion to the northeast in 2020 in hopes of beating the XFL, not joining it.

Still, it’s taking a gamble with being what amounts to a glorified “regional” league in its first season.

If the TV ratings tank, CBS will waste no time cutting ties.

The original XFL had a contract with NBC in 2001, but when people stopped watching the network pulled out, and the league folded after one season.

I hope that’s not the case with the AAF.

My wish is that the rules will be so compelling (no kickoffs, 2-point conversions only, 30-second play clock) and the players good enough that football fans – regardless of where they live – will tune in.

If so, then the XFL will have to up its one-upmanship game in 2020, setting the stage for a spring league rivalry (if not possible merger down the road).

And if I was in marketing and the Alliance of American Football and XFL eventually combined, I’d call the new organization “Alliance X.”

Greenville FC begins NPSL playoff push

By Scott Adamson
Adamsonmedia.com

Take a look at the National Premier Soccer League standings, and you’ll see that Greenville FC is next to last in the Southeast Conference Division of the eight-team South Region Conference.

Look a little closer, and you’ll realize a playoff berth remains a very real possibility.

Now one match into the second half of its 14-game league slate, Greenville sits at 2-3-3 and well within reach of one of the six available postseason berths. Lee Squires’ charges are just six points behind first place Chattanooga FC (4-1-3).*

* The New Orleans Jesters (5-3-1), who lost to the Upstate-based squad earlier in the campaign, have 16 points but have played nine games.

With a road match tonight in Knoxville at Emerald Force (3-8-0) and on Saturday at Asheville City SC (4-3-3), Greenville has a chance to make a dramatic surge.

“I’m not sure it’s a surprise, but I am most pleased with how the team has come together as a group and are ready and willing to go to battle each game, with and for each other,” Squires said. “We have developed a resilience, highlighted by the fact we have come from behind to take a draw or win the game in five of our last six games. The biggest hurdle is arguably the adjustment to the league.

“A lot of the teams have older, more experienced, more physical players than us, so we’ve had to adapt, play to our strengths, and find a way.”

The most recent rally came last Saturday at Silverback Stadium.

Despite trailing 1-0 and having to wait out a 90-minute lightning delay at the half, GVLFC scored two unanswered goals to defeat Atlanta, 2-1. The result snapped the ‘Backs’ five-game unbeaten streak.

Both of the club’s victories this season have come on the road.

“I think confidence is high at the moment,” Squires said. “We are (unbeaten over the last four matches) and got a great result away at the Silverbacks last weekend. It’s important now to follow that up and try to beat Emerald and Asheville this week.

“If we can do that and maintain the upward trend, then we’ll be in a good position to make the playoffs after a poor start.”

There are plenty of players who have contributed to Greenville’s positive momentum.

“We have several guys who have grown into leadership roles,” Squires said. “(Defender) Toby Sims has become the vocal leader of the group with his personality and passion, and (midfielder/defender) Laurence Wyke (who scored the game-winner against Atlanta) has come in and provided an energy and spark in midfield. Overall though, the group has grown and really taken on our messages to lead by example in their own ways.”

Team defense has been solid throughout the season, with goalkeeper Paul Tyson establishing himself as one of the better netminders in the division, and the backline offering rock-solid support.

“I think we’ve defended very well collectively in a lot of games and for long periods, yet are still waiting for that first clean sheet,” Squires said. “Paul is getting better every game, and had made big saves – including a PK save – against the Silverbacks at home.

“And the switch to a back 3 (a formation featuring three defenders) seems to give us more stability.”

Tonight’s match, as well as Saturday’s, are set for 7 p.m.

GVLFC returns home on Wednesday, June 27, to face New Orleans at 7 p.m. at Stone Stadium.

And while making a playoff push is Job One, like any soccer-minded person on the planet, Squires is also following the World Cup.

The native of Sheffield, England, has enjoyed what has been a remarkable group stage of the quadrennial event.

“The World Cup so far has been fascinating,” he said. “Some of the big nations have struggled and there have been a few surprises. I think Spain and Portugal will be tough to beat, and Croatia could well surprise people.

“Of course, I hope England go all the way.”