Strikers re-sign Defenders Martyn Lancaster and Aaron Hohlbein

Today the Strikers announced the re-signing of two key defenders, It's a good sign of things to come for Striker Likers!
Here is a little about them:

English defender Martyn Lancaster. Lancaster was born November 10, 1980 in Wigan, England.

He began his career playing for Chester City in the English Football League and Football Conference between 1998 and 2003. Martyn continued his career playing for Leigh RMI, Northwich Victoria and Southport, Lancaster moved to the United States in 2006 to join Wilmington Hammerheads of the USL Second Division. He later signed for the Atlanta Silverbacks in 2007 and then joined Scottish side Queen of the South. In 2009 he scored two goals for Queens, but left at the end of the season to signed for Swedish side Ljungskile. Martyn returned to the states to play with Miami FC of the USSF Division 2 Professional League.

With Miami FC, Lancaster became a fan favorite on and off the pitch. Martyn is one of those few players that always came by the Miami Ultras tailgates to say hi to the fans, be it before or after the games. A couple of the Ultras even wrote a piece called "Hanging out with Martyn Lancaster" over at the Ultras site. He is a class act and a true professional. We welcome the return of Martyn as a sign of things to come by the Strikers front office. Well done!
Following is a video of Martyn during his time at Atlanta:

The Strikers have signed Defender Aaron Hohlbein born August 16, 1985 in Middleton, Wisconsin.

Hohlbein played college soccer at the University of Wisconsin–Madison from 2003 to 2006. Over four years he started in all 77 of his appearances and managed 6 goals and 7 assists. During his college years he also played with the Michigan Bucks of the United Soccer Leagues and the Princeton 56ers in the National Premier Soccer League.

He was drafted in the first round, 3rd overall, by the Kansas City Wizards in 2007 MLS Supplemental Draft. On August 5, 2010 he was loaned to Miami FC for the remainder of the USSF D2 Pro League.

Hohlbein was chosen by the Columbus Crew with the second selection of stage 1 of the 2010 MLS Re-Entry Draft on December 08, 2010 but did not sign.
Following are video highlights of Aaron's interview with Kartik Krishnayer:


For more information go to www.miamifc.com

The New York Cosmos don't need MLS.

The New York Cosmos don't need Major League Soccer. But MLS needs the Cosmos.

The Cosmos flexed their muscles in recent weeks with the announcement of Eric Cantona and Cobi Jones joining the organization. The subsequent media blitz across the big apple further showed how the Cosmos brand still has allure even after 30 years since they last played in the old North American Soccer League.

If the Cosmos join MLS is still to be seen. Does it really make sense for them to pay over 40 million to join MLS? Does it make sense to enter a league that controls all player movements, merchandising, etc, etc? The way I see it MLS needs the New York Cosmos more than the NY Cosmos need MLS. The Cosmos have the brand that would take MLS to the next level. Cosmos in my eyes should get in free, they stand to make the league millions. Stadiums they go to will get packed across the country and this team has yet to sign a player!

What would I do if I was part of the Cosmos organization? I'd play hard ball, get my poker face on and negotiate a deal that would get me into the league for free and set a merchandising agreement.

MLS doesn't want to make a deal? Sure, this can happen , the Wilpons (Owners of the Mets) have been rumored to be interested in an MLS NY team, but a team set up by the Wilpons would only be just another team in NY, another Red Bulls. They will never be the NY Cosmos. The Cosmos are the Cosmos.With the right vision, The Cosmos can save millions while making millions joining the NASL.

The new NASL has a few teams most of us can remember, the soon to be known as (I hope) Ft Lauderdale Strikers and FC Tampa (soon to be called Tampa Bay Rowdies?). These were two of the most successful teams the old NASL had before the league disappeared. If you add further teams in Edmonton, Atlanta, San Antonio you have more former old NASL markets.Already we know that due to MLS's salary cap, many quality players are forced to play in other leagues, some in division 2. This bleeding of talent has made division 2 competitive in quality to current MLS teams. Just look back the past few years to the Montreal Impact and Puerto Rico Islanders in their successful runs in the CONCACAF champions league.

The Cosmos name is enough to attract high quality players which they will be able to afford,since they didn't pay the MLS entry fee. Not being held by the restraints of MLS salary cap rules will help. Furthemore Division 2 status would not hinder their views for world domination.

With the Cosmos, the revival of the NASL would be complete and in my eyes one day rival the MLS. If the Cosmos join NASL I predict that in 2 to 3 years more teams will join the league (paying about only 1 million as an entry fee) and the NASL as a division 2 league will rival MLS. This will one day force a merger of both leagues.

In the end the Cosmos have MLS by the balls (pun totally intended).

NASL News: Abundis and Pineda Chacon to coach Atlanta. Shore signs with Strikers

The Atlanta Silverbacks announced that Mexican Jose Manuel Abundis is their new coach. They also announced that one time Miami Fusion star Alex Pineda Chacon will be the assistant coach. Check it out:

The Atlanta Silverbacks announced today that JOSÉ MANUEL ABUNDIS will join the club as its head coach. Abundis, a first-time coach, will take the helm of the Silverbacks immediately.

Abundis, 37, is best known for the 17 years he spent competing at the top levels of international soccer. As part of the Mexican national team from 1996 to 2001, he appeared in 47 games and scored 10 goals, representing Mexico in the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta and in the 2001 FIFA Confederations Cup.

As early as 1992, Abundis made a name for himself as the top player for Toluca, a club in Mexico's top soccer division. He totaled 270 appearances and notched 80 goals there, and he also played for Mexican clubs Atlante, Pachuca, CF Monterrey, and Querétaro. In 2006, he played a season for Major League Soccer's New England Revolution. Since arriving in Georgia, Abundis has led youth soccer clinics and become a respected part of the Atlanta community.

"José is a very talented player, but he has also demonstrated that he has the energy, the passion, and the leadership to succeed in coaching," said Director of Soccer RODRIGO RIOS. "We're honored to have him here, and we know Atlanta will welcome him enthusiastically."

Joining Abundis on the coaching staff will be Assistant Coach Alex Pineda Chacon who returns to the Atlanta Silverbacks after previous stints with the organization, both as a player and an assistant coach. Chacón, who played for over 10 years on the Honduran national team, was named Major League Soccer's Most Valuable Player in 2001.

Read more HERE
following is a video of Jose Manuel Abundis in action:

Here are goals by Alex Pineda Chacon with the Miami Fusion:


Shore signs with the Strikers
The Strikers announced this week the re-signing of coach Daryl Shore. Shore came in last season and turned the team around. I'm sure the fans will be happy to see coach Shore back.
Here is what the Strikers had to say:

The Strikers have announced today that they have agreed to a contract extension with head coach, Daryl Shore. As per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

“I am grateful that Traffic Sports has given me the opportunity to return and lead our team as we embark on a new era. I understand what the Strikers mean to South Florida soccer and I can promise that we will be one of the hardest working clubs in the NASL, with the goal of making the playoffs and bringing a winning mentality back to this team. We want to build on the success we enjoyed late last season by returning a good core group of players from last year’s team and bringing in new players that are going to help us achieve our goals. The Strikers legacy is powerful in South Florida, and we are ready and humbled to follow in the footsteps of some of the game's greats," said Head Coach Daryl Shore.

Shore, 41, is a New York native who graduated from South Plantation High School, in Plantation, Florida. He played in college as a goalkeeper for Birmingham-Southern College and went on to play professionally for the Birmingham Grasshoppers and the New Orleans Riverboat Gamblers. After managing professional organizations all over the country such as the New Orleans Storm and the Lehigh Valley Steam, he began a ten-year tenure for the Chicago Fire as an assistant coach. Shore served as an assistant to four head coaches with Chicago, including Bob Bradley, Juan Carlos Osorio and former Striker Dennis Hamlett . He also played a significant role in the growth of the Fire’s player development program. He was hired last July as the head coach for the Blues.

Read more at www.miamifc.com

SF Soccer news: NASL sanctioning issues, Strikers, Beckham, Marine Stadium and more.

The main topic of the week so far was the decision by the United States Soccer Federation (USSF) to pull its provisional Division 2 sanctioning of the North American Soccer League (NASL).
What bothers me is that for years the USSF sat there and watched the United Soccer Leagues (USL) do anything they wanted to soccer in this country from division 2 down. We saw dozens of teams fold, instability reign and nothing was done to correct it.
The moment a proposed league run by the team owners themselves was created, due to the USL's inability to work with its teams, is the moment the USSF decides to create rules and regulations that in my eyes looks like a road block to those opposing the incumbent league they were so used to dealing with. Suddenly, they decided to get strict... kinda makes you go 'hmmmm'.
So, the USSF says the issue was money. Well, the NASL just put up 6 million to cover that hole. If that doesn't ring stability I don't know what does! Let's see if the USSF comes up with another excuse. If they do then I think its obvious that there is more then meets the eye going on behind closed doors.
My message to the USSF: Work with the NASL to get them sanctioned. Create the stability you claim to want and get MLS, NASL and USL to work together for the good of soccer in this country.

Strikers
The NASL has invested too much time and money to stop and not continue business as usual, having said that our local team the Strikers have released their 2011 schedule. You can see it by scrolling down to the previous blog post below.
The Miami Ultras are planning ahead for road trips to Tampa and one to Atlanta. Stay tuned for more information on that!

Beckham to bring MLS to Miami
The news of MLS to Miami continues this time People U.K. states David Beckham is being offered a deal to bring a team to the Magic City. While MLS Commissioner Garber was in South Florida for his meeting with the Miami Ultras, he did mention Beckham has the option of starting a team anywhere in the United States at a reduced price. Apparently the only condition is that it can't be L.A. nor N.Y.
More news from Ministry of Soccer says Beckham Might Buy Miami FC for MLS and Tribal Football has the same report.

Miami Marine Stadium
The Friends of Miami Marine Stadium were graceful enough to include this blog in their monthly news letter after a blog post we published made a little noise. Here is what they had to say:

The blog Football In Miami And Beyond provides up-to-date information on all things soccer in Miami and South Florida. Recently, the blog posted a story about placing a temporary floating soccer field in front of the Miami Marine Stadium. We don't know if this is fully feasible as the field would have to be easily moved and stored- but one already operates in Singapore. This particular story "went viral" and was posted on various soccer and sports blogs nationwide. Think of the possibilities the Stadium offers!

If you want to support the restoration of the Marine Stadium be sure to visit them at http://www.marinestadium.org/Marine Stadium design by Derek Reese

Strikers announce 2011 season schedule.

The Strikers have released their 2011 schedule Here is the press release:

Miami FC/ Strikers 2011, NASL 2011 Schedule Released

Ft. Lauderdale, FL (January 25, 2011) – Miami FC/ Strikers 2011 and the North American Soccer League have released the 2011 schedule today. The 28-game regular season will start for Miami FC/ Strikers 2011 in early April and finish in late September.

“We are excited that the schedule has been finalized, I know I speak for everyone at the Miami FC/Strikers 2011 organization when I say April 9^th can’t come soon enough” said Director of Soccer Fernando Clavijo.

The regular season kicks off for Miami FC/ Strikers 2011 on April 9^th at 7:00 pm as the Strikers will host FC Edmonton at Lockhart Stadium. The exciting Coastal Cup rivalry (Strikers vs. FC Tampa Bay) continues this season when FC Tampa Bay comes to Fort Lauderdale on May 14^th and again on the Fourth of July when Miami FC/ Strikers 2011 travel to Al Lang Stadium in St. Petersburg. Miami FC/ Strikers 2011 will end their regular season on Saturday September 17^th against FC Tampa Bay at Al Lang Field.

The Miami FC/ Strikers 2011 regular season schedule consists of 28 games total – 14 home and 14 away. Between April 9^th and September 24^th, Miami FC/ Strikers 2011 will play each NASL team four times, twice at home at Lockhart Stadium and twice on the road.

Sat., 4/9	vs. FC Edmonton	Sat., 7/9	Vs Atlanta
Sat., 4/16	vs. Minnesota	Wed., 7/13	@Montreal
Sat., 4/23	@ Atlanta	Wed., 7/20	@ Puerto Rico
Fri., 4/29	@ Puerto Rico	Sat ., 7/30	vs FC Edmonton
Sat., 5/7	@ Minnesota	Sat., 8/6	vs Carolina
Wed., 5/11	@Carolina	Wed., 8/10	@ Minnesota
Sat., 5/14	vs FC Tampa Bay	Sun., 8/14	@FC Edmonton
Sat., 5/21	@Atlanta	Sat., 8/20	@ Carolina
Sat 5/28	vs Montreal	Sat., 8/27	vs FC Tampa Bay
Sat., 6/4	vs Puerto Rico	Sat., 9/3	vs Montreal
Sat., 6/11	vs Minnesota	Wes., 9/7	vs Carolina
Sat., 6/18	@Montreal	Sun., 9/11	@Edmonton
Sat., 6/25	vs Puerto Rico	Sat., 9/17	vs Atlanta
Mon., 7/4	@FC Tampa Bay	Sat., 9/24	@ FC Tampa Bay

Tickets for the Strikers 2011 are on Sale Now! Call today for pricing and availability. Founding Season Ticket Holder Specials Available! Call 954.829.9213 or e-mail info@miamifc.com

ABOUT MIAMI FC

Miami FC, South Florida's only professional soccer team, is currently in its sixth season. Starting in the 2011 season, the Blues will play as the Strikers honoring the ethos of the most successful soccer franchise in the history of South Florida soccer. The team is owned by Traffic Sports USA, the North American subsidiary of The Traffic Group, the leading soccer event management company in the Americas with headquarters in Brazil, and offices in the U.S. and Europe. The organization is committed to the advancement of soccer in South Florida at the youth, amateur and professional levels.

South Florida Soccer news: MLS Miami, DC United, Strikers and more.

South Florida is a magnet for Soccer news and will continue to make headlines as Major League Soccer teams get ready for preseason training in our area.

D.C. United
The first team to pay a visit to our area will be D.C. United as they announced the club's preseason schedule this week. DC visits Fort Lauderdale, where they will train from February 1 until February 12. During United's stay in Florida. We hope one of the teams they play will be local NASL team Miami FC / Strikers.
We do know United will play two exhibitions in Florida, vs. the Canadian under-20 national team and an opponent to be determined.
DC has a few players on trial, one known in our area is forward Abe Thompson who played for Miami FC last season and helped the Blues gain a 7 game unbeaten streak at the end of the season (which still stands). Other notable players are goalkeepers Chase Harrison, Joe Willis (third-round draft pick from Denver); midfielder Brandon Barklage; defender Chris Korb (second-round pick from Akron); and forward Blake Brettschneider (supplemental pick from South Carolina).

MLS Miami
While the Cosmos keep making news in the big apple, the same could be said of Miami, as the buzz continues following MLS Commissioner Don Garber's visit to South Florida. Now, another possible investor has poped out as MLS's very own site reports Boca Juniors of Argentina have been in talks to bring a team to the league.
South Florida, after New York, seems to have the most possible investors lined up. Rumored investors are Miami FC owners Traffic, Brightstar owner Marcelo Claure, Galaxy player David Beckham and now Boca Juniors.

Do you want to help bring MLS to South Florida? Visit http://www.mlsmiamibid.com/ and sign up for season ticket dedications. It's just a promise that if Miami gets a team that you will buy season tickets. So far we have collected over 1,000.
You can also follow MLS Miami Bid on facebook and twitter
Email : info@mlsmiamibid.com

Strikers
The Strikers will have open tryouts this weekend January 22 and 23 at Ft Lauderdale Stadium. If you are an aspiring player and have not received a confirmation email from someone inside the Strikers front office or from PayPal, you DO NOT have a guaranteed spot at the tryout. Be sure to contact Ignacio Rodriguez at (305) 496-7780 or email Ignacio@miamifc.com

Miami Ultras
Are you a passionate Soccer fan who wants to be part of something special? Join the Miami Ultras, South Florida soccer supporters as they get ready to follow the Strikers in 2011! It's free, just visit www.miamisoccerfan.com and sign up for more information. You can also join their facebook page.

Miami FC / Strikers PR Manager Ignacio Rodriguez on Feuerstein's Fire

Miami FC's (Soon to be Strikers) PR Manager Ignacio Rodriguez was on Daniel Feuerstein's "Feuerstein's Fire Episode #40" yesterday along with FC Tampa fan and Ralph's Mob member Garrett Tozier.

Following you will be able to listen to it but it starts off talking about the world Cup and the awarding of the 2022 event in Qatar and the possible changing of the schedule to accommodate the World Cup to the Winter. (To avoid the heat of the summer)

Then at about the 15th minute Daniel goes on to talk about the MLS meeting the Miami Ultras had with MLS Commissioner Don Garber. My question is why didn't Daniel have a Miami Ultra on the show?

Either way Ignacio had the Ultras back and challenged the Mob on behalf of the Ultras to play a game and he also proposed a game between Strikers and FC Tampa's front offices! Props to Ignacio.

But let me not bore you with words, go ahead and listen and leave a comment. (You can X out of the advertisement).

Listen to internet radio with Feuerstein's Fire on Blog Talk Radio

Follow Ignacio Rodriguez on Twitter http://twitter.com/Blues_PR_Guy

Want to listen to Daniel Feuerstein? Be sure to check him out every Tuesday at 8 pm Eastern time http://www.blogtalkradio.com/feuersteinsfire
You can also follow him on Twitter http://twitter.com/DFeuerstein

You want to talk smack to Evil "Ralph's Mom" member Garrett Tozier? Follow him on twitter and tell him what you think! http://twitter.com/gtozier