by Article and Photos by Robert Sherman
Detroit City FC returned to Keyworth Stadium for the first time since August of last year on Saturday evening, eager to open its home schedule for the 2018 season. In the first of two friendlies to be held at home before beginning competitive play, Le Rouge drew fellow NPSL powerhouse Chattanooga FC, 1-1, leaving the latter winless in the home-and-home series.
Further into its preseason progression in part to the fair weather in Tennessee, Chattanooga FC should have held an advantage over City, who still have not received all of their players for the year. The lack of a complete roster and less than ideal weather in the Detroit area has partly stifled training for the club in the lead up to the friendlies.
“We’re narrowing down the group to more realistic options,” head coach Ben Pirmann said. “We want to see that front four be more dangerous, more lethal. I told them at halftime that they have to grind.
“Backline cohesion, we’ve got six guys to pick out of the four. We’ve got Stephen (Carroll), Sebby (Harris), and Jimmy (Fiscus), who will battle it out for the two center back spots.
“We have two good options at left back, but I want to see more out of them. T.J. (Stephens) has been solid at right back, but again we need more there.”
As was the case at Finley Stadium last week, the shortened roster was a non-factor for City’s success in the draw, giving head coach Ben Pirmann a foundation to work with as he eyes the beginning of his club’s competitive fixtures.
“We’ll have options,” he said. “Now it’s our job to figure out who plays where.”
Continue reading “Detroit City FC draw with Chattanooga FC in home-and-home series finale”
