by PART I: Rebel Scum PART II: Forwards PART III: Attacking Mids & Wingers PART IV: Center Midfielders PART V: Fullbacks PART VI: Centerbacks PART VII: Goalkeepers PART VIII: Team Overview
U.S. Open Cup
City finds itself back in the Open Cup after a one-year absence. Although I understand and partially sympathize with the viewpoint that these games create too many physical demands on our players, I feel that, playing at the NPSL level, there are no better opportunities to grow the club’s on-field reputation and raise its profile in the domestic soccer landscape.
When we last saw City in the competition, they were falling to Louisville City on penalty kicks after extra time – a valiant, Thermopylae-esque effort in which Nate Steinwascher etched his name into club lore forever. That match, of course, came one week after an equally epic win over the Michigan Bucks, who just so happen to be City’s first round opponent this year.
This matchup is tough to predict because, as is the norm, the Bucks’ roster likely won’t be set until matchday. Regardless, I’m going with the home field advantage and picking City to win. Not only that, I’m going to put my imaginary internet money on the table and make an even more reckless prediction: City will also catch FC Cincinnati (currently 1st place in USL’s Eastern Conference) napping and beat them as well. I will gladly put 1000 BIRbucks up against anyone who wants to take that bet.
Midwest Region – Great Lakes West Conference
The format for the Midwest Playoffs, believe it or not, is the same as it was last year. In short:
- Three Midwest divisions, top two teams from each division qualify for the playoffs.
- Seeding is determined by points-per-game. #1 and #2 get first-round byes.
- #3 hosts #6 and #4 hosts #5 on Saturday, July 14th.
- The winners of those two matches advance to play #1 and #2 the following Friday (July 20th), with the Midwest Championship taking place on Sunday the 22nd.
- Each of the final four teams can submit bids to host the regional tournament.
Helping to offset what will hopefully be a deep Open Cup run, City will play 12 league matches this season, down from 14 a year ago. The league schedule breaks evenly into two distinct, “mini-seasons”: Between May 13th and June 10th, they’ll play Ann Arbor, Columbus, and Indiana twice, and they’ll do the same with Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, and Milwaukee between June 15th and July 7th.
I basically nailed my predicted order of finish in last year’s preview, so I’m feeling a little cocky:
I really like the roster that Ben Pirmann has put together, and with the flip of Jimmy Fiscus from Ann Arbor, as well as the departure of Dario Suarez, I’m putting City first with Ann Arbor a close second.
The next three teams make up my second tier. I think Grand Rapids will be improved and has a solid chance at making the playoffs, provided their owner stays in the background and doesn’t torpedo his team’s roster again. Kalamazoo is always competent but unspectacular; it would be good to see them step up and make a serious challenge for a spot in the postseason. Milwaukee’s season didn’t get off to a super wonderful start, but I still expect them to end up higher than Columbus or Indiana.
Playoffs and Beyond
City’s roster is built for a deep postseason run, but I think one of the teams that has dropped down from NASL will keep them from winning the NPSL title. I will, however, pick City to make it one step further than last season, by repeating as Midwest Champions and making it to the league championship match.
5 Wild Guesses
(1) Shawn Lawson and Rafa Mentzingen each scored 9 goals last year, for Detroit City and Lansing United, respectively. This season they’ll tie again and end up as co-team leaders.
(2) Wilfred Williams is a left back by trade, but with the depth at that position and the need for bodies in center midfield, he’ll end up spending most, if not all, of his time there. Pirmann has already played him here extensively this preseason, and the move will become permanent.
(3) I’m recycling this one from 2017, with a twist: The new single game attendance record will be set against St. Pauli on May 19th, and it will be over 8000. Average home attendance for competitive matches will exceed 6000.
(4) Roddy Green will get to wear the captain’s armband in at least one match this season, whether competitive or friendly.
(5) This will be City’s final year in the NPSL. The NASL has collapsed, NISA still seems like a pipe dream, and all signs point to the club remaining where it is for the foreseeable future. That’s why I’m expecting the unexpected.
