Football Season Guide

Miami FC were uncompetitive last season in the Eastern Conference as they finished 11th in the standings and missed out on the playoffs by a comfortable margin. Indeed, their position was only made to look more respectable as they won 3 of their last 4 games as they ironically showed their best form when the season was already over. With just 29 goals in 30 matches, they scored the joint lowest number of goals in their league. They were a side that was built around the idea of head coach Gaston Maddoni to sign journeyman Argentines, but it was a ploy that did not work. Despite his struggles, the coach is set to be given a second season to prove himself with the Florida club. After s disappointing campaign, there is unsurprisingly a high turnover in the playing staff. The biggest issue that Miami are going to have to wrestle with is the departure of top scorer Bonfiglio, who netted 14 times last season. He was the club’s runaway top scorer. Only 3 other platers have scored more than a single goal and none of them got more than 4. Their 2 leading assist men in the form of Cristian Vazquez (6) and Allen Gavilanes (4) have also left. Miami have totally changed their attacking options, with their most notable arrivals Jurgen Locadia from free agency and left winger Arney Rocha from Real Cundimarca in Colombia. There is also hope that Mason Tunbridge proves a strong arrival after joining from USL1 side Tormenta. The situation of the club is such that they are often left picking up players from rather random spots, with the only 2 players who were involved in USL Championship play last season striker Mathieu Ndongo, who played 2 minutes for Rhode Island, and right-back Arthur Rogers from Tulsa. The centre-back looks a strong addition. With a string of left-field signings, how the players mesh is difficult to predict and leaves Miami facing the likelihood of another difficult season. With a defensively orientated manager, fireworks are unlikely.