Miami FC Midseason Report

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Miami FC passed the midway point of the season this weekend with a draw and a loss versus the first place Timbers. While the team has improved on the field, the announced attendance in each of the last five home matches has left cause for concern.The Blues currently sit 6th in the USL-1 table. That’s good enough for a playoff spot if the season ended today. But with a majority of remaining games away from home, stealing points on the road beginning this Friday night on FOX Soccer Channel versus Minnesota is critical.

What we’ve learned thus far this season:

  • Diego Serna doesn’t have much left. Serna is a fan favorite from the Fusion days, but truthfully looks outclassed often in USL-1. But he’s savvy enough to be able to play a critical role of the bench late in matches.
  • FIU Stadium is a first class facility, but Lockhart still has a homely feel that draws more fans. The turf at FIU is a certain drawback for fans to come watch a game, and while Lockhart is decrypted facility, its character and soccer history which is unparalleled in the US bring it alive on game day.
  • Zinho gets tactics: Sometimes the greatest players struggle to become good managers. Zinho wasn’t necessarily ready to step up two years ago despite being a World Cup winning player. He now understands coaching well enough to have a well disciplined team that keeps its shape at the back and looks properly spaced in most situations. Miami FC also changes tactics on the fly better than most teams in American based domestic leagues.
  • Paulo Arajo Jr. is a special player. He’s the best all around player we’ve seen for Miami FC since “El Loco” Rodriguez last year.
  • Alex Afonso is missed. Afonso’s goal scoring touch hasn’t been replicated by any of the Blues current strikers.
  • Miami FC has generated enough media interest to make a dent in the market BUT
  • Miami FC has not created a sufficient buzz in the ethnic football community in South Florida to be successful long term. This means selling Caribbean Islanders on going to Lockhart and Latinos/Hispanics on going to FIU or vise versa.

Miami FC Challenges Ahead

  • Finding a Goal Scorer: Canadian Alan Marcina isn’t the answer up top. But Marcina does so much good work off the ball you almost have to play him. That means he needs to be paired with a legitimate goal scoring threat while pushing Paulo Jr. and Leo Inacio back into the center of midfield. Is Reinier Alcantara that player or does Miami FC need to acquire another striker?
  • Staying Solid Late in Matches: Last year, Miami FC was burned repeatedly late in games by defensive breakdowns. This season the breakdowns have been limited but the Blues have still blown points late most notably twice against Charleston, and once each against Montreal and Portland.
  • Developing a Committed Fan Base: Yes, old story but with a PDL Club run by the vaunted Schultz Academy beginning play next year in Fort Lauderdale, one senses that the Schultz Academy connections and the success they have had developing big time players, that they may poach fans from Miami FC.(In other words this isn’t another Palm Beach Pumas type outfit) Don’t think PDL is a threat to a USL-1 club? Think again. In some markets it would not matter, but here it certainly does.  PDL has developed more interest recently because of the number of players that have featured for the USMNT who began their careers in the PDL. Charlie Davies and Heath Pearce among others. Sadly, Miami FC has yet to develop players of that class and some fans may simply opt for the PDL option to watch live football locally. Also, some noise has been broadcast lately about MLS potentially returning to the Miami/Fort Lauderdale market. We saw the effect the Barca Miami bid had on Miami FC’s offseason almost leading Traffic Sports to pull the plug on the team. Let’s hope any future MLS bid doesn’t create similar problems.
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