Fort Lauderdale Strikers Preview 2011

The Strikers are back and with a vengeance! Gone are the Miami FC Blues as Traffic, owners of the team (And most of the NASL) are ready to put that nightmare behind them. Aaron Davidson set out to make the NASL a legitmate league by hiring new NASL commissioner David Downs. Of course, we here in South Florida know the ultimate move was to bring back Tim Robbie as President of the New Fort Lauderdale Strikers.

Robbie hit the ground running and has been all over the papers, radio and TV. He has been hit with a dilemma... Not having enough seats to sell. That is a great problem to have! We can safely say that Davidson finally made the right decisions. Bringing back the Strikers name and appointing the right people in the right job. But what about the players on the field?

Coach Daryl Shore comes back in what will be his first real full season. Shore came in last year turning a Miami FC team around from a losing team to a winner. Unfortunately the team didn't make the playoffs but we come into 2011 with a clean slate and the responsibility of maintaining the historical precedence set forth by the original Strikers: They never missed the playoffs.

Now lets look at the players that are IN and those that are OUT.

OUT
Paulo Araujo Jr Real Salt Lake MLS D1
JP Rodrigues Playing for our rivals FC Tampa NASL D2. Be sure to call him a traitor next time we see him. =)
Christiano Dias NSC Minnesota Stars NASL D2
Lance Parker FC Edmonton NASL D2
Mike Randolph Los Angeles Blues USL Pro D3
Chuckwudi Chijindu Los Angeles Blues USL D3
Gerson Mayen Chivas USA MLS D1
Kyle Veris Pittsburgh Riverhounds USL Pro D3
Edward Santeliz Suchitepequez D1 Liga National de Futbol de Guatemala
Stephan Jerome Sigma Olomouc D1 Gambrinus Liga (Czech Republic)
Jaryd Goldberg ?
Christian Gomez ? China
Caleb Patterson Railhawks NASL D2

IN

Goalkeepers

Matt Glaeser returns after a strong finish as the starting GK with the Miami FC Blues last season.

Phillip Lamarre came on loan for a month last year from Tampa. He made the right decision leaving the hated Rowdies. Phil is from Plantation, FL.

Nic Platter, formerly of the Minnesota Thunder (Now NSC Minnesota Stars) If recent lineups are any indication it looks like Platter will be the starter. Be sure to follow him on Twitter: http://twitter.com/isnapfotos

Defenders

Aaron Hohlbein A solid defender that came in last year and changed our backline. Formerly with the Kansas City Wizards (Now Sporting KC) A definite starter and team Captain.
Christian Arrieta has played all over. Leece in Italy, Puerto Rico Islanders, Philidephia Union. He has a great track record. I'd put my money on him starting.

Adam "Batman or the Mayor" West (Yes, yes, I'm sure he hear that a lot!) Formerly played for the Tacoma Tide, Milwaukee Wave of MISL and the now self relegated
to D-3 Rochester Rhinos.

Scott "The Commissioner" Gordon (Sorry, I just had too!) Gordon is originally from Boca Raton, FL and has played for FC Dallas and Lynn University.


Zach "Beowulf" Kirby A fan favorite who previously played for the Atlanta Silverbacks, LA Galaxy and Wilmington Hammerheads.

Lance Laing this defender from Trelawny, Jamaica has played for Harbour View FC and Village United.

Martyn Lancaster from Wigan, England has played for Chester City, Wilmington Hammerheads, Atlanta Silverbacks, Queen of the South, Ljungskile SK to name a few. Another fan favorite, look for him to start as well.

Midfielders

Eduardo "Cacho" Coudet from Buenos Aires, Argentina is perhaps the most storied of the Strikers players having shined with River Plate and gone on to other teams such as Celta de Vigo, Philadelphia Union and many more.

Bryan Arguez a local young promise has played with Hertha Berlin, DC United and USA youth teams. Follow him on Twitter: http://twitter.com/bryan_arguez17


Lennon Eduardo Carvalho Celestino from Sao Paulo, Brazil was plagued by injury last year. We hope to see more of him this year.

Grant Kerr from Linlithgow, Scotland has played for Fordham University and Southend United.

Paulo Henrique Le Petit from São Carlos, Brazil. Le Petit has shown sparks of his talent last year. We will see what he can bring with the Strikers.

Martin Nuñez from Montevideo, Uruguay is another player that came at the end of last year and impressed. He has played with the Carolina Railhawks and Puerto Rico Islanders.

Patrick Otte has played with the Middlesbourgh Academy, Ventura County Fusion and the U.S. youth teams.

Mike Palacio has played for the New York Red Bulls and Serbian team Radnicki Obrenovac to name a few.

Toni Stahl from Tuusula, Finland has played for the University of Connecticut, FC Espoo and the Philadelphia Union.

Brian Shriver is from Clearwater, Florida and has played with the Carolina Dynamo, Carolina RailHawks and the U-23

Forwards

David Santamaria impressed during Traffic's combine last year and was signed by the Strikers. Keep an eye on this young promise!

Abe Thompson ended the 2010 season as the leading scorer of the team. An MLS veteran who has played for FC Dallas, Houston Dynamo and Kansas City. Look for "Honest" Abe to be the starting forward.

Aaron Wheeler comes to the Strikers from the evil FCTampa, he has since been cleansed and repented. Aaron has also played for the Vancouver Whitecaps and Reading Rage. You can follow his Twitter: http://twitter.com/AaWheeler12

Are you ready to see the Strikers this weekend? Tickets are still available visit www.strikers.com

Be sure to check out the GAME DAY GUIDE for a map of the stadium and events!  Tailgate starts at 5pm! 4 pm if you want to hang out with South Florida United and the Miami Ultras.

All pictures by Robert Scorca
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