Confessions of a Soccer Nobody
Please join me in welcoming our newest addition to the writing staff as the Soccer Nobody brings you a new feature here on DSB focusing on the Harrisburg City Islanders and all things soccer. The Soccer Nobody is a former player and coach of the beautiful game. After a remarkably unspectacular high school career where he captained a tiny, private school and earned All-Conference honors in a tiny, private school league, the Soccer Nobody hung up his cleats. These days, he regularly attends soccer matches throughout the world and finds his way to the Skyline Sports Complex to cheer on the Harrisburg City Islanders.
Harrisburg City Islanders Kickoff 2010 Season In Search of Goals
Former City Islanders midfielder Tiyi Shipalane was released by D.C. United this week, leading to speculation that last year’s USL-2 rookie of the year could be heading back to Harrisburg. While Shipalane would be a welcome addition to the club—who wouldn’t want a quick and skillful attacking player—he wouldn’t fully address one of the team’s biggest needs. During the City Islanders’ home opening loss to Real Maryland, it became apparent that Harrisburg could use a target forward like Chad Severs, the former City Islander striker who signed for the Pittsburgh Riverhounds in the offseason.
The City Islanders did a nice job of replacing players like Shipalane by bringing in Nate Jafta and Vince Petrasso. Furthermore, the signing of Sheanon Williams (left), an All-American in high school and U.S. youth international, was a coup. The club now boasts an array of young, athletic, and technically sound players. The problem is that many of these players are small in stature and inexperienced professionally. After watching Real Maryland bunker in and defend throughout the home opener, it became clear that Harrisburg had not really accounted for the loss of Severs. While he scored many goals during his tenure on City Island—the most in club history, in fact—it was Severs’ ability to hold the ball and play it to overlapping runs that the team sorely missed. The City Islanders proved they can possess the ball and string together tidy passes, but they missed that player who will scrap in the box, linkup with the midfield, and win balls in the air. Williams proved to be a dynamite acquisition—fast, skillful, and blessed with incredible throw-in capabilities—but he is the tallest player (5’11”) on a very short squad. It’s not that height is crucial in soccer, but with Jafta (5’6”) and Petrasso (5’5”) on the wings, the club could use a physical presence up top.
However, all is not doom and gloom on City Island. Harrisburg did score two goals at Richmond in their season opening tie before being shut out by Real Maryland, and the pace and skill of Jafta and Petrasso certainly impressed. But as Real Maryland physically exerted their will on the City Islanders’ attack, fans were left bemoaning a massive advantage in possession that yielded no goals and few scoring chances. To this end, the City Islanders signed former Temple University and Central Dauphin star, J.T. Noone (6’0”), yesterday. Noone (right) might very well fill the void left by Severs, and although his All-American pedigree features more assists (26) than goals (12), he could be the perfect foil to Williams on the front line. His short-term, three-week contract is curious—rumors previously suggested the Philadelphia Union would sign Noone and loan him to Harrisburg—but hopefully he becomes that missing piece on the attack. If he jells quickly with Williams, things could really open up for Harrisburg offensively, and if Shipalane does return to City Island, the team quickly becomes favorites for the USL-2 title.
The City Islanders begin a two-game, weekend-long road trip through Charlotte and Charleston on Friday before traveling to Real Maryland next week. Their next home match is May 22 against the Charleston Battery.
Thanks for coming and suckling Daddy's Sugar Ball...
Harrisburg City Islanders Kickoff 2010 Season In Search of Goals
Former City Islanders midfielder Tiyi Shipalane was released by D.C. United this week, leading to speculation that last year’s USL-2 rookie of the year could be heading back to Harrisburg. While Shipalane would be a welcome addition to the club—who wouldn’t want a quick and skillful attacking player—he wouldn’t fully address one of the team’s biggest needs. During the City Islanders’ home opening loss to Real Maryland, it became apparent that Harrisburg could use a target forward like Chad Severs, the former City Islander striker who signed for the Pittsburgh Riverhounds in the offseason.
The City Islanders did a nice job of replacing players like Shipalane by bringing in Nate Jafta and Vince Petrasso. Furthermore, the signing of Sheanon Williams (left), an All-American in high school and U.S. youth international, was a coup. The club now boasts an array of young, athletic, and technically sound players. The problem is that many of these players are small in stature and inexperienced professionally. After watching Real Maryland bunker in and defend throughout the home opener, it became clear that Harrisburg had not really accounted for the loss of Severs. While he scored many goals during his tenure on City Island—the most in club history, in fact—it was Severs’ ability to hold the ball and play it to overlapping runs that the team sorely missed. The City Islanders proved they can possess the ball and string together tidy passes, but they missed that player who will scrap in the box, linkup with the midfield, and win balls in the air. Williams proved to be a dynamite acquisition—fast, skillful, and blessed with incredible throw-in capabilities—but he is the tallest player (5’11”) on a very short squad. It’s not that height is crucial in soccer, but with Jafta (5’6”) and Petrasso (5’5”) on the wings, the club could use a physical presence up top.However, all is not doom and gloom on City Island. Harrisburg did score two goals at Richmond in their season opening tie before being shut out by Real Maryland, and the pace and skill of Jafta and Petrasso certainly impressed. But as Real Maryland physically exerted their will on the City Islanders’ attack, fans were left bemoaning a massive advantage in possession that yielded no goals and few scoring chances. To this end, the City Islanders signed former Temple University and Central Dauphin star, J.T. Noone (6’0”), yesterday. Noone (right) might very well fill the void left by Severs, and although his All-American pedigree features more assists (26) than goals (12), he could be the perfect foil to Williams on the front line. His short-term, three-week contract is curious—rumors previously suggested the Philadelphia Union would sign Noone and loan him to Harrisburg—but hopefully he becomes that missing piece on the attack. If he jells quickly with Williams, things could really open up for Harrisburg offensively, and if Shipalane does return to City Island, the team quickly becomes favorites for the USL-2 title.The City Islanders begin a two-game, weekend-long road trip through Charlotte and Charleston on Friday before traveling to Real Maryland next week. Their next home match is May 22 against the Charleston Battery.
Thanks for coming and suckling Daddy's Sugar Ball...
Posted by Soccer Nobody at 5/7/2010 2:00 PM 
Categories: Confessions of a Soccer Nobody
Tags: Chad Severs Harrisburg City Islanders Tiyi Shipalane J.T. Noone Sheanon Williams Vince Petrasso Nate Jafta
Categories: Confessions of a Soccer Nobody
Tags: Chad Severs Harrisburg City Islanders Tiyi Shipalane J.T. Noone Sheanon Williams Vince Petrasso Nate Jafta
Comments