What to expect at Memphis 901 FC’S season opener
Memphis 901 FC opens the regular season Saturday, hosting the Indy Eleven at Autozone Park. With a mostly new roster, a new system and a new sporting director — who also happens to be on the roster — the first match of the 2020 campaign presents even more of a fresh slate for the boys in blue than the beginning of a new season normally does. And they’ll be looking for much different results than the club’s inaugural season, which ended 9-18-7 (win-loss-draw).
Head coach Tim Mulqueen has said one of the things that is different this year is that the team isn’t new — at least not in the way it was last year. They know the league better and have an idea of what to expect from USL Championship play. The squad is also full of seasoned veterans who have experience in not only in the USL and Major League Soccer but also in the Premier League, the EFL Championship, EFL leagues one and two and with multiple national teams.
Mulqueen and Tim Howard — 901 FC’S sporting director, minority owner and freshly-signed goalkeeper — said before the season that they searched far and wide for players who would fit into their high-pressing system and add more firepower in the attack. Both of them believe 901 FC has a team this year that will score more goals, win more games and make a postseason appearance.
While the preseason held some promising signs, 901 FC’S first real test will come this weekend, against a team that beat them twice last year. If you’re heading to the match on Saturday, here’s what you can expect.
Tim Howard will be between the sticks
Mulqueen said he doesn’t reveal lineups days before a match, but that fans would likely see the former U.S. Men’s National Team keeper in the starting 11.
“I think when you’re presented an opportunity to have someone of Tim’s quality, experience, leadership... look it would take a lot not to start him,” he