Fury face first test of new season

Every player to see action as club prepares to take on Toronto FC II

Ottawa Fury FC, with seven new men, will make their pre-season debut Friday afternoon against Toronto FC II, the Major League Soccer club’s USL Pro team.

Marc Dos Santos says he intends to play every one of his 21-man squad in Toronto as the building process for the club’s second season in the NASL continues.

The first two weeks of training have been intense and that healthy competition for starting jobs delights the coach.

“Don’t expect this to be Mr. Roger’s Neighbourhood.

“There will be players who are pissed they are not starting, players who really want to play, players who know they deserve to be in the starting 11. That’s fine with me.

“It’s up to each player to find a solution, to fight every minute to win that place.”

From its first season, Dos Santos knew the team needed more maturity, more speed and more skill. Now he hopes he has recruited the men to make this happen.

Last year the average age was just over 23. This year it is 27, thanks mostly to the three newcomers in defence. Mike Randolph is 29, Brazilian Rafael Alves is 30 and Irishman Colin Falvey is 29.

Their experience is part of Dos Santos’ effort to solidify an errorprone defence. Early indications suggest the tall, (6-3) Alves is very strong in the air and Randolph shows the extra pace that was lacking at left back in 2014.

But these new men have no guarantees of a starting role.

Mason Trafford played close to every minute of last season as a central defender, Drew Beckie continues to improve either on the right side or in the centre and Ryan Richter, who played on loan from Toronto FC last year, loves to attack down the wing from right back. Each will want to start.

And team captain Richie Ryan will remain as the defensive anchor for the Fury. But even he is taking nothing for granted.

“Training is training, practice is practice,” he says. “And you must prove yourself every minute. Everyone is there for a starting place and the coaches are there to assess the best starting 11. That’s what pre-season is for and all of us know it.

“It is always up to the player to make himself vital. Every moment of training, of playing, with work ethic. If you don’t show it, it’s your fault.”

Contesting for midfield places are Patryk Misik, a 20-year-old Canadian, who returns from the Polish first division and Brandon Poltronieri, 29, who has come over from Atlanta.

Pre-season would not be complete without the possibility of new signings and there are hints of an eighth midfielder arriving in town before the season begins in Carolina on April 4.

Up front striker Tom Heinemann can expect strong competition from 25-year-old Californian Andrew Wiedeman. He has considerable Major League Soccer experience having played for Dallas before moving to Toronto in a trade for Canada’s captain Julian De Guzman.

In this case, much will depend on how Dos Santos wants to play. Heinemann is more of a target man while Wiedeman looks to use his pace to find defensive gaps to exploit. The two could be attacking partners.

The general identity of the team will not change too much. Dos Santos won’t stray from his possession game and 4-3-3 formation, but he does believe, unlike last year, he now has the men with the skills to switch to a three-man defence and five through midfield.

It is early days but Dos Santos knows there are no more firstyear excuses.

It is always up to the player to make himself vital. Every moment of training, of playing, with work ethic.