Breaking down roster ahead of season opener
2022 was nothing short of a disaster for the Phoenix Rising. The club went 1216-6, missing the playoffs for the first time since 2016. Manager Rick Schantz lost his job in August, replaced by his former assistant Juan Guerra. Fans chanted for Schantz and general manager Bobby Dulle to be sacked. And it all ended with the club’s stadium agreement with Wild Horse Pass falling apart after just two years.
All that has produced an off-season of immense turnover for a club that spent the previous half-decade being among the most consistent in the USL. Off the field, Rising moved to a new stadium just north of Sky Harbor International Airport — their first location within Phoenix city limits. On the field, the club will have nearly an entirely new roster. It’s possible to envision a lineup this weekend featuring just one or two returners.
Here’s a look at that roster ahead of Saturday’s season opener on the road against the Charleston Battery.
Goalkeeper
Returners (0): None
Departures (2): Ben Lundt (St. Louis City, MLS), Edward Delgado (Northern Colorado Hailstorm, USL1)
Additions (2): Rocco Rios Novo (Lanús, Argentinian Primera División), Patrick Rakovsky (Orange County, USL)
Not seeing Lundt between the sticks this year will be a bizarre sight. In Rising’s tumultuous 2022, the German was a steadying force, often coming up with critical saves to keep his team in games. Now, those performances have earned him a move to MLS’ newest side, St. Louis City SC.
Rios Novo, though, should be an apt replacement.
The Argentinian is only 20 but has already made 16 appearances in MLS for Atlanta United backing up Brad Guzan. He’s also proven himself at the USL level, with 22 appearances for Atlanta United II.
Bakovsky should provide a steady backup.
He’s made 51 appearances over the last two years for Orange County SC.
Defense
Returners (4): Darnell King, Baboucarr Njie, Niall Dunn, Channing Chasten
Departures (5): James Musa (Colorado Springs Switchbacks, USL), Ryan Flood (Finn Harps, League of Ireland), Joe Farrell (Pittsburgh Riverhounds, USL), Hayden Sargis (Loan Expired), Marcus Ferkranus (Loan Expired)
Additions (5): Mohamed Traore (LAFC, MLS), Daniel Krutzen (Forge FC, Canadian Premier League), Eddie Munjoma (FC Dallas, MLS), Henry Uzochokwu (FC Frederica, Danish First Division), Alejandro Fuenmayor (Oakland Roots, USL)
Last year, Guerra often played with wingbacks pushed high up the field, necessitating three central defenders behind them. But given Rising’s offseason moves, it seems likely that he could return to a 4-3-3 this season. Of the nine options Rising has at the back, only three are primarily central defenders — one of whom (Niall Dunn) has barely played any professional minutes due to injury.
That leaves large roles for Krutzen and Fuenmayor, who both started the last three preseason games. Krutzen has long been a mainstay in the Canadian Premier League, while Fuenmayor made 28 USL appearances last year for Oakland, where he spent most of the season playing under Guerra.
On the outside, King and Njie established themselves as consistent starters down the stretch last year. Earning those roles again could be difficult, although King especially is well entrenched in Phoenix, with 82 appearances for the club over the last three years.
The problem is that Traore, Munjoma and Uzochokwu all primarily play outside back as well. Traore and Munjoma, in particular, are interesting. Traore already has 52 USL appearances at age 20, while Munjoma has made 15 MLS appearances over the last two years. Gabi Torres, who is officially listed as a midfielder, is another option to play left back, which he has done during parts of the preseason.
Midfield
Returners (3): Kevon Lambert, Carlos Anguiano, Gabi Torres
Departures (5): Aodhan Quinn (Indy Eleven, USL), Joey Calistri (Retired), Luis Seijas (Retired), Irakoze Donasiyano (Oakland Roots, USL), Arturo Rodriguez (Free Agent)
Additions (5): Federico Varela (CSKA Sofia, Bulgarian First League), Carlos Harvey (LA Galaxy, MLS), Emil Cuello (Sacramento Republic, USL), Renzo Zambrano (Pyunik, Armenian Premier League), Jose Hernandez (Oakland Roots, USL)
Interestingly, 10 of Guerra’s 15 off-season additions are Latin American players, with Mexico, Argentina, Uruguay, Panama and Venezuela all being represented. Among midfielders and attackers, all eight signings are Latin American.
Lambert has been a mainstay at the base of Rising’s midfield since 2017, but Cuello, who plays a similar role, has started Rising’s last three preseason games despite only starting sporadically for Sacramento last year. Zambrano is another holding midfielder who figures to feature prominently. Harvey can also play there or deputize at center back.
Among attacking midfielders, Hernandez has 133 USL games of experience and has previously played for Guerra. Varela’s experience in high-level environments in the first divisions of Portugal and Turkey as well as the Europa Conference League is a rarity in USL, especially for a player who is only 26.
Attack
Returners: None
Departures (5): Santi Moar (New Mexico United, USL), Greg Hurst (New Mexico United, USL), JJ Williams (Tampa Bay Rowdies, USL), Richmond Antwi (Free Agent), Lamin Jawneh (Free Agent)
Additions (3): Danny Trejo (LAFC, MLS), Erickson Gallardo (Zamora, Venezuelan Primera División), Manuel Arteaga (Indy Eleven, USL)
Rising only having three true attackers on its squad opens up some interesting possibilities. Torres and Cuello, in particular, are two players with the requisite versatility to play on the wing. A return to Guerra’s wingback-reliant formations from last fall, meanwhile, could leave Rising to only play with one or two attackers.
But there’s also the possibility that all three of Trejo, Gallardo and Arteaga could start alongside each other up top as all three offer something different.
Arteaga is an established USL striker, with 15 goals in 53 games in the league — something Phoenix desperately lacked last year. Trejo prefers to play as an attacking midfielder or second striker in a supplementary role, where he’s found success in the league with 15 goals in 44 games. Gallardo is more of a true winger who has proven himself at every stop, including with MLS’ Toronto FC for a brief spell in 2019 and 2020.