Minnesota United opens its 2016 season with some familiar faces in place, including head coach Carl Craig, who formerly served as an assistant coach. On the field, more than two-thirds of the team's roster is held over from last year, but the Loons have augmented last year's core with a few new signings, including NASL Best XI honorees Stefano Pinho and Lance Laing, and MLS veterans Ben Speas, Danny Cruz, Bernardo Anor and Jeb Brovsky.
United looks set to retain the 4-2-3-1 formation that Craig helped architect last year as assistant coach, and there are three key things to watch for with that formation. The first is up front, with striker Christian Ramirez, who turns 25 soon. He is a classic, goal-focused center forward. He won't often drop back into the midfield to get the ball, or try to beat defenders off the dribble, but will mostly make runs into dangerous areas. That means he's depending on others to get the ball to him, so look out for how well he's working with the players on the wing. Laing, Pinho, Cruz, Anor and holdovers Daniel Mendes and Jamie Watson are all in contention for playing time out wide. If the eventual attacking trio isn't on the same page, United will spin its wheels.
The second key is the attacking midfielder in the center of the field, often called the "number 10" role. Last year veteran Brazilian midfielder Ibson made the league's Best XI in this role because of his success in driving Minnesota's offense forward. That said, he was occasionally criticized for being less than diligent defensively, and he's dealt with injuries in the preseason. Speas should see early time there, and the key for United will be his ability to play a two-way game. If he's both creating attacks and also dropping back to disrupt the opposition's game, he will take some of the pressure off the two defensive midfielders behind him.
Those defensive midfielders are particularly important, because the center of the defense is where Minnesota has the most room to improve, the final key for United this year. The NASL tends to be a very direct league, with goals coming more from set pieces and long balls and less from intricate passing, which puts pressure on central defenders. Tiago Calvano returns in the center along with local product Brent Kallman, and the team acquired Damion Lowe on loan, but the defense has not been impressive in preseason. Craig's 4-2-3-1 helps shield the central defenders with a pair of defensive midfielders. The team's defense may come down to the success of those midfielders — Brovsky, who can also deputize at fullback, and returnees Greg Jordan and Juliano Vicentini. Look for whether the central defenders have support, or whether they seem to be on an island.
Expectations will be high for the Loons, as Craig tries to integrate new arrivals into the team. Anything less than a third consecutive playoff berth would be a major disappointment.
SHORT TAKES
• The NASL announced a number of national television deals in the lead-up to the season. It will have games televised on CBS Sports Network, beIN Sports and One World Sports, and streamed on ESPN3. For local fans, though, the important thing is Minnesota United's own television contract, which will see all but one game broadcast on WFTC (Ch. 29). The exception is an Aug. 31 game at Fort Lauderdale. It will be televised on CBS Sports Network.
• The knives were out again for U.S. men's national team head coach Jurgen Klinsmann after Team USA's 2-0 loss to Guatemala in World Cup qualifying. A 4-0 home win against the Guatemalans, four days later, dampened some of the anger, but it's clear that American fans don't agree whether Klinsmann's coaching or the lack of talented players is to blame for the team's struggles.
• The Minnesota Thunder Academy girls' U-17 team is making a few waves on the national scene. It has won 11 of 12 games this season to climb to the top of the standings in the nationwide Elite Clubs National League, the highest level of girls' club competition.
WEEKEND WATCH GUIDE
Premier League: Tottenham at Liverpool, 11:30 a.m. Saturday, Ch. 11. In a different, non-Leicester City-led season, second-place Tottenham would be the underdog that everyone rooted for. The Spurs haven't won a title for 50 years and are playing fast-paced, attractive soccer under Mauricio Pochettino. Instead, all the Spurs can do is continue to grind out victories and hope to spoil the fairy tale.
La Liga: Real Madrid at Barcelona, 1:30 p.m. Saturday, beIN Sports. Quite often, El Clasico has title implications, especially this late in the season. With Real 10 points behind Barcelona, though, this game is less about the title and more about both teams' white-hot desire to heap misery on their biggest rival. A La Liga title aside, this is always a must-watch game. Messi vs. Ronaldo! Zidane vs. Enrique!
NASL: Minnesota at Carolina, 2 p.m. Saturday, Ch. 29. The Loons kick off their 2016 season against a Carolina team that has quietly revamped its defense into perhaps the best in the NASL. The RailHawks are usually a good team, and new ownership has helped stabilize one of the second division's longest-tenured franchises. United's attacking strength will have its hands full with Carolina's defense.
Premier League: Southampton at Leicester City, 7:30 a.m. Sunday, NBC Sports. Leicester has completed the transformation from plucky upstart to prohibitive title favorite with aplomb. Despite the growing target on their backs, the Foxes have won four of their past five — all by the same 1-0 score. It's been a master class in protecting first place. Seventh-place Southampton is the next test.
