Season Outlook | FC Edmonton

Venue: Clarke Stadium

Coach: Colin Miller (third year)

2014 Finish: 6th place – Combined Standings

Key Players: D Albert Watson, M Lance Laing

FC Edmonton is one of the toughest defenses to break down in the league. Watson, at the heart of the backline, is the leader of it. While Watson’s work fails to gain the plaudits it often deserves, the 29-year-old defender will be crucial to the Eddies success. If he can continue to help shut down even the most dynamic of attacks, FC Edmonton will be in line to play closer to their 2014 Fall Season form, where they nearly clinched a postseason berth.

For the Eddies to reach The Championship, more goals will be required. A former defender, Lance Laing will no doubt lead the charge in the attacking third after finding the back of the net seven times in 2014. With his ability on the flanks, the Jamaican provide width, good service into the box, and a goalscoring touch. If players around the wide man can find a few more goals of their own, the Eddies attack could be the most potent it has been in years, in large part to Laing’s position further up the pitch.

What They’re Saying: “I’m very excited to start the season, not only from a FC Edmonton perspective but the whole league. There’s been some major signings, and it speaks volumes.

For us, last season we never wavered from our defensive responsibilities and made it a difficult place to visit in Edmonton. We know teams don’t enjoy coming up there and long may it continue. Let’s make this absolute hell for any team coming in here.” – Colin Miller

“We’re feeling good, we’re feeling confident. We want to go and attack the league. We want to go at it and be positive in every sense of our play, whether that’s defending or it’s attacking.” – Albert Watson  

Season Outlook: With two talented goalkeepers, John Smits and Matt Van Oekel, ready to take the number one position and a consistently strong defense, the Eddies will live and die by their ability to find the back of the net. In his third season, Hanson Boakai will need to find his finishing touch, while Sainey Nyassi and Oskar Hauksson will need to make an instant impact. The Eddies could also have a fully fit Frank Jonke to help in the goalscoring department after an injury-ravaged campaign in his first season in Edmonton. If the goals flow for the Eddies, they are a strong possibility to go from just missing out on The Championship to qualifying and being a team that can make some real noise in the postseason.