2016 OUTLOOK | Ottawa Fury FC
Venue: TD Place Stadium
Coach: Paul Dalglish (First year)
2015 Finish: 9th place (Spring); 1st (Fall); 2nd (Combined)
Key Players: Julian de Guzman, Rafael Alves, Romuald Peiser, Marcel de Jong, Idan Vered, Mauro Eustaquio
Ottawa charged to the Fall Season title in 2015, but have since undergone several changes. Paul Dalglish has come in to coach and the roster has been remade as well. With several key defenders leaving – Colin Falvey, Mason Trafford, and Ryan Richter – Dalglish has retooled the back line with the additions of Thomas Onua Obasi, 27; Rich Balchan, 27; Kyle Porter, 26; and Fernando Timbo, 26. Stalwart defender Rafael Alves, 31, and record-setting goalkeeper Romuald Pesier, 36, have remained with the club.
Fury FC also added another Canadian international to the mix with the signing of Marcel de Jong, 29, to join the nation’s captain, Julian de Guzman, 34, and the talented youngster Mauro Eustaquio, 23.
The club has also had to replace its top scorer from a year ago, Tom Heinemann, 28, who scored eight goals with four assists. In has come Dennis Chin, 28; Gerardo Bruna, 25; and the former Israeli youth international Idan Vered, 27, to add firepower.
What They’re Saying: “With the signings announced in the NASL the standard of the league will be taking a step up in 2016. It is an exciting time for the league and we plan to improve on our success of last season and compete for a championship.” –Coach Paul Dalglish
“For us to get to our goals that we reached last year and better we have to keep focused, work hard – there’s a lot of new bodies – and jell as soon as possible, and take it from there.“ –Midfielder Mauro Eustaquio
2016 Outlook: Ottawa Fury FC amassed truly impressive numbers last year, finishing the Fall Season on a 12-game unbeaten streak, setting a whole host of defensive records, and reaching The Championship Final.
The squad will need to find similar cohesiveness with the reworked squad in 2016. Ottawa returns a strong core of players, including Romuald Peiser, Julian de Guzman, and Rafael Alves down the spine of the team, while the club has signed several exciting players including Gerardo Bruna, Marcel de Jong, and Idan Vered. Expected to play in a different system and a more attacking style under new coach Paul Dalglish, Dennis Chin, Vered, and the other forwards should provide a dynamic attacking combination with a sturdy midfield behind them.
One of Ottawa’s keys to success in 2015 was the stellar play of Peiser and the back line, which consistently had the same four players over the club’s strong Fall Season. With three of those players departing – Rafael Alves is the holdover – the club will hope the new band of veteran defenders can jell as a unit, and do so quickly.
