Athletic Club of Saint Louis, Season Preview 2012/13

May 29, 2012

This club is likely to change quite a bit in the coming weeks, but here is what it looks like before the season starts.

The numbers in parentheses are the player’s appearances for Red River, goals, and national team appearances (if no parens exist, the player is uncapped and has not appeared for AC St. Louis).

GOALKEEPERS

Tom O’Brien (80, 27 shutouts) is the current number one choice in goal, but he’s still recovering from a broken leg, and is unexpected to see the field until September. That leaves nineteen year old Daniel Hayden as the likely starter for the Red River. He’ll be backed up by two other youngsters: eighteen year old Ignacio Rincón and fifteen year old Paul Oshoniyi.

This is clearly a position that Langford will be looking to improve.

SWEEPER

The key defensive position in Langford’s tactic is quite a concern. American veteran and Red River’s all time appearance leader Derek Valdez (87; 6) is learning the position quickly, but his lack of experience playing behind the line will probably show through from time to time. Look for Langford to bring in some talent, perhaps even from Italy, to help here; for the time being, Valdez will be deputized by Davini (see below).

CENTER BACKS

Marco Davini (43; 1) and Brian Cutler are the likely starters, although Cutler, on loan from the Penn Yan Mustangs, has had some horrific moments in the preseason. Look for Albright and Gargan to help out here, as well as a few new faces over time.

WINGBACKS

American veterans Michael Harrington (35; 1; 9 USA youth caps) and Chris Albright (17; 0; 22 USA caps) will start on the wings for Saint Louis with Evan Harding (53) and Suad Filekovic (19; 20 Slovenia caps) seeing time in rotation as well.

HOLDING MIDFIELD

American veteran Dan Gargan (29; 1) will start at the base of midfield with support from two loanees, Mike Clark from McAllen and Manuel Rodríguez from Oklahoma City.

MIDFIELD

Diminutive Justin Stephens (77; 4), who stands 5’4” but provides great on the ball skills, will be trusted as the pivot, providing the link between defense and offense for Langford’s side. He’ll be backed up by Conor Shanosky, on loan from Hampton Roads, and Cristian García, perhaps Red River’s brightest youth talent.

ATTACKING MIDFIELD / TREQUARTISTA

The key offensive roles will be filled by Jarrod Smith (60; 9; 28 New Zealand caps) and Alfonso Galván (26; 9), with Adolfo Gregorio (14; 1) and Mission FC’s Tom Cooks helping out from the bench. Galván will fill the trequartista role, given the freedom to orchestrate the attack while Smith will serve as a more traditional two-way player.

FORWARD

The hopes of Saint Louis rest on the broad shoulders of Faneva Andriatsima (32; 6; 9 Madagascar caps), who seems quite eager to take on the role of sole striker. Brazilian veteran Pablo Campos (32; 4) will divide time as his backup with Philadelphia’s Alejandro Cortés.

NOTABLE YOUTH

There really isn’t a lot here, with Antonio Pérez and Mike Campos probably being the best of the bunch.

Here are the starting eleven, front to back:

Tom O’Brien [GK]

Derek Valdez [SW]

Brian Cutler [CB]

Marco Davini [CB]

Michael Harrington [LWB]

Dan Gargan [DMC]

Chris Albright [RWB]

Justin Stephens [MC]

Alfonso Galván [TRE]

Jarrod Smith [AMC]

Faneva Andriatsima [F]