Week Fourteen: Battle for Playoff Position

This is the big one folks. Or one of the big ones. Depending on how the rest of the season shakes out, there could be a lot of them left. The Flyers dug themselves a big hole early in the season. Rose City's been playing well lately on a six game unbeaten streak but that could all come to a screeching halt versus the BSL's number one offense in Alamo City. The opponents are averaging 4.2 points a game which poses a problem. However, the Boys in Red have posted at least that many in every game for the past five weeks. It's time to see who's firepower shows up to what looks to be a gun show.

There are big implications in this match. The odds of the Flyers catching Alamo City for the Honors Trophy are pretty long, but three points could very easily put them within striking distance of a playoff spot. Both the third and fourth place teams sit on 25 points and a loss by either makes things very interesting. In addition, a Flyers win gives Orange County another look at reclaiming the number one spot.

Most everyone's healthy and only Rodney Wallace will sit out this week due to an MLS bye. Martin Rivero is questionable for his match against Dallas after picking up a knock against Chivas last week. However, the US Open Cup is in full swing and Montreal just finished the last game in the Canadian Championship as well so rosters for MLS teams might look a little strange. We're going to be on most of the heavy hitters at least starting if not going the full 90 anyway. Di Vaio and Bernier both saw 90' against Vancouver mid-week however so it's not totally unexpected to see one or both of them come of the bench or get subbed off the pitch around the hour mark.

Note: The questionable nature of both Castrillon and Rivero this week means that changes to the lineup may be made up to the deadline.

Starters
Patrice Bernier (MTL)
Marvin Chavez (SJ)
Aurelien Collin (SKC)
Danny Cruz (PHI)
Marco Di Vaio (MTL)
Alan Gordon (SJ)
Eric Hassli (DAL)
Kekuta Manneh (VAN)
Zach McMath (PHI)
Martin Rivero (COL)
Mauro Rosales (SEA)

Subs
Daniel Paladini (CHI)
Jamie Castrillon (COL)
Rodney Wallace (POR)

Reserve
Luis Robles (NY)

Week Thirteen: Cracking the Playoffs

The next two or three games are especially important in the Rose City. A strong showing now could shove the Flyers into the playoff positions if they keep racking up points and improving on their already solid APG. It all starts this week with the season's second match versus Burud Town who currently own third place. Add in the fact that there's just five points separating the two teams and this one has consequences.

The Flyers currently own the lifetime series 2-1 but the Stags won the last meeting 3-2 after an injury riddled Rose City team came storming back to tie most of the way through the week. However, a lot has changed in the Flyers camp since Week Five. Since then, Alan Gordon has returned (and left and returned again) to the pitch as have Marvin Chavez and Martin Rivero. Daniel Paladini, Danny Cruz, and the newest pickup Eric Hassli have all donned the Red for the first time since that week five match as well. Mauro Rosales and the Sounders have (re)discovered what scoring is. And finally, Rodney Wallace has begun receiving major minutes for the Timbers and has proven to be the potent weapon no one but he, the Costa Rican national team, and apparently Caleb Porter knew he could be. All in all, this is a different team than the Stags saw just a few short weeks ago and that's a good thing because playoff positions are starting to firm up and competition for the Majors Cup began last week as well.

In addition, pending league approval, the Flyers will be dropping Michael Harrington (POR) and picking up Jaime Castrillon (COL). If approved, appropriate edits will be made to the roster before game time.

Starters
Patrice Bernier (MTL)
Danny Cruz (PHI)
Marvin Chavez (SJ)
Aurelien Collin (SKC)
Marco Di Vaio (MTL)
Alan Gordon (SJ)
Eric Hassli (DAL)
Zach McMath (PHI)
Martin Rivero (COL)
Mauro Rosales (SEA)
Rodney Wallace (POR)

Subs
Daniel Paladini (CHI)
Jaime Castrillon (COL)
Kekuta Manneh (VAN)

Reserves
Luis Robles (NY)

Flyers 4 - 2 Second City

Flyers 4 - 2 Second City

Second City is now 0-4 versus the Flyers all time and the matchup is starting to look like one the Stars will worry about every time it comes up on the schedule. In a dramatic game this weekend, the Flyers faced down the Stars and jumped them in the league table as well, putting the Boys in Red in fifth overall. This is an especially encouraging result given that Di Vaio, Bernier, and Rosales all sat out this week due to MLS byes and minor injury. Points came from Rivero and Chavez along with Zach McMath's Clean Sheet/Save Point double.

Chavez goes 1 on 1.

"The club has really developed some depth in the last month or so and now that our injury issues are mostly in the past, we can take anyone, anywhere. We've shown that anyone on the team can score from Captain Rosales to guys like Wallace and Collin. Top of the table, here we come!" the Flyers coach exclaimed in an exuberant press conference after the match. Rose City started slow this year, sitting as low as tenth place in the league before the boys found their form and their health.

Now comes the hard part. The Flyers picked up nine points in the last three weeks off the backs of some of the league's less excellent teams as they needed to. Now comes back to back games against Burud Town and the league-leading Alamo City. If Rose City can find a way to get at least four points from those two games they should be contending for the playoffs and looking good in the Majors Cup standings as well. It's crunch time.

Edit: In addition, pending league approval, Rose City is dropping David Estrada and picking up Eric Hassli.

Week Nine: Getting Results

Rose City 6 - 5 Gateway United

Rose City finally lived up to its potential this season by dropping six points on Gateway United. The win evened up the lifetime series versus the Saints at 2-2-0 and marks the second high-scoring game in a row versus them after a 7-0 drubbing in the playoff semis last season.

Points came from everywhere this weekend showing that the team is built to score in a much more spectacular fashion than had been previously shown. A goal from Marco Di Vaio is expected and a save point from McMath is nice but the real story here is Rodney Wallace and Aurelien Collin. Both of these gentlemen were undrafted at the beginning of the season but steady minutes from Sporting and the Timbers respectively have made them plenty dangerous. Collin scored last week and Wallace has been threatening with several lasers from distance for a week or two as well. Three points of Collin was the crowning glory this weekend.

Collin celebrates his BSL hattrick.

This team is finally getting to where it should have been all season. Martin Rivero saw his first minutes of the season versus Houston this week, Marvin Chavez is finally back to full strength, and Alan Gordon has two more weeks on his slur induced suspension. It looks like this team really will hit the ground running for the second half of the season  and make a good challenge for a spot in the Majors Cup. The next two weeks are forgiving as well. Week ten features last season's nemesis the Pennsylvania Stoners still sitting in last place at 1-7-1. The week after sees Capital District come to town who at 1-5-3 are having what the league discribes as a "nightmare season". If the Boys in Red can take six points off of these two teams and head into the second half of the season on a three game winning streak and on sixteen points overall, it's reasonable to think they might just still be in it.

Week Nine: Gateway and Transaction

Gateway United is another strong team that's been struggling early this season. They've picked up some points in the last couple matches though, so this one is important for Rose City. It's crunch time. If the Boys in Red can't start picking up points and rapidly climb the table, half a season isn't going to enough to end up back in the playoffs.

The good news is this, most of the injuries are over. Martin Rivero is looking good to return in another week or two. Alan Gordon is healthy but took himself out for another three weeks. Marvin Chavez played his first minutes last week versus Portland and should only look more and more dangerous from here on out. Seattle has a bye this week, but most of the team should be available in the next one to two weeks. Then, finally, we can see what this team can do as it's currently assembled.

Starters
Patrice Bernier (MTL)
Marvin Chavez (SJ)
Aurelien Collin (SKC)
Marco Di Vaio (MTL)
Michael Harrington (POR)
Zach McMath (PHI)
Daniel Paladini (CHI)
Frederic Piquionne (POR)
Martin Rivero (COL)
Danny Cruz (PHI)
Rodney Wallace (POR)

Subs
Alan Gordon (SJ)
David Estrada (SEA)
Mauro Rosales (SEA)

Reserve
Luis Robles (NY)

In addition, the Flyers are dropping Chris Tierney (NE) for Danny Cruz (PHI).

Week Seven Lineup

Last week, a badly depleted Rose City still came within one point of a tie versus a middling Alliance squad. The 2-1 loss hurt, but the goal in the near term remains staying in the hunt as players return from injury. Alan Gordon started his first game last week with a point after playing a few minutes the previous week. Teammate Marvin Chavez and Colorado's Martin Rivero both look to be returning in the next two weeks or so as well. Finally Portland, Montreal, and Seattle both play this week. The play from newly acquired keeper Luis Robles is troubling, but Philly's Zach McMath is still with the team even while he engenders little confidence himself. Look for the Flyers to be competitive with Gold Coast this week and get back to .500.

Starters
Patrice Bernier (MTL)
Marco Di Vaio (MTL)
David Estrada (SEA)
Alan Gordon (SJ)
Michael Harrington (POR)
Zach McMath^ (PHI)
Sanna Nyassi (MTL)
Frederic Piquionne (POR)
Mauro Rosales* (SEA)
Chris Tierney (NE)
Rodney Wallace (POR)

Subs
Marvin Chavez (SJ)
Martin Rivero (COL)
Aurelien Collin (SKC)

Reserve
Luis Robles (NY)

Week Six Lineup

This week's gonna take some work; that's for sure. Montreal has a bye week in MLS which means no Marco Di Vaio and no Patrice Bernier. Sanna Nyassi's out of the question as well. Seattle too is not playing this week due to CCL commitments so you won't see Mauro Rosales either. That means that, once again, the Boys in Red are looking a little thin. Not everything is bad news though. Alan Gordon got limited minutes last week and is expected to see even more (maybe even starting) this week with San Jose. Winning this game would continue a great trend for Rose City, leaving the team at .500 and in a good position to head up the table as more of the injured players return to their respective lineups. Alliance is at the same record and, generally speaking, has had issues scoring this season so it's not impossible to see the Flyers come out with a "W".

Starters
Marvin Chavez (SJ)
Aurelien Collin (SKC)
David Estrada (SEA)
Alan Gordon (SJ)
Michael Harrington (POR)
Frederic Piquionne (POR)
Martin Rivero (COL)
Luis Robles (NY)
Mauro Rosales (SEA)
Rodney Wallace (POR)

Subs
Patrice Bernier (MTL)
Marco Di Vaio (MTL)
Sanna Nyassi (MTL)

Reserves
Zach McMath (PHI)

Week Five Linup

It's refreshing to have your team up and running at full capacity. That's exactly what it feels like this week for the Flyers with Portland playing again, even though the team's major injuries haven't sorted themselves out yet.

"We're getting stronger by the week," the Coach said when asked. "Once the injured guys get up to speed, expect us to be really dangerous." Expect this team to contend strongly for the Majors Cup. Still missing Marvin Chavez, Martin Rivero, and Alan Gordon on injury, the Flyers are none the less riding a two game winning streak after starting the season poorly. This week they face an undefeated Burud Town who put a hurting on the strong looking OC Zodiac. No doubt about it, everyone will have to contribute if the Flyers are to remain perfect against the Stags. It's no time for the Bernier magic to stop, and newly acquired keeper Luis Robles will have the chance to add to the board.

Starters
Patrice Bernier (MTL)
Aurelien Collin (SKC)
Marco Di Vaio (MTL)
David Estrada (SEA)
Michael Harrington (POR)
Sanna Nyassi (MTL)
Frederic Piquionne (POR)
Luis Robles (NY)
Mauro Rosales (SEA)
Rodney Wallace (POR)

Subs
Marvin Chavez (SJ)
Alan Gordon (SJ)
Martin Rivero (COL)

Reserves
Zach McMath

Bernier comes through for Rose City

Rose City 4 - 3 Second City

The Flyers' new signing, Patrice Bernier came through for the club just in time in week three. The Boys in Red are now 3-0-0 all time versus Second City and lead scoring 11-6.  There was quite the scrum mid-week as Bernier became available in a bidding war originally triggered by the league arrival of Seattle's new DP Obafemi Martins. While the bidding for Martins was too rich the Flyers, Bernier seemed just right.

This week's hero.

"He's a great, strong player with a good group behind him," the Flyers' coach said after the game. "There was some concern that he'd take a while to find his place in the squad, but he just showed up, put on his kit, and got to work. We're very glad to have him."

For Bernier's part, he had this to say, "The bidding during the middle of the week isn't something I like to think about. I just want a club that's going to back me all the way so that I can get to work and that's who the Flyers are. I was worried that such a rainy climate would throw me off my game, but it doesn't seem to be an issue." The new player was all smiles after the game.

You really can't discount what Bernier has already done for the club. The defending champions started the season with two losses. Without Bernier's help, week three would have been a tie with Second City (released Jack McInerney scored one goal while on wavers).

At this point, the club is also getting a better feel for the whole roster. Several draftees who were expected to get regular club minutes actually aren't. Hector Jimenez of LA has been replaced on the roster for next week with Portland super-sub Rodney Wallace. The club would also like to announce at this time that, pending league approval they'll be releasing Rafael de Sousa of DC to pick up Kansas City's Aurelien Collin. Finally, with Bernier's arrival and DP Marco Di Vaio, the club is feeling especially Montreal influenced. Any reasonable offer for the services of Sanna Nyassi or any of the club's injured players (Alan Gordon, Martin Rivero, Marvin Chavez) will be considered.

Week 2 Lineup

Last week was a tough way to start off the season. Scoring only one goal is definitely a shadow of last season and it looks to get no better this week. The front office employed a strategy during the draft that, while expected to pay off in the long run means that several high profile players are unavailable in the immediate term. Martin Rivero, Alan Gordon, and DP Marvin Chavez are all unavailable due to injury. Frederic Piquionne, expected to do major damage for Portland before the end of the season is still sorting out visa issues, and Mauro Rosales and the Sounders have no action in MLS this week due to CCL commitments. This is where the rubber hits the road. Guys like McInerney, Lee, and Tierney are going to have to step it up and help Marco Di Vaio carry this team until the rest of the heavy lifters return to the lineup.

Starters
Marco Di Vaio (MTL)
Michael Harrington (POR)
Hector Jimenez (LA)
YP Lee (VAN)
Jack McInerney (PHI)
Zach McMath^ (PHI)
Sanna Nyassi (MTL)
Mauro Rosales* (SEA)
Raphael De Sousa (DC)
Chris Tierney (NE)
Kwame Watson-Siriboe (RSL)

Subs
Frederic Piquionne (POR)
Alan Gordon (SJ)
Marvin Chavez (SJ)

Reserve
Martin Rivero (COL)

Week One Lineup

It's official! We're hours from game time for the BSL's fifth season. The title defense is on for the Flyers and first up is the Game of the Week versus Alamo City who feels like an old foe at this point. The series between the two clubs is tied and has been high scoring thus far. In the two games last season, the teams combined for eleven points. The Boys in Red will be headed up by the familiar sight of Mauro Rosales at captain while some of the squad get settled in and get fit. Some strategic decisions were made during the draft to acquire players who may be unavailable for an early game or two.

Starters
Marco Di Vaio (MTL)
Michael Harrington (POR)
Hector Jimenez (LA)
YP Lee (VAN)
Jack McInerney (PHI)
Zach McMath^ (PHI)
Sanna Nyassi (MTL)
Mauro Rosales* (SEA)
Raphael De Sousa (DC)
Chris Tierney (NE)
Kwame Watson-Siriboe (RSL)

Subs
Frederic Piquionne (POR)
Alan Gordon (SJ)
Marvin Chavez (SJ)

Reserve
Martin Rivero (COL)

As you can see, the club had some good pickups in the 2013 draft. There are undoubtedly guys still in camp who won't make it very far into the season, but there could be diamonds in the rough too. Can Frederic Piquionne see significant minutes with the Timbers after getting picked up today? So far the gamble of signing the then trialist with the 107th pick looks good. But he'll need to score goals. How will the new Defender rules work out? Rose City spent a good amount of time evaluating guys who play in the back but will that work be enough? If it is, it will likely be thanks to the work of guys like Chris Tierney and YP Lee. Finally, how long will it take to get injured DP Marvin Chavez back up and running? How long will Martin Rivero take for that matter. These are both players capable of scoring on any given week.

For now more questions are available than answers. Stick around to find out.

Week Sixteen Wrap-up

Rose City Flyers 3 - 0 KC Quest

Rose City demolished the bottom-of-the-table Quest this week 3-0 after lineup failures from both teams. What's most encouraging (aside from keeping the Flyers in the playoff hunt) is that this is the third time in three weeks that Rose City has scored three or more points. That might not sound like much but for a team that averaged 2.5 ppg before this week, it's encouraging. Rose City remains the only club with no ties in BSL play this season.

"Yeah. We talked that topic to death," the team's coach agreed in the post-match presser. "We've been working on getting more balls in the back of the net and it's finally starting to show." In particular, Marco Di Vaio scored his first BSL goal this week after the MLS transfer window opened up and he took the field for Montreal.

Next week features another Match of the Week for the Flyers, this time against the Battle. The teams have played only once before with Rose City sneaking a 4-3 result versus the current number one team.

"These two teams have been butting heads all season. We picked up that first result against them and jumped into first place. Another three points next week could really help things along," an upbeat coach added. "they're a really strong team with a lot of different angles of attack so we'll have to be on our toes." A win would definitely move the Flyers back into second and could mean the top of the table again if Gold Coast can tie or beat Pennsylvania.