To some, the inaugural season for the Hounds at Highmark Stadium was an impressive one. To others, it was another season that came up short.

With the offseason barely a week fresh, it might be time for early goals for next year. Here’s four items that could be good to look at and improve upon finishing seventh in USL PRO.

1. Spend money

With Tuffy Shallenberger in the front office and one holding a deep pocket, it would be wise for the Riverhounds to go out and spend money on aquireing a higher caliber set of players that can build upon what we already have.  With the possibility of stadium expansion should come expansion of that locker room.

2. Keep Jose Angulo and Matt Dallman in Riverhounds blue (or yellow, or black)

These two were the lynchpins of our offense last year. Both came away with regular season awards and will probably clean up a few more once the playoffs are said and done. Part of item 1 should be this as well. Jose Angulo has MLS “experience”, while Dallman has hopped around Germany for the last few years. Each can make the jump to MLS, but the ownership group needs to find a way to keep these guys here. I’m not sure of contract lengths, but most of the time it’s one or two years for players.

The draw this year was the stadium and level of play. Next year, the goal should be to not only make the playoffs, but to bring them to the shores of the Monongahela. That needs to happen with Angulo and Dallman.

3. Finish games

In nine games this season, we conceded 12 goals after the 75th minute, including letting in three in the last 15 minutes at Wilmington. This is nothing new for the Riverhounds and is something that has become commonplace in Steel Army conversations. Not sure if it becomes complancency on the field or overall fatigue from playing a full 90, but the team needs to tighten up and lock up points. Adding to a preexisting lead or trying for the win instead of playing for the draw needs to happen more. USL PRO is a league that if you drop a game or two, you very well could see yourself on the outside of the postseason watching at home.

4. Get an MLS affiliate

This seems to be a 50/50 debate in most SA circles, but I would find it to be the benefit to the team. Three of the four USL PRO teams that had MLS affiliations this year not only made the playoffs, but hosted games in the first round. I feel this would be a great move for the Riverhounds because it would give the team to improve upon what we already have. It would give us players that have training and experience at a higher level. Dom Dwyer (SKC/Orlando), Andrew Dykstra (DC/Richmond) and Cristhian Hernández (Philadelphia/Harrisburg) were sent down and assisted in moving their teams to a better position in USL PRO and winning games. Granted, we didn’t see that with the New England/Rochester partnership because, let’s be honest, Rochester sucks.