Yay!
Yesterday the Riverhounds finally announced their first couple signings for the 2015 season. We’ve heard through the grape vine about some of the regulars coming back, which is great, but unless I missed something during my holiday hangover this is the first official announcement on the 2015 roster. And it’s a nice announcement. It shows the Hounds are working on keeping around some of the better players from last season, and also that they’re going out and looking for talent to fill a couple holes on the roster. It would’ve been easy for them to settle with whoever floated down the river after the bankruptcy mess, and I’m sure many of us expected that. Seeing who they’re bringing in gives me a little more confidence in team this year.
Word came out last week that the Hounds were able to bring back Houston loanee Anthony Arena as a full time Riverhound. This was a shocker in all the right ways. Arena was one of the bright spots of the affiliation last year. He was only with the Riverhounds for 16 games but when he was in Pittsburgh our defense played much better. When Arena was released by Houston towards the end of last year I figured another MLS team would scoop him up. It’s great to see the Hounds go out and get a guy who could probably make an MLS roster, and that despite how last season went Arena is still up for coming back. There’s still some question marks on defense, but getting Arena is a good first step.
The Hounds also brought back Miro Cabrilo, a favorite among some of our members. Miro impressed us in the preseason last year but didn’t get much play time with the first team after signings late in the season. He averaged only 20 minutes a game in 12 appearances, but did find the back of the net twice. Miro is a big guy who has good ball control in the box. I don’t have a lot to say on him except I’m looking forward to seeing what he can do through a full season.
Meet our, presumably, new starting keeper. Thompson hails from Jamaica and gained most of his professional experience playing for the Shamrock Rovers in the Irish league (the won the league in 2011). He also has experience playing in the UEFA Europa League, and the UEFA Champions League. Last year he was the #2 keeper at the Tampa Bay Rowdies, and recently has been called up to the Jamaican national team as their back up. He started in a friendly against Japan back in October (which you can see highlights of on Youtube). From what I’ve seen of his highlight videos Thompson looks to be an acrobatic, aggressive keeper. He punches the ball with authority and defends set pieces very well. His aggressiveness does get him into trouble sometimes, but I rather have that than someone passive and hesitant. At 30 years old he’ll be one of the oldest guys on the squad. I’m sure coach Steffens will be looking for veteran leadership out of him.
Some people were wondering if Steffens would bring anyone from Charlotte with him to Pittsburgh. Okai is one of those guys (kind of). Okai was drafted by the Philadelphia Union in 2013, but ultimately ended up at Charlotte for his professional debut. He made 24 appearances and scored 4 goals. Last season he found himself out west playing for the OC Blues. There’s a highlight video of him on Youtube where you can see him almost scoring at the 90+ minute mark against the Hounds last season. Okai may have a low goal count, but from the footage I’ve seen he’s very good at setting up the attack that ultimately leads to a goal. He also can have a dangerous shot from the top of the 18. He should be a good center midfielder or holding midfielder in a 4-3-3 (a formation I hear Steffens likes to run).
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All in all these are solid signings for the Hounds. Miro aside they’re defensive oriented which, as I mentioned the other week, is exactly what I want to see out of the team. I fell hook like and sinker on the player hype train last year, so I’m trying not to do it again. That said with the returning players the Hounds seem to be putting together a solid core instead of trying to be too flashy. They will probably get off slow with the shortened off season, but I’m a little more confident we may see the playoffs this year (especially with the new league format).
#UNLEASH
