Red Devils USA Team Preview (Season 5)

In season 4, Red Devils USA limped home to a 23rd place finish in the Overnight Premiership, only avoiding relegation due to the amount of teams that finished with 65% AI games. They struggled in the cup competitions, losing at the first hurdle of both the Miller World Cup and the Miller Grassroots Cup. They fell in the second round of the Overnight Cup for their only cup victory of the season. This team are a far, far cry from the team they were in season 1, when they almost won the Morning Premiership. Will things get any better for beleaguered Red Devils USA manager Tom Delgado? Can he oversee a turnaround for the ages that could make him the first 2-time winner of the Manager of the Season award?

* = Denotes potential starter
X = Will also play in reserves


Goalkeepers
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* Scott Fox
Carlos Espinoza

Defense
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*Alvaro Ormeno
*Per Kroldrup
*Yoon Seok-Young
*Pablo Alvarado
Patric
X - Lloyd James
Nathan Sturgis

Midfield
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*Leon Andreasen
*Martin Retov
*Samuel Holmen
*David Montoya
Dean Marney
X - Yoon Bit-Garam

Forward
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*Marco Perez
*Julio Nava
X - Givestin N'Suki
Paulo Cesar
Lionel Ainsworth
X - Roberto Grimaudo

Players to Watch
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Marco Perez - 51 goals in 152 games since joining the club. Considered by many to be a player to watch in the next few years, Perez has shown signs of promise. Could this be the year that he puts it all together? If he struggles, veteran Paulo Cesar will be looking to take his spot in the team.

Per Kroldrup - 7.09 rating in 137 matches since joining the club. Expected to be the leader of a $1,150,000 defensive renovation. Considered the face of the Red Devils USA franchise, it will be Kroldrup's responsibility to play like the top flight defender manager Tom Delgado brought him in to be.

Leon Andreasen - Season 5 will be the time for Andreasen to prove himself. Struggled to a 6.79 average rating in 108 matches. If he continues to struggle, supporters will really begin to turn their back on him.

Alvaro Ormeno - 7.10 average rating in just 51 games. Ormeno is already a fan favorite at the club for his unwillingness to fold up against superior opposition. Can he continue to hold off Patric and keep his spot in the team?

Scott Fox - The official successor to the goalkeeping throne once occupied by Juan Ojeda, the 25-year old Fox comes over from Sune Nielsen's Dream Team. He holds the record for most appearances at the club (2,611).

Prediction - The team looks stronger. Unfortunately, so does everyone else. Considering they were not very competitive last season, they should be considerably better. However, their increased ability to compete will not be able to save them from not only the drop, but from bottom. It doesn't help their cause that they are the lowest team to avoid relegation last season, finishing 23rd. They were saved due to other teams playing more than 65% AI matches. One thing Red Devils USA does have going for them: They were top of the AI% table, only playing 4% of their OvPrem matches with the AI manager. The only way they will be able to have a moderately successful season is if they get fortunate and can feast on opposing AI, like they did in Season 1 when they almost won the Good Morning Premiership in the now-defunct MFA.

The pick - 16th in Overnight Premiership (Relegated)

Why am I posting this? Simple, because I want to see what everyone thinks of their teams for the upcoming season. Also, I think it would be fun to see what every manager realistically thinks of their chances :)