The Ryan Martin Show: 4/14/14

Yesterday's show is now online. Liverpool's emotional win, Clint Dempsey's form, the Champions League draw, Barcelona's stumble, and the opening weekend in the NASL were just some of the topics discussed.

Note: We were having some microphone issues that led to some buzzing and humming in the first half of the show. Sorry!

NASL Team Previews: New York Cosmos

Although the Cosmos only came into the league for last year's Fall Season, their haul of silverware proves that it was a successful introduction to the league indeed. In winning a league double, the Cosmos fired a resounding signal of intent and, perhaps in turn, served as the catalyst to the spending spree embarked upon by fellow clubs looking to keep pace.

A season on from last year's heights tells us that Giovanni Savarese's will be seeking to repeat their feats by way of cohesion and relying upon the core of 2013's victors, though that is not to say that they have stood still in the market as other teams have strengthened. In addressing a couple of their needs, the Cosmos are poised to be at or near the top of the table again.

NASL Team Previews: San Antonio Scorpions

As 2013 drew to a close, Scorpions fans were relieved to see the back of a season that was the absolute epitome of a roller coaster. San Antonio stumbled out of the gate in the spring, rebounded to finish just behind Atlanta, started poorly again in the fall, fired Tim Hankinson, and finally began to show signs of life again to end on a high note.

Alen Marcina deserved ample credit in leading the late turnaround, and it was this performance as interim manager that saw him appointed on a full-time basis last winter. Now with San Antonio having spent copious amounts of money in the offseason, Marcina's challenge is no longer one of achieving consisteny; it is one of meeting lofty expectations and bringing home a trophy or two.

NASL Team Previews: Minnesota United

A 2013 season that began with the promise and excitement brought on by new ownership, a rebrand, and seemingly good signings ultimately devolved into a season of inconsistency, unfulfilled expectations and mid-table anonymity. Resultantly, areas needing further address were made clear.

The bulk of the offseason has been a good one for Manny Lagos and co., as yet more proven talent has been brought in to complement the club's formidable core. Yet, with one very significant injury on Minnesota's recent trip to England, the likelihood of Minnesota's involvement in the postseason suddenly doesn't look as sure as it might have before.

NASL Team Previews: Ottawa Fury

The NASL's new Canadian member has all of the appearances of being ready for life in the league. Manager Marc Dos Santos has put together an interesting mix of talent, whether Canadian, international, or well-versed in life in either the NASL or USL. Indeed, Fury's collective experience is hardly what one would expect from a team only just beginning play at this level.

Much like their expansion brethren Indy Eleven, the question is one that revolves around just how they'll fare this season. There is no baseline to base any predictions on, so we'll have to analyze the side, piece by piece, and try to gather if the parts add up to a greater sum.

NASL Team Previews: Indy Eleven

With the dawn of a new era of soccer on the horizon in Indianapolis, the atmosphere in town is so full of electricity that one can absolutely feel it. Predictably, club president Peter Wilt has worked yet more magic in cultivating such a rabid fanbase before the club has even played a league match, and owner Ersal Ozdemir has every reason to believe that the future is bright indeed for his fledgling NASL side.

When the season commences Saturday, Indy fans will be taken from the excitement of having a local side to support to the realities of actually seeing this year's squad in action, thus learning if they have the wherewithal to compete from the outset in a tightly-packed and highly-competitive league. Yes, manager Juergen Sommer's side has captured some remarkable, if not surprising signings, but will this be enough to put them at the right end of the table?

NASL Team Previews: Tampa Bay Rowdies

Much like Carolina last season, Tampa Bay was left empty-handed and left out of Soccer Bowl contention, despite finishing with the second best record in the league over the whole of 2013. As one could imagine, saying that Rowdies fans found themselves with a bitter taste in their mouths as a result of this would be an understatement.

Now a few months later, that bitter taste has given way to the euphoria of high expectations and a promising future. New owner Bill Edwards has come in with guns blazing, whether by investing a lot of his own money into Al Lang Stadium, splashing the cash on some high-profile signings, or making great strides in improving the gameday experience for the fans. Yes, such developments have led many NASL pundits to think that the Rowdies are a hot pick for trophies this season.

NASL Team Previews: Ft. Lauderdale Strikers

There's no other way to put this: Ft. Lauderdale was an absolute disaster last spring and hardly looked like showing any signs of life. Accordingly Daryl Shore was fired as manager, Günter Kronsteiner was brought in to reverse a sinking ship's course, and slowly but surely, the Strikers began to look rather competitive.

Fast forward to the dawn of this season and you can sense an air of optimism amongst Strikers fans that would have been quite misplaced only a year prior. In looking at the offseason moves the club made, one can understand that these good vibes throughout the fanbase may indeed be warranted.

NASL Team Previews: FC Edmonton

At the risk of sounding overly harsh, perhaps there is no better description of FC Edmonton's 2013 season than mid-table anonymity. As the draw specialists of the league, Edmonton fans and opponents alike knew what the club's recipe was: be hard to break down, depend on long balls and set pieces and hope to win games 1-0. Accordingly Edmonton was a side that nobody really looked forward to playing against, yet the fear of Edmonton picking up three points was never all too prevalent either.

With last year's scoring struggles in mind, Colin Miller has looked to revamp his midfield and striking options, but will the changes be enough for Edmonton to keep up with some of the bigger spenders in the league?

The Ryan Martin Show: 4/7/14

Yesterday's show is now online. The La Liga title race, the madness of Portland v. Seattle and managerial sackings were just some of the subjects discussed.

NASL Team Previews: Carolina RailHawks

If there was one team in the league that felt it was hard done by last season, it was unquestionably Carolina. Never mind the trophies brought home by the Cosmos and Atlanta; it was Carolina who stood as the beacon of consistency in finishing with the best overall record in the league, yet with only the Fall and Spring Season winners making it into the league's hallmark event, the Railhawks were left to rue cruel fate and stand on the outside looking in. Indeed, the expansion of the NASL's postseason came a season too late.

Whether Carolina can reach such a standard of quality this season might be a different matter entirely, of course. Colin Clarke has seen some very vital pieces to last year's puzzle depart, and his side is going to have to jell quickly in the wake of this turnover to be one of the final four teams standing come November.

NASL Team Previews: Atlanta Silverbacks

In what seemed like merely a matter of moments following the lights being turned out at Silverbacks Park after Atlanta's loss in the Soccer Bowl, the winds of change began blowing, and indeed with some force. Brian Haynes was not retained as manager, Eric Wynalda took the reins from his position as the club's technical director, and several players central to the Silverbacks' 2013 Spring Season triumph departed for pastures new.

From the outside looking in, this would appear to be something of a transitional season with lowered expectations. However, with the club making some shrewd moves in the player market during the offseason, one could understand why Silverbacks fans would be approaching 2014 with something of a quiet optimism.