The phenomenon of Traffic Sports is one that has been quite well known in and inherent to the NASL landscape over the last few years. Indeed, Traffic has played a significant role in financing the league, and as of 18 months ago, still owned the Ft. Lauderdale Strikers, Carolina Railhawks, and a stake in the Atlanta Silverbacks.
Having divested themselves of their share of the Silverbacks and the Strikers, Traffic's financial obligation in the NASL has been greatly reduced, with now only Carolina remaining in their portfolio. Such a reduction of financial outlay hardly means that Traffic's influence in the league won't be felt in 2015, however. If recent off-season moves are any indication, it appears that the Railhawks and their fans will be happy beneficiaries of Traffic's streamlined NASL operations.
Yes, Traffic can be praised for funding such a large part of the league, but for those fans in Ft. Lauderdale, Atlanta, and Carolina, the criticism was that Traffic's ownership was one more defined by frugality than anything else. Of course, one scarcely needs a degree in economics to understand that owning two teams and part of another meant that Traffic's NASL's resources were spread thin. No longer.
Colin Clarke did a masterful job of piecing together his Carolina side last season, especially in the wake of Brian Shriver taking his goal-scoring acumen to Tampa Bay before the season began. With fewer financial resources at his disposal than the likes of San Antonio, Minnesota, and New York, amongst others, Clarke, despite predictions of a lower half finish by many, kept the Railhawks in the race for fourth right up to the dying embers of the campaign.
Oh, but how different the expectations will be this year for Carolina. With the purse strings loosened, Clarke has been able to add the likes of a steady midfield influence in the form of Neil Hlavaty (from Edmonton), the crafty Simone Bracalello (from Minnesota), and the perpetually goal-savvy and always dangerous Mark Anderson (yet another member of the Ft. Lauderdale exodus).
Anderson at his very best
Many managers in the league would love to have the attacking triumvirate of Ty Shipalane, Anderson and Bracalello gracing their midfields, and if Carolina remains active in the market and brings in another striker to partner Nacho Novo, there is every reason to think that the Railhawks could and should be one of the more entertaining sides to watch this season.
There are certainly still moves for Carolina to make in other departments of the team between now and opening day, but at the moment, the club is setting itself up nicely for a run at some silverware in 2015.
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