Brave is the man who would even begin to suggest that 2014 was anything but a successful campaign for Indy Eleven. Yes, the team finished near the foot of the overall table once the dust had settled on the regular season, but the on-field expectations were always going to be rather muted in the team's inaugural campaign. Off the field, however, Indy Eleven were box office darlings, playing before capacity crowds for every home game and boasting one of the most passionate fanbases in the league.
Perhaps the writing was already on the wall for Indy to face renewed struggles this term after an offseason that was surprisingly bereft of transactions. Admittedly, the additions of center back Greg Janicki and the permanent signing of striker Charlie Rugg were causes for encouragement, but was enough truly done to allow Indy Eleven to take the next step in its evolution?
For the most part, this is the same side that finished ninth last year (out of 2014's ten teams), though the argument could be made that the roster Juergen Sommer had at his disposal at the end of last term, replete with Montreal loanee Blake Smith and Jamaican international Jermaine Johnson, was actually a more talented collection than what he has to work with now. Instead, Sommer continues to be left with a squad lacking in depth while consisting of far too many players who only gained their first professional experience with Indy Eleven last year, or are only cultivating that experience this season.
On one hand it is admirable that the Indy Eleven braintrust may have believed that continuity and cohesion would be the path to improvements in 2015. Now, with frustration amongst the loyals building thanks to renewed struggles, it is becoming more apparent that the upcoming summer break will be a vital time indeed. With the rest of the league having improved significantly, Indy Eleven can hardly afford to stand pat and watch the season spiral into anonymity and also-ran status. The dire reality of Kleberson's Achilles injury makes summer moves all the more necessary.
The good news is that Indy Eleven can spend some of the cash it has in the coffers over the summer and still have 20 games to put things right by making a push for a coveted fourth place spot in the final table. Without such proactivity, one wonders just how long the goodwill of the supporters can hold out if the losses continue to mount. 2014 saw the fans flock to support a team that they could call there own, but in the end, all fans want to support a winner.
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