WEEK AHEAD PREVIEW
Week of Sat 8/10 - Fri 8/16 all times Central
Birmingham Legion
Saturday Aug 10 at Monterey Bay 9:00
If you want to know how Monterey Bay will do against Legion, flip a coin. They've been a very inconsistent team this year, and recently fired their head coach. This week, they hired a new coach: 42 year-old Jordan Stewart. Stewart is a native of that other Birmingham from across the Atlantic and spent time playing in the EPL and in MLS. Most recently, he coached for the San Jose NextPro team. It's hard to say what impact he'll have on the game, if any. MB has only won one game against teams from the East this season. But that win came against the resurgent Pittsburgh Riverhounds on the road in early July. Legion will be looking to play defense and counter. Monterey and Legion have given up a fair amount of goals, but MB has scored 21 to Birmingham's 27. Teams often get motivated by a new coach, so it's really hard to have any feel for this one. Flip a coin, and it says somebody wins 2-1. Hopefully it will be Legion.
Huntsville City FC
Saturday Aug 10 vs Chattanooga FC 7:00
I wish I had looked far enough ahead to plan a trip up for this game, since Legion play a late one on in Cali. This will be the third time these teams play each other this season, with CFC having the edge. CFC's first NextPro game was against HV, and was decided in a shootout (CFC got the extra point). Chattanooga won the second meeting 1-0. This match also features a brand head coach, for Huntsville. Will they be inspired? Should be another close game in what's starting to heat up as a rivalry.
News and tidbits
Image credit: Birmingham Legion Facebook
Birmingham Legion have announced the official completion of their training facility. The 9000 square foot building includes a locker room, player lounge and dining area, workout area, and meeting rooms. The project has been in the works for four years, and will be paired with the UAB Physical Therapy at Dunnavant Valley clinic. A ribbon cutting ceremony will be held on Thursday August 15. Fingers crossed that the next step will be centered around building a new soccer-specific stadium.