We’re suspending power rankings until the last week before the regular season. There’s just too much chaos and, dare we say it, parity between the clubs right now. Instead, we will do a team-by-team preview over the next week, and answer these questions: how could they succeed, and how could they stumble?
Charlotte Independence
Sure, we panicked a bit when the Jacks were late announcing additions to their core squad, and when the club weathered a bit of scandal with the player’s union. But we almost forgot about all of that when they did start bringing in a cast of supporting players.
How Charlotte Independence could succeed in 2023
They’ll rain enough goals on their opponents to overwhelm the league.
The Independence already had their goal-scoring tandem of Tresor Mbuyu and Khori Bennett returning. These two had 11 goals each in 2022, helping the club to the third most goals in the league and the 6th and final playoff spot. Then they brought in Dane Kelly, the all-time leading goal scorer at USL’s top level. This is a forward who has at least ten goals in USLC/USL/USL Pro in seven out of 12 seasons. Now he’s on an offensive attack that includes Mbuyu and Bennett, backed by the likes of veterans Miguel Ibarra, Gabriel Obertan, and rising midfield star Omar Ciss.
Are we looking at a season where Charlotte could top Richmond’s 2022 goals total of 54? With the addition of Kelly, that seems to be the club’s aim.
How Charlotte Independence could stumble in 2023
Age and questionable defense will catch up.
As far as clubs in USL1 go, the Jacks are certainly experienced. But experience requires age, and age can be uncertain in a long, hot 32-match season. Much of the offense depends on three players who are over the age of 30: Miguel Ibarra (age 32, 3 goals and 7 assists in 2022), Gabriel Obertan (age 34, 3 goals and 3 assists in 2022), and Dane Kelly (age 32). Injuries could quickly add up during critical times over the season.
We could see a scenario where Ibarra and Obertan are swapped out regularly to let one rest. If both remain healthy with this type of management, that’s a dangerous combination in the center and on the right. But what if both end up on the injured list?
In addition, the club’s defense doesn’t inspire full confidence just yet. Joel Johnson and Brad Dunwell join the defensive corps from the USL Championship, but the remainder of the backfield is the same one that gave up a league second-worst 48 goals in 2022.
And can we talk about the goalkeeping situation? A club that relied heavily on loans in 2022 currently has Austin Pack, a veteran who hasn’t made an appearance since May of 2022 with Hartford Athletic, who soon released him. Maybe there are some more loans upcoming as USLC clubs figure out their rosters, but for now, this is a big question mark.
But then again, USL League One is where comebacks happen every year.
And it’s the league where the best compensation for a questionable defense is an explosive offense that can make up the difference at the right time. Just ask Tormenta FC.