Coach Gary Smith has the Silverbacks competing for the NASL’s spring season title despite what he said is the lowest payroll in the league.
He’s doing it without any complaints because operating successfully on tight budgets is something he has grown used to.
He led Colorado to an MLS Cup in 2010 with the league’s third-lowest payroll.
He led Stevenage to the semifinals of England’s League One playoffs and to the fifth round of the FA Cup in 2012 despite again having one of the lowest payrolls.
So no money means no problems for Smith, who was hired to coach the Silverbacks in December.
“I’ve been able to squeeze more out of nothing than some others,” he said modestly. “I’m hoping at some point that someone will give me something and I’ll be able to do something.”
That doesn’t mean Smith is looking to leave the Silverbacks, even though NASL is operating the club while it looks for new owners, which comes with an uncertainty that affects everything. Smith said he has enjoyed coaching this team as much as any he has had because of the players’ desire to work.
Under Smith, the Silverbacks are off to their second-best start since joining the league. The team has seven points this year and trails the league-leading Cosmos by seven, but second-place Jacksonville and Tampa Bay by two. The winner of the Spring season earns an automatic spot into the playoffs.
It’s remarkable considering Smith has never coached in the NASL before this year, and the team has just three players who were on last year’s roster.
Smith, president Andy Smith and his staff scoured the globe looking for players for this year’s team. They wanted players not only of quality, but knew they were on a tight budget. The NASL declined to say what the team’s budget is, other than to say it allows them to be competitive.
“Number (payroll) I was given was lower than I anticipated,” he said. “However, I was appreciative of what had happened and some of the difficulties that have surrounded the team playing-wise and in regard to ownership.”
So, they spent two months and more hours than Smith can count targeting, researching and interviewing players who they hoped would play for less money, who had the right personality so that a culture could be established quickly and wouldn’t have to be revisited for unhappy players, and who wanted to improve so that less money could turn into larger salaries later, likely for bigger clubs.
Smith and his staff were the “hopeful” lures as the guys to help those players fulfill their potential and give them playing time.
“Most players want the opportunity to improve,” he said. “Do the coaches take the time, care, effort to analyze their game, not the team, but them individually. We’ve offered players that chance to better themselves.”
MLS Atlanta: An MLS Atlanta spokeswoman said that owner Arthur Blank hopes to unveil the team name sometime before the Gold Cup semifinals are played at the Georgia Dome in late July.
The Atlanta squad will begin play in 2017.
Called in: Power Springs resident Shaquell Moore was recently named to the U.S. Under-20 World Cup roster by coach Tab Ramos. The tournament will be in New Zealand. Final rosters must be submitted by Friday.
“He fits into the team really well,” Ramos said. “I’ve been a fan of Shaq.”
Moore, a defender, worked out for FC Dallas last year but is currently unattached. He is training in Spain with third division club Huracan Valencia CF.
He started six games for U-20s last year and was tied as the most-capped player for the U-17 team from 2011-13 with 40 games. He is a product of Smyrna Stealth and Cobb FC.
The U.S. will open group play against Myanmar on May 30 in Whangarei, followed by New Zealand on June 2 and Ukraine on June 5, both of which will be in Auckland.
Georgians in MLS
Here’s a list of players with ties to the state who are in MLS:
Joe Bendik (@jtbendik), Toronto, GK, Kennesaw
Didn’t make the 18 for team’s 1-0 loss to Montreal on May 6 or the 2-1 loss to Houston on Sunday. He is recovering from an injury.
Next game: vs. Montreal on Wednesday and at New England on Saturday.
Mark Bloom (@markbloom21), Toronto, D, Marietta
Did not make the 18 for team’s 1-0 loss to Montreal on May 6 or the 2-1 loss to Houston on Sunday. He is recovering from an injury.
Next game: vs. Montreal on Wednesday and at New England on Saturday.
Ricardo Clark (@RicoC13), Houston, M, Jonesboro
Started, played 90 minutes and had two shots in team’s 1-0 loss to San Jose on May 5. Started, played 83 minutes and had three shots in team’s 2-1 win over Toronto on Sunday.
Next game: vs. Portland on Saturday.
Warren Creavalle (@warrenspeak), Toronto, D, Acworth
Started and played 90 minutes in team’s 1-0 loss to Montreal on May 6. Made the 18 but didn’t play in team’s 2-1 loss to Houston on Sunday.
Next game: vs. Montreal on Wednesday and at New England on Saturday.
Chris Duvall (@chrisduvall91), New York Red Bulls, D, Duluth
Started and played 90 minutes in team’s 2-1 win over NYCFC on Sunday.
Next game: at FC Dallas on Friday.
Sean Johnson (@sjohn25), Chicago, GK, Snellville
Started and allowed two goals in team’s 2-1 loss to Real Salt Lake on May 9.
Next game: at NYCFC on Friday.
Alec Kann (@akann90), Chicago, GK, Decatur
Did not make the 18 for team’s 2-1 loss to Real Salt Lake on May 9.
Next game: at NYCFC on Friday.
Chris Klute (@chrisklute), Columbus, D, Silverbacks, Clayton State
Made the 18 but didn’t play in team’s 3-2 win over Seattle on May 9.
Next game: at San Jose on Saturday.
Jack McInerney (@jackmcinerney9), Montreal, F, Alpharetta
Started, played 90 minutes and scored a goal in team’s 1-0 win over Toronto on May 6. Started and played 86 minutes in team’s 2-1 loss to Portland on May 9.
Next game: at Toronto on Wednesday and vs. Real Salt Lake on Saturday.
Kwadwo Poku, NYCFC, M/F, Silverbacks
Came off the bench and had an assist in team’s 2-1 loss to New York Red Bulls on Sunday.
Next game: vs Chicago on Friday.
Andrew Wolverton (@a_wolvie), Los Angeles, G, Atlanta
Did not make the 18 for team’s 0-0 tie with Real Salt Lake on May 6.
Next game: At Orlando on Sunday.
Walker Zimmerman (@thewalkerzim), Dallas, D, Lawrenceville
Started and played 90 minutes in team’s 2-1 win over L.A. Galaxy on May 9.
Next game: vs. New York Red Bulls on Friday.
