Home NASL & USL FC Edmonton FCE parts ways with six players, including Hlavaty, Parker and James

FCE parts ways with six players, including Hlavaty, Parker and James

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FC Edmonton has parted ways with six players — including NASL veterans Lance Parker, Neil Hlavaty and Horace James.

The team also released Canadians Massimo Mirabelli and Edem Mortotsi, and former Chicago Fire midfielder Mike Banner, who missed almost all of the season with a knee injury.

Coach Colin Miller said it was an amicable parting of the ways.

“All of these lads have been fantastic professionals, and their attitude, work rate and effort has been fantastic while at FC Edmonton,” Miller said in a release.

Parker’s season was derailed by a series of hand and shoulder injuries. The former Chivas USA keeper then saw John Smits post the best goals-against average of any keeper in the NASL who has enough minutes played to qualify for the Golden Gloves award (0.90).

FC Edmonton's Horace James, centre, skips by Indy's Kleberson, left. PHOTO: FC EDMONTON/TONY LEWIS
FC Edmonton’s Horace James, centre, skips by Indy’s Kleberson, left. PHOTO: FC EDMONTON/TONY LEWIS

Hlavaty had been with FCE for two seasons and scored three times and added three assists. But Ritchie Jones emerged as the No. 1 central midfield option for the Eddies in the fall season.

James scored twice and added two assists. He created issues for defenders on the right wing because of his speed, but Canadian Michael Nonni has also looked good in that spot. As well, moving James on now opens an international roster slot for the Eddies.

Mirabelli played 727 minutes in 2013, and just a total of 62 minutes in 2014. With Lance Laing’s emergence as a true left winger, Mirabelli was simply squeezed out of the lineup.

Mortotsi played just 56 minutes in the regular season. This was a player who Miller had praised during the season. Many times, he’d favourably compared Mortotsi to Vancouver Whitecaps midfielder Gershon Koffie.

Miller said last week that he didn’t expect a major turnover at the club this season — maybe five or six roster spots.

 

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3 Comments

  1. footy

    November 7, 2014 at 8:24 am

    Not too surprising actually. Hlavaty hasn’t improved a lot over 3 seasons, most of the other players there were low in the pecking order as it is. Maybe in the case of Parker it was also a cut of costs, I can imagine him getting paid a lot more than the other keepers. And he was injured a lot this season.

    I’m surprised Jonke wasn’t on that list though. He’s had a rough season in NASL with no goals and his performances are mediocre at best.

  2. jamonty42

    November 7, 2014 at 7:43 am

    Lance Parker was likely the only guy that was remaining from the Foote Field era. He was the stability between the posts after more than a few Rein Baart red cards. Actually, this bring to light a question: who leads FCE in all-time appearances? In fact, I hereby request an exit interview… Could the 11 ask Parker a few questions and do a “then and now” type piece? Just an idea.

  3. Nathan

    November 6, 2014 at 8:23 pm

    So with Smits posting the best goals against average, is he the winner of the Golden Glove this year? Seems like nasl.com isn’t posting much about the keepers anymore…

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