There are vultures hovering over Nashville and to a man most people are saying the Metros will be re-born Mariners in the not too distant future. The clouds hovering over Ezell Park are worrisome to fans, players, and front office alike. Many people like to knock this club in the privacy of discussion boards and chat rooms because of their facilities and the sometimes less than substantial crowds. Many people are just waiting for more bad news to break out of Nashville.
Well, here it is folks. You'll hear it here first. The Metros are heading for… the playoffs. The one thing many people outside of Nashville didn't care to see happen have to watch as the Metros continue to make a strong push for the playoffs against the likes of Charlotte and possibly Atlanta. With the postseason target within reach for Nashville there are many doomsayers who will be slightly unhappy at the delay of finding out whether or not there will be soccer moving into the Sportsplex in Hampton Roads this winter. For the fans of the Metros they'll be trying to savor every moment of possible post-season action since they're not even sure they'll have a next season.
Anyone who followed this club last year, back when they were still the Rhythm, it didn't appear that the team had its feet under them and were dealt with rather easily. This season, however, has been a different story. Consistency has been key as players such as Jakob Fenger, Jeff Houser, Jaymi Bailey, and Chris Morman have developed into solid players who have helped put this team in an enviable position heading down the stretch.
With conference matches against Charleston, Charlotte, and Indiana remaining, though, the Metros will need to be careful and they'll definitely get a chance to see just how ready they are for the playoffs. This weekend's match in Indiana sets up their final two games against the Eagles and Battery. They'll desperately need the points against the Blast to try and overtake the Silverbacks and break away from the Eagles to get into a better playoff position. Regardless, the Metros look to be in great shape out of the Central as the top five teams in that conference have been some of the best in the league at gathering the points this season.
The tight-lipped front office has said all that needs to be said at this time about their future in Nashville. Of course this has only fuelled the rumors of their imminent sale and departure to interests in Hampton Roads but of course, this is a matter some would rather leave off until the off season. The focus now will likely be on a possible playoff run by the Metros.
In the end, even if this team does move away from Nashville no one can deny that this group of players have done extremely well considering where the Rhythm had this team last year. The management will have their own questions to ask and answer at the end of the season but these players have answered all their critics and questioners. The only thing left for them and Coach Mosen to do will be to surprise us all by getting beyond the first round of the playoffs.
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