Know Your Enemy: Charlotte Independence

Charlotte's original professional soccer club, the Independence have played in the USL for a decade. League One Updater

History

The Charlotte Independence were founded in 2014 as the first professional soccer team in Charlotte. The club’s name and crest takes inspiration from the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence which according to local legend was signed by prior to the Continental Congress’s Declaration of Independence. Supposedly, the Declaration was carried to Philadelphia by Captain James Jack whose name was adapted to form the nickname for the club, the “Jacks.”

The first coach and current head coach of the Independence, Mike Jefferies continues to be the longest serving head coach in the USL. In the 11 years since the club founding, Jefferies led the Jacks in 336 games with a record of 142-112-86.

Originally playing in what is now the USL Championship, the Independence drops down to the USL1 following the arrival of Charlotte FC of the MLS. Always a middling club in the Championship, the Jack have fared far better making the playoffs each season but never finishing above 4^th in the league table.

Charlotte plays their home matches at the American Legion Memorial Stadium in Charlotte. A 10,000-seater, Charlotte has struggled to fill the stadium in the wake of Charlotte FC’s encroachment on the city. The Supporter’s Group for the Jacks are the Mecklenburg Reserve.

Key Players

Defender Fabrice Gael Ngah has some dangerous offensive tendencies. United Soccer League

Jon Bakero – In his first season with the club, Bakero has lead the league in assists with 6. Having scored 2 goals, Bakero has been named to the USL Team of the Week 3 times an was player of the Week once.

Fabrice Gael Ngah – In his third season with Charlotte, Ngah has been a consistent defender for the Jacks. A Cameroonian National Tean player, he has been named to the USL1 Team of the Week 4 times this season. Ngah has some strong offensive characteristics as well, having scored 5 goals this season.

Matt Levy – In his third season with his club, Levy is an experienced keeper currently leading the USL1 with 51 saves. Levy has kept 5 clean sheets this season and has been named to the Team of the Week on 4 occasions.

What To Expect from Tonight's Match

Tactical Formation: 4-2-3-1

Current Form: DDLWL

League Position: 5th

Prior Hearts Result: 1-1 (away)

Charlotte comes into this match having had a rough go of it lately. In 5 games they have only come away with a single win and have seen their position in the USL1 slip to 5th. A particularly embarrassing 4-1 loss to a resurgent Union Omaha last weekend may make frayed nerves turn into outright concern for some players. With a 1-1 draw last time the Jacks faced the Hearts, it'll be interesting to see how each teams current momentum influences the coming into this match.

Of particular interest for this match will be how new additions to each roster will impact play. For Charlotte this include Paolo Alcocer & Amal Knight, who has yet to see minutes this season. Hearts, on the other hand have Séga Coulibaly & Noah Kvifte, both of whom have not only seen minutes but started. Séga in particular, has shown himself to be decisive and may assist stopping the kind of shots that we saw Charlotte take last month. This will be critical given, the offensive nature of not only the Independence's front line, but from defenders like Ngah as well.

Given our position in the league table and our 4 way race for the playoffs, tonight the boys need to take the result for themselves.