El Paso Locomotive 2022 season preview; new look, same ambition

The 2022 USL Championship season has officially kicked-off; despite a 3-1 setback at the hands of the Sacramento Republic, the optimism surrounding the team remains high.

For the first episode of The Goal Club Podcast, Locomotive FC General Manager Andrew Forrest talked about expectations for the 2022 season and the future.

The team lost its first ever head coach Mike Lowry who left for Indy Eleven - and brought in John Hutchinson who was working as an assistant with the Yokohoma F. Marinos in Japan.

Hutchinson will bring a different style of play for the team - out with the heavy possession and short passing strategy - and in with high pressing, fast transition attack.

"Having seen some of our preseason game, it's going to be entertaining soccer, there is no doubt about it," Forrest said. "We want to be in every game and and provide something fun, and I think the style is very conducive to that."

While it may take a while to get accustomed to the new playing style, the goals for the team remain firm - being among the top contenders in USL Championship.

Among other topics Forrest discussed with The Goal Club is the promise the club sees among its youth academy with several players seeing minutes during the pre-season including a game against MLS Supporters' Shield winners New England Revolution.

Even though the team lost its opening game against Sacramento, the new style of play from John Hutchinson was put into action - with a lot of speed from the wingers, despite creating a lot of scoring chances the finishing let the team down. But this playing style if continued to be worked on has the potential to give the Locomotive a great chance at being among the best in the league.

"I think our team top to bottom is the best team that we've had but I think that is the way is supposed to be, the way it has to be, next year we need to have an even better team because we want to continue to try to win, win games, win championships, win Copa Tejas, whatever we're in, we want to try to win it," Forrest said.

The Locomotive are now looking ahead to their home-season opener March 19, when they host rivals New Mexico United at Southwest University Park at 6 p.m.

To listen to the full interview, check out our podcast at thegoalclub.buzzsprout.com or wherever you get your podcasts.