Union news

Sebastien Le Toux will not play against LA Galaxy on Saturday. A Twitter message released by the Union late Thursday said, “The medical/coaching staffs have decided it’s in Sebastien Le Toux’s best interest to take the week off to recover. While Le Toux will sit out this week against the LA Galaxy, his left knee injury is considered ‘mild’.” Le Toux said, “The doctors I talked to told me I am very lucky. Things could have been a lot worse.”

Veteran players on the Union, such as Alejandro Moreno, have told the younger players, such as most everyone else, that they need to stay focused.  “We cannot turn off in key moments of the game and we cannot allow silly goals in silly moments. And we have to make sure that when we have our opportunities and our chances that we take advantage of those. It’s all very basic and it may seem obvious, but it’s something that needs to be reminded.” Hear him! Hear him!

Regarding the wind sprints that Nowak made the Union players run for 25 minutes after their disheartening loss to the Red Bulls, Union CEO Nick Sakiewicz says, “They’re lucky it wasn’t me [making them run], because I don’t think they ran long enough.”

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In related new,  LA Galaxy’s Edson Buddle has been named MLS Player of the Month. Buddle has seven goals in five games.

Philadelphia Independence news

Philadelphia Independence midfielder Lori Lindsey has been named WPS player of the month.

Val Henderson, keeper for the Philadelphia Independence, has a behind-the-scenes look at the team’s first victory at goal.com.

The Independence host Atlanta Beat in a home opener rematch on Saturday. Kick off is at 6 p.m. at John A Farrell Stadium in West Chester.

MLS news

The Seattle Sounders are leading the MLS in attendance. In their first three home games the Sounders drew 108,231 for an average of 36,077 per game. FC Dallas is the leagues worst draw with an average of 9,028 per game. (Philadelphia is second on the list thanks to the 34,870 at the home opener. It will be interesting to see how many turn out for the May 15 match at the Linc against FC Dallas.)

National team news

USMNT coach Bob Bradley gave a run down of injury concerns yesterday.

Thanks to Fulham’s dramatic victory over Hamburg in the Europa League on Thursday, Clint Dempsey could become the first US player to appear in a European cup final.

Former Germany national team coach and fan of America Jürgen Klinsmann says “U.S. soccer so far hasn’t found yet their real identity [regarding] how U.S. soccer should be played. I’m talking about a philosophy, a style of play, that kind of marks every nation. If you talk about Brazilian soccer, you know what you’re talking about; about Argentine—the passing game. …Everybody represents a specific style of play. I think in this country here, you’re not there yet.”

Although leaked photos have been available on the web for months, on Thursday US Soccer officially unveiled the new home jersey for the USMNT. Yes, it is badass. The “White Jersey with Grey Sash and Obsidian Blue Trim Echoes Uniform Worn by 1950 U.S. World Cup Team” also happens to be the “Most Environmentally-Friendly and Technologically-Advanced Uniform Ever Produced.” USA! USA! USA!