Union
Carlos Valdez
Spanish language site futbolred.com is reporting that Colombian central defender Carlos Valdez, currently with Independiente Santa Fe, will be coming to the Union on a one year loan. (You can read a crappy translation here.) The 25-year-old was a part of the Colombian U-20 team that won the South American Youth Championship in 2005 and played in the 2005 FIFA World Youth Championship. Valdez has three appearance for the senior national team but was not on the squad that played the US at PPL Park in October. You can view his career stats here and his page on the Sante Fe club site here.
Corey Hertzog, the Penn State striker whose 20 goals last season led the country, has signed a Generation Adidas contract. Hertzog played for Union-affiliate and PDL club Reading United last season. As the parent club to Reading, the Union should have first rights to Hertzog. Hertzog will take part in the MLS Player Combine in Fort Lauderdale, January 8-11.
More on the signing of Zach Pfeffer (I like to refer to him simply as “The Pfeffer”) from the Daily News.
Amobi Okugo and Jack McInerney were not named to the USMNT U-20 January training camp roster, which will take place January 2-13 in Fort Lauderdale. Both have been very active since the end of the MLS season with Generation Adidas and USMNT duties and, quite frankly, probably could use some time off to rest before the start of the Union’s preseason training.
Independence
The Independence will play their home matches at Widener University’s Leslie Quick Stadium.
Midfielder Tina DiMartino has signed a new deal.
MLS
In addition to Corey Hertzog, six other players were signed to Generation Adidas, including Akron’s Zarek Valentin, who hails from Lancaster.
A study of the proposed building of two new soccer specific stadiums in Baltimore (one for DC United, the other for Crystal Palace Baltimore) has found some problems, particularly “potentially limited corporate interest in sponsorship or premium seating and the possibility the business model “does not generate sufficient financial return on investment” for a team or teams.”
Goal.com says Landon Donovan made the right decision in not going to Everton this season.
In related Donovan news, the LA Galaxy and USMNT star has filed for divorce from his wife, “Rules of Engagement” actress Bianca Kajlich. Donovan is reportedly asking for spousal support and “he seeks to terminate the court’s ability to award spousal support to her. He also asks that she cover his attorney fees.”
Reports indicated that Chicas USA will hire Juan Carlos Osorio, “a former head coach for the Chicago Fire and New York Red Bulls who has been coaching in Colombia.”
Thierry Henry has joined the list of players on the embarrassing French World Cup team that have renounced their bonuses, telling L’Equipe, “”it’s pretty normal that we forego the bonuses given what we showed in South Africa,”
Elsewhere
Amos Adamu, the Nigerian member of FIFA’s executive committee who was suspended for three years after he was found guilty of corruption charges stemming from an investigation by a British newspaper, is now under investigation by Nigeria’s anti-corruption agency. The agency is investigating what Adamu did with the 24 billion naira (about $190 million) budget for the 2003 All Africa Games, the 1.3 billion naira (about $8.5 million) he spent on PR, and another 260 million naira ($1.7 million) spent involving his wife and son-in-law.
Barcelona have announced their plans to come to the US in the summer of 2011. The closest match to Philly is against Manchester United in Washington DC on July 30.
As the Ivory Coast moves closer to civil war following last month’s disputed presidential elections Didier Drogba has issued a statement appealing for restraint: “I ask each of you, every manager, every soldier, every supporter, not to turn to violence and to make every effort to restore the calm and responsible democracy that our nation is waiting for.”
Ed. what about Z.Pfeff?
I was under the impression that by signing a GA contract, a player (Hertzog in this case) would be made available to any team in the upcoming SuperDraft. Ives Galarcep reported that, unlike Pfeffer, the U was unable to sign Corey as a homegrown. As for the Valdes loan deal, seems that Gutierrez’s contacts are panning out for the team … perhaps this is coming in conjunction with his hiring. A chicken and egg thing.
From the article linked to above, “Hertzog played last summer with Reading United AC, which is a developmental side with ties to the Philadelphia Union of the MLS. Under Generation Adidas, the parent clubs have first rights to contracted players in their developmental systems…But being so early in the process, Hertzog said he hasn’t talked to any MLS teams or officials yet and admitted he was “just as confused as anyone” to where he will end up on January 13, 2011, when the SuperDraft takes place at the Baltimore Convention Center.”
I certainly hope the Union get a crack at him if he is open to all in the SuperDraft but who knows who the Union are targeting or if he’ll still be available by the fifth pick (or the 23rd, 28th, 41st or 59th…).
If they have the rights to Hertzog, how could they have failed to sign him? http://twitter.com/SoccerByIves/status/17708858281566208 Sounds counter-intuitive that the U will have to wait to get him in the SuperDraft if he’s already part of their system. http://twitter.com/SoccerByIves/status/17709154101633025
If they have the rights to Hertzog, how could they have failed to sign him? http://twitter.com/SoccerByIves/status/17708858281566208
Sounds counter-intuitive that the U will have to wait to get him in the SuperDraft if he’s already part of their system. http://twitter.com/SoccerByIves/status/17709154101633025
Why ANOTHER center back. Gonzalez, Orozco, Califf are CBs and Okugo has shown on his trip to Europe this off season that he can play CB also. I just don’t understand anymore.
Mike. You didn’t see the post on the Union website? In order to expand the stadium, they’re building new stands 30 yards into the playing surface on either side. The new pitch dimensions are 120 yards x 20 yards. Nowak is simply preparing for the unusual dimensions, using the old 2-2-2-2-2 formation. Duh.
Wouldn’t you like to be a Pfeffer too? Am I showing my age?
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