Photo: Nicolae Stoian

Union

I don’t know about you but I’m still amped from yesterday’s unveiling of Faryd Mondragon and Carlos Valdes. Sure, they were no surprise but, after a month or more of rumors, there is something to knowing it is all finally official. If you were unable to see the players yourself at Fado, or found that our updates from the event only whetted your appetite, you can watch the press conference in its entirety here.

The Goalkeeper blog at Philly.com has more video, including interviews with Mondragon and Valdes as well as Piotr Nowak, John Hackworth and Diego Gutierrez.

I can barely wait to see who will be next. But if this article from Nurnberger Zeitung is correct, it won’t be Marek Mintal. Mintal has reportedly made up his mind to finish out his contract with FC Nürnberg and is just waiting to tell Piotr Nowak his decision. Apparently the money being offered wasn’t enough to tempt Mintal and he and his family were not particularly enthusiastic about their recent visit to Philadelphia. Mintal was back training with FC Nürnberg yesterday. You can read a crappy translation here.

In  this piece, Mondragon describes his desire to be a leader and demonstrates a very impressive work effort.

Valdes describes how impressed he is with MLS and the Union.

The new signings should go a long way in rectifying an all too obvious problem last season: as Piotr Nowak concedes, “We conceded too many goals.”

Lest anyone forget, it is clear that the Diego Gutierrez, the Union’s recently appointed head of scouting and player development, was instrumental in the acquisition of Mondragon and Valdes.

While praising the new signings, the Daily News wonders why the Union passed on Kevin Hartman in the 2009 Expansion Draft. Says Nick Sakiewicz, ”To be honest, I take a lot of the blame for what happened last year.”

Remember David Myrie? He started at right back in Costa Rica’s 2–0 win over Guatemala to qualify for the Gold Cup.

MLS

LA Galaxy say no to Beckham playing in training matches at Tottenham.

Some Sporting Kansas City players are involved in a friendly snowball fight with fans. They then take the fans out for a meal.

US

The USWNT’s woes continue as they drop their first game at the Four Nations Tournament, 2–1 to Sweden. From the Independence, Megan Rapinoe and Amy Rodriguez started and Lori Linsdey came on in the second half.

SI previews Saturday’s USA v Chile match.

Elsewhere

From the Department of That Didn’t Take Long, a week after saying that Qatar did not want the 2022 World Cup moved to winter, FIFA executive committee member and head of the Asian Football Confederation, Mohamed bin Hammam says he is now open to the idea: “I’m not opposed, but I’m not proposing.”

A study shows that professional soccer players in Europe are getting taller, faster, and older.

Paul the Octopus, who sadly passed away in October, has been honored with a memorial and a golden urn.

Footy on the Telly™

Friday, January 21
4pm: Copa CentroAmericana 5th place, Nicaragua v Guatemala (GolTV)
6:30pm: Copa CentroAmericana semifinal, Honduras v El Salvador (GolTV)
9pm: Copa CentroAmericana semifinal, Panama v Costa Rica (GolTV)

Saturday, January 22
7:30am: Wolverhampton v Liverpool (ESPN2)
8am: Derby County v Nottingham Forest (FSP)
9:30am: Borussia Dortmund v Stuttgart (GolTV)
10am: Manchester United v Birmingham (FSC)
10am: Arsenal v Wigan (FSP)
11:30am: Hamburg v Eintracht Frankfurt (GolTV)
12pm: Palermo v Brescia (FSP)
12:30pm: Aston Villa v Manchester City (FSC)
2pm: Barcelona v Racing Santander (GolTV)
2pm: Scunthorpe v Burnley (FSP)
2:30pm: Roma v Cagliari (FSC)
4pm: Valencia v Malaga (GolTV)
5pm: Newcastle v Spurs (FSC)
6pm: Everton v West Ham (FSP)
10pm: USA v Chile (ESPN3, Telefutura)

Sunday, January 23
1am: Central Coast v Sydney (FSC)
6:30am: Udinese v Inter Milan (FSP)
8:30am QPR v Coventry (FSP)
9am: Sampdoria v Juventus (FSC)
10:30am: Fulham v Stoke (FSP)
11am: Sporting Gijon v Atletico Madrid (GolTV)
11am: Blackburn v West Brom (FSC)
2:30pm: AC Milan v Cesena (FSC)
3:30pm: Copa CentroAmericana 3rd place (GolTV)
5pm: Leicester v Millwall (FSP)
6pm: Copa CentroAmericana final (GolTV)