Photo: Nicolae Stoian

Union

Congratulations to the Sons of Ben, who have been featured in the current UK edition of GQ magazine, which just happens to be the “GQ Annual Victoria’s Secret Collector’s Edition.” Sales of the issue are, no doubt rather brisk. Unfortunately, an online version of the article is not available. A description of the article says that author Andrew Hankinson “investigates the phenomenon [of] football hooliganism across the Atlantic.” The SoBs can be loud and their language a little blue. But, “hooligans?” I think not. (Fans of football-related literature may remember the hooligan novel “Football Factory” (followed by “Headhunters” and “England Away“), by John King, later made into a film by the same name. None of which were particularly good.)

A favorite past time of Union fans this week has been trying to identify the “unnamed trialists” at the Union’s training camp in Wayne. A report that we linked to on Monday morning before the opening of the first day of training named Trinidad & Tobago keeper Thorne Holder as being on trial with the club. As photo’s from the camp have been published, more have been named. Because it is against club policy to name trialists, there is no official confirmation for any of the names suggested. Not that it really matters. If anything, the suggested names reveal a very commendable range of knowledge about lower division and college soccer players among Union fans. You can find some of the names that have been suggested in the links below:

• Philly Soccer Page (1) (2)
• The Brotherly Game (1) (2)
• ZoloNation (1) (2)

The Brotherly Game tries to make sense of the waiving of Brad Knighton.

A poll of Philly Union Talk readers concludes waiving Knighton was a bad idea.

On Wednesday, the Union, along with four other clubs, opted out of the lottery for the rights to Generation adidas goalkeeper David Bingham. A report on Soccer By Ives says that Bingham’s skills are considered on par with Zac MacMath. I suppose the Union figured they already have Zac MacMath. San Jose Earthquakes later won the rights to Bingham.

A Seattle Sounders blog has a list of Union goalkeeper transactions over the past year or so that ends with the comment, “It reminds you how nice it’s been to have a gamer like Keller in goal every week for two years.” Indeed. Although they had me at “Apropos.”

Independence

Premier Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine Associates, LTD, will again be the shirt sponsor of the Philadelphia Independence.

The open tryouts scheduled for today and tomorrow have been postponed due to the weather.

MLS

Landon Donovan is “antsy” to get back on the pitch and doesn’t think Beckham’s absence from the start of preseason training will cause any problems.

Dwayne De Rosario may sit out the season unless he gets a new contract.

Former Kansas City Wizards and DC United head coach Curt Onalfo will take over the position at LA Galaxy vacated by Cobi Jones, now with the New York Cosmos.

Here’s a look at the changes underway at Chivas USA.

Jeff Cunningham wants to come back to Columbus.

Budweiser is the official beer of the Vancouver Whitecaps. And some Canadian Football team. But renovations to the stadium they both are to play in are not expected to be completed until early fall.

US

Four percent of Americans say men’s soccer is their favorite sport, a one percent increase from 1985. American football was number one with 31 percent, followed by baseball, college football, auto racing, men’s pro basketball, hockey and then men’s soccer. At three percent, and next on the list, is “undecided.”

Oguchi Onyewu left the FC Twente’s Dutch Cup quarterfinal match against PSV Eindhoven on Wednesday night in the 26th minute with an apparent back injury.

More on Michael Bradley’s status at Borussia Moenchengladbach.

Here’s a profile on Mikkel “Mixx” Diskerud, described as the “next Stuart Holden.”

Elsewhere

After the departure of the head coach of the women’s soccer team led to protests by students and players at Belmont University alleging discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, the university has added sexual orientation to its non-discrimination policy, “but it was not clear whether it covered sexually active gays.”

Police in Birmingham are watching CCTV footage to identify troublemakers at Wednesday’s Carling Cup semifinal between Birmingham City and West Ham resulted in 17 arrests.