Union

From the Union website, this piece details Chris Agorsor’s road to recovery from a devastating injury. Agorsor grew up playing with Zach MacMath and has long known Sheanon Williams. Coming from just outside of Baltimore, Agorsor says he never wanted to play for DC United. He says Baltimore “is a lot more similar to Philly than to DC…and Philadelphia was the closest I could be to playing in Baltimore.”

John Hackworth thinks Agorsor has “a legitimate chance to contribute to the first team right away.”

There is a terrific video on VirginiaSportsTV.com about Agorsor’s injury and road to recovery. The maturity, and humor, with which this highly motivated and focused young man dealt with his injury is truly inspiring.

Southampton native, La Salle senior and Union Supplemental Draft pick Ryan Richter has been named the Philadelphia Soccer Six Player of the Year.

The Brotherly Game has a fine interview with Chris Seitz. Interestingly, Seitz says of the Expansion Draft, “They talked to us about it and they made it pretty clear they weren’t going to protect either goalkeeper. The Union knew the two teams in the draft had already signed goalkeepers or didn’t want one in the draft,” which makes the club’s decision to protect him after not to protecting fan favorite Shea Salinas (who had been told by the club the day before the draft that he would be protected) all the more beguiling.

MLS

The Washington Post reports that DC United is close to a finalizing a deal that would bring Charlie Davies to the club on a one-year loan and also includes the option of purchasing his rights later this year.

Chivas USA have traded allocation money to FC Dallas for Heath Pearce.

Columbus Crew win the lottery for defender Korey Veeder.

LA Galaxy have signed deals with five of their draft picks.

Energy Drinks supporters are waking up to crappy news. The team blew a 2–0 lead to lose to Chivas de Guadalajara on Tuesday and partial ticket plan holders will face a nightmare match selection process today. What a shame.

Speaking of the Energy Drinks, Match Fit USA wonders, if John Rooney is not big enough for League Two, the fourth-tier of soccer in England, is he skilled enough for MLS?

While there is no official word, this report suggests that season ticket sales for the Seattle Sounders have not reached last year’s levels. Various possible factors include how the 2011 season ticket rollout was handled, the economy, the end of the club’s “honeymoon period,” as well as the entry of Portland and Vancouver into the league. Still, Seattle’s season ticket sales are expected to lead the league and will be more than Portland and Vancouver combined.

Bill Archer has a fantastic and fun fact filled rant about the “provisional” sanctioning over the weekend of the NASL as division 2 professional soccer. Bottom line: MLS controls the shots in the USSF; MLS wanted incoming Montreal Impact to have a league to play in for 2011; US Soccer President (and MLS board member) Sunil Gulati and MLS Commissioner Don Garber bend federation rules to make that happen; expect the NASL to implode next year.

US

The Yorkshire Evening Post talks to USMNT defender Eric Lichaj, on loan to Leeds from Aston Villa.

Elsewhere

Time may be running out for CONCACAF president and noted crook Jack Warner. FIFA’s Ethic’s Committee meets today after investigating allegations that Warner provided World Cup tickets to the black market operators, the same operators that FIFA has previously taken to court.

Gennaro Gattuso has apologized for twice assaulting Tottenham assistant manager Joe Jordan at Tottenham’s 1–0 win over AC Milan in the Champions League. “I lost my head, I did things I should not have done and I take responsibility for that,” Gattuso said. “Jordan busted my balls for the whole second half, but I should not have reacted like this. I apologize, and if a ban arrives I will accept it.” Gattuso’s agent says the player was provoked: “Jordan, after having continuously heckled him, insulted him with truly low phrase, saying ‘fucking Italian bastard.’ For one like Rino, who has a strong sense of his Italian identity, I think this is the most disgusting and unjustifiable of insults.” UEFA is investigating the incident.

In today’s Champions League action, you can watch Arsenal v Barcelona live from 2:30pm on FSC. At 5pm you can see the delayed broadcast of Roma v Shakhtar Donetsk, which will be broadcast live at 2:30pm on FSC.