Photo: Daniel Gajdamowicz

Union

Peter Nowak is among the 25 on the Player Ballot for the 2011 class of the National Soccer Hall of Fame. Congratulations!

The Brotherly Game quotes a report from Monday in Guatemala-based Prensa Libre that says Carlos Ruiz was in discussion with the Union but terms could not be reached. (You can read a crappy translation here.) TBG then quotes a report from Univision on Wednesday that says Ruiz is still in discussions with the Union but also links him to Guatemalan club Comunicaciones, whose president, Pedro Portilla acknowledges talking to Ruiz but admits he would be very expensive. The club’s manager, Ivan Franco Sopegno, says he has no knowledge of any discussions. (You can read a crappy translation here.)

A piece on MLS Talk.com which argues that international stars do themselves a disservice by only focusing on landing at New York or LA has this to say about the possibilities at the Union:

Much like Chicago, Philadelphia is a big city known for food and business. As a new team, you have the chance to be the team’s first legend, which may be appealing to the bigger egos. And you are a short trip away from the New York and DC media centers.

Message to MLS Talk: we already have our first legend and his name is Sebastien Le Toux.

our post about a tweet from Shaka Hislop saying Holder had signed, a photo taken by PSP photographer Nicolae Stoian of Holder training with the club at YSC in January.

From the Union Website, Carlos Valdés, of whom Diego Gutiérrez has said, “he should be one of the best defenders in the league right off the bat,” is described by Peter Nowak as “very sophisticated in the tactical part. He has pure instincts and loves to defend. The most important thing for him is to win the ball against the striker and to move the ball forward.” Nice.

Also on the Union website, a look at the busy offseason Amobi Okugo has had with the U-20 US National Team. With CONCACAF U-20 qualification for the U-20 starting on March 29, the Union could lose Okugo as well as Jack McInerney and Zach MacMath through April 10.

Independence/WPS

Independence coach Paul Riley and players from the team will be at the Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer Association’s expo at United Sports in Downingtown on March 5.

Washington Freedom are now known as magicTalk SC. While the team “might play one or two of its games in the Washington DC area,” its new official home field will be the Florida Atlantic University Soccer Field in Boca Raton.

MLS

Goal.com looks at some intriguing international signings.

MLS Soccer.com has a list of five rookies to keep an eye on.

Pat Onstad, who recently retired to become goalkeeping coach at DC United, is coming out of retirement on a short term contract to cover for the injured Steve Cronin and Bill Hamid.

United also waived defender Julius James and traded an international spot to LA in return for allocation money. One LA Galaxy writer says not to read too much into the new international slot, noting the club already has eight internationals and that the club had traded an international lot to Portland in November.

Seattle Sounders midfielder Osvaldo Alonso’s contract has been extended through the 2014 season.

The Timbers have signed two players from their development team.

San Jose are training in London at Tottenham’s training facility.

Las Vegas joins the list of MLS hopefuls.

US

Gale Agbossoumonde has signed a six month loan deal with Swedish club Djurgardens IF.

The structure and schedule of the 2011 US Open Cup have been announced.

Some moron looks at the “International Future of American Pro Soccer.” Among his ideas: MLS teams should form affiliations with overseas clubs (been happening for a while), MLS should copy the FA Cup (been happening since 1914, 1885 if you count the American Cup of the American Football Association), MLS “should buy a European team and turn it into a barn-storming MLS team that competes in a European League” (no comment), US Soccer should “develop the world class American superstar” (yes, why aren’t they doing that?)

Elsewhere

SI’s Grant Wahl has started a campaign to become a protest candidate for the FIFA presidency.

Fans are furious after UEFA announces the highest ticket prices ever for a Champions League Final, this year to be held at Wembley. The cheap seats for neutrals, of which some 11,000 will be available, range from £176 ($286) to £326 ($529). The price includes a £26 ($42) “administration fee.”

Ryan Giggs has signed a one-year contract extension with Manchester United.

Footy on the Telly™

Saturday, February 19
Central Coast v Brisbane 3am FSC
Chelsea v Everton 7:30am FSC
Borussia Dortmund v St. Pauli 9:30am GolTV
Birmingham City v Sheffield Wednesday 10am FSC
Stoke City v Brighton & Hove Albion 10am FSP
Valencia v Sporting Gijon 12pm GolTV
Manchester United v Crawley Town 12pm FSC
Bologna v Palermo 12pm FSP
Inter Milan v Cagliari 2:30pm FSC
Millonarios v Once Caldas 3pm GolTV
Nacional v America de Cali 6:15pm GolTV
Nottingham Forest v Cardiff City 9pm FSP

Sunday, February 20
West Bromwich Albion v Wolverhampton 7am FSP
Chievo v AC Milan 9am FSC
Manchester City v Notts County 9am FSP
Bayer Leverkusen v Stuttgart 10:30am GolTV
Fulham v Bolton 11am FSP
Leyton Orient v Arsenal 11:30am FSC
Lecce v Juventus 1pm FSP
Sevilla v Hercules 1pm GolTV
Napoli v Catania 2:30pm FSC
Barcelona v Athletic Bilbao 3pm GolTV
Toulouse v Rennes 3pm FSP
Corinthians v Santos 5pm GolTV

Monday, February 21
West Ham v Burnley 3pm FSP