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More Ruiz rumors, Nowak explains, more news

Where’s Carlos?

The Brotherly Game links to Mexican website Elgolfo.info reporting Carlos Ruiz is in Mexico City training with second division side Veracruz. Their translation reads, “the back and forth search for a third foreign signing continues in Mexico City, where the Guatemalan Carlos Ruiz trains with an eye to soon joining the Red Sharks.”

Kerith Gabriel writes that Ruiz recently dispelled earlier rumors linking him with first division side Puebla and that “Ruiz said again Wednesday that he had not been contacted ‘by any Mexican clubs . . . yet.'”

Union

Peter Nowak says of Saturday’s game in DC, “We have a very difficult game in front of us.”

Unholy Union predicts a 2–1 win. The Friday MLS forecast at Goal.com predicts a DC United win. Online betting site SBRforum predicts a 1–1 draw. Check back at the PSP for our match preview later today.

Kevin Kinkead’s always informative scouting report notes that Charlie “He Fell Over” Davies has a sprained ankle and is questionable for Saturday.

While much of the pregame talk has been focused DC’s acquisition of Dwayne “Dance, Dance, Dance” De Rosario and the threat he poses, Sheanon Williams says, “We’ll continue to do what we’ve been doing. Overall, I don’t think we get ready for one person. We get ready for them as a team.”

The why isn’t Danny Mwanga starting debate will surely continue until the day the lineup sheet comes pre-printed with his name on it. Whatever one’s position is in the debate, it is Peter Nowak’s view that matters most. This Philly Soccer News piece has extensive quotes from Nowak explaining just what his management of Mwanga’s development is all about. And, you know what? Nowak makes a very convincing argument. There, I said it.

Nowak acknowledged the great strides the 2011 Union have made compared to 2010 but new challenges remain. “As a group, we’ve come a long way together to be in the position we are right now. You can see the qualities but do we need more? Do we wish to have more? Are we satisfied and say we’re much better than last year or do we push for whatever is waiting for us? This is the part the coaching staff is still trying to encourage to players

Faryd Mondragon calls his back four “my life insurance.” The article has Eric Hassli describing Danny Califf as a “smart player, but a major pain in the ass.”

After acknowledging that he pissed off a lot of Union supporters for suggesting that some fans booed the team after the first half against Chivas, Marc Narducci goes on to suggest supporters shouldn’t use chants that have naughty words in them, “especially since many young children attend these games.” Sometimes, Marc, it is best to simply shut up.

Dave Zeitlin does the odds on which Union player is most likely to play for the USMNT. It’s a great around the water cooler conversation starter—the Sheanomenon is at the top of the list.

Two Union academy squads won their group at the 2011 USSF Development Academy playoffs in Frisco, Texas last weekend. PA Classics won the U-16 Group 7 and Player Development Academy won the U-18 Group 3. The finals will take place beginning on July 9 in Milwaukee.

Local

Ocean City Nor’easters drew 1–1 with Westchester Flames on Wednesday night. Their record is now 1–4–6. The team returns to action on Sunday when they host Bermuda Hogges. If you’re down the shore for the holiday weekend, swing by Carey Stadium in Ocean City for the 6pm kickoff. Tickets are only $6 for adults, $4 for kids. The game will also feature “the long-awaited hot dog eating contest.”

Kickoff for Cancer is hosting a 3 x 3 charity tournament July 16-17 at St. Augustine Prep in Richland, NJ. The tournament will raise funds to help pay for 11-year-old Eric Riley’s cancer treatment.

MLS

On Wednesday night, representatives of the New England Revolution, stadium security, local police and Revolution supporters groups participated in a town meeting to air out the issues surrounding the recent rough treatment and arrest of supporters in the supporters section known as the Fort. A piece of what can only be described as company propaganda about the meeting appeared on MLSsoccer.com and the Revolution website on Thursday. Recording equipment was prohibited from the meeting, but the New England-based blog The Drug is Football took notes and has this detailed report. The conclusion: “So we had a 2 hour conversation about swearing, exactly what the supporters have stated that this is not about.”

US

US military personnel and their families in Germany are keenly supporting the USWNT at the World Cup. Watch them take on Colombia at 12pm on Saturday on ESPN.

The US U-17 team was knocked out of the Round of 16 at the U-17 World Cup in Mexico after being walloped 4–0 by Germany. With the U-20 failing to qualify for that World Cup and the USMNT being humiliated by Mexico in the Gold Cup final, the US Soccer men’s program is showing signs of real institutional distress.

You can take heart in this list of young US players plying their trade abroad.

An age discrimination case brought by a referee against US Soccer has been dismissed.

Footy on the Telly™

Friday, July 1
England v New Zealand (Women’s World Cup) 12pm ESPN
Argentina v Bolivia (Copa America) 8pm Telefutura
New York v Antigua (USL) 8pm FSC

Saturday, July 2
North Korea v Sweden (Women’s World Cup) 8am ESPN2
USA v Colombia (Women’s World Cup) 12pm ESPN, Galavision
Colombia v Costa Rica (Copa America) 2pm Univision
D.C. United v Philadelphia Union 7pm FSC
Chivas USA v Chicago Fire 10pm Galavision
San Jose Earthquakes v New York Red Bulls 10:30pm ESPN2, ESPN Deportes

Sunday, July 3
Australia v Equatorial Guinea (Women’s World Cup) 8am ESPN2
Brazil v Norway (Women’s World Cup) 12pm ESPN, Galavision
Brazil v Venezuela (Copa America) 2:30pm Univision
Brazil v Japan (U-17 World Cup quarterfinal) 7pm ESPNU
Colorado Rapids v Houston Dynamo 9pm ESPN2
Paraguay v Ecuador (Copa America) 10pm Telefutura

Monday, July 4
Germany v England (U-17 World Cup quarterfinal) 4pm ESPN2
Uruguay v Peru (Copa America) 6pm Telefutura
Mexico v Chile (Copa America) 8pm Univision
Real Salt Lake v New England Revolution 8:30pm ESPN2
Los Angeles Galaxy v Seattle Sounders 10:30pm ESPN2

4 Comments

  1. Good call on Marc Narducci. I read the article this morning and was nauseated. He so obviously knows now that he made a mistake with regard to the direction of the booing in the Chivas game but he refuses to admit it. Then he makes an awful, ham handed, hack writer effort to direct the reader away from his error by getting into the chants and the “potty mouthed” Sons of Ben. He even suggests that booing your own team is a good thing.

    What a f*&king tool.

  2. Listen, the Narducci article was terrible. But there were definitely people booing the team. It isn’t a big deal; they played like dog shit and needed to put in Mwanga. And then we kicked ass in the second half. Oh and Narducci, “You suck a$$hole!”

  3. I was at the game and heard the booing. To me it did not come from the Son’s of Ben section, but it definitely was load and clear.

    Doubt it was for the refs. Its Philly if the team is not performing, it does not surprise me that the team is booed by the fans.

    I don’t think its treason either. It happens in Europe and comes from the great masses of the football faithful. Liverpool fans (and others) walk out if the team is not performing to its fullest. This was evidenced this past season.

    Anyway, to play the other side of the coin. The booing was there, and it was probably directed at the team, and its lack luster performance.

    Let the Son’s of Ben out rage begin.

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