Photo: Daniel Gajdamowicz

Union

Greetings fellow news junkies – I hope you had a happy and safe Fourth of July. The news net is full, so let’s get cracking!

In this week’s power rankings roundup, the Union stay level in the fourth spot at MLSsoccer.com and at Soccer America. They also stay level at SBI, Goal.com and WV Hooligan, but in the fifth spot. The Union drop one spot to no. 6 at ESPN.

CSN Philly is all about the Carlos Ruiz love. It, just like a consistent spell of good chemistry and form from the Guatemalan, “just took awhile.” Maybe, like the DC game, Ruiz simply needs the second half to start in order to show up?

Ruiz said after the game in DC, “We know we play the next two games away. If we want to stay in the first position we have to play [on the road] as we play at home. We have a great team, great players. It’s not going to be a big deal to play away against San Jose and New England.”

Chris Vito has a mid-season report card in the Delco Times and The Brotherly Game has some mid-season musings. Look for the PSP’s massive mid-season review later this week.

Amobi Okugo is the guest on the latest Union Sound podcast.

The Union Dues has two little creatures on its shoulders whispering in its ears. On one shoulder, the Fan thinks that Carlos Ruiz is lazy and has a poor attitude On the other shoulder, the FANatic is worried about those pesky rumors that Ruiz is on his way out of here—where will the goals come from? Union Dues, I suspect you are not alone.

Speaking of foreign players and speculated departures, Faryd Mondragon set off a fireworks display a day early over the Fourth of July weekend when, in response to a question from a follower, You may recall that The Dragon affirmed his desire to retire with the Union a few weeks back on his birthday.

In case you missed it, the Union reserves were walloped 4–1 by the DC reserves on Sunday. Appearing for the Union were: Zac MacMath, Ryan Richter, Juan Diego Gonzalez, Stefani Miglioranzi, Michael Farfan, Zach Pfeffer (Keon Daniel 45’), Amobi Okugo, Kyle Nakazawa, Roger Torres, Brian Ackley* (Nelson Becerra* 70’), Jack McInerney (Darius Madison* 45’). The “*” indicates an academy player. Darius Madison scored the lone Union goal with an assist from Roger Torres.

Chris Savino notes the opening of a Sounders club shop in downtown Seattle (the articles says it is actually a combined Sounders/Seahawks shop—it will be interesting to see which brand does the most business) and says the Union are missing an opportunity by not having a Center City presence. The club’s official retailer, Angelo’s Soccer Corner, has three locations, all outside of the city.

The IllegitimateS will be hosting a charity tailgate at PPL Park on Saturday, September 10 before the match against Portland. Proceeds will go to support Team Miles for MJ.

Local

Ocean City lost 1–0 to Bermuda Hogges on Sunday night. Tonight they host the New York Cosmos. Kickoff is at 8pm at Carey Stadium.

The Penn Fusion 93 Boys defeated Maryland’s SAC United Premier 3–2 with an overtime header from Benjamin Kennel to book their ticket to the US Youth National Championships on July 26 in Phoenix, Arizona.

Kyler White, goalkeeper of the FC Delco Academy 96 team, is profiled in this piece from the Courier Post.

MLS

Energy Drinks sporting director Erik Soler has no doubt his team will win the Eastern Conference.

US

The USWNT will want to defeat Sweden today in their last group stage match if they are to avoid Brazil in the quaterfinals of the Women’s World Cup.

The USMNT has announced two upcoming friendlies. On September 2, the US will host Costa Rica at the Home Depot Center. On September 6, they’ll play Belgium in Brussels. Hm, one game on the West Coast of the US, the other in Europe, just as the domestic season is heading into its final stage and the European leagues are getting underway…what are the likelihood of the lineups bearing anything but a slight resemblance, I wonder?

Remember how embarrassing it was to watch the Gold Cup final. No, I don’t mean the collapse, I mean the atmosphere. If you hadn’t known any better, you would have thought the game was in Mexico rather than the US. Well, this idiot thinks the solution is to build a National Soccer Stadium. As if calling the stadium the the National Soccer Stadium will mean that it will be filled with US supporters. The US isn’t England with Wembley, it is too big. Too many fans will have to travel too far, spending too much money…What’s that, the writer thinks Philly is one of the places such a stadium would work? Brilliant idea!

Elsewhere

The FIFA ethics committee will meet July 22-23 to hear the allegations against suspended executive committee member and former candidate for the FIFA presidency Mohamed Bin Hammam.

England’s Professional Footballers’ Association “will back a ‘watch your language’ initiative and crack down on players’ social media indiscretions as part of a new wave of measures to improve the game’s image.” So, watch your mouth, Rooney.

This author argues that, while it isn’t exactly broken, there are ways to fix Fox Soccer.