Photo: Daniel Gajdamowicz

Union

Have you already read the PSP preview? More match previews for tonight’s encounter between the Philadelphia Union and Colorado Rapids at MLSsoccer.com, the Brotherly Game, Unholy Union, ASN Philly, Goal.com, phillyBurbs.com, DelawareOnline.com, FoxNewsLatino,  the Denver Post, the LA Times and Bookmaker.com. The Brotherly Game preview notes that match official Jorge Gonzalez has called an average of 24.5 fouls per game over his career, something of importance when you consider that Carlos Valdes will receive an automatic one-game suspension for accumulated yellow cards if he receives a yellow card tonight.

Kevin Kinkead has a scouting report.

Peter Nowak talks about what he told the players after the Real Madrid game. “My message to the players right after the Real Madrid game is that everything is nice and fine, peachy and rosy, but you still have to get your feet on the ground. If you think [the Rapids] game is going to be same as the Real Madrid game, you’re wrong. The games we have in Major League Soccer are about fighting, running, scrapping for points and scrapping for plays and tackles. That’s how you win the game. I don’t think we ever lost this edge, so I didn’t need to interfere.”

Nowak confirms what we’ve all been thinking about why Thorne Holde was released. “We’re in the middle of the transfer window, so in order to accomplish something necessary, because of the restrictions, you have got to make some moves. That was part of our thinking. And we’re still looking. It could be a week or two, but we’ll try to do it before the window shuts down.” I wish a word other than “try” had been used in that last sentence.

Speaking of transfers, if this report in Spanish-language source TeleticaDeportes is to be believed, a move by the Union to acquire 21-year-old forward Joshue Martinez from Deportivo Saprissa was rejected by the Costa Rican club. The report says the Union’s offer was thought to be too low and that the club wants Martinez to stick around for Saprissa’s league campaign. You can read a crappy translation of the article from Google here.

Speaking of Nowak, Marc Narducci wonders if he might fit in as coach of the USMNT. My answer is yes, but not at the moment. Said Nowak to Narducci, “I really have better things to do. Maybe Backe would be interested.”

Danny Mwanga is getting some international exposure after Alexi Lalas names him in his column in the British newspaper the Daily Mirror as one of three MLS players who could make it to the Premiership.

Locally, Chris Vito focuses on Mwanga ahead of tonight’s game.

Narducci has some last words about the recent friendlies. Given the limited space soccer is afforded in the local professional media, it’d be nice to see more attention focused on tonight’s return to league play, which, with Thursday’s announcement that Bob Bradley had been fired, also gets little treatment in Kerith Gabriel’s weekly column in the Daily News.

Zach Pfeffer scored the opening goal in the Union U-17 2–0 win over Sporting Kansas City’s U-17’s on Thursday night at the Generation Adidas Cup.

“Back to the Grind” is a shotgun blasts a of topics from the Union Dues.

Local

Harrisburg City Islanders clinched a playoff berth with their 3–2 win over Dayton Dutch Lions on Wednesday. Well done!

Here’s a Q & A with the City Islanders newest acquisition, Vincenzo Bernardo.

The Temple women’s soccer team has announced that it has named seniors Niki Conn, Samantha Farlow and junior Kate Yurkovic its captains for the upcoming 2011 campaign.

MLS

Thierry Henry says he will have no divided loyalties when the Energy Drinks play in the Emirates Cup in London this weekend. Have fun Thierry, just as long as no one gets hurt…

US

Jurgen Klinsmann’s name always pops up in discussions about who should be coaching the USMNT. At least one person thinks making him coach would be a disastrous move.

Here’s a list of five candidates for the top job.

This ESPN blog thinks RSL’s Jason Kreis should get the job.

Whoever is announced as the new coach, he won’t lack for tasks.

The problems with US Soccer are not Bradley’s alone.  Brian Strauss explains the problem is the US soccer culture.

Elsewhere

Spain’s Bankia group of savings banks—which financed Real Madrid’s acquisition of the world’s most expensive football player Ronaldo—is now seeking to borrow funds from the European Central Bank and have “pledged” Ronaldo and Kaka as collateral.

Barcelona wanted to have a kick-about on the Mall in Washington DC on Thursday. Park police said “No!”.

The rules apparently say that the Asian Football Confederation won’t be able to replace banned president Mohamed Bin Hammam until May of 2012.

Sepp Blatter says Qatar will keep the 2022 World Cup and that it will take place in June and July. Again.

Footy on the Telly™

Friday, July 29
Czech Republic v Serbia (UEFA U-19) 11:45am GolTV
Spain v Ireland (UEFA U-19) 1:45pm GolTV
Philadelphia Union v Colorado Rapids 7:30pm FSC
Brazil v Egypt (U-20 World Cup) 9:45pm Galavision

Saturday, July 30 Y
Kitchee (Hong Kong) v Blackburn 6am FSC
Chelsea v Aston Villa 8:30am FSC
Paris Saint Germain v New York Red Bulls (Emirates Cup) 9am ESPN Deportes
Airtricity XI v Manchester City 9am FSP
Arsenal v Boca Juniors (Emirates Cup) 11:30am ESPN Deportes
2014 World Cup preliminary draw 2pm ESPN3.com
Flamengo v Gremio 5:30pm GolTV
Queretaro v Tigres 6pm Telefutura
Barcelona v Manchester United 7pm ESPN2, ESPN Deportes
Vancouver v Los Angeles 7:30pm FSC, TSN
Santos Laguna v Atlante 8pm Telefutura
Monterrey v Tijuana 8pm Telemundo
Colombia v France (U-20 World Cup) 8:45pm ESPNU, Galavision
San Luis v Tecos 10pm Telefutura

Sunday, July 31
Boca Juniors v Paris Saint Germain (Emirates Cup) 9am ESPN Deportes
Airtricity XI v Celtic 9am FSC
Arsenal v New York (Emirates Cup) 11am FSC
Inter Milan v Manchester City 11:30am FSP
Toluca v America 1pm Telemundo
Morelia v Pumas 1pm Fox Deportes
Puebla v Pachuca 1pmESPN Deportes
Avai v Corinthians 3pm GolTV
Costa Rica v Spain (U-20 World Cup) 3:45pm Galavision
Philadelphia Independence v Atlanta Beat 6pm FSC
Chivas de Guadalajara v Jaguares 6pm Telemundo
Dallas v Chivas USA 7pm Galavision

MONDAY
Valerenga v Liverpool 1pm FSC
UEFA U-19s final 1pm GolTV
Mexico v North Korea (U-20 World Cup) 5:45pm Galavision
Argentina v England (U-20 World Cup) 8:45pm ESPN2, ESPN3.com