Photo: Paul Rudderow

Union

Ahhhhh, a weekend with a game…

And, what’s this, not just a game but a potential signing? Joe Tait, the young defender on trial with the Union who scored the final goal in the team’s 5–2 win over Harrisburg City Islanders last week, appears set to sign with the club. After messages on Twitter from himself (follow him at @joetait1) and Stuart Hayers (@Stuhayers)—his former coach at PDL side Baton Rouge Capitals and founder of the S&B Kinesis sports management company of which Tait is a client—hinting at a move that have since been removed from Twitter (check out this from the ever Twitter-vigilant Brotherly Game for some of the deleted tweets), Hayers sent a tweet that mentions his S&B Kinesis co-founder, an assistant coaches and the owner of the Capitals early Friday morning saying, “fat lady is clearing her throat.”

While the more suggestive tweets have been removed, a tweet from Hayers on August 31 that mentions Tait remains: “@joetait1 bit.ly/pvQZrt.” Where does the link go? To a video on YouTube of the Doop song that begins with the logo of the Sons of Ben.

Credence to the possibility of Tait joining the Union can be found in Chris Vito’s report in Thursday’s Delco Times about possible fill-ins for Carlos Valdes, suspended for one game because of yellow card accumulation and unavailable for the Real Salt Lake game. Vito, noting that MLS coaches are not obligated to discuss trialists, quotes Nowak as saying at Wednesday’s press conference, “We’re looking at this young kid who joined us in the last couple weeks to see if this is a possibility, as well. We have options.” Nowak also said, “We still have Juan Diego Gonzalez.” See, he’s not just funny on Twitter.

Kerith Gabriel also writes in an article published in the Daily News on Friday morning, “the club is expected to announce the signing of trialist Joe Tait.”

About the Valdes suspension, Gabriel says the time off may be a blessing in disguise. Aside from logging the third most minutes of any Union player this season, Valdes played 16 games with Sante Fe in Colombia before joining the Union. Gabriel quotes Nowak, “Carlos was playing 16 games with his old club and then comes here and is expected to play 34 games, it’s going to take its toll…This [time off] is good for him to recharge his batteries.”

Gabriel says to expect some “fresh faces” in the Union’s lineup on Saturday and quotes Nowak as saying that the team “took a different approach to training this week” and that Real Salt Lake will be “a test for these guys who don’t have a lot of playing time on the field to step up.”

Kevin Kinkead’s scouting report notes that, due to a combination of injuries, international call-ups and red card suspensions, that RSL will also be digging deep into their roster when they face the Union.

Match previews from Philly Soccer Page, Unholy Union, Union Dues,  MLSsoccer.com, phillyBurbs.com.

The talking points from this piece on the Union website about the offense? They are all on the same page, they are confident and positive, any one can score, early goals against RSL will be key.

Marc Narducci writes that, while not getting a point against RSL “won’t be the end of the world…it would compound the collective doubt that appears to have crept into the team.” What about the confidence?

Veljko Paunovic agrees with importance of having multiple players who can score and that any goal scored is about the team.

Dave Zeitlin has a post at CSN Philly that lists five questions for the Union as they enter into the final run for the playoffs: How will the young players handle the remaining ten games; What about that Freddy Adu guy? Will Le Toux regain his scoring touch? How will the backline hold up? Will Peter Nowak settle on a consistent lineup?

Here’s a Q & A with Roger Torres.

The Union has partnered with six other MLS clubs to form the Soccer Stadium Alliance with the primary focus of attracting more concerts to increase non-match revenue in otherwise soccer-specific stadiums.

Independence

The Goalkeeper has an informative interview with Independence owner David Halstead about the future of the team and of WPS.

The Swedish international and former Philadelphia Independence midfielder Caroline Seger is now a former WNY Flash player by mutual consent.

Local

Harrisburg City Islanders winger David Schofield is excited to play in Saturday’s USL PRO Championship Final against Orlando City (Fox Soccer, 7pm). “I know after all these years how difficult it is…We’ve only been there once before, so…I’m excited about it and the whole team is, too.”

While Orlando City dominated Harrisburg in their regular season outings, Orlando head coach Adrian Heath says, “Sports is littered with big favorites who get beat in the big game.”

The University of Pennsylvania men’s team kicks off the season with a pair of Philly Soccer Six matches over the weekend. On Friday they play at La Salle at 7pm, followed by a home match against St. Joseph’s on Sunday at 5:30pm.

US

MLSsoccer.com previews tonight’s USA v Costa Rica friendly (11pm, ESPN2).

Landon Donovan will not make the trip to Europe for the Belgium friendly on Tuesday, September 6.

While the reported friendly with Ecuador on October 11 has not yet been confirmed, the Washington Post reports that the USMNT will play Honduras in Miami on October 8. The report also says two friendlies to take place in November are still being negotiated.

Footy on the Telly™

Friday, September 2
Poland v Mexico 2pm Univision
Bulgaria v England 2:30pm ESPN Deportes
Spain v Chile 2:30pm FSC, Fox Deportes
Germany v Austria 2:45pm ESPN Classic
Tijuana v Chivas 7pm Fox Deportes, Azteca America
Maryland v Stanford 7:30pm FSC
Canada v St. Lucia 8pm GolTV
Jaguares v Santos Laguna 9pm ESPN Deportes, Azteca America
USA v Costa Rica 11pm ESPN2, Galavision

Saturday, September 3
Scotland v Czech Republic 10pm ESPN Deportes
Figueirense v Sao Paulo 5pm GolTV
Orlando City SC v Harrisburg City Islanders 7pm FSC
America de Cali v Nacional 7:15pm GolTV
Real Salt Lake v Philadelphia Union 9pm CSN
Junior v Qunidio 9:15pm. GolTV

Sunday, September 4
San Luis v Morelia 1pm Galavision
Mexico v Chile 2pm Univision
Santos v Botafogo 3pm GolTV