Daily news roundups

Focus is on MacMath, more news

Featured photo: Nicolae Stoian

Mondragon tweeted this picture and message on Tuesday: “With my ‘man’ James leaving the Crozer Hospital. Thanks to everyone at the hospital for their care.”

Union

Even though Philadelphia Union captain Faryd Mondragon surely wants the focus to be on tonight’s game against New England and the team, the news that he is expected to miss four weeks after successfully undergoing surgery to repair the distal phalanx (great band name?) bone in his right ring finger that he broke against Real Salt Lake is nevertheless in the forefront of every Union fans’ mind. In case you were wondering, four weeks equals New England, Portland, Columbus, Kansas City away, DC, and Chivas away.

Zac MacMath is ready to play in Mondragon’s stead.”I think there’s a little added pressure because we are in the playoff race and we need some points in the next couple of games,” says the rookie, “But I don’t think it will really affect me or add pressure to me personally.”

Jeremiah Oshan says, “From a purely shot-stopping perspective, there is reason to believe that MacMath could actually be an upgrade over the man 20 years his senior.”

Match previews from the Ours is better.

New England will be raring to go after 17-days rest.

CSN Philly says the three game over ten days stretch that begins tonight “will define the Union’s season.” It’ll certainly go some way toward determining the length of the season.

This week’s winner of the Headline Statement of the Obvious Award is “Union need to turn it around.” Congratulations.

Vote Sebastien Le Toux for Goal of the Week.

Here’s a Q & A with Sheanon Williams. Williams says of the mood in the locker room, “Everybody is optimistic…You know, I think we have a good locker room. We’re just looking at things one game at a time and trying to pick up points when we can.”

MLSsoccer.com says Gabriel Farfan is an option that Jurgen Klinsamnn should consider at left back for the USMNT. So, why didn’t he play against RSL?

Stefani Miglioranzi gets a lot of chaf but you have to admit the veteran has put in some good shifts as a backup defender. Miglioranzi says, “I’m happy to play whatever role the coach needs me to play.”

Keon Daniels scored in the 17th minute as Trinidad and Tobago topped Barbados 2–0 in World Cup qualifying play on Tuesday. In case you were wondering, Daniel was playing left midfield for the Soca Warriors.

As we approach the ten-year anniversary of 9/11, Danny Califf recalls his feelings from that terrible day.

Fred is settling in with his new team, Melbourne Heart.

Local

Penn’s Marin McDermott was named Ivy League Player of the Week.

Eight Philadelphia public league schools—Mastbaum, FitzSimons, Germantown, Edison, Carroll, Audenried, Furness, and Parkway—lost their soccer teams this season after being unable to fill the minimum 15-player roster requirements.

Philly.com roundups previews of boy soccer players to watch from Southeastern PA, South Jersey, as well as high school teams from Southeastern PA and South Jersey. There are also previews of South Jersey girl soccer players and teams worth taking a look at.

Here’s a look at the Lenape girls team, winners of four consecutive Group 4 state championships.

MLS

Ah, The Onion…

US

Player ratings at The New York Times, Soccer America and MLSsoccer.com from the USMNT 1–0 loss to Belgium.

An editorial at IMS wonders is Jurgen Klinsmann really the savior of US Soccer?

Nutmeg Radio has a very interesting piece looking at the pitfalls of making generalizations about Latinos in American soccer.

Elsewhere

While Sir Alex Ferguson defends Jose Mourinho, saying his enthusiasm reminds him of himself when he was younger, Johan Cryuff says Mourinho’s “obsession with Barcelona has gone beyond the limits.”

2 Comments

  1. wheelchair for a broken finger, must be serious…

  2. telling, from the sbnation post “In fact, Mondragon’s save percentage is so pedestrian that last year’s Union goalkeepers — the ones that were deemed so bad that none of them were brought back this season — were collectively better by that metric.”

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