Daily news roundups / Featured

MacMath questionable, Seba & Marfan honored, Torres rumor, more news

Photo: Paul Rudderow

Union

Zac MacMath is listed as questionable with a left ankle sprain in Tuesday’s injury report (see below). Faryd Mondragon and Thorne Holder are still listed as out.

On Tuesday, Sebastien Le Toux was named MLS Player of the Month by North American Soccer Reporters. Le Toux scored seven goals over six games in September and received 70 percent of the vote. Bravo, monsieur!

On Wednesday, Le Toux was named Player of the Month by SBI. Félicitations, monsieur, encore une fois!

Le Toux was also named to the MLS Best XI for Week 29 along with Michael Farfan. The list says Marfan, “is making a serious case for Rookie of the Year honors” and calls him “a gamechanger.”

Perhaps not so coincidentally given MacMath’s injury, a profile of reserve keeper Chase Harrison appeared on Tuesday on the Union website before the release of the injury report. According to the profile, Harrison “expects to remain with the club at least through the end of the season.” Harrison joined the Union last month after the injuries to Mondragon and Holder.

In this week’s power rankings roundup, the Union move up one spot to sixth at MLSsoccer.com. At ESPN the jump is two spots to sixth. SBI has the Union move up two spots to fifth. At Soccer America, the Union move up one spot to fourth to be the top ranked team in the East. At Goal.com, the Union move up one spot to eighth.

Don’t forget to vote Michael Farfan for Goal of the Week!

After writing that they “don’t really ‘do’ news” but that “Occasionally something falls into your path that you simply can’t pass by,” the Union Dues put up a post on Wednesday morning saying that they have received “an UNCONFIRMED report from a source close to the situation that Roger Torres has payed out of the remainder of his contract with America de Cali in an effort to expedite a contract with MLS and the Union.” (All-caps, bold type and italics in the original.) The post then says of the unconfirmed report, “This feels wrong, not implausible wrong but, entirely too plausible kinda wrong. Trust me folks, I would not have printed this if the source was not good.” (Italics and bold type in the original.) Someday I would like to meet Mr. Close To The Situation and his friend Mr. Unnamed Source and inflict upon them some undisclosed injuries.

Independence

Independence goalkeeper Nicole Barnhart and midfielder Lori Lindsey will take part in a Let’s Move! clinic hosted by First Lady Michelle Obama on Thursday, Oct. 6 on the South Lawn of the White House.

Local

Penn men’s head coach Rudy Fuller talks about the benefit he has enjoyed from working with US Soccer’s Under-15 national team camps as an assistant coach.

If you live in Bucks, Burlington or Mercer Counties, you can get your soccer fix via radio with Vuvuzela-The World Soccer Show at 1490 AM on Sundays from 11am till noon.

MLS

New York defeated a depleted LA on Tuesday 2–0 to move into fourth place in the East on 43 points, one point behind Columbus in third and the Union in second. They next face Kansas City away on October 15.

Seattle topped Chicago in the US Open Cup Final 2–0 to become only the third team to win the Cup three times in a row. What do you think the chances are of them buying home field advantage again next year?

My suggestion is that all of the Sounders go on a three day bender to celebrate their Cup victory before Saturday’s game with the Union. Perhaps they will as talk after the game is that the club is now focused on winning the MLS Cup rather than the Supporters Shield and the MLS Cup. Nah, probably not.

Montreal Impact have signed former River Plate and Inter Milan defender Nelson Rivas.

The Daily Mail reports that Chicago Fire want to sign Rio Ferdinand.

David Beckham says of the reported interest from various European clubs in securing his talent, “I’m flattered. But I live in Los Angeles and I’m a Galaxy player.”

League attendance averages remain on pace to be the best in its 15 year history.

Footiebusiness.com talks to MLS Vice President of Consumer Products Stu Crystal.

US

With Landon Donovan missing the Honduras and Ecuador friendlies due to injury, Edson Buddle has been added to the roster.

This week’s winner of the Headline Statement of the Obvious Award goes to “As Donovan ages, his time as US centerpiece ticks away.”

Raul Mendiola, US Soccer Development Academy’s Player of the Year in the U-15/16 division, tells topdrawersoccer.com that he is traveling to England this weekend to sign with Manchester City.

Elsewhere

The Washington Post’s Steven Goff tweets, “1.6m viewers watched #Spurs v #Arsenal taped on Fox (almost as many as Champ League final live). Overall 2.1m with FSC, Fox Deportes (live),” and followed up with, “Fox decision to show #EPL matches on tape before/after #NFL paying off with good numbers. Mainstream audience > Fox Soccer niche.” The ratings improved by ten percent compared to the Manchester United v Chelsea broadcast.

Liverpool will play a friendly against Rangers in Glasgow on Tuesday, October 18. According to the BBC, “The two clubs have arranged the friendly as they seek added income to compensate for the lack of European competition this season.”

Santos is reportedly considering adding the 70-year-old Pele to their Club World Cup roster.

2 Comments

  1. Well deserved!!! Congrats #9 and #21!!!

  2. CJ Sapong is going to win rookie of the year but nice to see Marfan getting some acclaim.

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