Photo: Nicolae Stoian
Philadelphia Union
Vote MacMath for Save of the Week!
Zac MacMath is ranked at No. 10 on the latest Castrol Weekly Top 20. In the Full Castrol Index, MacMath comes in at No. 29, followed by Sheanon Williams at No. 70 and Brian Carroll at No. 78. The previous highest ranked Union player was (I think) Danny Califf at No. 6 for April, 2011, when the full index was released monthly.
Raymon Gaddis gets a backhanded move up to No. 4 in the Rookie Rankings.
Gabriel Gomez gets an Honorable Mention in the latest Team of the Week at MLSsoccer.com.
According to information compiled by Sporting Intelligence for ESPN The Magazine, the Union are ranked 255th in terms of payroll for all professional sports teams in the world, 6th in MLS. The average annual player salary on the team is $162,232 with an average weekly pay of $3,120. The total payroll is estimated to be $4,542,484, which is 253rd on the list. The report notes that “‘Average Weekly Pay’ is calculated from base player salaries from current or most recently completed seasons from each sport, and excludes endorsements, bonuses, appearance fees and any other source of extra compensation.” The most recently released MLS salary figures came out on September of 2011 (when the total team’s guaranteed compensation came out to be $3,569,981), so it is unclear how the $4,542,484 amount was compiled, particularly since the ranking of 255th represents a drop from being ranked 250th “last year.”
More power rankings! Believe it or not, the Union move up two spots at MLSsoccer.com to No. 13, “mostly on their fine defensive form.” SBI and ESPN also have the Union at No. 13. At ProSoccerTalk, they’re at No. 14 and, like some of the rankings linked to yesterday, PST picks up on how Fortress Philly is showing some cracks. SI also has the Union at No. 14.
Union Dues reviews last Saturday’s game.
Local
The schedule for the first two rounds of the US Open Cup was released on Tuesday and features four local teams.
- On May 15 in round one, Reading United host four-time Cup winners N.Y. Greek American Atlas (USASA), who are returning to the tournament for the first time since 2005.
- When the Lehigh Valley’s FC Sonic (NPSL) host PDL’s Long Island Rough Riders it will be the first time a Cup game has been played in Bethlehem, the home of five-time winners Bethlehem Steel FC, in the Modern Era.
- Jersey Shore Boca (USASA) will travel to Pontiac where they will face the Michigan Bucks.
- In round two on May 22, Harrisburg City Islanders will host the winner of Long Island Rough Riders/FC Sonic. If Reading win they will face Charleston Battery (USL PRO).
- If Jersey Shore Boca win, they will face Pittsburgh Riverhounds (USL PRO).
- MLS teams enter the third round on May 29. Click here for the tournament bracket.
The Goalkeeper begins his blog post on the US Open Cup announcement with, “This is a rather small thing as regards the local soccer scene, but it’s something that I didn’t want to overlook.” Just to be clear, four area teams in the opening rounds of the US Open Cup is not rather a small thing.
Al Miller, the man who coached the Philadelphia Atoms to the NASL championship in 1973, the first year of their existence, and went on to coach the USMNT and is a member of the US Soccer National Hall of Fame, was attacked by an alligator while golfing in Florida. The alligator dragged him into waist deep water before letting go.
The Temple Women’s team has released their fall schedule.
MLS
MLSsoccer.com journalist/PR hack/resident blow-hard (take your pick) Simon Borg said at the conclusion of the latest ExtraTime Radio podcast that he thinks women who are too into MLS might be off–putting to male fans. His idiotic remarks did not go unnoticed and MLS Reserves reports that the league pulled down the original version of the pod and posted a re-edited version with the imbecilic remarks removed and an apology added. Women United FC has an overview of the controversy with links and will be on the ExtraTime podcast on Thursday to talk about why Borg is a moron.
Hummelstown, Pa.-native Bill Gaudette, who got his first MLS start in six years over the weekend, looks likely to be the Galaxy starting goalkeeper for an indefinite period after the enrollment of Josh Saunders into the league’s substance and behavioral health program. The Galaxy stress that Saunders did not fail a drug test.
Gaudette will face Seattle tonight away tonight (10pm, Direct Kick, MLS Live). Also tonight, New England hosts Colorado (8pm, Direct Kick, MLS Live) and San Jose hosts DC (10:30pm, Direct Kick, MLS Live).
The Red Bulls have denied goalkeeper Ryan Meara’ U-21 Euro qualifier call-up to the Ireland team.
Houston Dynamo have cut the ribbon to open their new stadium where they will host DC United on May 12.
The Goalkeeper drops the “r”s as he goes astrological.
US
Sporting News looks at USMNT roster options as World Cup qualifiers draw near.
Monday’s Manchester Derby was the most watched EPL game ever on cable television. An estimated 1,033,000 watched the game on ESPN, 273,000 on ESPN Deportes. An additional 87,200 watched (legal) streaming broadcasts. Not bad for a Monday afternoon.
Elsewhere
Here’s a look at how Everton uses analytics for pre and post match preparation and analysis.
And here’s an English pro player’s take on diving.
Jeez, I didn’t even realize we had Martinez on the bench when we decided to bring in the 17 year old instead.
This team makes shocking and appalling tactical decisions sometimes. The worst part is that it wasn’t even Nowak who made them this time.
Any success this team has is 100% in spite of the coaching.
MLS has issued a formal statement re: Borg’s comments:
http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2012/05/02/mls-statement-offensive-comments
A Cup run would be great, but I’d settle for our first ever win. I’m going to be pissed if some USL side knocks us out.
On a side note – was down in Orlando 2 years ago for a conference, was playing the course at the hotel and sliced my drive onto what looked like a long bunker/beach next to the lake. Was about to go try and play from the sand when the local I was with told me to drop from the grass. I said it’s playable, he said yes, but you’re edible. Was a 6 foot gator just under the water surface about 15 feet away from me. Not surprisingly, I triple bogied and didnt make a par the rest of the round.
Crikey!