Daily news roundups / Featured

Getting the groove back, more news

Photo: Daniel Gajdamowicz

Philadelphia Union

It’s official, Kai Herdling will return to Germany after the Union decline to extend his loan.

After noting the huge ovation John Hackworth received when his name was announced before last Saturday’s match against DC United, Dave Zeitlin’s Inside Doop says that the Union’s new coach has some difficult line-up decisions ahead of him when it comes to who starts up top and in the midfield.

Hackworth praised Antoine Hoppenot in his postgame press conference as a “sparkplug.” According to the rookie forward, his directions are pretty simple, “They just tell me to go out there and run. I get out there and run toward the goal. If the ball is near the goal, hopefully I can put it in.”

Hackworth also made it clear that Sheanon Williams will stay at right back. Said Williams, “It was nice to be able to go forward again. It was nice to be able to help the team in the attack. That’s something I like to do. And I would think the coaching staff would want me to do that.”

In case you missed them, here’s PSP’s match report, analysis and player ratings with video of Hackworth’s postgame press conference and locker room interviews with Michael Lahoud, Jack McInerney, Gabriel Farfan, Antoine Hoppenot and Amobi Okugo, and our photo essay from the game.

Avi Creditor writes at SI that, despite the disappointing result, Saturday’s performance by the Union showed “At the very least, there are building blocks for Hackworth to use going forward.”

The Guardian agrees, writing, “there were enough signs to suggest that Philadelphia can get some of their swagger back soon enough.”

Philly Union Talk says, “The Age of Hackworth still looks promising.”

For a DC perspective on the game, there’s this from United’s website, this from MLSsoccer.com, this from the DCist, and player ratings from Black and Red United. MLS Talk also comments on the game.

DC United’s traveling support made an impressive showing at Saturday’s game with Ben Olsen calling it “the best road performance I’ve seen from them ever.” The Washington Post wrote about it and Screaming Eagles crowed about it. Have no fear, given that the Union don’t play in DC until August 19, there’s plenty of time to organize some revenge.

US Soccer Players gives Hackworth some guff for trying to take some positives from Saturday’s loss. “Remember kids, Philadelphia never loses. They just don’t come away with three points,” they write before adding, “DC is going out and winning the kind of games Philadelphia talks about winning.” Yeah, well, your blog has a stupid name.

More on Saturday’s game from the Department of We Know Already, I mean SB Nation, “The Union had plenty of chances in this one but once again their finishing was dreadful.”

KYW’s Matt Leon talks to Chandler Hoffman about being a rookie. “For the past 12-14 years you’ve been playing soccer, you’ve been the guy to go score goals and win games for the team,” said Hoffman. “Now you’re just scrapping to try and get in the 18, so it’s definitely a different mindset and a different experience. But it’s one that I’m trying to embrace and trying to use to get better.”

In this week’s power rankings, the Union remain bottom of the league at Soccer America. They remain at No. 18 at ESPN and SI.

Local

More on Reading United’s frustrating loss to Jersey Express from here.

MLS

Continuing what seems to be emerging as a law enforcement tradition in Houston, three MLS players were arrested outside a night club early on Monday. This time, the players were from Toronto, in town to face Houston on Wednesday.

Vancouver Whitecaps welcomed Scottish international Barry Robson on Monday.

This article on the league’s website looks at the promise of soccer analytics.

We noted yesterday that Sebastien Le Toux scored the match winner for Vancouver over the weekend, a strike that is up for Goal of the Week. We neglected to mention that Justin Mapp scored in Montreal’s 4-1 thumping of Seattle. Yes, that is him below scoring with his right foot. Local lad Andrew Wenger also scored in the win.

Women’s Soccer

Boston Breakers have forfeited their May 29 win over WNY Flash after it was discovered they had fielded an ineligible player.

US

Here’s a match report from the USWNT’s 4-1 win over Japan on Monday and post-match quotes. Abby Wambach and Alex Morgan both netted two goals. Highlights are below.

The US men’s  U-20 three-game tour in South America ended with three defeats.

Elsewhere

In today’s Euro 2012 final group stage games, it’s England vs Ukraine (ESPN) and Sweden vs France (ESPN2). Kickoff for both games is at 2:45pm and if you can’t get in front of a TV, both games are also on ESPN3.

Bookmaker Paddy Power will pay the €100,000 fine levied against Nicolas Bendtner for displaying sponsored underwear after he scored against Portugal last week.

Didier Drogba is expected to announce a two-and-a-half year deal with Shanghai Shenhua today.

Soccer America considers the anti-goalscoring bias of the soccer rulebook.

9 Comments

  1. James "4-3-3" Forever says:

    I love Hackworths comments on Williams. Time for him to grow into one of the best RBs in the league.
    And I don’t think it’s crazy to think he could be a NT player some day, especially considering he is only 22. Which is young considering a 26 year old like Cameron can finally come into the NT and be considered a “young” option at CB.

  2. Sheanon Williams passing and movement out of the back is superb. On second watching, Adu played great (I know there are a lot of haters, but his passing is absolute tits, no one else like him), JackMac did excellent and Okugo was nice- Fuck you Peter Nowak for not playing those guys. The weakest of the bunch was actually Lahoud. His passing and touch is atrocious. Marfan was a little off as well.

  3. USWNT looks like a good bet for a gold medal in London.
    What happened to the U20’s?! Something is not right with the development of our youngsters!

  4. Sitting in 135 on Saturday I agree DC’s support KILLED us. A lot of it has to do with the United supporters, but a lot of it comes to the SOBs who could not get anything organized all game.

    • Agreed. I’m in 127 and the DC supporters all but drowned out the SOBs. The major advantage they had was their drum section. They played loudly, continuously, and with snappy, infectious beats. Our drums just sort of thump but don’t really rock a beat. The River End needs more and better drummers.

      • It is a bit more than the drummers but that would be a great start.

      • I have to agree. it is more then just drummers but i think we need more SOB leadership on either end of the SOB maybe even with drums on the ends. That way we can all be one voice, instead of the center leading and it trailing off by the ends. But you also have to realize, this is a very young group. as time goes on we will get better and louder and more as one voice – Signed SOB Member and section 135 Season pass holders.

      • The Black Hand says:

        We sung our balls off in the River End. I think you need to get 127 going

  5. Ed Farnsworth says:

    I was waiting all morning for the companion to the article about Bendtner being fined and here it is, courtesy of the Fiver:

    “12.21pm, today: UNNAMED BETTING COMPANY pay UNNAMED DENMARK STRIKER’S €100,000 fine for wearing pair of UNNAMED CLOTHING to UNNAMED FOOTBALL ORGANIZATION.

    “3.40pm, today: Croatia fined €80,000 by Uefa for their fans’ racist abuse of Mario Balotelli last Thursday.”

    As the Fiver says, well done, UEFA, well done.

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