Daily news roundups / Featured

Hackworth on Union roots, Nowak trades, more news

Photo: Barb Colligon

Howler, “a big, glossy publication that will come out four times a year with distinctive, original writing about American and international soccer, as well as some of the most striking art and design,” will soon launch and could use your help. Check out their Kickstarter campaign.

Philadelphia Union

John Hackworth is the guest on the latest ExtraTime Radio podcast. He says that he wanted to show the Union was going back to its roots with his roster selection against DC United. He also says he didn’t agree with some of Peter Nowak’s transfers, particularly the Danny Califf move. It’s a good interview and well worth your time.

Jack McInerney says of his place on the team under Peter Nowak, “It was frustrating.” He adds, “He didn’t tell us how we were playing or what we should do. So I didn’t know much.”

Amobi Okugo was selected for MLSsoccer.com’s Team of the Week. “Dropped to the back for Philadelphia’s game against D.C. United, Okugo looked every bit the part as he guided the Union defense to a superb showing against United, only to be undone by a controversial goal.” Brian Carroll and Sheanon Williams received honorable mentions.

Union sporting director Diego Gutierrez says Jorge Perlaza, who has known Union captain Carlos Valdes since their academy days together in Colombia, will lead by example. “We bring forwards in to score. The expectation is there that at some point he’s going to find the back of the net for us. There’s no doubt about that. But we can’t put pressure on new players by telling them that you have to score otherwise you’re not a success…Creating opportunities, stretching the field for us, and basically doing the things that we brought him here to do—I think that’s considered a success.”

JP Dellacamera says the Union have turned the corner.

Carlos Valdes is at No. 19 in the latest Castrol Weekly Top 20. Sebastien Le Toux tops the list.

In the Full Castrol Index, the top five Union players are Lionard Pajoy (No. 64), Zac MacMath (No. 72), Gabriel Gomez (No. 85), Sheanon Williams (No. 101), and Brian Carroll (No. 142).

In more power rankings, the Union are in last place at MLSsoccer.com. ProSoccerTalk and SB Nation have them at No. 18 and a merciful SBI has them at No. 17.

You can now vote Union for the All-Star team via Twitter. Zac MacMath, Carlos Valdes, Sheanon Williams, Freddy Adu, Gabriel Gomez and Lionard Pajoy have all been nominated. Thus far, no Union player is a top five vote getter at any position.

In Union academy news, the U-15/16 and U-17/18 Development Academy playoffs kicked off on Monday, June 25 in Frisco, Texas and Union academy partners are there. In the U-15/16 playoffs, PA Classics are in Group 7 and PDA is in Group 8. In the U-17/18 playoffs, FC Delco is in Group 1 and PDA is in Group 8.

Chris Gomez (PDA; Jamison, Pa.) and Sean Wilson (PDA; Bethlehem, Pa.), both defenders, are with the US U-15 team that is participating in the Copa Mexico de Naciones in Mexico City. The team lost 1–0 to Spain in their first game of the tournament.

Local

On Thursday, Reading United’s Futsal team will be playing in a tournament in Reading’s sister city, Reutlingen, Germany.

Morgan Langley and JT Noone are looking forward to returning to PPL Park when Harrisburg City Islanders play the Union on Tuesday in the US Open Cup.

Upper 90 looks at goings on with Harrisburg City Islanders and is excited by Hackworth taking over the Union and his relationship with the Union affiliate. The post includes video of Hoppenot tearing it up for the City Islanders.

Local lad Andrew Wenger, drafted this year by Montreal Impact, is at No. 4 on the weekly rookie rankings at MLSsoccer.com. Teammate and fellow Lancaster-native Zarek Valentin will be facing his old club for the first time since the Expansion Draft when Montreal travel to Chivas USA tonight.

MLS

With the opening of the summer transfer window only days away, Geoff Cameron is emerging as a target for several European clubs.

The three Toronto FC players arrested in Houston for public intoxication have been sent home. Toronto faces Houston tonight.

US Soccer Players looks at the variables that are particular to MLS when it comes to deciding when is the right time to fire the coach.

The first of a four-part interview series with leading American soccer stat analysts begins with what exactly performance analysis is and the obstacles to doing it properly.

David Beckham thinks England “can go all the way” at Euro 2012.

Kaka’s agent says the Brazilian not only wants to live in the US but play in MLS.

Women’s Soccer

Boston Breakers are not pleased with the decision that has resulted in them having to forfeit their 3–2 win over WNY Flash for fielding an ineligible player. Breakers managing partner Michael Stoller said in a statement, “It is unfortunate that in the process of the WPS suspending their season, ITCs for a number of U.S. players were issued to clubs that had no interaction and no contract with these players, which has held up the clearance of U.S. players’ status in the U.S.” Stoller says Melissa Henderson’s International Transfer Certificate “has still not been issued despite the player’s rights having been inappropriately sent to a club in Russia without any authorization, documentation or other required forms.”

The Soccer Wire rounds up the past week’s Elite League results.

US

Jurgen Klinsmann believes it is wrong to hype up young players. “I really don’t like the whole thing to shoot up players at the age of 18, 19 or 20. That’s far too early without having proven consistent qualities yet. Qualities are more than you see on the field. There are qualities of understanding your job and living the right lifestyle – understanding what it means to eat right and to sleep well and be responsible off the field. To learn all these elements is going to take years. I think I played my first cap at 24, and I still made over 100 (caps) through my career.”

Former USMNT coach Alketas “Alkis” Panagoulias passed away on Monday at the age of 78. Panagoulias coached the USMNT from 1983-85, and also led the 1984 Olympic team. He was coach of the Greece team 1992-94, leading them to their first World Cup appearance. Greece players will wear black armbands in his memory when they face Germany on Friday in the Euro 2012 quarterfinals.

George Vescey remembers Panagoulias.

Elsewhere

Below is the quarterfinal schedule for the Euros. All games are live on ESPN, ESPN Deportes and ESPN3:

  • Thursday, June 21, 2:45pm – Czech Republic vs. Portugal
  • Friday, June 22, 2:45pm – Germany vs. Greece
  • Saturday, June 23, 2:45pm – Spain vs. France
  • Sunday, June 24, 2:45pm – England vs. Italy

After Ukraine’s equalizing goal against England was not called, Sepp Blatter tweeted that goal-line technology “is no longer an alternative but a necessity.”

The AP rounds up some famous goal controversies in the wake of England’s win over Ukraine.

The group stage now over, Goal.com ranks the top 20 players and the worst 10 players of the tournament.

More disciplinary rulings against Germany and Croatia for fan behavior at the Euros. Croatian supporters directed monkey chants at Mario Balotelli.

Croatia captain Darijo Srna says referees do not respect smaller countries after being denied two possible penalties in the loss against Spain on Monday.

FIFA has issued bans for 13 players in coaches in Croatia and South Korea for match fixing.

8 Comments

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

    “He didn’t tell us how we were playing or what we should do. So I didn’t know much.”

    What we all suspected has finally been confirmed.

  2. When will FIFA and UEFA learn that if you want to get racism out of the game, disqualify the offending country. The fines to the respective football associations are insignificant and do not work. If you want to send a message, toss Germany and Croatia from the tournament or ban them from future competitions. It is ridiculous that FIFA and UEFA keep paying lip service to the topic of racism, yet have no spine to do anything about the problem.

    {RANT OVER}

  3. Wow! That Kakà article is surprising. The Post covers soccer?!?

  4. Anyone else think Grazzini would be a good signing. He is having contract difficulties with Chicago, and he doesn’t get paid much.

  5. thats good

  6. does anybody like portugal

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