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Nowak lawsuit stayed, MOF says Nowak dooped him, Adu injury, more news

Photo: Paul Rudderow

Philadelphia Union

Jonathan Tannenwald reports, “Judge Mary A. McLaughlin of the U.S. Federal Court’s Eastern District of Pennsylvania formally dismissed Nowak’s complaint on Wednesday, agreeing with the Union’s argument that the matter should instead be settled by an arbitrator.” Tannenwald tweeted minutes after the article was posted, “Okay, need to clarify something. Nowak’s lawsuit technically was not dismissed.”  He then tweeted, “The judge forced the parties to go to an arbitrator and stayed the case pending the result of that arbitration.” He next tweeted, “Which means that technically, the lawsuit is not ‘dismissed.’ Am updating the post now.” More details to come.

[Editors Note: Tannenwald has updated his original post on the judge’s decision to reflect the information in his tweets and also includes links to the judge’s ruling. Explaining why the case was stayed rather than dismissed, he explains, “A case that a federal judge sends to an arbitrator is stayed because if there is money awarded to one side, that judgement needs to be officially confirmed by the court. It’s possible for the losing side to contest that judgment in court, and McLaughlin would make that ruling. But the standard for overturning an arbitration decision in court is very high.”]

Michael Orozco Fiscal tells Fox Soccer that Peter Nowak broke his promise to buy his rights from San Luis and that the club did not pay him in the offseason between 2010 and 2011.

“’I was making $200k and I was supposed to get a raise, but he wanted to give me only $120k,’ Orozco says. He claims Nowak suggested they keep the $500,000 transfer fee that was due to San Luis and split it amongst themselves. He refused. ‘I wanted to do things right,’ Orozco says. But when he wouldn’t play ball, he claims, Nowak badmouthed him to the club and sent him back to San Luis two weeks before the start of the season. The team was in pre-season training camp in Greece but Nowak literally booked him onto the first plane home, without giving him the chance to say goodbye to teammates. ‘They said I was being difficult and Peter turned everybody against me,’ says Orozco. ‘He said he wasn’t going to let one guy damage the team.'”

Orozco Fiscal says of Nowak, “He was very disrespectful to everybody. If you sit down and talk to all of the guys who were on the team back then, they all know.”

In the article, Nick Sakiewicz says, “These particular accusations are new to us and we are not in a position to comment at this time.”

Clifford Haines, Nowak’s attorney in the suit against the Union (identified as his agent in the article), says of Orozco Fiscal’s claims, “It seems to me the player’s complaints are with the organization and not with the coach. They are not Peter’s responsibility. Peter was under contract to the Union.”

At his weekly press conference on Wednesday, John Hackworth said Freddy Adu “was a little behind” in recovering from the injury he received on Sunday. Hackworth explained, “Freddy is coming along slower than we would have hoped. Hopefully Freddy can be available by Saturday but we’re not going to push it. He was able to get through a full workout today but he’s a little behind where we thought he’d be.”

The latest injury report says that Adu is suffering from a left quad strain.

Adu said, “I feel like it’s not something that is going to last, I just want to make sure I take it easy and not aggravate it any further.”

Speaking of injuries, Bakary Soumare tweeted this morning, “Frustrating but will get there! Minor knee procedure today, hopefully it fixes the recent issues I have been dealing with. Fingers crossed!” Guess that explains why he hasn’t been playing.

Asked about Adu’s performance on Sunday in a more central role at the top of the Union formation, Hackworth said, “I’m happy for Freddy, that he got to play that role he likes to play. But I don’t care where he is on the field. He needs to play on that same level all the time. He knows that. I’m happy to see that and I hope to see it again on Saturday.”

Looking ahead to Saturday’s game in Columbus, Hackworth said, “I think Columbus is a team that hasn’t lost at home in a long time, they are a good team and they showed that when they came here. So for us, we feel like we need to go back there and do the job against a team that’s fighting for a playoff spot and for us, the only way we can stave off elimination is to get a result—a ‘W’ and that’s what we plan to do.”

One of the themes in the press conference was the need to build positive momentum at the end of this season to carry over into 2013. Said Hackworth, “We are asking the guys in the locker to get better every game and lets just continue to improve so that if it doesn’t happen this year, it builds momentum going into next year.”

Sheanon Williams agrees. “We come to work every day ready to train and we feel like we’re well prepared,” Williams said. “Breaks, for the most part, haven’t been going our way. I think if we can get a number of results between now and the end of the season, it will have a lasting effect.

At US Soccer Players, Jason Davis looks at the similarities and differences in the coaching situations in Philadelphia, Toronto, and Portland with an eye toward the 2013 season. “Whether Hackworth and Mariner can turn their teams around in the first part of 2013 will have a lot to do with their long-term security. TFC and Union ownership may be loath to start over after a trying 2012, but neither can afford to hang on to their chosen coaches too long if the results do not improve. Toronto’s fan base is evaporating, Philly’s is growing restless.”

More on the Union as spoiler as they play out the season’s remaining games.

SB Nation has the Union at No. 14 in their power rankings, as does Fox Soccer.

Local

Here’s some background on the inaugural Army-Navy Cup, which will take place on Sunday at PPL Park with a 2pm start time.

Penn was defeated by Drexel, 2–1, on Wednesday.

Penn State is No. 20 in Soccer America’s Top 25 men’s college soccer rankings.

Rutgers-Camden is No. 6 in the NSCAA/Continental Tire NCAA Division III Men’s Top 25. York is No. 14.

Bryn Wassel, a senior on the Lansdale Catholic girls soccer team, was named The Reporter’s Girls Athlete of the Week after scoring four goals, including a hat trick, and an assist in two games.

MLS

Although Houston manager Dominic Kinnear says, “I’ve moved on,” it seems that the Dynamo are still smarting from the hiding the Union gave them on Sunday. Nice.

Columbus not only needs to win to keep their playoff hopes alive, they need to make up ground in the goalscoring department.

Soccer America looks at the rise of Eastern Conference teams and how it coincides with the new unbalanced schedule format.

MLSsoccer.com looks at Chris Wondolowski’s chances of breaking Roy Lassiter’s 16-year-old single-season record of 27 goals. Wondolowski is currently on 22 goals with four games remaining.

Sporting News looks at the upcoming fan vote for general manager at the Seattle Sounders.

Soccer Insider looks at some of the factors involved in DC United’s declining attendance.

US Soccer Players looks at three areas off the pitch where MLS could improve.

It seems unlikely that Xbox will remain as Seattle’s shirt sponsor after the 2014 season.

US

SBI says Jurgen Klinsmann has embraced the “empty bucket” without actually playing it.

More on how EA Sports FIFA game franchise has helped the popularity of soccer in the US.

Elsewhere

Soccer America looks at how close cooperation between the Mexican Football Federation and the Mexico’s professional clubs has been a key ingredient in that country’s recent international success. It’s a must read.

A five-meter high bronze statue depicting Zinedine Zidane headbutting Marco Materazzi has been unveiled in front of the Centre Pompidou modern art museum in Paris. Art is so cool.

Jonathan Wilson looks at Liverpool’s terrible start.

The Guardian takes a look at this season’s kit designs in the Premier League.

Michael Ballack playing in Australia? It could still happen.

 

4 Comments

  1. 2 local College lads in the team of the week:
    http://www.socceramerica.com/article/48407/soccer-america-mens-team-of-the-week.html
    /
    Went to see my son’s Div3 team (who are in the top 25) play over the weekend and must say they played some awesome soccer. Many times they were able to complete something like 8 passes and very seldom did they go for the long ball. Was a pleasure to see.

  2. Hi there! Your post rocks at the same time as being a genuine fantastic understand!??

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