Photo: Earl Gardner

Philadelphia Union

11 days until Mark Geiger returns to PPL Park!

The club had President’s Day off so there’s no news from the Union camp. Raymon Gaddis, Chandler Hoffman, and Aaron Wheeler were apparently kicking balls off of the tower at the Daytona Speedway but pictures have yet to emerge and the trio remain at large.

It’s season preview time, and as far as I can tell, this preview from Sports Network just might be the first out of the gate for the Union.

Philly Soccer News says the Union’s fan contingent was the largest by far at the Walt Disney Pro Soccer Classic. The article includes quotes from PSP’s very own Sean Doyle.

If you like your news reports unsourced, there’s this update on Freddy Adu from Tribal Football: “It is believed that his representatives have held talks with clubs in both Mexico and South Korea as the former childhood prodigy’s career continues to stall at senior level.” In case you wondered, the Washington Posts Steven Goff tweeted on Saturday:

https://twitter.com/SoccerInsider/status/302804451289362432

If you’re like me, what you notice about Goff’s tweet is the use of the past tense.

Going back to Jan. 12, an alert reader pointed us to this post from a Korean website ISplus.live. Google Translate spat out an even less decipherable translation than it usually does, such as the excerpt below:

In a telephone conversation with the 12th Nikkan Sports recently terminated the contract with Philadelphia Union team Addu examine the possibility of K-League expansion has been, “said an official in the transfer market savvy” player himself part of the K-League Classic showing an active interest in the club, and know that not possible, if you are thinking how to enter the Japanese J League, ” he said. …Wider situation remains constrained by a mob of Philadelphia and whose contract expires. Transfer fee “Addu Classic K-League debut as a springboard of a new leap forward wishes to make.” He said.

Got that?

Local

The finals of the Bearfight Winter Classic will take place on Saturday at Stoney’s British Pub in Wilmington, Del. The Facebook announcement notes the event will include the BFWC 2013 Semifinals, a Bearfight Ladies Undercard, a Bearfight Ladies Championship match, and the, at the end of the night, the BFWC 2013 Finals match up.” Wrist-off is at 7pm.

MLS

Season previews for Toronto FC and Chivas USA at MLSsoccer.com.

Will Hesmer has retired at the age of 31.

MLS Talk says that, if MLS is a feeder league, its strategy for growth should be directed toward North American dominance.

NWSL

A number of former Philadelphia Independence players will be training at United Sports in Downingtown as part of the Paul Riley-coached SUPERGROUP. The camp runs Feb. 18-24 and two games are scheduled for Feb. 21 and Feb. 24.

US

The US U-20s got the job done in Puebla against Haiti with a 2-1 win in their first game at CONCACAF U-20 Championship, but it was probably nervier and uglier than expected.

@Kchristine tweeted some photos of the soon to be available US Soccer Centennial swag. Gonna get me one of those shirts (not the Donovan one).

U-20 coach Tab Ramos said simply, “I think we have to play better. There were some good moments for us, but we have to maintain that for a longer period of time if we are going to be successful in this tournament.”

Match reports from Soccer America, ASN, MLSsoccer.com, SBI, Goal.com; post-game quote sheet here; player ratings from TopDrawerSoccer.com.

At ESPN, Jeff Carlisle says the result might be the only thing to celebrate, while at Goal.com, Avi Creditor says the most important thing is that the U-20s won.

The U-20s next face Costa Rica on Friday, Feb. 22 (6:30pm, FSC).

The questions about Landon Donovan’s absence are just as present now that we know he will soon return. MLS Talk ponders some of those questions as they relate to the USMNT and its quest to qualify for the 2014 World Cup.

Elsewhere

FIFA announced that goal-line technology will be used at the 2014 World Cup.

Workers at the Maracana have laid down their tools for a one-day work stoppage and are threatening to strike if their demands for increased pay, meal vouchers, and health benefits aren’t met by World Cup organizers in Brazil.

Wayne Rooney, he’s a good bloke.

Shanghai Shenhua, perhaps best known here as the one-time home of Didier Drogba and Nicolas Anelka, have been docked six points, fined £103,000, and stripped of their 2003 Chinese Super League after being found guilty of fixing a game against Shanxi Guoli nine years ago.

From the Guardian, how to spot a fixed soccer game.