Philadelphia Union
You may have seen some tweets from PSP on Monday regarding Bakary Soumare’s denial of reports that the Union offered Chicago a two-year trade deal for the defender after Saturday’s game in Chicago. Soumare told PSP, “Considering that the team needs me right now (during Parke’s injury) why would they want to trade me on Saturday?”
The Fire Confidential podcast first reported on Monday morning that, according to Soumare, the Union offered a two-year deal in which they offered to cover $175,000 worth of Soumare’s guaranteed salary per season. Soumare told PSP that he did not speak to anyone from the podcast about a trade after Saturday’s game, adding, “last time I have addressed anything about the trade—which was vague—was when I was live on their show a week ago.”
You can download the podcast, Episode 32, click here. To download the podcast from last week, Episode 31, click here.
Dave Zeitlin says Jeff Parke will “probably be questionable for Wednesday’s game” against LA.
For their part, LA Galaxy goalkeeper Carlo Cudicini says the team, who are on a two-game losing streak, needs to be more “nasty.” Midfielder Marcelo Sarvas adds LA needs to score first. “The first goal is important. We are creating, we have a lot of crosses and a lot of possession and we have to get the first goal then the game will go our way.”
Union Dues has a preview and predicts a Galaxy win.
Use the discount code “TUESDAY” to receive $5 off a ticket bought through the Union for the Galaxy game. The discount is good for today only.
JP Dellacamera says, “Zac MacMath’s best game of the 2013 season could not have come at a better time.”
The Union are just behind Kansas City for the best road record in MLS so far in 2013. Both teams have the same 3-2-1 record averaging 1.66 points in away games but Kansas City has the better goal difference.
Power Rankings! At Soccer America, the Union remain at No. 8. At ESPN, the Union remain at No. 11.
The Sports Network adds their voice to those calling for Jack McInerney to get a national team call-up for the Gold Cup.
Pennsylvania state-registered specialty license plates are now available for purchase, with proceeds going to support the Philadelphia Union Foundation.
Bahia have fired head coach Joel Santana, who was named to lead the Brazilian club two weeks after Freddy Adu signed with them. With the Bahia assistant coach leading the club in the interim, Adu is now working with his fifth coach in one year. Since joining DC United in 2004, Adu has experienced 15 coaching changes.
Local
Area US Open Cup play kicks off today with first round action featuring Reading United hosting Lehigh Valley United Sonic (7pm, Oley Valley High School. $5) and Ocean City Nor’easter’s hosting New York Red Bulls U-23s (7:30pm, Carey Stadium. $10, kids admission is free).
Nine players from LVU Sonic’s 2012 NPSL national championship squad (12-1-1) are with the team for 2013. Several former Reading players are now on Sonic, including former All PDL Eastern Conference defender Matt Baker, Tyler Witmer (whose brace in Ottawa put Reading through to the PDL Final Four in 2010), and former Reading United Super 20 players Pat Letourneau and Ryan Jones. Sonic is an incarnation of the Pennsylvania Stoners, who played in the ASL 1979-1983.
Reading coach Brendan Burke says of Sonic, “Our opponent this year is a mixture of more than a few ex-pro players like Matt Baker, who was excellent here in Reading and in Pittsburgh, Andy Adlard who played for the Crew and others, so it’s not really an amateur team that we are playing. We are aware of that and will respect that fact going into the game.”
The game in Ocean City will be Nor’easter’s first of the season. Head coach Tim Oswald says, “The first round of the Cup will be a great opening game of the season for all of our supporters to come and see. We encourage all of our soccer fans and young soccer players to come out and see two of the best teams on the East Coast battle it out in a one-off knockout game format. A lot of these guys will be playing regularly in the pros in a few years, from both teams so it will be a fun game.”
NBC40 previews the Ocean City game in this video report.
Here’s a Reading United alumni report.
At Penn Live.com, Michael Bullock talks to Harrisburg City Islanders goalkeeper Nick Noble, who is coming off of his second straight shutout.
Bullock also looks at the Harrisburg back four, which is anchored by Coady Andrews and Union loanee Greg Jordan and has also featured the Union’s Don Anding at left back.
Harrisburg hosts Orlando City on Friday night at 7pm. Orlando is coming off of a 2-0 road win over Seattle Sounders Reserves.
A $250,000 grant from the U.S. Soccer Foundation is part of the package that will fund renovations at Camden High School’s football field.
MLS
The Sounders are exploring USL PRO affiliation options
That Tal Ben Haim deal that was announced by Toronto last week? Well, it’s not actually a done deal after all.
Could Carlos Bocanegra be headed to MLS?
At Goal.com, Avi Creditor asks if the Manchester City connection is really what MLS needs.
You will recall that on Monday we linked to an op-ed in the New York Daily News from New Yorkers for Parks that was against the proposed MLS stadium in Queens. On Monday afternoon, Mayor Michael Bloomberg countered the assertion that parkland would not be replaced by saying the decommissioned Flushing Airport would be turned into parkland. An MLS spokesperson refused to confirm any specifics.
Topps is the official card producer for MLS. Sports Collectors Digest reports, “Through the terms of the multi-year agreement, Topps will produce not only trading cards but player stickers, sticker albums and other Major League Soccer collectibles.”
NWSL
The latest NWSL attendance figures following last week’s slate of games are available. It’s a mixed bag, from a high of 4,027 to see Washington Spirit host Boston Breakers to a rain affected low of 688 to see Sky Blue FC host Chicago Red Stars. Currently, the league average is 3,765 (3,058 without Portland’s very well attended opener). In comparison, WPS averaged 3,930 from 2009 to 2011.
Elsewhere
While Manchester United fans celebrated the club’s Premiership title, and honored Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement, with a parade, Manchester City sacked Roberto Mancini.
Celebrations in Paris for PSG’s first championship in 19 years ended early after fights broke out between fans and riot police. Paris police commissioner Bernard Boucault said, “The conclusion you can draw is that there won’t be more any more events like this in a public place for Paris Saint-Germain.”
Roma has been given a $64,865 fine after its fans racially abused AC Milan players. Sepp Blatter is not happy with the size of the fine, saying, “Small fines for racist abuse unacceptable. People will always find money.
England’s FA will vote this week on instituting a minimum five-game ban for for racial abuse.
Jonathan Wilson says Sepp Blatter’s World Cup plans don’t make any sense.
In Turkey, a Fenerbahce fan was stabbed to death by two Galatasaray fans after Sunday’s derby match, which was won by Fenerbahce, 2-1. In Argentina, a River Plate fan fell to his death while trying to hand a banner.
teams need to get docked points for shit like happened in roma.
Soumare’s trade value must have plummeted following the Chicago game.
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Im super stoked on that license plate!
His shoulder butt couldn’t have helped. It was disappointing to see such a lack of discipline from a player that needed to show value. That said, I still think we should hang on to him. He made some nice things happen, in his only showing. We could use the depth, especially with the schedule becoming more packed.
Discipline aside…that can be remedied.
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For me it was his speed, delayed reactions in reading the game and poor containment. Only positive I took away from his game was in his clearances.
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For me there is no doubt why Okugo and Parke are the preferred pairing.
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If Parke cant go agains LA, I wouldnt be surprised to see a Williams and Okugo CB pairing against LA.
He did look a step behind, but he still held ground with his positioning. I think that the lack of play, in games, had a lot to do with Soumare’s reactions. Training is nothing like a real game. I think that he will improve in that aspect, IF he gets minutes.
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It seemed like everyone had containment issues. The midfield opened the floodgates and watched the backline flood for much of the match.
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Love Soumare’s size. I agree, his clearance and distribution was better than we have been used to.
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I say we keep him.
People forget Califf was dirt slow too. Let Baky get up to game speed and he’ll be fine.
I swear. It the mountain that was built up around this molehill of a shoulder butt is amazing. It was a small chippy indecent embellished by the other player. relax.
Wanna see a potential red card. Check out Marfans finishing move on dude at 1:33
Was I the only one whose conspiracy-theory alarms went off when Soumare did that shoulder bump thing?
I like the license plate, too, but I’ve already been told I can’t get one.
The MLS already has a team that is effectively a developmental squad for a bigger foreign club: Chivas USA is basically a subsidiary of Guadalajara in Mexico, and we have all seen what a model franchise Chivas has been for the MLS. Don Garber shouldn’t make this mistake again, but he probably will since he is being blinded by the dollar signs from Manchester City’s oil money.
FIFA president Sepp Blatter has defended the decision but the wreck to FIFAs image is already done. If anything, their greatest superiority next year determination be to rekindle at least a bit of it.
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