Daily news roundups

Vart on Union options, agent “101%” certain Valdes won’t play in 2014 MLS season first half, Williams No. 1 RB

Photo: Paul Rudderow

Philadelphia Union

The Union passed on making a selection in the second stage of the Re-entry Draft on Wednesday. Union assistant coach Rob Vartughian tells Jonathan Tannenwald, “I think there’s a number of good players available, I just think that where we are right now and what we’re looking to add, I’m not sure those options made sense right now. I think we feel good about some of the other targets we are pursuing.”

Vartughian says the team is looking for options inside and outside of MLS.

“All of us have been traveling extensively as this recruiting process has started and we’ve had targets for some time now that we’ve been vetting and doing our due diligence with.

“There’s always conversations that take place within the league as well and we’ve done a really good job of the college landscape and we have good draft picks this year. I’d say a combination of all the mechanisms by which you acquire players we feel good about the due diligence we’ve done so far.”

Soon after the close of Wednesday’s draft, rumors began appearing on Twitter linking the Union to David Ferreira, who was available for selection in the draft. Citing “A source close to the situation,” MLS Transfers wrote that negotiations had only begun on late Wednesday afternoon, adding, “The Union passed on the former league MVP in the second round of the Re-Entry draft but was done in mind to help keep down David’s future salary.” The post also says there is interest in Ferreira from America de Cali, his former club in Colombia, now in the second division.

At the 700 Level, Steve Moore gives voice to those who are frustrated by the Union’s lack of offseason “[w]hile the rest of the league shuffles the deck.”

Carlos Valdes’ agent Ricardo Pachon tells futbolMLS.com (crappy Google translation here) that he’s “101 percent” certain the former Union captain will not play in MLS for the first half of the 2014 season. Unsurprisingly, keeping sharp for the Colombian national team is the main consideration. “MLS is quite competitive and is in no way way inferior to many tournaments in Latin America, but Carlos can not wait until March to play,” Pachon said.

Pachon says that, since Valdes went to Santa Fe on loan, he has received interest in Valdes from Russia and Argentina, specifically Boca Juniors. However, the economic situation in Argentina makes it an unlikely destination. Pachon also confirmed reports we linked to last week that Santa Fe wants to pay for Valdes’ rights in installments and that negotiations with the Union continue.

Interestingly, the English language version of the article that appeared on the main MLS site soon after the original Spanish-language article omits mention of Santa Fe wanting to buy Valdes’ rights in installments. Colombian news site WinSports has a report lifted from the futbolMLS article (crappy Google translation here).

Soccer America rates Sheanon Williams the No. 1 right back in MLS, moving him up eight spots from his ranking in 2012.

At MLSsoccer.com, Rob Vartughian tells Dave Zeitlin that there’s no rush to sign Darius Madison and Zack Steffen to Homegrown Player contracts. “I would say it’s up to them to continue developing and get better. Based on how it’s gone for them, they both have that potential. They obviously have to keep growing. If they continue to do that, like we expect them to, then for sure that’s something that’s in their future. We’re really happy with the strides they’ve taken.”

The Brotherly Game’s review of former Union Academy players in the College Cup notes that junior midfielder and York, Pa. native Alex Shinsky played 62 minutes off the bench.

At Penn Live, Michael Bullock reports from the start of the two-day Union-Harrisburg City Islanders open tryout on Wednesday.

With the field now narrowed down to a final five, fans can vote for their pick for the best moment of 2013.

Local

TheCup.us has a report on West Chester United’s 4-2 win over Vereinigung Erzgebirge their third straight Eastern Pennsylvania Open Cup title. West Chester now moves onto the USASA Region I Open Cup tournament to play for a spot in the 2015 US Open Cup.

Friday night is Sons of Ben Night as the 0-5 Pennsylvania Roar host the Baltimore Blast, the reigning MISL champions. Sebastien Le Toux will be in attendance and you can purchase tickets here.

MLS

In Stage 2 of the Re-entry Draft on Wednesday,

Chicago have signed Chris Rolfe to a new deal.

In addition to player moves, two new head coaches were named on Wednesday. Real Salt Lake have named longtime assistant coach Jeff Cassar to replace Jason Kreis and Montreal have named Frank Klopas to replace Marco Schällibaum. Vacancies remain at FC Dallas and Chivas USA.

In DC United stadium news, The DCist reports that Washington DC’s city administrator’s office “is on track” to present a stadium proposal by Christmas.

Miami Today on the enthusiasm and caution among the directors of Miami’s Downtown Development Authority toward David Beckham’s stadium plans.

Following the announcement that a new USL PRO team will begin play in Tulsa in 2015, SI’s Brian Straus reviews recent rapid expansion in USL PRO, which he ascribes to the partnership between the third division league and MLS.

At the Guardian, Dominic Fifield talks to Robbie Rogers about what has happened since he came out. Rogers says, “Most of what I feared hasn’t happened. It’s been quite the opposite, with nothing but support and love.”

NWSL

Former Philadelphia Independence forward and longtime PSP fave Lianne Sanderson has finally been recalled to the England WNT. It’s about bloody time.

US

The Guardian’s analysis of the 2014 World Cup groups concludes that the USMNT’s Group G is indeed the Group of Death.

In the latest FIFA rankings, the US remains at No. 14.

In fan voting at the US Soccer website, Abby Wambach’s goal against Brazil in the 2011 Women’s World Cup has won as the Best Moment in US Soccer History.

At Goal.com, Ives Galarcep opines that the new Klinsmann deal “seems forced.”

Fresh off their Nike International Friendlies title, the US U-17 MNT was defeated 2-0 by Alliance Academy of Grand Rapids on Wednesday. The team faces the academy squad of English League One club Stevenage today at 7:30 pm and you can watch a livestream here.

Elsewhere

The Guardian’s Owen Gibson and ESPN’s Gabriele Marcotti, consider FIFPro’s announcement of a series of legal challenges aimed at reforming the international player transfer system.

Vanishing spray will be used by referees at the 2014 World Cup. Woohoo!

5 Comments

  1. Good thing we cleared all that salary from our roster so that we could….pick up Cornen Bone on a minimum contract.

  2. I am as frustrated as anyone that the Union didn’t make a single move yesterday, but the rules state that all of those players are now available on a first-come first-serve basis, so perhaps they can still pick someone up. I hope.

  3. Still lots of time, not gonna get upset yet ( way to early), but getting anxious because the rest of the east has improved on paper, except Columbus.

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