Daily news roundups

Union target Nogueira, Maidana update, Valdes “very relaxed,” report says Union bid $15m on Bradley, Combine news, more

Photo: Courtesy of UEFA

Philadelphia Union

PSP’s Dan Walsh reports this morning that the Union are in talks with Sochaux midfielder Vincent Nogueira. Stay tuned.

Cristian Maidana, who we reported as a Union transfer target last week, linked to our report on his Facebook page with the comment, “One step further.”

Maidan facebook post

Former Philadelphia Union captain Carlos Valdes was on ESPN Deportes on Saturday to discuss his current status. PSP contributor Barb Colligon provides this translation:

Carlos Valdes (00:12): I continue to prepare myself, ending the recuperation from a “bother” that I got at the end of the year. And until now, I have to return on January 20 to Philadelphia, the team whom I have a contract with for two more years through 2015. And I’m waiting to determine the possibilities we have now.

CV (00:49): What I can tell you is, there’s interest from a team from Brazil, a team from France, and a team from Argentina. So, we’re waiting if they can agree on something. Simply, I’ll take the decision when everything moves forward.

[announcer discusses San Lorenzo, shows clips]

CV (1:15): They’re a great team. They come to championships. Surely, they’ll be contenders in the Copa Libertadores because of what they have. [Translator note: Valdes says “nomina,” which means payroll, but the context is the strength of the players they have – doesn’t translate smoothly] because it’s a team that demonstrates important things in Argentinian and international football. For me it would be a good decision to be part of the club if they agree on something. If not, what can I tell you? I’m very relaxed, preparing myself for what comes. The most important thing is that I can be good and they find me in a good physical condition to continue being part of the National team.

[announcer talks about World Cup, Colombia’s Group]

CV (1:55): It’s a very difficult group, a group with important national teams in their respective continents; a group with teams that have the same dream as us – to be the best in the world. I believe that for them, the challenge is going to be Colombia in the group. Nevertheless, Colombia has to prepare itself for all that comes, because each one is a rival that plays a different game and we can be on top.

The Brazilian club has been identified as Atlético Paranaense but who the French club might be remains unclear.

While he does not discuss it in the ESPN Deportes segment, Colombian club Milionarios, a rival of his former club Santa Fe, continues to be linked to Valdes. News outlet antena2 posted a story on Sunday (crappy Google translation here) suggesting that Colombian club Milionarios was poised to land Valdes. Both that report and another from what appears to be a Millionarios fan site (crappy Google translation here) note that new Millionarios coach is eager to secure Valdes’ services. A Goal.com report (crappy Google translation here) echoes a report from winsports.co (crappy Google translation here) suggests that San Lorenzo, while having made an offer for Valdes, has shifted its attention elsewhere.

At Goal.com, Ives Galarcep reports that the Union bid $15 million for Michael Bradley. Galarcep notes, “[W]hile the $15 million bid wound up being less than a third of what Bradley ultimately ended up going for, it showed some willingness to spend and loosen the purse strings to make the Union better.”

Jack McInerney and Amobi Okugo share their memories of being selected in the 2010 SuperDraft in Philadelphia.

Happy Birthday Ray Gaddis!

Former FC Delco and Union Academy keeper Kyler White is the starting point for Will Parchman’s look at the persistence of the Development Academy vs. High School divide at TopDrawerSoccer.

Former Union head scout and Sporting Director Diego Gutierrez has a new gig as an on-air commentator for Sporting Kansas City broadcasts. Apparently, he already serves as an on-air analyst for Fox Sports 1.

Local

Allentown, N.J. native Billy Schuler, who previously played for Reading United and was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2012 draft, has signed a MLS contract after two years abroad with Swedish side Hammarby. His rights will be allocated via lottery on Tuesday.

MLS

At SBI, observations from the first day of the MLS Combine. Former Reading United midfielder Pedro Ribeiro particularly impressed. Seems that Christian Dean, which many mock drafts — such as this one at TopDrawerSoccer —  have the Union taking with their first pick, had an off day playing at left back, out of his preferred position at centerback. Dean started at left back on Sunday before moving to centerback in the second half. Dean said of his second half spell, “It was a lot better than the previous game. Especially during the second half, I thought defensively it was better…A lot more comfortable. Just more calm on the ball. It was a lot better than left back, I felt, especially defensively.”

Click here for Combine reports from MLSsoccer.com.

At The Sporting News, Mike DeCourcy says Michael Bradley’s return to MLS is the best thing for US soccer’s future. More on the Bradley move from Grantland.

Jermaine Defoe landed in Toronto on Sunday for his official unveiling later today.

Defoe says of his move to Toronto, “I’ve been through some things with my family over the last few years and sometimes it is nice to have a change. I only had a year left on my contract at Tottenham. If you have a year left and someone comes in and offers you four, you have to think about it and consider your options. It’s as simple as that.”

On Saturday, a day after his move to Toronto was confirmed, Defoe scored his first Premier League goal of the season.

More on the Drake factor in the Defoe move.

Michael Parkhurst has left Bundesliga club Augsburg by mutual agreement with the club (crappy Google translation here) to return to MLS. While New England holds his rights, unconfirmed reports suggest that Columbus traded the fourth overall pick in the 2014 MLS SuperDraft and allocation money to acquire them.

It’s official: Oscar Pareja is the new head coach of FC Dallas. Pareja was the head coach of the Colorado Rapids, who received a 2015 first round SuperDraft pick and allocation money from Dallas for letting him go.

Sports Business JDaily reports that the new TV deal with Fox/ESPN could be worth $70 million a year, double the current deal with NBC/ESPN. More from Soccer America.

At Friday’s NYC FC press conference officially unveiling Jason Kreis as the club’s first head coach, Kreis said, “We know that we’re expected to win and, frankly, we will win.”

Kreis also said, “I’m quite certain that New York City FC will sign three Designated Players. I’m also quite certain that those players will be extremely well vetted, researched, talked to [in order to] make sure they’re not only the right player for this team but the right person.”

NYC FC CEO Ferran Soriano said, “We have a singular opportunity — almost a responsibility — to go out and find new players to bring in to bolster the league and not just to rely on the players who have been here.”

Soriano also said the team is looking at several options for the location of a new stadium. “If we could play in the Bronx, it will be perfect. But we have other ideas and other opportunities.” He added, “We’re not looking at anything outside the five boroughs.”

More on the press conference from Fox Soccer, SBI and SI.

Meanwhile, Orlando City announced its first MLS signing — midfielder Kevin Molino — as the NYC FC press conference was underway. Let the gamesmanship begin

San Jose’s new stadium is taking shape.

Seems that David Beckham has hired one of those fancy pants Tallahassee lobbyists to help with his Miami MLS plans.

More on competing moves to bring an MLS franchise to Minneapolis.

NWSL

Among those selected by the Houston Dash in Friday’s expansion draft were Downingtown West product Becky Edwards and former Philadelphia Independence forward Danesha Adams.

US

Jurgen Klinsmann has decided to bring all 26 players participating in the January Camp to the the second leg in Brazil. Klinsmann said, “We have been extremely pleased with the performance of the group in the first week. The players came in very fit and have done really well in training. Therefore, we believe they have all earned a chance to go to Brazil for these next 12 days. We are excited about getting down to Sao Paulo and continuing the work. This is a huge opportunity to get to know our environment for the World Cup.” The team trains there for 12 days before the friendly against South Korea on Feb. 1.

On Friday, Maryland’s Patrick Mullins won his second straight Hermann Trophy. Virginia’s Morgan Brian won the women’s trophy.

Is this the new World Cup kit? Meh.

The US clinched a spot in the semifinals of the CONCACAF Women’s U-20 Championship with a 3-0 win over Jamaica on Saturday. They face Guatemala in their final group game this evening at 7:30 pm (Fox Soccer Plus, Fox Soccer 2Go). Postgame quote sheet here.

Oguchi Onyewu has joined Sheffield Wednesday “a short term contract that runs until the end of the current campaign.”

Law in Sport has an interesting read on how US immigration policy negatively affects US Soccer.

Leeds United has announced a partnership with the San Francisco 49ers.

Elsewhere

The Ballon D’Or winner will be announced today (12:30 pm, FIFA’s YouTube channel, Fox Soccer Plus, Fox Deportes)

Relax, everyone, Sepp Blatter says the 2014 World Cup will be the best one ever.

The Spanish Football League will launch a global “World Challenge” tournament of friendlies to commemorate the 85th anniversary of professional soccer in Spain. Philadelphia is not among the locations described by league president Javier Tebas.

The Irish Times reports, “Prostitutes in the Netherlands have begun lobbying for the same special pension rights as big-name Dutch footballers – stars such as Robin van Persie, Rafael van der Vaart and Ruud van Nistelrooy – arguing they too do “difficult physical work” during well-paid but short careers.”

22 Comments

  1. Re: The 15 million bid.

    I ain’t even mad.gif

    Seriously, 45 million + for Michael Bradley is a straight overpay. I have no idea why anyone things thats a good idea. THe MLS sure ain’t going to make that money back from ahving him in the league.

    • You never know what is going on behind the scenes. If having more recognizable US Nationals is a Key component to getting a good TV deal, then it might.

      • I get the price is high but Bradley is one of the best US midfielders ever to play for the USMNT. oh and He played and started a while for AS ROMA, one of the best Italian teams and one of the best teams on the planet. Well see, but I have a feeling TFC made a smart move.

  2. I agree with James. It would be great to have Bradley but the price is crazy.

  3. The link for the Law in Sport article doesn’t work. It looks like maybe they changed the title of the article, which changes the link. Here’s a link that should work: http://www.lawinsport.com/sports/item/us-immigration-policy-negatively-effects-us-soccer?category_id=152

  4. I’ve tried to watch Michael Bradley play for his clubs over the last two years. I’m not sure even $15 million would have been money well spent.

    • Correction: I see the transfer fee was $10 million, which seems about right to me. The $45 million figure from Galarcep’s article includes salary for the duration of the contract. It’s not a $45 million transfer fee.

  5. I am pleased that the Union seems willing to lay down that kind of cash (although I imagine they probably knew the bid would not be enough). Still, I doubt they put it out there if they weren’t willing to back it up. I hope it shows that the office IS willing to lay down $$ when necessary to improve the team.

    I’m happy with the team’s underdog label, but I don’t want to be an also-ran (even if I’m not even sure what the exact difference is).

  6. Toronto overpaid for Bradley definitely, no doubt. The problem is that’s what’s going to happen to bring those players here. Also, whole Toronto overpaid, the Union had to know the 15 million was never ever going to work.

    • Yea it could have been a flier, for all we know if 15 mil was accepted the Union would have been “OH SHIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII……………”

    • This is an interesting notion. Because the team has to know that their bid will get out there eventually (even if they have to leak it to the press themselves). So the question is: were they seriously putting in a bid, hoping to be close enough to the top to maybe get a chance to increase it; or were they putting in a bid knowing damn well they wouldn’t be close, but also knowing it would look good to their fans.

  7. Minor correction, but Augsburg is a German club in the Bundesliga.

  8. Not sure what the $15M bid entailed but it seems to be joke (if true) based on Demspey’s transfer fee and guaranteed 5 year pay as described here:
    http://prosoccertalk.nbcsports.com/2013/08/02/clint-dempsey-seattle-sounders-transfer-latest-news-rumors-tottenham-spurs-usmnt-usa/
    .
    Bradley is worth a lot more than Dempsey but based on the info here it seems that the transfer fees and guaranteed 5yr contracts are about the same.
    http://prosoccertalk.nbcsports.com/2013/08/02/clint-dempsey-seattle-sounders-transfer-latest-news-rumors-tottenham-spurs-usmnt-usa/

  9. RE: USA World Cup kit
    after the Centennial kits, the return to the US logo is like stepping back to 1996. bland. i guess a quick exit after the group stage could be merciful, style-wise.

  10. One one hand, I wish Philly had a Micheal Bradley.

    On the other hand, good lord. 45+ million dollars for one dude. That is way too much money. JFC Toronto

  11. So the combine report should guarantee the Union take Dean at #2 and play him at left back all season…

  12. haha. I believe my exact quote in a previous comments was that, “I doubt the Union even bid a third of what TFC did.”

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