Daily news roundups

Meet the Team/new jersey unveil at D&Bs, Edu’s Reddit session, Garfan working toward Liga MX debut, more

Photo: Courtesy of Philadelphia Union

Philadelphia Union

The Meet the Team/new home jersey unveil event will take place at Dave & Busters on Tuesday, March 4. The event is open to all but season ticket holders can RSVP for exclusive access to the team from 6-6:30 pm here.

Here are some highlight’s from Maurice Edu’s Reddit session on Monday.

Bdeniso asked how the chemistry between Edu and Cristian Maidana and Vincent Nogueria is coming along. Edu replied, “It’s still early. We’ve only played 45 minutes together with all 3 of us on the pitch, but the chemistry is there and is growing. The quality they both have is clear to see and we’re all excited to play some more games together and continue to develop relationships and have a successful season.”

The Monseiur asked Edu’s thoughts on US internationals choosing to return to MLS. Edu said, “I think its an exciting time to be back in MLS. The league has made tremendous strides over the year growing in size, quality and the level of play. The academy systems and the soccer specific stadiums are two other factors that have helped to continue to grow the game domestically and all around its an exciting time to be in America leading up to the World Cup.”

Asked by highdeas_ese his thoughts on how the quality of MLS has changed in the time between leaving and returning to the league, as well as the level of play at the Union, Edu replied, “I think MLS is at a good level right now and continuously growing. I think preseason is coming along well for us and its about just developing relationships and getting everyone on the same page. The youth system and facilities we have is unbelievable and there are some real talented kids coming through in Philly.”

OfeyDofey asked if Edu was ready to take on a leadership role. Edu said, “I don’t plan to do too many things differently. I know some of the guys look up to me and the other veteran guys so its important to conduct myself professionally on and off the pitch. I’d rather lead by example through my play and be the guy my teammates know they can trust and look to both on and off the pitch.”

PolrVortex asked what Edu thinks of “guys like Jack Mac, Amobi Okugo, Sheanon Williams, and Zach Pfeffer,” and whether young MLS talent might now be thinking twice about going overseas. Edu said, “They’ve all made very good impressions on me. Very talented and hungry young players. The hope is we can continue to keep our best players domestically and help to continue to strengthen our league.”

There’s more good stuff in the AMA from Edu. One thing is clear, all of us are gonna have to be pretty loud to top the reaction of the crowd at Ibrox when it comes to one of Edu’s favorite goals.

Local

The 2013 Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer Association’s State Awards winners will be honored at a reception at the Radisson Hotel Philadelphia Northeast on Saturday, March 8. Click here for more information.

MLS

Former Union man Gabriel Farfan talks to MLSsoccer.com about working to quickly reach match fitness with the goal of soon making his Liga MX. Farfan, on loan from Chivas USA to Chiapas, said, “Basically, it’s like a showcase for me. I don’t have much time on my contract with MLS, so hopefully after that I can find a suitor down here. My main goal is to make a name for myself in the Mexican league.” I miss him.

Bright Dike’s of playing for Nigeria in the World Cup appear to be over after reports that he suffered a torn Achilles in practice with Toronto on Monday. Dike tweeted, “Worst day of my life.” Dike, who was born in Oklahoma, suffered the same injury in 2012.

At the Washington Post, Steven Goff reports that DC United are about to finalize a shirt sponsorship deal with Leidos Inc., a leading government contractor. DC’s last shirt sponsor, Volkswagen, decided not to renew its contract with the club when the one-year extension of its five-year deal with the club ended last season.

Is Chivas USA about to undergo a re-branding? The Goat Parade reports that two new trademarks were filed with the US Patent Office in January, one for Los Angeles SC, the other for Los Angeles FC. I prefer the first one.

Portland’s Jeld-Wen Field is now officially Providence Park with the installation of new signage on Monday.

It seems that building a MLS stadium at PortMiami doesn’t accord with the financially troubled seaport’s own development plans.

New Mexico State Representative Antonio “Moe” Maestas wants a MLS team and downtown stadium in Albuquerque.

US

You will recall that Bild reported that Julian Green, who will train with the USMNT for two days before the friendly against Ukraine on March 5, had decided to commit to the US. Green’s agent, Katharina Schrott, tells MLSsoccer.com that Green, who has appeared for the German youth national team, has not yet started the paper work necessary to make a change of allegiance. “No decision [on his international future] has been made yet. The only fact I am able to confirm is that he is going to train with the US team in Frankfurt.” USMNT press officer Michael Kammarman says in the MLSsoccer.com report, “He is not eligible to play in the friendly against Ukraine. He would not be able to play for us until he completes a onetime switch with FIFA.”

Asked if he agrees with Jurgen Klinsmann’s comment that US players lack the self-belief to reach the upper echelon’s of European club soccer, Michael Bradley said, “No.”

From the Department of Yeah, That’s Pretty Obvious, Landon Donovan tells ESPN in an “exclusive interview” at the MLS media day that 2014 will probably be his last World Cup. Or maybe not.

The Florida Times-Union reports that US Soccer is expected to make a decision in the next ten days about a pre-World Cup warm-up game — most likely against Nigeria — in Florida in June. The report says Jacksonville and Tampa are frontrunners to host the game.

Alex Morgan is appearing in another Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue.

Elsewhere

Champions League play returns today. You can follow Manchester City vs. Barcelona (Fox Sports 1, Fox Deportes, Fox Soccer 2Go, SiriusXM FC) and Bayer Leverkusen vs. Paris Saint-Germain (Fox Sports 2, Fox Soccer Plus, Fox Soccer 2Go, SiriusXM FC) today from 2:45 pm.

ESPN reports, “FIFA is set to announce on Tuesday that Curitiba has been removed from the list of host cities for the World Cup due to delays in construction of the Arena de Baixada.” However, a report from Reuters says, “Officials from the southern city of Curitiba, capital of the Parana state, will be present at Tuesday’s announcement which indicates it is to be retained as a World Cup venue.”

Reuters reports, “Brazil’s government on Monday urged officials in the city of Cuiabá to do whatever necessary to get its stadium ready in time for this year’s World Cup soccer tournament, following a prosecutors’ report that an October fire at the venue caused far more damage than previously disclosed.”

Reuters reports, “Faced with the specter of street protests disrupting this year’s World Cup, soccer’s governing body FIFA expects host country Brazil to deploy police if necessary to contain violent demonstrators and guarantee access to stadiums.”

FIFA Secretary General Jerome Valcke said, “We are expecting a quiet World Cup and we are expecting that whoever wants to be at the World Cup will have the right to do so…you can have pacific demonstrations, it’s a right in any democracy around the world. But in non-pacific demonstrations, when people are just trying to create problems, just trying to fight the authorities, there is only way to bring it down. The police need to make sure that these people will be under control.”

There has been some discussion about whether in-game water breaks will be necessary in Brazil. FIFA Chief Medical Officer Jiri Dvorak said, “We don’t think the conditions in Brazil will be as difficult as people are saying. We can introduce extra water breaks and provide players with cold towels where necessary, but that’s a medical decision that will be judged on a case by case basis, before each game, by our team of health professionals. We’re very well prepared and will do everything we can to preserve players’ health.”

Is Vince McMahon, the CEO of World Wrestling Entertainment, interested in buying Newcastle United? The comedic possibilities are endless.

7 Comments

  1. Bless you Ed, thanks for posting the Alex Morgan SI slideshow! You win the Internet today.

  2. Great weekend in Wildwood where the 2014 US Futsal Northeast Regional Championship was held. Was all well organized and saw some great games. The U17 Boys and U10 Girls of the Philly Futsal Academy team won gold medals and a big Cup and are now invited to play later this year in the Nationals. More at: http://northeastfutsalchampionship.com/

  3. OneManWolfpack says:

    PLEASE don’t botch the new home jersey!!! Please!!

  4. I Still have my original jersey without the awful BIMBO logo. If the new jersey has that ugly logo defacing it I won’t buy it. I understand the sponsorship but that thing clashes with and ruins the whole kit. Make it small like the Adidas logo and move it somewhere less distracting like the shoulder or sleeve. I still wish Comcast would take over ownership and sponsorship and create a logo that would have Union colors and blend in.

  5. Dave & Busters? Union really are budget FC!!! LOLOLOLOLOL

    • James Lockerbie says:

      maybe for a more family friendly environment isn’t there an arcade in the back and resturant area. Not 10 bars not that I am concerned but maybe someone with the F.O was or xfinity might not have been an option this time around?

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