Philadelphia Union
The Union begin play in the Disney World Pro Soccer Classic tonight with a 6 pm match against Orlando City. As of this writing, neither the Orlando game nor the other Union group stage games will be streamed. This is a MLS thing, not a Union thing.
Orlando City Head Coach Adrian Heath says, “Over the years, the one thing that we’ve proved to MLS teams is that we’ve always been competitive with them, and we expect to do that again…We’ve had two or three really good games against Philly, so we don’t expect anything different.” The Union are 0-1-2 against Orlando in preseason play.
Soccer America has more on the tournament and “What needs sorting out” in the tournament for the Union.
One thing that needs sorting is who will be the Union’s starting left back. John Hackworth has said there is better depth in the position than there has been in the recent past. “Fabinho has played well, and he played well at the end of last year, so we felt like we had something to really work with. We have Ray Gaddis, who we know can play there, and did a fantastic job for us last year. We’ve played him as more of a right back in preseason…It’s one of those battles, that we do feel like, compared to last year we’re in a much better position and we have greater depth. You can play a first team, second team, and third team even with guys who have played the position and are comfortable there.”
Maurice Edu said of the Union’s 2014 season goals, “The initial target for us should be the playoffs. This league is funny in the sense that anyone can beat anyone on any given day. So I think we can aim for the playoffs. Then hopefully we can string together a good few games and who knows, come out champions.”
At ProSoccerTalk, Mike Prindiville shares his impression of Edu from Monday’s MLS Media Day: “After candidly describing his plight at Stoke City — let’s just say the man was done wrong by Mark Hughes, among others — Edu earned a soft spot in my heart and is a guy I’m gunning for to make the roster in Brazil.”
Under the headline, “MLS sees Bradley and Edu lead way as US soccer welcomes back its own,” the Guardian’s Graham Parker wonders if the league is reaching a tipping point for American players.
Sheanon Williams got some props in a article at MLSsoccer.com on defenders that should be on the radar of fantasy league players. “Williams led all defenders with seven big chances created and was tied for third in assists with five last season. Philadelphia have added the kind of quality to their midfield that could help him get free on the outside for overlapping runs and even bigger attacking contributions in 2014. Plus, Williams is probably the deadliest throw-in specialist in the league.”
Brotherly Game continues its series on the Union’s positional depth with a look at defensive midfielders.
It seems Rant Sports has adopted Bleacher Report’s unfortunate habit of producing slideshow-based articles. PSP contributor Phil Naegely notes ten rookies to keep tabs on, a list that includes five Reading United alumni and three Union draft picks, including Pedro Pibeiro, who is both a former Reading player and Union draft pick. Taylor Sturm has a slideshow of five “bold” predictions for the Union’s 2014 season.
Former Union man Gabriel Farfan made his debut for Chiapas on Tuesday, going the full 90 in the 1-0 loss to Lobos BUAP in Copa MX group play.
Michael Farfan remains with Liga MX-side Cruz Azul after Jose Villareal and Rafael Baca, who joined the team with Farfan in December, have been sent to second division affiliate Cruz Azul Hidalgo in order to “continue their process of adaptation.”
Local
Harrisburg City Islanders season tickets are now on sale.
Two Penn State players — defender Brittany Basinger and midfielder Mallory Weber — are on the 24-player roster for the first US U-20 WNT camp since the team won the CONCACAF championship in January. Taking place Feb. 22-March 2 in Lakewood Ranch, Fla., the US will play China in two friendlies during the camp and also scrimmage against University of Florida.
MLS
Vancouver have signed Italian goalkeeper Paolo Tornaghi.
Tim Cahill believes winning the Supporters Shield is more meaningful than winning the MLS Cup. “I’ve only known the Premier League. So I know that when Manchester United wins the Premier League, (they) didn’t raffle it up and say you finished fifth, do you want to play in this round robin and then take our trophy? … I feel like I’ve achieved massively over a season. Because that’s how I get judged as a player. That’s how you judge me. You don’t judge me for the MLS Cup, over two playoff games.”
New England have renewed their partnership with USL PRO side the Rochester Rhinos.
Jacksonville’s NASL team, which is scheduled to begin play in the league in 2015, will be called Jacksonville Armada FC. A silly name and silly crest that will look dated in no time.
Movement is underway in St. Louis to land a USL PRO franchise. The reasoning is simple: five of the last six cities to get MLS franchises had USL PRO teams. More from the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
US
Despite the violent crackdown by police against protesters in Kiev that left as many as nine people dead, the USMNT friendly against Ukraine scheduled for March 5 in Kharkov, located some 250 miles to the east of the capital, is still scheduled to proceed. US Soccer spokesperson Neil Buethe said, “We are in communication with the State Department and are monitoring the situation in Ukraine. We are still planning on playing the game on March 5.”
At The Washington Post, Steven Goff writes that US Soccer must contend with two issues regarding the friendly, “safety and morality”:
If this were not a World Cup year, the USSF might conclude the Ukraine trip is just not worth the hassle and cancel now.
But it is a World Cup year, and Klinsmann cannot afford to miss an opportunity to gather most of his first-choice players…
If diplomacy wins out and violence subsides, Ukraine’s internal problems should not prevent the USSF from honoring its commitment to play. However, if blood continues to flow and the crisis escalates over the next week, the federation will have to take a hard look at its priorities.
More from MLSsoccer.com, ProSoccerTalk, and Goal.com. What do you think, should the US play in Ukraine?
Elsewhere
Champions League play continues today. You can watch Arsenal vs. Bayern Munich (Fox Sports 2, Fox Deportes, Fox Soccer 2Go, SiriusXM FC) and AC Milan vs. Atlético Madrid (Fox Soccer Plus, Fox Soccer 2Go, SiriusXM FC), but it’ll be tough if you’re a Comcast customer since the Philadelphia-based cable giant carries neither Fox Sports 2 nor Fox Soccer Plus. Why is the Arsenal vs. Bayern Munich match on Fox Sports 2, you might wonder, especially considering Bayern are the reigning champions? Well, this Sunday is the Daytona 500, NASACAR’s biggest event, and today Fox Sports 1 is showing a practice race for the Camping World Truck Series from Daytona.
FIFA has declared that construction of the Arena da Baixada in Curitiba is back on track and that the city is still slated to host its first World Cup group stage game on June 16. More from SI and Soccer America.
The Far Post on nicknames and the language of soccer in Brazil.
The Guardian reports more than 500 Indian migrant workers have died in Qatar since January of 2012, some 24 in January of this year alone in the construction boom associated with Qatar’s preparations for the 2022 World Cup. You will recall the Guardian reported last month that at least 382 Nepalese workers have died in Qatar over the last two years.
Whatever crest Jacksonville had on display at the Union-RBNY match was way cooler than the new Armada crest.
It sucks that they’re not streaming the Disney matches, as I was really hoping to see more of that squad that played the second half against the Red Bulls (and of course our new DP acquisitions).
MLS is so anti-fan access it blows my mind. Name another professional league that refuses to show its preseason games…you can’t.
Moving forward streaming preseason games and Disney matches for your growing fan base is smart PR! It shows for one thing, that you’re not taking us for granted and you give a crap. If the games were in this region I could see streaming a couple of games because we could just attend the games. That being said after only 4-5 years we understand (to a point) that it’s all still a work in progress. Thank the soccer gods for this site!
I have Comcast and live in Manayunk and get Fox Sports 2 but it isn’t in HD.
What channel is it?
737
so by having the same leftbacks we had last year we have more depth than ever. cool.
Well to be fair Fabhino and Gaddis have been taking a philosophy course at CCP so they are DEEPER than last year.
EDIT: Wait, I can edit this? When did that happen?
Any word on the roster down in Florida? Did everyone from last week end up making the trip back down?
This Friend speaks my mind.
We are waiting for a list of cuts. Should be getting it before tonight’s game.
‘Sheanon Williams got some props in a article at MLSsoccer.com on defenders that should be on the radar of fantasy league players. “Williams led all defenders with seven big chances created and was tied for third in assists with five last season. Philadelphia have added the kind of quality to their midfield that could help him get free on the outside for overlapping runs and even bigger attacking contributions in 2014. Plus, Williams is probably the deadliest throw-in specialist in the league.”’
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You know, it sure would be nice if MLS could get their details right. Williams had 8 assists last year, not 5. (In addition to scoring twice.) I mean, the data is *right there* on the league’s site; it’s not like it’s hard to find or anything. Come on, MLS! Get the details right!
Idk maybe it doesn’t count “mls assists” (assist to the assist)
For fantasy it does not count assist to assist to my knowledge.
No streams…BOOOOOOO!!
And I’m not saying Boo-urns.
I was saying Boo-urns… sorry I had to. Ha!
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As if we needed more proof that FIFA is a joke – one day after saying the Curitiba was a total mess, today it’s declared back on track. Ha! Wow… that was fast.
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Really pissed about not having these games streamed. We’re they not streamed last year? I think I remember watching some last preseason. MLS need to fix this stat. How can you sponsor a tournament and present it with MLS teams and then not stream it? How expensive could it be?
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This Ray Gaddis thing is making no sense. If you like him so much, play him at RB and move Williams next to Okugo. I know you give up some height but that would be a decent pairing. If not, trade Gaddis for another top pick… I’m looking at you Chivas!! Ha!
Moving Williams gives up his throw in threat also.
The other games are being streamed. Just not ours.
So then its gotta be a Union thing and not MLS, right?
nothing from the disney “tourney” was streamed today.