Photo: Paul Rudderow
Philadelphia Union
There are must-win games and then there are must-win games.
Saturday’s game at 4 pm against DC United at PPL Park is one of the latter.
Previews from PSP, Brotherly Game, David Murphy’s Union blog, MLSsoccer.com, CSN Washington, Goal.com, The Guardian, and Stoppage Time Soccer. Also, Brotherly Game and fellow SB Nation blog Black and Red United ask each other three questions.
At MLSsoccer.com, Dave Zeitlin has more from Wednesday’s press conference about what the Union will do if Maurice Edu is called up to the national team for the pre-World Cup camp next week.
Ray Gaddis has received an honorable mention in SBI’s Best XI for April.
Some well deserved recognition for Zac MacMath from Philadelphia Inquirer, Philadelphia Daily News, and Delco Times.
At SI, Liviu Bird talks to Amobi Okugo about his national team aspirations. Okugo says, “I feel like the next generation … we’re just trying to plug away, trying to creep at [the incumbents’] feet. Hopefully, we can get the call-up and challenge them.”
Okugo diplomatically says of playing center back, “It’s been an adjustment. Midfield is still my favorite position … but defense is good because you’re able to see the field in terms of passing out of the back. It’s always good when you’re able to frustrate a forward, stopping him from scoring.”
At CSN Philly, Dave Zeitlin has notes from Wednesday’s press conference.
Local
Harrisburg City Islanders host Arizona United on Saturday (7 pm, NSCAA TV, YouTube).
Greater Philadelphia gets a “Other hotbeds of note” mention in a rather shallow article at MLSsoccer.com entitled “The four markets that have defined a century of American soccer culture” from the otherwise generally excellent Matthew Doyle. Don’t make me get on my Philly Soccer history stool!
MLS
Eddie Johnson has apologized to his DC United teammates for remarks he made in an interview earlier this week in which he said of the transition from playing with Seattle to playing with DC, “I felt like I didn’t have to run as much because we had better guys that had more quality on the ball.” Johnson said of his apology, “I wanted to give them peace of mind. I don’t want them to think I am better than them. That’s always been the perception of my career: I’m a prima donna, I’m a bad teammate, I’m bad in the locker room. That’s not the case.”
That knee injury that Omar Gonzalez suffered? Turns out he’ll be out for one to two weeks. LA Galaxy head coach Bruce Arena expects the injury won’t get in the way of a national team call-up next week.
Chivas USA have acquired midfielder Marvin Chavez from the Colorado Rapids in exchange for Luke Moore, and Lumberton Township, NJ native and former Reading United forward Ryan Finley from the Columbus Crew in exchange for a conditional second round pick in the 2016 Major League Soccer SuperDraft.
Brian McBride has joined the winless Chicago Fire as a part-time coach.
Coming soon from Orlando City is…something. Maybe a new logo?
At ESPN, Claudio Reyna talks about building the foundation for New York City FC.
David Beckham talks to The Miami Herald about his commitment to making the team a reality. More on the latest on the Miami franchise from The Miami Herald, CBS Miami, and The AP.
US
The USWNT came from behind to draw 1-1 with Canada on Thursday night in Winnipeg. Who scored the 78th minute equalizer for the US? Sydney Leroux, of course. She’s scored against Canada in the each of the last three times the teams have met.
Third round pairings for the US Open Cup were announced on Thursday. If Reading prevails over Greater Binghamton FC Thunder in Wednesday’s second round game, they will be on the road to either Rochester Rhinos or Western Massachusetts Pioneers on May 28. If Lehigh Valley United Sonic defeat Harrisburg City Islanders, they will host either Icon FC (USASA) or Baltimore Bohemians (PDL). If Harrisburg win, they will travel to face Baltimore Bohemians.
SBI looks at the USMNT’s depth at right back.
At MLSsoccer.com, a look at how the US has become an exporter of dual national soccer talent.
ASN has a history lesson on US Soccer and the teen phenom.
Elsewhere
Check out the latest Footy on the Telly for the upcoming week’s listings of live soccer on TV, online and on satellite radio, including the channels for all of Sunday’s final Premier League games of the 2013-14 season.
ESPN reports, “Sepp Blatter has confirmed that he intends to stand for a fifth term as FIFA president.” Sigh.
A ninth World Cup stadium worker has been killed in Brazil.
SI has a running tally of World Cup rosters.
Tomorrow’s game is important because of hyphen placement?
I prefer MUST WIN in ALL CAPS!
It really adds a sense of urgency.
LOUD NOISES!!!!!
I love lamp!
^This
Aw, he went and fixed the hyphen. Now it isn’t as funny anymore.
still should have been in all caps.
Sorry, but it wasn’t funny in the first place 😉
What does Amobi say?
Ring-ding-ding-ding-dingeringeding, gering-ding-ding-ding-dingeringeding, gering-ding-ding-ding-ingeringeding
.
No seriously he has his suitcase packed and he has one foot out of the door. If we traded Mac in hopes of keeping Amobi we are going to look quite foolish. Dare I say we will be a figure of fun around the league.
You can say we are a “figure of fun around the league.” Nowak then Hackworth with Sakiewicz in the backround. Figure of fun, laughing stock, joke you name it. We’ve waited too long for an MLS team only to wind up with a circus!
Sadly, I think you’re right. He’s got to know signing a new contract means being stuck at CB for life…
Is he even eligible for retention funds? I doubt even then he would stay, He is not in his preferred position, the team is going nowhere time to set off for new beginnings.
Haha yea we are screwed. You can’t have one of your best young players openly wishing he was playing a different position that he happens to be better at. Some other team will promise him a move to midfield and Amobi will be gone.
Totally agree, the second that contract ends he’s out the door. I’m expecting to hear about a pre-contract agreement with a mid-level European team over the summer.
Great article about NYC FC and Reyna. I saw him recently in Wildwood during the Regional Futsal Competition where his son played for one of the NYC FC teams. Great to see him in person and as a father. Think NYC FC will be a great team and I am looking forward to see them play at PPL. Hope by then the Union is sold to a bigger spender …
The Union have spent enough money. They just need some leadership and organization. Sure, I’d love to have DeFoe and Bradley. But that’s not going to happen. We can still beat LA, Toronto, NYRB, and NYCFC. BUT WE NEED A COACH! Omobi needs to play in midfield. We need to draft a CB, not a redundant goalie. We need to play exciting young attacking players like Ribiero in their favored positions. We need a striker who can actually score goals. Go Union!