Daily news roundups

No Delort, Valdes saga continues, Mbolhi due to arrive on Sunday, Casey’s unfinished business, more news

Photo: Earl Gardner

Philadelphia Union

Transfer news

Wigan Athletic announced on Monday that Union target Andy Delort has been loaned back to Tours, the second division French side he was bought from in September.

Kevin Kinkead tweeted about Delort, “Sounds like Wigan was on board with moving Delort to Philly, but it fell apart because of off-field reasons, he wanted to go back to France,” adding, “Seems like the financial part of the deal was done but there were family/cultural/moving issues.”

Kinkead also tweeted, “sounds like Philly is turning attention to another Euro striker,” adding, “I should specify – any striker deal from here on out is likely a 1 year loan with a purchase option.”

Speaking on Uruguayan radio show La Oral deportiva on Monday, Nacional board member Luis Bruno said the team had made a proposal to the Union earlier in the day to secure Carlos Valdes (crappy Google translation here). The post does not say if the proposal would be for purchase or a loan.

Ovacion reports (crappy Google translation here) that Bruno said Tuesday morning, “I talked until 2 in the morning with Valdes and have everything fixed. Is traveling today to Uruguay.” However, Valdes agent Ricardo Pachón says in the report “there is absolutely nothing concrete” and that a late bid has arrived for Valdes from Russia. Please, make it stop.

Vavel reviews some of the players abroad the Union has been linked to over the offseason.

Preseason training camp news

The Union had their first training session in Clearwater on Monday shortly after landing in Tampa.

In the latest Daily Doop, Chris Winkler reports that Rais Mbolhi is expected to join the team in Clearwater on Sunday, which means we can probably expect Andre Blake to start in goal in the first preseason game on Saturday against Jacksonville Armada.

At Metro, Conor Casey says he wanted to return to the Union for some unfinished business:

The playoffs. We haven’t made them since I’ve been here. As a forward you always think about the points that you missed and not the ones you put in so I want to score as many goals as I possibly can. Thinking about the past two seasons, a goal here or there would’ve clinched a playoff spot for us and I’m hoping to erase those memories this year. With this group of guys, we expect to be there.

I wanted to finish business. We came up short the past two years and I feel like last season in the second half of the season we played some really good games together. We just barely came up short, but now we’ll have the chance to play a full season with pretty much the same roster and I’m expecting a different story.

Winkler also reports Union Academy players Derrick Jones and Yosef Samuel traveled with the team to Clearwater. (Jones’ last name is listed as “Amaniampong” on the Academy website. The US Soccer Development Academy website has his middle initial as “J,” which is probably for “Jones.” He’s probably being kind to those of us who have trouble pronouncing unfamiliar last names.)

Sebastien Elney and Sean Wilson, two other Union Academy members who were named to the preseason training roster before being called up by the US U-18 team, will re-join the team after the conclusion of the Copa Chivas tournament. On Monday, Elney — who was again US captain — and Wilson both went the full 90 in the 1-1 draw with Club Tijuana. Now at 1-1-1, the US wraps up group play in tournament today against Club Deportivo Universidad Catolica. Kick off is at 10 am and you can view a stream of the game here.

At MLSsoccer.com, Dave Zeitlin has a post on how draft pick Eric Bird has been impressing in preseason training. Zeitlin notes, “Curtin has said he likes him as a backup to Vincent Nogueira in the No. 8 spot.”

Goalkeeper trialist John McCarthy wants everyone to know that, contrary to what his bios at La Salle University and Rochester Rhinos say, he is not from Cinnaminson, he’s from Philly — St. Vincent Street in Mayfair, to be more precise. Of the possibility of being signed by the Union, McCarthy said, “It’s as simple as it’d be a dream come true. I’d get to stay home with my family and friends. They’d get to come out and watch me play soccer. You can’t ask for more.” You will recall that recent comments from Union goalkeeping coach Paulo Grilo seemed to suggest that McCarthy would get the job.

The Union will unveil its new second kit at the Meet the Team fan event at Dave & Busters on March 3. Pre-orders are now being taken at the Union’s online store.

Local

USL PRO announced its 2015 schedule on Monday. Harrisburg opens the season on the road to Pittsburgh Riverhounds on March 28, then are on the road again April 4 against Charleston Battery, before their home opener two weeks later on April 18. The City Islanders season concludes at home with their fourth game of the season against Pittsburgh on Sept. 19. More on the City Islanders schedule at Penn Live.

Harrisburg-native, and DC United head coach, Ben Olsen was inducted into the Virginia-D.C. Soccer Hall of Fame on Saturday.

Former Ocean City Nor’easters goalkeeper Borja Angoitia recently completed a 14-day trial with Crypriot side APOEL.

MLS

NYCFC has signed 29-year-old Slovakian international forward Adam Nemec, who joins the club from Bundesliga 2 side Union Berlin.

Orlando City has signed midfielder Eric Avila, formerly of Chivas USA.

New York Red Bulls and Tim Cahill have mutually agreed to part ways. Cahill leaves New York to join Shanghai Shenhua, the club Nicolas Anelka and Didier Drogba couldn’t get away from quickly enough.

Colorado Rapids and one time Union target Zat Knight have mutually agreed to part ways. Knight joined the Rapids in October.

Hatem Ben Arfa is stranded in Europe after his contract with Nice was terminated because FIFA ruled he had already appeared for two other European clubs — an issue, you will recall, that limited the options of Union transfer target Andy Delort — even though one of them was Newcastle’s U-21 team. Ben Arfa says, “I’m ready to go to the North Pole just to play football again.” How about MLS? The Daily Mail reports, “Sportsmail understands that a move to MLS remains a possibility for Ben Arfa given that their 2015 season starts in March.”

Orlando has surpassed the 11,000 mark for season ticket sales. Frankly, I’m kind of surprised it took this long.

LA Galaxy were honored at the White House on Monday for their 2014 MLS Cup victory. Barack Obama singled out Robbie Rogers for praise:

I want to recognize what Robbie Rogers of the Galaxy has done for a lot of people by blazing a trail as one of professional sport’s openly gay players. My guess is that as an athlete, Robbie wants to win first and foremost. That’s what competition is all about. But Robbie, you’ve also inspired a lot of folks here and around the world and we’re really proud of you.

Omar Gonzalez showed his sense of humor with the White House visit. Funny stuff.

At the Daily News, John Smallwood says because February is “the worst month of the sports calendar,” MLS should add four games to its schedule and start its season then. Sure, many MLS franchises are in cold weather cities, but the weather in them “does not vary greatly between the middle of February and early March.” Anyway, “An MLS schedule beginning in February could be manipulated so that warm-weather franchises host early-season games.” SMH.

In another Daily News article, Smallwood looks at the trend of top US players returning to MLS from abroad.

The Daily Mail’s Super Bowl headline named New England Revolution as Sunday’s Super Bowl winner. Sadly, the paper did not also name Seattle Sounders as the losing team.

In David Beckham’s Miami franchise news, ESPN reports the Miami-Dade County Commission “will vote Tuesday on a resolution directing Mayor Carlos Gimenez or someone designated by him to negotiate with Florida International University for the purpose of using the school’s football stadium as a temporary venue.”

US

Jurgen Klinsmann describes how the lack of a “culture” of getting into shape during the MLS preseason explains why match fitness was a problem last week’s loss to Chile. He does not describe how the lack of a culture of fitness affected the team’s 1-2-2 record in the other five post-World Cup games.

San Antonio Business Journal reports “Roughly 45,000 tickets” have been sold so far for the USA-Mexico friendly at the 65,000-seat Alamodome on April 15. Nick Langella, general manager of the stadium, said, “We expect to sell the place out. It will be a home run.”

USWNT head coach Jill Ellis says, “If we sit where we are, we’ll get run over.” Soccer America looks at what the federation is doing from the youth level up to prevent that.

At the New York Times, Yael Averbuch has some interesting observations about youth development techniques she has seen around the world compared to what she has seen in the US. “But I also have become starkly aware of how much this country needs a standardized development system. Not an elite league, or tryouts, or college showcase tournaments and high school playoffs — we already have those and they all serve a wonderful purpose. We need a development system so that all this good intention does not get lost, so that it has a direction.”

Elsewhere

FIFA presidential candidate Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein has revealed that the US was one of the six countries that provided the endorsements necessary for his candidacy for the FIFA presidency. FIFA requires five nominations are require to validate a candidacy.

The Guardian reports, “Prince Ali, one of three rivals taking on Sepp Blatter for the FIFA presidency, has warned of a culture of intimidation within world football’s governing body and called for a public debate between the candidates.” More at ESPN, Inside World Football, Sky Sports, and the AP.

Reuters reports the International Football Association Board (IFAB) “will consider allowing a fourth substitution in extra-time as well as ending the controversial so-called ‘triple punishment’ at a meeting this month.” The agenda for the meeting, which will take place Feb. 28 in Northern Ireland, can bee seen here.

ESPN reports, “The Japan Football Association (JFA) has announced the early cancellation of the contract of national coach Javier Aguirre due to the ongoing match-fixing probe against him in Spain from his previous role as manager of La Liga side Real Zaragoza.”

80 Comments

  1. zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

  2. Can we revisit the “Time to Panic” article?

  3. Dan C (formerly of 103) says:

    I don’t know what is more boring, the most disappointing offseason in the history of this team where the coach is reduced to singing the praises of multiple 2nd and 3rd round draft choices or the leaked photos of the secondary kit.

    • Realistically, I don’t think we should have expected TOO much from this offseason. The team spent a lot of money last year (Maidana, Noguiera, Edu, M’Bohli, even Valdes’ “long term” deal) for better or worse. It’s pretty clear that there isn’t much room for big new signings.
      .
      Of course, since our position of need is the most expensive one, that sets the team up for a pretty disappointing offseason.
      .
      At least next year we can all be here to discuss a PSP article about how Curtin finally has the cap space cleared to build HIS team after clearing his predecessors disastrous financial mess!

      • fine, but don’t tell us new signings are imminent!!

      • I agree with that. If Curtin can’t deliver on his promises that new signings are coming, he will lose all credibility. That said, I’m willing to give him until the actual end of the offseason until I crucify him.

  4. Another day of inertia from the Union. I think the strategy is to wait as long as possible to make a move so that we, the fans, will just be grateful for anyone they bring in.

  5. I must say that I am becoming very disappointed with management and coach. They said don’t worry, trust in us. Well it’s Feb. 3rd and the most likely thing to happen is that we will lose the best player this team ever had in Valdes. Some might disagree on that point, but WTF are we supposed to do if he is gone. Put a non-World Cup center back in his place? I thought the idea was to improve over last season. With him gone, that is a major step backwards.
    I would have bet the house that we were getting Gilberto now that Toronto has too many DPs on their books. Doesn’t that make sense for a team that needs a star striker? I don’t know, I’m not fully disgusted yet, b/c the season didn’t start, but I’m getting there as the season nears with no significant improvements to speak of.

    • Correction. two of the best players this team has ever had. Amobi and Carlos.

    • I have to disagree on losing Valdes. He wasn’t in form at all last season and, quite honestly, developed into more of a liability, even when compared with Ethan White. The White-Edu tandem was a lot more effective. As a fan, and anyone involved with this club, you do not want to constantly deal with the ridiculousness that is his indecisiveness on playing for this club. Cutting ties now will help alleviate some of the stress regarding his recent tenure here. That being said, how can anyone not be disgruntled with the lack of forward thinking in regards to bringing some quality and needed talent to Philly.

    • “I would have bet the house that we were getting Gilberto now that Toronto has too many DPs on their books. Doesn’t that make sense for a team that needs a star striker?” I thought and feel the same… oh well……

  6. I’m surprised that the Union are focusing on Europe when they constantly mention how they don’t have money. Wouldn’t much better deals be found in South America instead of Europe?
    .
    I get that they got a great deal on Nogueira, but that was an rare situation.
    .
    It just seems odd to me given their financial constraints.

    • I don’t know that the Nogueira situation is all that rare. The union seem to be looking in two areas in Europe currently.

      1. Players whose contracts need to be jettisoned because of relation. Nog was one of these, Delort another. Just because the Delort signing didn’t work out doesn’t mean that pursuing it wasn’t a good idea.

      2. Players whose team has had a coaching change causing them to be out of favor and whose salary the newer coach wants to expunge.

      In both cases, the selling team may be willing to part with the player for less than their perceived actual value just because they want to clear their salary.

      Looking at these situations in Europe seems like a fine idea to me. I’m not saying the team shouldn’t be looking elsewhere as well, of course.

    • I’m not sure what it is for other South American leagues, but for Brazil the transfer window doesn’t close until 3/31. Obviously getting a player sooner is better than later, but in this case the media attention is on the European leagues since their window just closed.

  7. Do we still have that sun rocket? I’d be happy to pile the whole Valdes situation into it about now. So tired of the whole thing.

  8. Worth repeating:
    Love Jim Curt and wish him well coaching this team and trying to negotiate thru the rachetness of this organization. As for this organization I hope this fan base will put the screws to them and really sound off. Campaign for new financially competitive ownership. Campaign for comcast to step to the forefront. I know that this market is important to MLS. If the Union can’t handle being in a top market than it’s time to start campaigning for a franchise that can and appreciates the best fan base in sports.

    • The Black Hand says:

      The only real leverage we, as fans, have is staying home. Keep the money away from the park…BUT, that will mean the end of the Philadelphia Union…

      • Dan C (formerly of 103) says:

        That is why I stopped re-upping my season tickets….. I can’t give them my money when they have done nothing but go backwards for 5 years.

      • The Black Hand says:

        You and me both. However, I did buy a handful of midfield seats…and will probably do that again, for my kids.

      • I’m already out as well as is my co-worker

      • The Black Hand says:

        Lot of empty seats at PPL Park, no matter what made up attendance number announced.
        .
        Lots of people are doing the same. My friends/family and I had 12 seats in TRE, when the club started. Not one of us is there now. We simply were not getting a return for our investment. We all expected the club to struggle and that endeared them to us. We were going to ‘come up’ with this club. Unfortunately, as we head into our 6th season, the club has not developed…at all.
        .
        It would be wise for this club to thank its supporters. Not one is fair-weather.

      • Not going to games is the definition of fair weather.

      • Dan C (formerly of 103) says:

        BS! Not going to games is letting
        OWNERSHIP know that I will not support a subpar product with my hard earned money. I still watch all the games, stillkeep up with them on a daily basis and still urge my players/parents to watch the U and MLS as the young ones can gain from it even if it isn’t the best league in the world. But refusing to support ownership is not the defintion of fair weather. It is the definition of supply and demand economics.

      • The Black Hand says:

        What Dan said!

      • I’ll be the first to welcome you guys back when we start winning again. You can find me in 139.

      • The Black Hand says:

        Only if it’s sunny!!! I’ll be the guy wearing the Chelsea/Bayern/Barca Jersey.

      • Staying home is one way. It’s 2015 and there are any number of ways to show and voice displeasure and of making substandard owners and front offices feel the heat. Social media. Calling them out at press conferences and other events. I usually drive from NY with 6-12 friends a year for some home games and union games at pinkcow stadium. We are meeting this Thursday to discuss not attending the games at PPL park. If the Union want us they’ve got to show us. Depending on the roster I may watch on my computer. I still want the best for them but they are doing nothing to warrant my full time support. If the Union go, Philadelphia is still a strong market for MLS. We’ll have a team and one that is financially competitive and worthy of this market.

      • Not financially supporting ownership is the ONLY worthwhile VOICE a FANatic has. This is not about boycotting support for the team or the idea of the team. Very few professional cities nationwide have had a more long suffering history than us and for the most part we steadfastly love our clubs but Philadelphians will not support an ownership that has trustworthiness issues. SoB, I respect your opinion oftentimes but in this instance you are wrong.
        .
        This whole notion of fair-weather is inaccurate. Sometimes you actually do have to rebuff the prodigal son.

      • then don’t re-up season tickets……………hit them where it hurts. Take the wife and kids down to OBX and surf for a week…….much more relaxing than walking out of PPL with that “WTF just happened?” look on everyone’s faces!

      • The Black Hand says:

        Haven’t re-upped in two years (Hackworth killed me).
        .
        I’m pushing for the Nicaragua surf trip (without my kids!!!!!).

      • As I see it, the team itself is only worth half as much as the stadium they play in. And we, the Pennsylvania taxpayers, own the stadium. There’s got to be some way to use that to our advantage…
        .
        But yeah I’ve dropped my season tickets as well. It’ll be a while before I make the trip back to PPL. Not only is the team not winning (at least not against opponents that matter), but the FO isn’t even trying. The only way they’re getting me back at this point is to do both.

      • I cancelled my tickets. They had the balls to call today of all days and try to get me to re-up. “Hi, we’ve mostly only lost players this year, upped the ticket price, and you have to pay for parking now. BUT you might get your face on a number. What more could you ask for?”

      • Exactly. The END of the Philadelphia Union. Is that really what people want? Are people really willing to risk a folding/relocation of the Union to prove a point? Guess what, everyone…..if the Union fail, it’s far from a given that MLS is going to hand us our very own shiny new club/ownership. There are plenty of potential replacements ready and waiting.

      • The above is in response to The Black Hand’s comment waaaay up the board. Just for context. I’m a little late to the party, anyway.

      • The Black Hand says:

        Hell No, I don’t want to see the end of the Union. Don’t get it twisted.
        .
        This tangent was about supporter’s bringing about changes in the way their club is run.
        .
        I agree. If the Union fold (which will not happen), odds are against another club coming to the city. The number one way to avoid this is: Put quality on the pitch!!!!

      • Sorry. I should’ve explained myself more clearly. I wasn’t responding to you specifically, but I did use your name as a reference point so people knew what I was writing about.

      • Now that we know- I think it would be grassroots and owned by the fans.

  9. I could be signed on the cheap. I figure over a 34 games season I would easily be good for five goals. Oh and did I mention that my true position is LB? Only natural to convert me then to a striker. I’m 41 with 17.5 good minutes in me a night. Can you say SuperSub?
    .
    This friends is what we are relegated to (pun intend). WSSM.

    • Joel stay by your phone . . . you are currently 15th on The Union Striker waiting list. They might get to you by end of next week. Gerd Muller is next on Albright’s list followed by the one true Ronaldo as he’s run out of active players that want to come play for this . . . what was the word of the week . . . ‘podunk’ . . organization.

  10. mayfair and juniata are represented rightfully enough. but no yunkers? hmmmmmmm

  11. This is precisely why you need to do your transfer business early. What a cluster!
    .
    So now how many Plan Bs (I really believe they are probably on their Plan K at this point) did they eliminate by waiting. Yes European players can still sign with MLS, but Europen teams are less likely to release a player when they are unable to bring in their own transfers to replace the depth/quality.
    .
    Now how many more weeks will be required to acquire the next player in line. Two weeks maybe? (IE three weeks before the start of the season), then another few days to get to actually get to the team and start training? Ridiculous . . . and that ASSUMES the negotiations are successful, which is probably 50/50 given their track record. If not they start all over again
    .
    All these articles and pundits preaching patience are completely off the tracks (not referring to the Ed article FYI) Some are starting to sound like organization shills like Spadaro who are more concerned with towing the company line for fear of rocking their precious information source boat.

    • OneManWolfpack says:

      Chris Albright is clueless. That or the Union’s purse strings are so tight, he couldn’t get anything done. They are the only two explanations. Seems obvious but I just had to put it out there. I’m leaning toward the former.

      • I blame Albright too. I mean who’s job is it to vet these targets to see if their interest in genuine? Clearly the guy didn’t want to come here except as a last resort. That’s not the type of player i want to hang my hat on as transfer day approaches. I would have moved on from him onto Plan 9 a long time ago. These guys are like the stupid kids at the prom waiting until the last minute hoping for the cute girl who’s not interested to say finally say yes . . . and instead Albright and Curtin end up showing up to prom
        with each other.

  12. We have already passed the point where a new signing would have full time to integrate with the team. And I hope this team realizes that it needs to bring in at least three new guys. I’m sorry, I won’t accept simply replacing Okugo and Valdes. This was not a playoff team last year. Dumping two of your better players and replacing them is lateral. I want improvement. Without improvement, this is not a playoff team. And I want a playoff team.

  13. Can we boo the team on opening day or turn our backs to the field when they announce the line up? As a sign of dissatisfaction in the club. Not to disrespect the players but to show the organization we’re pissed and the fan base that created this team is disgusted with the way its being managed. Curtin is looking like Pinnochio. Signings are coming my ass… Will be bringing my brown paper bag to PPL this season so I can hide my eyes from the horror that’s ready to take place on the pitch.

    • OneManWolfpack says:

      I’m gonna make a “Signings are coming!” it’ll say a little something without disrespecting the plays too much.

      • Make a sign for every empty seat saying “Fans are coming”
        .
        In another 3 years you’ll be able to clearly read ‘UNION’ on the seats at all the home games, not just for The Open Cup

      • While the rest of ‘UNION’ might be visible, be assured I will continue to cover the upper right arm of the ‘U’ for the foreseeable future.

      • I love how self-congratulatory people are about dropping their season tickets. I’m sure the players will understand that a half-empty stadium is an indictment of ownership and not waiting for a winner. When is everyone hopping back on board? If/when the team is sold or if/when the team is sold and is winning? I’m guessing for the most part it’s the latter, and, make no mistake, that is front running.

        Someone above posted that the Union fan base is one of the best/most loyal in MLS. Really? 2,000 people show up for FREE U.S. Open Cup matches. That doesn’t scream best/most loyal to me.

      • The Black Hand says:

        Nah…life starts to get in the way (job/wife/kids) and it gets harder to justify donating season ticket money (+parking) to my shitty football club…who, for whatever reason, seems intent on getting shittier (the tickets, however, aren’t getting cheaper). I pick and choose my matches, now.
        .
        Front-runner???? Hahaha…don’t think you’ll find any of those around here, mate. To be a front-runner, your club has to at least be in the vicinity of the FRONT. We are pissed-off SUPPORTERS..?There’s a difference.

  14. OneManWolfpack says:

    Looks like that check they wrote, just bounced. Unreal. This team has somehow managed to sink lower. Wow. I couldn’t be more irate. Don’t tell us signings are coming and then do nothing. Yes, it’s still the offseason but how much freakin longer are you going to wait?!?

    • Opening Day is 4 weeks and 4 days away. All we have done is draft 4 players (none of whom were out of the first round), resigned a player to a permenant deal who we had all of last season on loan, and signed a substitute striker who hasn’t played up to his potential… Oh and how could I forget, another keeper will be signed somepoint soon as a #3. Our 3rd keeper signed in a year.

      Your irate feelings are completely valid! Feels like Santa skipped PPL Park this Christmas and visited every other team in the league

      • OneManWolfpack says:

        Including Colorado and SJ… the only other two teams who hadn’t done anything. Pathetic.

      • The Black Hand says:

        Colorado picked up Sarvas.
        San Jose signed Innocent Emeghara.
        .
        We did sign Sapong, but we have soooo many positions of need!!

      • OneManWolfpack says:

        Sorry I meant, we were the one of three teams, but are now the only one left. I wasn’t clear.

      • The Black Hand says:

        Fear not. There is a player in Venezuela. He plays LB, CB, CDM and ST…simultaneously. I’m sure Albright is going to find him!!!

  15. With Edu in midfield and Sapong at CF the team already is shaping up to be better than last year. With a new center back most likely partnering White and a (semi) full preseason for Mbohli I think this team probably has more continuity and cohesion than it did last year. My bet is we get a new striker as well. My hope is that its a guy who can play anywhere on the frontline. Sapong has never lived up to his potential in part because he was forced to the outside by Kansas City. And while he can get the job done out there, I would love to see him get a shot at Center forward. On a side note: We scored 51 goals last year, not too bad. We also conceded 51 goals, bad. A shiny new striker would be nice, but that by the numbers wasn’t our most glaring problem. Also good to remember that 6th place gets you into the playoffs this year. Call me an optimist if you want, but under Curtin at least we have a strategy and a formation and a persona. Last year started with things like the Aaron Wheeler CB experiment. I think we are a bit ahead of that already.

    • I think calling you an optimist would be putting it lightly…

    • The Black Hand says:

      Isn’t Edu our CB? Because if not, who is???
      .
      Will Gaddis be limited on the left, because Sheanon has to play RB?
      .
      Who is going to man the DM? Lahoud??(I hope, if I have to chose between he and 7… but man that is a shitty starting #6) Carroll??? (Please NO!!!!) Neither can link play to the advanced players. (Makes me fear Rt. 1 football!!)
      .
      Noguiera and Maidana are talented players, but are the fellow midfielders on a level anywhere near those two. Wenger isn’t prone to defending. LeToux is a workhorse, but Sapong and he play the same position. Sapong is untested as a CF/ST, so that means we will be leaning heavily on Casey…because we don’t have anyone else…maybe Hoppenot…nope, we don’t have anyone else.
      .
      These are a lot of legitimate questions. I’m not seeing us as stronger than last year…and, honestly, we sucked last year.
      .
      Goalkeeper is the only area that we have improved upon, compared to last year.
      .
      We are hurting, all over the pitch. I don’t want to dampen your optimism, but I just want to know how you see this…and can you teach me to see this???

      • The one thing he doesn’t mention either, is who the hell are the depth? We will inevitably be seeing Cruz, Sapong/Casey and Carroll/Hoppenot/wheeler every game.

    • Made an account primarily to tell you that youre delusional. Keep drinking that kool-aide.

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