Photo: Courtesy of Philadelphia Union
Philadelphia Union
The Union remain winless in the preseason, falling 1-0 to Tampa Bay Rowdies in Clearwater.
Unlike the loss to Jacksonville last Saturday, the Union kept a clean sheet through the first half and into the second. The lone goal of the game came from the penalty spot when Michael Lahoud fouled in the box. Reading native — and Reading United alum — Corey Hertzog converted for the Rowdies from the spot (click here for video of the goal).
Jim Curtin said after the game, “I’m happy with our first group, they pushed the tempo for 45 minutes and created chances. We are just lacking the final ball. While we want to win every time we step on the field, at this phase of preseason, it is more about performances than results.”
With Andre Blake picking up a minor injury, and Rais Mbolhi newly arrived with the team after playing for Algeria in the Africa Cup of Nations, John McCarthy played the full 90 in goal. In addition to McCarthy, the Union’s starting lineup was Gaddis, Vitoria, White, Williams; Edu, Nogueira; Wenger, Maidana, Le Toux; and Sapong.
Steven Vitoria played 30 minutes before being replaced by Richie Marquez. Curtin said of the new defender, “Steven Vitoria fit in seamlessly with the group.” He added, “I thought Vincent Nogueira had a very strong performance in the first half.”
McCarthy and Marquez were joined at the start of the second half by Fabinho, Simmons, Lee; Quinn, Lahoud; McLaughlin, Pfeffer, Hoppenot; and Catic.
Curtin said, “Zach Pfeffer and Dzenan Catic stood out again in the second half.”
Rowdies head coach Thomas Rongen said, “Playing against an MLS team, our two units more than held their own. It was their first time playing together and I think they deserve great credit.”
More on the game from Philadelphia Union, CSN Philly, and Tampa Bay Rowdies.
The team flies back to Philadelphia on Thursday afternoon before returning to Clearwater on Monday. Play in the IMG Suncoast Pro Classic against the Costa Rica U-23 team on Wednesday, Feb. 18 at 2:30pm before facing Congolese side TP Mazembe (Feb. 21, 7:30 pm) and Columbus Crew (Feb. 25, 5 pm), as well as a final preseason game against a to-be-determined team in the tournament in either a consolation game or the tournament final (Feb. 28).
He has scored yet in preseason match play, but Jim Curtin is high on CJ Sapong:
He’s a guy who I think is going to do big things for us this year. I have high expectations and he’s backed it up in training every day. He brings a good mentality. He gives us versatility, too. He’s played on the left for Peter in Kansas City, he’s played on the right and he’s played as the high guy. That versatility gives us a real weapon and is something I’m excited about…
I like him as that No. 9 target. Could we be a team that plays with two forwards? Absolutely. We can go to two forwards and he can be comfortable. It is good, though, that he can pop out wide. He gives us some height – he wins everything in the air – and does a great job holding that first ball, laying it back, and getting in the box. He’s a real weapon. Even if it’s winning balls on goal kicks and having Seba [Le Toux] and Andrew [Wenger] run off of him.
All of us would like to see some of that expectation realized before the start of the season.
Dzenan Catic gets some local coverage from Michigan Live.
The 700 Level on how, with the Vitoria acquisition, the Union still need a big signing at forward.
Former Union man Brian Brown is back in Jamaica with Harbour View after a series of trials abroad. Brown said of his time — or lack thereof — with the Union, “I don’t think I did enough there, mainly because of playing time. It was just not enough. However, my performance was fair.” Brown plans to finish the season with Harbour View while his management team looks for new opportunities abroad.
Union Academy
The Union Academy U-17 team will be in Sanford, Fla. this weekend competing against their counterparts from DC United (Feb. 13), Toronto FC (Feb. 14), New York Red Bulls (Feb. 16) in the final East Region games of the Generation adidas Cup. The Union is third in the group, which also includes the New England Revolution and Orlando City academy teams, with a 0-0-3 record after the first round of games in Conshohocken last October. You will recall the Union won the tournament with a team coached by Jim Curtin in 2012.
Local
Goalkeeper Nick Noble returns to Harrisburg City Islanders for his fourth season with the club.
Lost in considering the new name and logo, I missed what is the truly important part of Monday’s USL announcement: “All aspects of our league have been elevated, both on and off the field, to the extent that the time is right for USL to re-establish its Division 2 status. This year the League will apply for USSF Division 2 sanctioning to accurately reflect the quality of our league, our ownership groups, our stadiums and our fans.” Should the NASL be worried?
Considering some of the issues surrounding USL’s quest for Division 2 status, Kartik Krishnaiyer of World Soccer Talk says “Harrisburg City Islanders might have trouble meeting the Division 2 standards without waivers from the USSF.”
The Daily News reports Heather Mitts — Olympic gold medal winner with the USWNT, former Philadelphia Charge and Independence player, and former Union broadcaster — will host a reality show on Nickelodeon during the Women’s World Cup called “Soccer Superstar.” The show will feature “young female soccer players showing off their skills,” and is based on a show called “Football Star” that previously aired in the UK and Australia.
MLS
In preseason play on Tuesday, San Jose and Portland drew, 0-0, in Tucson. Also in Tucson, Houston defeated Vancouver, 1-0. In Mexico City, Montreal Impact fell 1-0 to Cruz Azul, although they were scheduled to play the club’s U-20 team. Across the pond in Manchester, NYCFC defeated St. Mirren, 2-0. NYCFC’s first ever goal was scored by its first-ever captain, David Villa.
DC United has acquired — cough — former Union man Michael Farfan via “allocation ranking order.” I hope he rooms with Perry Kitchen for road games (feel free to submit your own blurb in the comment section to the picture below). More on Marfan’s signing at the Washington Post.
“Why am I always the one replacing the toilet paper roll?” Photo: Earl Gardner
Seattle Sounders have signed 21-year-old Colombian international midfielder Andrés Correa.
FC Dallas have signed midfielder Fabian Castillo to a new five-year deal.
Jermaine Jones will be out 4-6 weeks after undergoing successful surgery for a sports hernia.
Sportsnet.ca reports Michael Bradley will replace Stephen Caldwell as Toronto’s captain. Apparently, Bradley restructured his contract so that Jozy Altidore could be signed by Toronto.
The Toronto Sun on the war of words between Montreal owner Joey Saputo and Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment CEO Tim Leiweke over Toronto’s big spending, which “come one year after Philadelphia Union CEO Nick Sakiewicz threw a pity party because of TFC’s decision to spend tens of millions for Michael Bradley and Jermain Defoe.”
The city of Las Vegas has released what the Las Vegas Sun describes as “a finalized, detailed plan” for the proposed $200 million soccer stadium in that city. The Las Vegas City Council is scheduled to vote on the plan on Feb. 18. Want to read the 72 page Master Development Agreement? Click here.
Las Vegas Review-Journal has an editorial on the “blame-game” going on over the proposed soccer stadium.
At IndyStar.com, a primer in Q&A form of the proposed $82 million, 18,500-seat stadium for NASL side Indy Eleven, now home of former Union man Kleberson.
US
Tim Howard could be in goal when Everton visits Chelsea today for the first time since his calf injury in December.
Julian Green, who was loaned by Bayern Munich to Hamburg to get first team minutes, has been dropped to Hamburg’s U-23 team.
At SI, a long piece on Jurgen Klinsmann on I don’t know what. Balancing tradition and ambition or something? Might be the first article from Brian Straus I’ve ever given up on reading.
Local lad Russell Canouse on the US’ draw for the upcoming U-20 World Cup in New Zealand.
I think everyone is pretty excited about the draw we ended up getting. It obviously looks like we will be the favorite but I am still heading into the tournament cautious because it is a World Cup. Any team that qualified will most likely be a top team and tough to beat.
I think Ukraine will be a hard game for us because I expect them to have very skillful players on the ball and have a sturdy back line. On the other hand, we play against the host New Zealand, which will also be very difficult considering the environment.
A lot is at stake in these games but I am really excited for our team and I think we have the quality to do well in this tournament.
U-20 coach Tab Ramos said, “Regardless of the group, I would never see us as a favorite. We have never been in position to be a favorite. I don’t think we are prepared to play as if we were a favorite. We have to go out there and grind out every game the way we always have, and do it one game at a time.”
Elsewhere
The sale of the UK broadcast rights for the Premier League for the next three seasons to Sky and BT has netted the league a whopping £5.14 billion. That’s 7.86 billion in American money. The Guardian reports, “The two broadcasters will pay an average of more than £10m per match, an increase of 70% on the current £6.5m. The increase was driven by Sky’s determination to hang on to the lion’s share of matches but came at a price.”
The AP reports, “Morocco has rejected sanctions by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) for withdrawing from hosting the African Cup of Nations, calling them harmful to the sport and against the rules.”
Also from the AP: “Egyptian prosecutors have ordered three soccer fans detained for 15 days and have released 18 others on bail in the wake of a deadly stampede outside a Cairo stadium. The fans are accused of attacking policemen, damaging police cars and terrorizing the public, an official said Tuesday.
At the Guardian, Michael Lewis on Toronto Metros-Croatia, the NASL side that included Eusebio among its players and won the league championship in 1976.
The Union need a DP striker. I don’t care if it is only the 2nd game of preseason or the last game of the regular season we’ve seen this act before. Why can’t this team just get the final pieces they need once and for all? They talk about it , whine about it, and BS about it ad-nauseam … just do it. CJ Sapong is a project, Le Toux (while beloved) is streaky and will lose his scoring touch at the worst times the same for Wenger and Casey. They are support pieces so get a damn DP striker!! While you’re at it get a real quality starting LB don’t start yet another season without one. Again ad-nauseam!
Before anyone else is considered for the job, I would like our own Joel to replace Jon Stewart as host of the Daily Show! Man’s got mad skills! 🙂
+1
I’m a hack by comparison. Jon Stewart is a genius.
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In other news though does it concern anyone that the Rowdies coach mentioned this was the first time his ‘Units’ have played together? A good deal of other teams are warming up against like for like competition and we are getting beat by NASL teams playing together for the first time. IDK.
After sleeping on it it doesn’t concern me ONLY becuase I will give Curtin and the players the benefit of the doubt – they’re experimenting and gaining fitness, and it means nothing to them, while NASL sides seem to wet themselves over beating MLS teams. If the IMG Games do nothing then the panic alarm will be on full blast, because these games should be used to shake the cobwebs. But even with the poor showing, I will give them another shot before I raise the alarm.
I totally see your point. However the Union are an non-playoff, point dropping team. No one on last years team should be given the luxury of playing themselves into shape. Also the resigning of BC doesn’t fill me with the greatest confidence in this staff. BC made a typical BC panicky move in the first game against JAX. If Curtin didn’t get in his face about it then there is a real problem. BC is one of those players who should be on a very short leash.
With all these NASL sides getting results……..it makes for an interesting Open Cup this year!
+1 Here Here!
The arc of football improvement in this country will follow the resurgence of the NASL. The framework of their league is stronger from my POV and they are not relying so heavily on the NY Cosmos this time around, though to be fair- the Cosmos do shoulder a fair portion of the burden. These franchises need good strong investors with smart business plans and sound football minds- unlike some of the MLS clubs. The grassroots support owned clubs in 3rd and 4th divisions need to keep growing too.
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I hope the NASL grows and grows and grows. An open Cup win by the Cosmos or another NASL team would really shake shit up. It is no secret the NY Cosmos find the US Open Cup to be their Holy Grail as it legitimizes the league and gives them a foothold moving forward. I’ve read some article about the Cosmos plan and the NASL rivaling the MLS is absolutely the long term goal. It is my opinion that the NASL is the only possible way to get the game moving in the direction -and force MLS from its stupor- it really needs to go in the USA- which is in accordance to International standards.
+1
Very good sign to see Nogueira in his regular good form, and possibly the best sign of the whole preseason is how well Pfeffer seems to be showing. This gives some cover for Maidana and Letoux/Wenger for that matter. I hope he actually gets some time this year. It’s encouraging to hear that Vitoria slid right in and played right away.
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Some worrisome things are that we couldn’t score against a Tampa Bay team who started out a lot of their trialists against us. We seem to have controlled play but not scoring is a bad sign. Which leads to my biggest worry… should we be reading anything into all this build up talk of Sapong? Will this mean a new striker may not be on the way?
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This kind of game only serves to emphasize that as a huge need. I’ll say it again, Nogeuira and Maidana are shuttlers, controllers, creators. They are NOT scorers per se, we need finishing. Sapong is a great addition in general, but the guy’s best year was .37 goals per 90 min. We need a starter.
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All in all, at least (knock on wood) everyone is healthy at this point and ready to go.
I’d feel a lot better about hanging our #9 hat on Sapong if he’d managed to find the net a few times in these last two preseason matches. I didn’t see the Rowdies match but saw about 20 minutes of Saturday’s game and didn’t see much in Sapong to get excited about, though he didn’t have many opportunities.
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This team absolutely has to find a way to score more goals. WE need our own BWP.
BWP was being set up by a world class player time after time after time. Henry may not have had the legs, but he made the passes.
I agree, but BWP sure knew how to finish those chances. I’ve seen plenty of union chances fizzle last season.
Dunno…ask Henry. He repeatedly would say that BWP should have scored at least 50 goals last season.
for sure. Noguiera and Maidana are good for what ten goals max this season? Max.
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By my abacus calculations, and off the top of the head, if Sapong and Casey combine for 20 and Le Toux and Wenger combine for 12 or so and some random goals come from the rest we are at least 12-15 goals short. 1-0 clean sheets for a season is a tough way to play.
and no fun to watch.
I’m sorry to say, but we are not getting a striker. Or a left back for that matter. It’s Feb. I’d love to be wrong but I’m just not seeing it, and you know, deep inside your heart, it’s not happening. Breath, accept, hope there’s no strike.
There will be a striker this season. But it will not be until the July window. There are a couple of high profile names being worked on, but these players are not available until the summer.
Got to live with Sapong and Casey until then.
If Curtin’s vision comes to fruition and our defense is dominant maybe we can survive until then. Keep the head above water, bring in a striker and make a push. LA wasn’t very good until mid- summer last year.
Yeah that’s the way I see it. “We tried, we tried”… see: DELORT… But it didn’t happen. Let’s just hope they aren’t too far out but the time July rolls around.
Sapong and ANYBODY BUT Casey! I was nauseated when he was resigned. The FO said they were going after a striker. Many have been screaming for it for 2 years. They finally pick up Sapong and just when we thought we might be headed somewhere, the U are boasting about resigning Casey. One step forward…two steps backward.
“The team flies back to Philadelphia on Thursday afternoon before returning to Clearwater on Monday.”
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Is there a good reason for this? Is there something I’m not thinking of? Because I just don’t see why they don’t just stay there for those 4 days…
The FO doesn’t want to pay for the hotel rooms and meals for 4 days.
That is, sadly, what I assumed as well.
Actually, considering the rate the team gets for booking long term and that they are two men to a room, staying in Fla is likely cheaper than flying everyone up and back.
The team is returning to Philly for meetings, medical evaluations and roster cuts. These things are more easily handled out of the team offices than ad hoc in Florida.
Roster cuts?
Easier to conduct business at headquarters.
On the bright side, it is actually a way of preparing for the season too. As we all know, the US is massive and so MLS teams travel is more difficult then say the BPL or La Liga. So Florida to Philly to Florida could be a positive, especially to get someone new like Vitoria used to the travel.
It’s still early in preseason, but I agree with most of you that we still need a star striker. I am a bit concerned that Maidana isn’t good enough to pull the strings. As commented by JC, “we are lacking the final ball”.
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Disappointed to hear that Marfan is in DC and not Philly. With that being said, I would not use the 5th spot in the allocation order for him either. But, I do hold out some hope that the Union make a trade for him. Not sure what we should give DC for Marfan? Allocation money, Fabinho, Cruz, all three! I would consider Sheannon or Gaddis IF, we have a true LB replacement we can count on.
You can pull the strings all you want, but if there’s no puppet, you’re not gonna be putting on much of a show. If Sapong or others aren’t putting themselves in areas where Maidana/Nogueira can hit balls to, it doesn’t matter how inch perfect they are.
Yes, it takes two to tango, but I wasn’t all that impressed with Maidana last year. Let’s get that striker and see if they can tango together.
Sheanon or Gaddis…for Michael Farfan???? Cruz is better than Farfan (check out the numbers)…yeah, I said it. Yes, Michael Farfan has skill (and we will never forget the chip vs Real), but his production has been terrible. He had a solid shot with the club…he flubbed it. I’ll pass on Marfan…
Agreed. Nice player, but not the be all, end all… or the final piece. I did love his nasty streak though. Damn. Haha
I’d prefer his brother…who can play LB.
But won’t. Isn’t that why he left?
Good point
Sorry guys, but Cruz can’t hold Michael’s jock strap. I want to see skill, not not no skill and all hustle.
Cruz improved himself over his 100 game career into becoming a worthy off the bench player last year IMO. Numbers or no numbers, one guy played in an All-star game and the other can only do it in his dreams.
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I believe Nogs and Maidana would rather play with a player like Marfan on the wings rather than any other player on this team currently. Wouldn’t we all rather watch a skillful/crafty midfield then a workhorse midfield? Just saying.
PK’s have always been McCarthy’s weakness………….
Well, they’re pretty much every goalkeeper’s weakness.
not true at all. In modern footy, the keepers have the advantage. I watched him play for years….he guesses early and wrong often…..instead of watching the opposition’s approach. Great keeper, local kid…….but that part of his game was always lacking……ask any number of local coaches. Some keepers love PK’s….you don’t know what your talking about.
That’s the fun part about the Internet. I get to comment even though I have no idea what I’m talking about.
Lol…..this is true.
No, cszack4..you’re cool. PK’s ARE every GK’s weakness. How many get stopped that are on frame? Almost none. Trying to read the kicker is one thing, but not getting duped is another. As much as keepers can read, kickers can fake more. A head nod, different approach cadence, hip move, changing angle of approach, eyes, stutter steps, etc… they all give the kicker the advantage. 12 yards away…24 feet wide…8 feet tall…one man trying to shrink that space with a guess… Simple math: how many get blocked vs how many go in?
And all I meant was that a PK is still a situation that is more than likely a goal (even with recent rule changes on goalkeeper movements). Hopefully the mental aspect of saving PK’s and/or getting in the shooter’s head is one that McCarthy gets a chance to work on. I have a feeling Mbolhi would be a good mentor in that aspect.
How do keepers have the advantage when about 75% (depending on league or competition) of penalty kicks result in a goal? I realize that skills vary among keepers (we are admired MacMath’s run last season), but the odds are generally stacked against keepers in penalty kick.situations.
…….because most clubs have a specialist or two in their ranks that are very good at them.
No way. The keeper has a decent shot at a save, as long as he guesses correct, but I wouldn’t say they have an advantage.
They can move early now….which changed everything. That’s why they advise keepers not to guess anymore and read hips, body lean etc.Plus, they usually take one huge step off the line which further cuts angles down and is rarely called. And most top flight keepers are 6’4-6’5 range……..add that all up and ask yourself if the shooter really still has an advantage. Players have to take it differently now too….you can’t just pick a side anymore….you have to read the keeper on the approach….why do you think so many are scored up the middle now….they wait for the keeper to get antsy and pick a side…..respectfully disagree
If you played in the 90s, 80’s, etc., I agree……..it was pick a side and stick to it, switching sides mid shot was considered a no-no……..its a different animal now. The keepers are getting clever too…..yanking the crossbar before the strike….just to have it wobble and cut another few inches down…..ah, the dark arts….
YOU’RE absolutely insane or a rabble rouser if you really think the penalty taker doesn’t have a clear advantage. It’s not hockey. C’mon, man.
Honestly, probably a little bit of both I guess. I know its not hockey……I’m just explaining what I would hear at training sessions by people who got up the pyramid farther than I did……..not trying to start guff. Think about it………I would hope you would at least acknowledge that its not as easy as it used to be……….
I have made some guesses about roster decisions, and about salaries given to re-signed veterans, to project how much of the 2014 3.1 million dollar salary cap is left for an international striker. There is likely an international roster slot available for one. I think about $294,000 of the cap is left. If I am correct that Mbohli no longer counts as a DP this season, then under the 2014 rules there would also be a DP slot available. I have no way to estimate the status of allocation money, so I have ignored it. I assume that Jay Sugarman would not have ordered pursuit of a “name striker” without making available some kinds of resources to go beyond the cap limit and get a third DP. My speculative conclusion, after all these unproven assumptions, is that they are credible in claiming to still be trying to sign our much hoped for striker. There will not be a new left back because there wouldn’t be any money left were the striker actually signed. We likely saw that last night with Gaddis and Williams starting together and Kanakoudis not seeing the field. [ When Lee and Fabinho were on the field together I do not know who played the left flank and who the right, (I would speculate Fabinho was right to see how he would do there in an emergency). Lee will cost $36,504 in roster slots 25-30 and go learn to be a left back at Harrisburg, i.e., on practice field #2 in Lot B.]
i am hoping that they can pick up ben sweat after he was waved by colombus. i am not sure he would immediately challenge sheannon or ray for a starting spot but it would be nice to have another (probably cheap) left back on the roster and he was pretty highly touted before the draft last year
Remember the cap is bound to go up as well this year.
I could be alone in thinking this, but the acquisition of another starting CB and a striker (doesn’t need to be DP in my opinion) that would be a clear cut starter compared to our current group would be all this team needs to truly shine. It would do a lot for the back line: Gaddis would still be the starting LB (not a bad thing- I think his speed can help on the counterattack and help make up for the lack of left footed service into the box), Vitoria and the other (theoretical) CB signing in the middle, and Williams out wide. That’s a very stout defensive group and gives you the ability to unload Berry for allocation money, a draft pick, or both (I’m assuming there is a team out there that would roll the dice on him). White isn’t a bad option as a spot starter due to injury, Marquez would get a chance to develop, and we’d still have the option to move Edu back if need be. Fabinho would still be around (I know, I know) to add depth in the event of injury as well. I like that group, perhaps I’m the only one? If we add a clear cut starter at striker it opens up a lot for the team. Having a bonafide starter obvious (in theory) adds to goal totals, but gives Casey better managed minutes and allows Sapong to fill in anywhere up front as needed. I like our midfield group and the mix at depth between vets and (hopefully) some of the youth. I know it isn’t so easy to just pluck out two players that would fit the bill for what I’m describing, but its shows you how close the team just might be if they’re able to add the right guys. I don’t think the squad is as far off as many, but they absolutely need a little more help.
CB’s need time to adjust to each other’s strengths/weaknesses. So far, we have a new guy and maybe Edu(?). I couldn’t call that a stout back line. Our CDM better be strong!!!!!
So Jim, did I just get out of the interview that your considering a 4-4-2? Stick to a 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1 please, 4-4-2 just means you don’t have the horses to play any other way. Don’t give me the two forwards crap………….teams that have two good ones these days either run 4-3-3 or 3-5-2.
You don’t got the horses, means you dont got the horses.
Right now Letoux/Sapnog, Sapong/Wenger or Casey/??? might goive us…. Something.
I don’t understand why you don’t play CJ as the high target striker and have Wenger and Seba run off of him on the wings in a 4-3-3? Thats a front three with a lot of pace……..
Agreed. Also, Wenger and/or Le Toux are not wide midfielders in a 4 man midfield. This team is completely set up for the 4-3-3. Maybe all he means is throwing on another body when they’re chasing a goal?
I wasn’t impressed by the USA U-20 team, but that lukewarm quote by Ramos won’t instill his team with confidence after that relatively easy draw.
I hope the Union put in a call to Ben Sweat. He was just released by the Crew and I thought he had pretty good potential when he was drafted. I’d much rather have him as LB depth then say… Fabinho or Lee.
Also, interesting that Austin Berry didn’t play in the Rowdies game at all. Either he picked up an injury (which I have not heard yet) or he has to be on the way out (via trade?).
Looks like Berry is getting loaned/sold to Cosmos?
Berry is already in the Cosmos camp as a trialist. He will be on their pre season trip to Homg Kong. He was not in Clearwater last night.
Still no need to panic?
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That was our top XI…and they were matched by the Tampa Bay Rowdies.
“That was our top XI…and they were matched by the Tampa Bay Rowdies”
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Did anyone happen to see any of the streamed NYCFC vs St Mirren FC friendly? How the hell are the Union going to compete with that?!?
I would give Brian Brown another look. Speedy guy with a world-class turn, on the ball. He needed more than 10′ here and there.
Curtin really did not favor him. I think it is unfortunate; he scored goals.
Curtin might have missed with that call. He will probably be available again, although I could see him pursuing other loan options…should the Union come calling. Instead of the club looking for players that fit their ‘style’, they should re-think said style… One with a sound tactical approach would sure be refreshing.
+1
The sky is falling!!!! The sky is falling!!!!
Am I doing this right?
Welcome to philly!
No, your not- it is more like. The sky is falling. The sky is falling.