Daily news roundups

Maidana injury, Norwegian Cruz, league and USMNT news, more

Photo: Earl Gardner

Philadelphia Union

Jim Curtin will have a lot to talk about in today’s weekly press conference (12:45 pm, YouTube).

On Tuesday afternoon, Cristian Maidana’s wife tweeted a photo of the Argentine apparently walking gingerly from a doctor’s office. She said in the tweet the apparent injury, “wasn’t so serious,” although he would be out “2 to 4 weeks.”

Kevin Kinkead tweeted soon after that Maidana had suffered a leg injury during Tuesday’s training session.

Maidana tweeted after that, “Sad because it came after a great week and I knew that everything would get better game by game, now only to recover as quickly as possible.” How great of a week was it? Curtin said on Tuesday of Maidana’s performance against Real Salt Lake, “Cristian was excellent. I thought it was one of his best games.”

Kevin Kinkead reports at CBS Philly that sources tell him Danny Cruz will be joining Norwegian first division side Bodø/Glimt on a season-long loan. “The move essentially frees up more than $100,000 in cap space for the Union and allows Cruz to fight for a starting spot at his new club.”

More power rankings? At MLSsoccer.com, the Union move up two spots to No. 15: “For the second week in a row, they took one point when they should have had all three.” At SBI, they move up one spot to No. 15.

PRO released its referee assignments for Friday’s home game against Dallas and holding the whistle will be Jose Carlos Rivero. You will recall, as Brotherly Game did, that he’s the referee who the New York Times reported last October had been suspended by PRO after being arrested “for claiming more than $14,000 in unemployment benefits while he was employed.” You may also recall that Rivero was the fourth official in the Union’s home opener against Colorado. He worked no games last week.

At Brotherly Game, Jared Young looks at stats from last Saturday’s draw with Real Salt Lake. Young notes that Cristian Maidana leads the league in key passes with only 124 minutes of play. Kessler Reports also has a report on the game.

Zolo Talk on where the Union will go right, and where they will go wrong, this season.

Austin Berry retweeted photos of his new team in South Korea (that’s him front row, first on the left):

Local

Harrisburg City Islanders have announced the signings of two midfielders, Brazilian Erick Neres da Cruz, and Jamaican Cardel Benbow.

At ASN, Brian Sciaretta talks to former City Islanders man Morgan Langley about his move to St. Patrick’s FC in Dublin.

Reckless Challenge has a City Islanders season preview.

MLS

Montreal Impact host two-time CONCACAF Champions League winners Alajuelense tonight in the tournament semifinals (8 pm: Fox Sports 2, Fox Sports Go). Alajuelense bested DC United in the quarterfinals.

At the Washington Post, Steven Goff has an update on Eddie Johnson. Out indefinitely with “an unspecified medical issue,” Goff reports “multiple sources say the ailment involves his heart and threatens to derail his career.” Sources later confirmed to ESPN the same.

Colorado have announced the transfer of Jamaican international and former Reading United forward Deshorn Brown to Norwegian first division side Vålerenga.

Seattle have signed two 2015 SuperDraft picks, defender Oniel Fisher and goalkeeper Charlie Lyon.

From the Department of Ha Ha, Made You Click, Grant Wahl reports at SI, “multiple sources tell me that Cristiano Ronaldo’s current plan is to come to MLS after he finishes at Real Madrid, with one source saying he would likely arrive on a free transfer in 2018 once his current contract ends.”

Former Union man Pedro Ribeiro is ready to step into Orlando City’s attack.

ESPN has an interesting Q&A with Owen Coyle about his time in MLS since leaving the England to coach Houston Dynamo. Coyle, who said he did not hesitate to join the Dynamo, believes “MLS is on the way to becoming one of the most important leagues in world soccer.”

NYCFC have announced that at last Sunday’s home opener, the team had the highest game day merchandise sales in the history of the MLS. The most popular items were team scarves, with all 4,000 that were on hand being sold.

Reports on Sacramento’s plans to forge ahead in the quest to secure a MLS franchise from SI, ESPN, Sacramento BeeSacramento Business Journal, Capital Public Radio, CBS SacramentoKCRA, Fox40, and Goal.com.

With Don Garber’s recent announcement that the league is considering expanding beyond 24 teams, ProSoccerTalk considers if a two-division MLS — with MLS 1 having two automatic relegation spots, and MLS 2 having two automatic promotion spots, as well as a playoff system similar to what is employed in Scotland to determine “with three teams from MLS 2 and the third from bottom team in MLS 1 entering” to determine a the final team in MLS 1 — might work with a 30-team MLS. You will recall an earlier post at ProSoccerTalk considered the possibility of a three conference, 30-team MLS.

At Brotherly Game, Jared Young also considers some of the issues surrounding MLS expansion beyond 24 teams.

US

In a Q&A at US Soccer, Jurgen Klinsmann discusses a variety of topics. He says of the squad he will call up for the friendlies in Denmark (March 25 at 3 pm: ESPN2, WatchESPN, UniMás, UDN) and Switzerland (March 31 at 12 pm: Fox Sports 1, UniMás, UDN):

We are going to bring in a very strong roster into Denmark and Switzerland. It’s a bit tricky obviously because MLS has just started and it’s early in the season, so those players don’t have a rhythm yet. Meanwhile, the European-based players are in a full rhythm and the Mexican-based players are in a full rhythm, so we will bring what we believe will be the strongest roster into these two friendlies. It will be an interesting mix. We are there to learn, to play against very good opponents, but also to get results.

Hopefully, the ongoing CBA dispute between the Danish Football Association and Danish Footballers Association won’t affect the March 25 friendly.

At ASN, Brian Sciaretta picks up on Klinsmann’s comments about juggling some 70 players between the USMNT, the US U-23 MNT, and the US U-20 MNT during the March international window.

At SI, Grant Wahl reports of the USMNT, “I’m told morale is low right now and some players are starting to tune [Klinsmann] out.”

Germany has called up USMNT target Gedion Zelalem for its U-18 team. At the Washington Post, Steven Goff says not to worry, Zelalem wants to play for the US: “He has turned [Germany] down before and, in all likelihood, will do so again. Even if he were to accept the invitation to play two matches against France March 27 and 30, Zelalem would remain eligible for the United States.”

Elsewhere

The AP reports, “Crisis-hit Serie A club Parma has suffered another blow with the arrest of its new owner and president, Giampietro Manenti. Italy’s financial police said Manenti was accused of investing illicit money. Police say he was one of 22 people arrested in a sweep Wednesday.”

62 Comments

  1. This Parma situation is soul crushing.

  2. Noooooooooooooo! Also, Yessssssssssssssss!

  3. Not at all excited about Chaco being out for two weeks. I hop this means Pfeffer gets time … not Fred or a 4-4-2 with Casey and Nando up top.

  4. I know people are happy about Cruz leaving but in reality that leaves us thin at the wings at a time when our wing play looks really shaky. His particular set of skills would have come in handy during the Colorado game and wouldn’t have hurt during RSL.
    With Maidana gone we are really thin everywhere and I don’t think we can go without a replacement until the next trade window.
    We are in danger of going into a huge hole like we did last year.

    • FormerSeasonTicketHolder says:

      But it’s the ref’s fault

    • +1. I have been worried about depth on this team all along. With Chaco out for a little while, and Sapong out for a long while, we have to play Pfeffer at CAM, and I have no idea who subs in on the wing. McLaughlin? Hoppenot?? I’m worried that Curtin might put Lahoud in as a second CDM, move Nogueira forward into Chaco’s spot, and use Pfeffer as a sub at CAM or wing. I think this would work very poorly.

      • I think Fred will start in the middle with either Pfeffer of Lahoud coming in around the 65th minute.

      • The Black Hand says:

        I think it will be Pfeffer. Curtin is itching to get him into Chaco’s spot.

      • The Black Hand says:

        Noguiera is worthless at the 10. I expect to see Pfeffer, although Fred is not a bad player, in that spot.
        .
        We are suddenly tragically thin out wide. I’m hoping that McLaughlin gets his shot…and more importantly, takes advantage of it!!! If LeToux’s continues at this blistering pace (down), we are going to need someone out on the right. Williams could be another option…

    • The Black Hand says:

      +1 Sieve. This one is going to bite us in the ass…especially given LeToux’s current, lack of, form. Cruz isn’t the best player, but he did have a place within this club. I’m not sure that this loan is a very smart move. Hopefully, it clears space for Jimmy!
      .
      Best of luck, Danny! You’re going to love Norway.

      • The Chopper says:

        Thie Union is weaker, but Cruz is better for it and deserves it. Danny Cruz is a good soldier. If his agent found him a good opportunity to go play and enjoy Europe, he has earned the right. He certainly has carried his MLS career as far as it can go.

        100,000 is a lot in this league for a guy who is going to see limited minutes and not always be in the 18. Time so see what McLaughlin can do.

      • Correction Cruz’s dad is a good soldier. Danny is a relatively unskilled soccer player who occasionally reaches the level of fair. Albeit he does run full speed into his inevitable flop, turnover or both.

      • The Chopper says:

        All the guy does is give you everything he has, does everything you ask. His skill,set is limited and thus he is a limited player, but it is not from a lack of effort. By all accounts he is an excellent teammate. That makes him a good soldier.

      • Cruz may have requested the loan in the offseason as he realized he may not get much playing time this season. I know he had a training stint with Ipswich Town in the offseason, so maybe he enjoyed it and got an itch to try his luck in Europe. This may also have been arranged awhile ago, but they didn’t announce it until now because of his injury and/or because he was a union representative during the CBA negotiations.

    • old soccer coach says:

      My interpretation is that they think the youngsters are adequate backup. To me, McGlaughlin and Ayuk both looked like they belonged in preseason, and Hoppenot could slot in there as a place holder. My guess is that Ayuk will be committed to Harrisburg, as McGlaughlin and Marquez were last year (never any announcement, conclusion drawn after the fact).

      • The Black Hand says:

        Well shit…Curtin and Albright have been dead-on with their player evaluations, so far…

    • I could see two things happen:
      .
      1) Pfeffer starts for Maidana in a 4-2-3-1. Hoppenot/Fred/McLaughlin depth on wing and Casey depth at striker.
      .
      2) Two striker set of Nando and Casey (who will drop into the hole) with Pfeffer/Hoppenot/Fred/McLaughlin depth on wing and Catic depth at striker.
      .
      .
      Tough call considering Dallas is in form (play the counter) but is a team who likes to counter (control possession). Also the game is at home (be aggressive) and the weather is going to be crap (play simple). One of their CBs is only about 5’9″ (Loyd) so having two strikers could be an advantage in the air but getting caught with Seba and Wenger upfield (4-2-4) could be deadly.

      • If they go with the 4-4-2 / 4-2-4… Play Le Toux at Forward alongside Nando. Slot McLaughlin into the wing for Le Toux. You don’t need a direct replacement for Maidana in that alignment.
        .
        Whether that’s the right alignment against Dallas is another question. But I think a Le Toux – Nanda partnership up top could be a solid combination, and it opens up a wing for McLaughlin to get some minutes.

      • The Black Hand says:

        Let’s not try to make Nando’s head explode this early into his loan. We are trying to get this guy on the full-transfer.

    • Very happy. So long Danny.

  5. This is terrible timing, with one of the top teams in the league coming up this week. :o(

  6. Good luck Danny. I wasn’t always into your play on the field, but off the field you are a class guy

  7. Come on props to me please – you knew Maidana and the groin or hammy or whatever leg muscle he was bound to aggravate.
    .
    Just didn’t think it would be week 2.

    • Dude……you called that one! Good player….but no engine and frail. He is another guy who should be in the weight room…….

  8. pragmatist says:

    Everyone has been clamoring for the kids to start playing more meaningful minutes. It’s Put-Up-Or-Shut-Up Time. With Chaco out and Cruz in Europe, that puts the focus squarely on Zach and Jimmy. They are the clear-cut logical replacements.
    Also, if healthy, Eric Bird could come into the center of the midfield. That would still leave us without a true #10, but Nogs could possibly play there for a few games to hold down the fort.
    This will be an interesting few weeks. Get well soon, Chaco.

  9. Danny. “Make. Make. Be your future.”
    .
    No argument from me. Here’s to Danny playing through. Fore!

  10. Good luck Danny!

  11. Maidana hurt again and right before the Dallas match making us undermanned again. I like the guy an all but he gets “hurt” to damned easy. It’s always something. It’s either he’s not in condition or he gets hurt and it’s getting old. I’m not saying he’s not legitimately hurt but it’s always something. Le Toux and Wenger better step it up they should have worked out the scoring drama before playing actual in season games. This team year after year is trying to find themselves …etc,etc,etc! BLAH,BLAH,BLAH! Gaddis and Williams are not giving us much even doing what the do best. I get it it’s Curtin’s first full season as coach, however he knows this players because he’s been here so where is the communication drop off? Basics how do some of the players who have been around long enough to know not do basic things with any professional consistency. That is also getting old!

    • Guy has a bad groin I bet and they tend not to go away with some people.
      .
      That’s why it was bound to happen.

      • I hear you Joel, but I have to ask if not this then what else would it be? It could be his lack of escapability and agility sets him up for injuries and this is MLS, but damn! I sincerely hope Pfeffer can fill his shoes.

      • He’s frail…..needs to put on at least 10 lbs. of muscle to play in this league. If he was more muscularly fit…..he wouldn’t get injured as much…….IMHO.

      • I bet my college team was in the weight room more than some of these guys. Look at the size of the dudes in the EPL, League 1, and even Spain……footballers work out now just like any other major pro sport. Do you think CR7 was just born that way?

  12. The Black Hand says:

    This Kool-Aid tastes like shit!!!!!

    • See this is the kind of thinking I love.
      .
      Left field,
      Out of the blue
      Sardonic-
      And so true.
      .

      • old soccer coach says:

        At his press conference, Jim Curtin said Maidana went into what I interpreted to be a block tackle against Raymond Lee and his knee wrenched a bit.

  13. Sure Zalelem wants to play for the USA- until that is, he plays with the first team in Germany and fits in- realizes he is only about 18 and doesn’t really know what he wants yet….. except to play on the best dream in the world.
    .
    We better find a way to secure the young man.

  14. I like ProSoccerTalks thinking with the Pro/Rel. Wonder if they stole that from my post yesterday. Hmm. Nah.

    • OneManWolfpack says:

      I agree. It’s a way to keep expanding into markets that deserve teams, and a way to institute a Pro/Rel system that will make the league more competitive.

      • I think/hope the MLS expansion and reorganization thoughts are forming around the notion of creating regional leagues or divisions which are somewhat distinct and autonomous. For example, the East Coast League or West Coast League. The idea of a league that spans and entire North American continent adhering to promotion/relegation is too much to ask given the commitments to travel all over the place and to build in some of these remote areas that are willing to roll the dice on a professional team. It’s kind of hard to put into word what I’m thinking but there is not enough supply or demand for promotion/relegation yet. Once there is critical mass then there has to be some regionalism to it or we’d have abandoned stadiums in large swaths of the country where once there was a good soccer base. Even weather might help or hurt promotion/relegation if it’s nation-wide. It’ll come eventually but USA is bigger geographically than many people realize.

  15. The Chopper says:

    I am having nightmares of some kind of formation that includes Fabhino at left wing.

  16. I’ve always been against Pro-Rel in MLS for the simple reason that the sport, and teams itself, aren’t really strong enough to survive a drop in division. But I’ve always been in favor of starting an MLS2 league, which I initially thought would be mainly a reserve like the USL is now. But if the league were to go to, say 32 teams, I could be on board with 2 divisions playing for promotion relegation. I would 16 in MLS1 and 14 in MLS2 to keep it balanced and only move 2 teams from each division, and they would be separate leagues in the sense that MLS1 would clearly be the premier division, but MLS2 would still be strong. If both leagues are run the same way, I think I could get on board with that. It would force teams to raise their standards and spend money, since a relegation could destroy a teams revenue base. And teams like San Antonio and Sacramento, who have huge strong fan bases could be rewarded by earning their way into the 1st division. I don’t want promotion with the NASL or USL as they currently exist – and it can’t happen with single entity – but a 2-division MLS I could see working.

  17. I wish Danny Cruz the best of luck, he seems like a good guy and I hope he makes the most of his opportunity…
    .
    Now that that’s out of the way, I have very mixed feelings about this. I’m not a huge fan of Cruz’s overall game, but at the very least he does offer something coming off the bench – he can cause problems for tired defenses with his directness, aggression and pace.
    .
    On one hand, I think this loan short-sightedly leaves the team with few options on the wings at a time when Le Toux is struggling for form, Sapong is out indefinitely and the rest of the depth (Ayuk, McLaughlin) are relatively unknown quantities.
    .
    On the other hand, I’m excited to see if McLaughlin can step up to the next level, or if Ayuk can be the guy to come on and scare the bejeezus out of opposing defenses in the 80th minute. I DON’T KNOW WHAT TO THINK.

  18. OneManWolfpack says:

    Time for Jimmy Jim Jim to show us he’s learned how to manage. The starting 11 and all subs are going to be critical to having a shot against a good Dallas team. My confidence that this will successfully take place is, unfortunately, NOT at an all time high. Prove me wrong James.

  19. They looked 10x’s better in the 4-2-3-1 than the 4-4-2. Just put Pfeffer in for Chaco straight up……..stop screwing with formations. Give the kid his shot if he’s had that good of preseason. By everything you have said Jim, he’s earned it. If he can’t get it done, we’ll find out and adjust accordingly.

    • Pfeffer Pfeffer Pfeffer Pfeffer Pfeffer Pfeffer Pfeffer.
      .
      “Let me give you a little advice. There’s a force in the universe that makes things happen. And all you have to do is get in touch with it. Stop thinking. Let things happen. BE the Ball.”
      .
      Zach! ……… “Make. Make. Be your Future.”

      • The zen philosopher Basho once wrote…….” a flute with no holes, is not a flute……and a donut with no holes is a danish.”

      • Dude, you know I’m all about bringing the kids into the fold……….Ajax, Arsenal, and Barca style! I’d have no problem starting 5 of them! I’d like to see Jimmy get a run on the flank too, play the kids!!!! Start that vision and culture!!!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

*