Daily news roundups

Notes from Curtin’s presser, USOC dates for Reading and Harrisburg, more

Photo: Earl Gardner

Philadelphia Union

After here at PSP) would be a doozy.

That it was.

“Rais Mbolhi will not be playing in goal. John McCarthy will be our starter, Andre Blake will back him up,” Curtin said.

Describing that Mbolhi hasn’t played “like the goalkeeper that I saw that was winning us games in the preseason,” Curtin said his decision “was based on performance,” adding, “It’s my decision that it’s best for him and the team right now that he’s not with the group.” At MLSsoccer.com, Dave Zeitlin reported Curtin said after the press conference that Mbolhi “is currently in France.”

Curtin emphasized, “I’m responsible for all of the decisions that are made here. It’s not up to the players, it’s not up to Nick, it’s not up to Jay Sugarman. I have the final say, I make the decisions to move this team forward.”

I’m responsible for our three loses, as well. I’m a guy that has been honest and upfront with all of the press and, much like coaches in this league, I think a lot like quarterbacks they get a lot of the praise when things are going well, and they deserve to take the heat when things aren’t going well. So, I’m responsible for the three losses. I make the decisions here and I have to live with them. And I have to get this team back in form.

While Curtin seemed to suggest that Mbolhi could return — “I expect him to come back better than ever” — when asked specifically if Mbolhi would return soon or if the team was working to transfer him, he said,

That’ll be up to me, also. Putting a plan together, there are some things we can talk about publicly, and I think the things we can talk about publicly are his performance based, that’s why he’s not going to start, and it was my decision are the two things we can talk about publicly. But there’s certain things that will be kept in house in terms of transferring players and that kind of thing. That’s going to stay inside.

At the Delco Times, Matthew De George observed,

Curtin’s statements were in plain English, not defensive, just declarative. And yet for an organization long guided by means shrouded in mystery — by executives with all manner of titles, managers with all the power or none of it, technical directors, advisors and consultants with varying degrees of influence, and an owner with soccer experience — their mere exposition has the potential to be pivotal.

When asked his thoughts given comments last year from himself, Nick Sakiewicz, and Jay Sugarman about how Mbolhi was a part of the team’s long-term plans, Curting said, “Plans get made in the short-term, there’s long-term but, the famous Mike Tyson line, ‘Everyone has plan until you get punched in the face.’ So, you have to adjust. This is the first step in the adjusting. I think it’s what’s best for the team.”

Describing him as “tough,” Curtin said of local lad John McCarthy, “John’s been excellent in the preseason, John’s earned this right to be a starter. I’ve been very impressed with him, he’s a kid that I have faith in, and I know our players have faith in, too.”

In an article about McCarthy the latest KYW Philly Soccer Show podcast for more with McCarthy. We’ll have another post on McCarthy up later this morning.

Curtin called on fans to continue to support the team in this time of crisis.

We’re going to need them this Saturday in a major way. And what’s great about our fans — I shouldn’t call them fans, we have supporters, which is different than fans, you know? They’re faithful until the end. That’s what supporters are and I think we have some of the best in the league. Our guys are going to need them this Saturday to push us over the edge, the 12th man, so to speak.

Reports from Curtin’s press conference at Philly.com (Mbolhi), Philly.com (McCarthy), Delco Times (Mbolhi), Delco Times (commentary), MLSsoccer.comCSN PhillyPhiladelphia MagazinePhilly Soccer News, Brotherly GameVavel (Mbolhi), Vavel (McCarthy), Philly Sports NetworkSoccer America, Soccer America (Mbolhi signing “may prove to the worst goalkeeping move in MLS history.”) SBIGoal.com, Give Me SportMLSGB, and Tribal Football.

Curtin gave updates on several injured Union players:

  • Fernando Aristeguieta (hand broken in Kansas City game): “he had surgery yesterday morning and then was supposed to be eased into training today, but he’s a tough kid and he said he wants to play. He ran around with a cast on it and they put a pin in there. He’s a…didn’t complain about anything. He’s a guy who, again, has bought into this mindset and this mentality that he wants to be here, he wants to win, and he’s a guy that I’m very happy with how he’s played.
  • Sheanon Williams: “Sheanon trained full, he should be available for selection this weekend.”
  • Vincent Nogueira: “positive response to running a little harder today and cutting on it felt better…I think he’ll be available in some way this weekend.”
  • Cristian Maidana: “still probably a little bit off in terms of if we’re talking specifically for this weekend. Probably a very long shot for Maidana this weekend.”
  • Conor Casey: “Conor trained full the past two days…his body seems to be responding well.”

Big Apple Soccer notes Curtin’s comments on NYCFC.

At MLSsoccer.com, how injury riddled NYCFC will be stronger for Saturday’s game thanks to the fact that they’re coming off of a bye week.

Brotherly Game looks back at last years Jack McInerney-Andrew Wenger swap to consider which club got the better deal.

Also at Brotherly Game, an optimist/pessimist look at the Union’s five-game winless streak to start the 2015 season, and a top five list of the worst Union winless streaks.

Local

On Wednesday, US Soccer announced the draw for the play-in, first, and second round matches of the 102nd edition of the US Open Cup. After two play in games on April 25, the first round begins on May 13, during which Reading United will face Maryland Bays (USASA) on the road. Should they win, Reading will host Harrisburg City Islanders on May 25. The announcement at US Soccer says,

The third round match-ups – scheduled for May 27 and the first to include Division II (North American Soccer League) squads – will be determined on May 14 after first-round results are in the books. The possible fourth round pairings, when Division I (Major League Soccer) clubs enter the fray, will be announced on May 21 once the second round has concluded. The highly-anticipated round of matches between MLS teams versus survivors from previous rounds (with the exception of one all-MLS tilt) is set for June 16 and 17.

More on the draw at theCup.usMLSsoccer.com, and USLsoccer.com.

MLS

First in the Western Conference Vancouver (13 points) and seventh in the Eastern Conference Columbus (4 points) played to a 2-2 draw on Wednesday night.

Montreal Impact will face Liga MX side Club America in the two-leg CONCACAF Champions League final. Club America defeated Costa Rican side Herediano 6-0 on Wednesday, overcoming the 3-0 loss in the first leg of the semifinal.

At World Soccer Talk, Steve Davis considers why goals are down and draws are up so far this season.

NWSL

The NWSL season commences on Friday. Soccer America has a season preview. Reports on the challenges facing the league from SIYahoo Sports, Oregon Live, and Philly.com.

At Fox Sports, Sydney Leroux on the trade that sees here going to Western New York Flash, and Abby “I’m sitting this one out” Wambach going to Seattle: “I don’t think it was the best timing for the trade, going into the World Cup…I don’t even have clothes packed.”

The New York Times has a good read on Sky Blue FC’s Nadia Nadim, who came to soccer at a refugee camp in Denmark after her family fled Afghanistan following the death of her father at the hands of the Taliban.

US

On Wednesday, US Soccer announced that Kasey Keller (Player Ballot), Sigi Schmid (Builder Ballot), and the late Glenn “Mooch” Myernick (Veteran Ballot) have been elected to the 2015 class of the National Soccer Hall of Fame.

At US Soccer, reaction from Keller, Schmid, and Meyernick’s family. More on the announcement at MLSsoccer.com, Seattle SoundersESPNSBI, and Goal.com.

The US, who lost and drew their last two matches and face Mexico in a friendly next week, moves up five spots in the latest FIFA rankings. They even moved one spot ahead of Denmark, the team they lost to. Drawing with No. 9 Switzerland must have some weight.

Speaking of Switzerland, that country’s national team, like the USMNT, is contains quite a few dual nationals. The Guardian on how the reception to such players has been mixed.

In broadcasting news, Soccer America talks to Fox announcer John Strong. At Philly.com, Jonathan Tannenwald on NBC taking its studio coverage of the Premier League to England this weekend.

Elsewhere

The AP reports, “UEFA has awarded Russia a 3-0 win over Montenegro by forfeit after crowd violence forced their European Championship qualifying match last month to be stopped and later abandoned.”

Also from the AP,

For the first time in its history, UEFA has ordered a soccer match to be restarted because of a referee’s error.

UEFA has ordered the final seconds of a women’s Under-19 European Championship qualifier between England and Norway to be replayed Thursday, starting with a stoppage-time penalty and a new referee…

With Norway leading 2-1 on Saturday in Belfast, England scored from the penalty spot in the sixth minute of injury time but it was disallowed when an England player encroached. However, German referee Marija Kurtes then wrongly awarded a free kick to Norway instead of retaking the penalty.

More at the Guardian.

Zlatan. The search engine.

12 Comments

  1. Curtin needs to just coach since he lacks experience. This all thumbs organization needs to put in place a real technical director(GM) and keep Curtin, Albright and Sakeiwicz out of player acquisitions and tranfers. Curtin needs to give his all to the team on the roster and on the field. PERIOD!
    Sell this team to a competent and financially competitive owner! #freetheunion.

    FREE THIS FRANCHISE!!

    • Boy don’t you know. I appreciate what he is trying to do and say I really do but you are spot on. This man should be watching film film film and thinking thinking thinking and strategizing strategizing strategizing but instead he is dealing with these ancillary activities pulling from the attention to detail needed.
      .
      It is as though he is both puppet and marionettist.

  2. I appreciate Curtin taking the step to bench M’Bohli but I’m predicting there will be an immediate and temporary improvement. They’ll coast along right on the fringe of making the playoffs, keeping saps like me interested and hopeful. Then when they need to step up toward the end of the season, they will fail and once again break our hearts. As they are currently constituted, I just don’t think they can be a consistent, successful club.

    • Just missing the playoffs would be an improvement over dragging along in misery at the bottom of the table. Sadly, I agree that this team is missing a few pieces (some of which they let go in the past 6 months).

    • I anticipate the same trajectory, but that would still be an improvement over th beginning of this wretched season.

  3. Too bad M’Bolhi is not “currently on the sun”

  4. I’ll say it again, The Union should adopt the Club America colors and go with yellow for their light jersey. The yellow with the Bimbo just fits so well together.
    .
    Darío Benedetto 7 shots, 5 SOG . . . 4 goals . . I’m so jealous

  5. Whoa! He’s benched M’Bolhi and told him: “that it’s best for him and the team right now that he’s not with the group”. Whoa!!! And he is in France now? I think we have seen the last of Rais. When you tell a player that it’s best that he not be with the team, that’s pretty much the end of it. What an unbelievable fiasco his signing has been. Undoubtedly one of the worst signings ever!
    Time to move on.

  6. OneManWolfpack says:

    Very telling the way Curtain described Nando, in regards to M’Bolhi. To me that was as direct a shot as a head coach can take… save for calling someone out directly. I like it..
    .
    A top 5 winless streaks list. My god… it is so pathetic that this is a thing. And I don’t mean that someone put it together, I mean that it actually CAN be put together… we have only been a team for 6 seasons!?!
    .
    I am beyond mad that I can’t make the game this weekend, given McCarthy is starting. Represent Mayfair, man!!! Right this ship!!
    .
    FREE THIS FRANCHISE!!

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