Daily news roundups

Wednesday newsy news bits

Photo: Daniel Studio

Philadelphia Union

Part Two of the “Meet Earnie Stewart” video is up at the Union’s YouTube Channel:

Stewart is the guest on the latest edition of the KYW Philly Soccer Show. Look for it later today.

At MLSsoccer.com, a review of the Union’s 2015 season. 1-7-3 through the first 11 games of the year, thanks for reminding me. Anyways, CJ Sapong is named Most Outstanding Player, Richie Marquez Unsung Hero, and Andre Blake Best Young Player.

Frustrated resignation at Brotherly Game over the Union’s roster moves thus far.

Bethlehem Steel FC

Republic FC coach and technical director Paul Buckle is pleased about the departure of defender Mickey Daly and forward Gabe Gissie to the Union’s USL club in Bethlehem, as well as several other players to other teams. Buckle told the Sacramento Bee, “We will never stand in a player’s way of moving up. I’m still hoping they have left us for bigger and better. They certainly deserve the chance. But my frustration right now is that I don’t see it. I’m hoping they haven’t been misguided or ill-advised because that can happen.” The article describes, Daly as “an unsung mainstay in central defense,” adding, “Buckle was a huge fan of Gissie, the team’s youngest player, and saw him as someone on the precipice of stardom.”

Local

After four years with Harrisburg City Islanders, 25-year-old midfielder Yann Ekra has signed with Charlotte Independence. More on the signing at Charlotte Independence and USL. You will recall Ekra was signed by the Union in September of 2013. He made no appearances and was released ahead of the 2014 season.

Former Union man Ryan Richter is leaving NASL side Ottawa Fury to return to the US. Ottawa Citizen reports Richter “wouldn’t release his destination, just yet, but it looks like he’ll be in Tampa.” If he does sign with Tampa, he’ll rejoin former Union teammate Freddy Adu, who has signed a new one-year deal with the NASL club.

MLS

As expected, Colorado have signed Marco Pappa from Seattle. The Sounders received general allocation money in return.

As expected, LA have signed Dan Kennedy from Dallas. Going to Dallas are LA’s natural second and third round picks in the 2017 MLS SuperDraft.

Houston Dynamo have announced an investment group led by Mexican businessman Gabriel Brener has bought AEG’s 50 percent stake in the Houston Dynamo, as well as AEG’s interest in NWSL side Houston Dash and BBVA Compass Stadium. Brenner already owned a 25 percent stake in the team. More on the news at Houston DynamoHouston Chronicle, Houston Business Journal, Dynamo Theory, and MLSsoccer.com.

Miami Herald reports, “David Beckham’s plan for an Overtown soccer stadium is slated to get its first public hearing Thursday when Miami-Dade County convenes a town hall to discuss the project.” Apparently, Miami mayor Tomás Regalado thinks all the “hoopla” about the Overtown site does not address a lack of parking. Beckham’s people, naturally, disagree.

Bexar County’s Commissioners Court on Tuesday agreed to a tentative pact “with San Antonio to split the $18 million cost of buying Toyota Field and the STAR Soccer Complex as part of a plan with Spurs Sports and Entertainment to lure a Major League Soccer expansion franchise to the city.” San Antonio Express News reports, “The City Council will take up the Toyota Field agreement Thursday, and soon thereafter officials expect to form a public facilities corporation to acquire the Northeast Side stadium from a nonprofit led by developer Gordon Hartman. The city and county would then grant a 20-year lease to the new entity that could be formed as soon as next week.”

The AP reports, “St. Louis city council members met Tuesday to consider the city’s share of funding for a new football stadium — a $150 million commitment likely to make or break the effort to keep the NFL in St. Louis.” The stadium is also being touted as the possible home of a MLS team.

Miami FC co-owner . says cheaper expansion fees are the primary reason he chose to start a NASL team rather than an MLS team, although he’s also not a fan of the requirement to build a soccer-specific stadium. Silva says of his other project, the America’s Champions League, “We have signed already the top teams from South America – Flamengo, Boca Juniors, River Plate, Corinthians, Sao Paulo… all the best have already signed up. I think we will soon sign a broadcasting contract.”

US

The USWNT wraps up its World Cup Victory Tour tonight against China in New Orleans (8 pm, FS1, Fox Sports Go).

Perhaps more importantly, the game will be Abby Wambach’s last as a player. Observations on Wambach’s career and future at The New York Times, The Guardian, Goal.com, SI, and NPR (audio). Soccer America looks back at five championship moments for Wambach, Fox Soccer has ten top career moments (Warning: slideshow).

It’s official: The USMNT will open 2016 with friendlies against Iceland (Jan. 31, 3:45 pm) and Canada (Feb. 5, 10:15 pm). Both games are at the StubHub Center. The games come at the conclusion of the January training camp.

At ASN, Brian Sciaretta talks to Israeli-American midfielder Kenny Salief about reports of interest in him from the USMNT. Salief, who plays for Gent in Belgium, says, “If I get a call from the United States, I think I would probably play for them. Which team is better at football? I think the United States is better. They play almost every four years in the World Cup. As a footballer they are better, I think.”

Yahoo Sports picks Michael Bradley to win US Soccer’s Male Player of the Year Award.

Stack.com on the “most dominant team in US Soccer,” the US Deaf Women’s National Team.

Elsewhere

Michel Platini’s lawyers have announced the provisionally suspended UEFA president and FIFApresidential hopeful will not attend the FIFA ethics committee hearing on Friday. The reason? Because “the verdict of this ethics committee has been announced in the press last weekend by one of its spokespersons, Mr. Andreas Bantel, in disregard of all fundamental rights, starting with the presumption of innocence. By this decision Michel Platini means to express his deepest indignation with a process he regards as solely political and intended to prevent him from standing for the FIFA presidency.” The ethics committee denies it has already announced the verdict. More from the AP.

Blatter hopes he will be cleared by the ethics committee in time to hand out the Ballon d’Or. Blatter says he is “bewildered by the insinuations and allegations brought against me by the investigatory chamber of the Ethics Committee.”

Goal.com reports, “FIFA presidential candidate Jerome Champagne says the decision to award Qatar the 2022 World Cup has left a stain on the reputation of the tournament.”

Rafael Callejas, the former president of Honduras and of the Honduras FA, and former CONMEBOL president Juan Ángel Napout, have pled not guilty to corruption charges at a federal court hearing in Brooklyn. Napout was extradited from Switzerland on Tuesday. More from the AP.

The AP reports, “FIFA bribery case suspect Eduardo Li has agreed to be extradited to the United States after more than six months in jail.” Li is the former president of the Costa Rican FA, was arrested in Zurich last May.

38 Comments

  1. I used to be a reader of the “Brotherly Game”until a good friend of mine turned me onto this page! And I can’t thank him enough. That piece was clearly short-sighted typical Philly fan crap! Analyzing moves made by ES thus far failing to take into account that the international transfer window hasn’t opened yet amongst other issues. Thank you to PSP and the good readers who contribute! I’m glad my friend pointed me in this direction…

    • I stopped reading them during the whole Maurice Edu transfer saga. Apparently the writer’s opinion is the one true belief that all must follow!
      .
      1) PSP
      2) Twitter(Kinkead/Zeitlin . . . Tannenwald when he’s talking about The U)

      then way down the list
      4023) Brotherly Game followed ever so slightly by Phily.com

      • Yes!! I forgot about Kinkead and Zeitlen!! Good Stuff as well!!

      • Yes, i check Kinkead’s twitter feed a couple of times a day. When i don’t i usually end up missing something…

      • Don’t forget Matthew DeGeorge on Twitter. (@sportsdoctormd) You’ll get a lot of local high school sports, too, but during the season he’s pretty good with the Union.

      • I’d add Matthew Doyle from MLSsoccer.com (or follow on twitter) for broader MLS insight too. Good analysis and viewpoints, including his recent take on the Maidana trade. Lots of good soccer reading out there these days.

      • Also follow Gary Kleiban on twitter. A must.

      • .
        Kephern Fuller @JogaSC
        John Pranjic @thatcroatianguy
        Christopher Cramer, FC Barcelona Oregon @thisguytoph
        .
        These guys are cutting edge thinkers.
        .
        .
        And I agree…If you aren’t following 3four3…you’re asleep at the wheel.
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        The revolution is underway.

    • I try to read everything. Even very opinionated or short-sighted stuff.
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      It only reinforces my own ideas and beliefs about the sport and the Union.
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      But this site is definitely my #1 – great articles, great comments, great discussion.

  2. i don’t know if this is news but lahoud just posted that he is going to be training with st johnstone in scotland

  3. Not to appear TOO ignorant but… what exactly does the word ‘natural’ mean in the context of “natural second and third round picks”? Thanks…

    • Not sure, but an educated guess or two:
      1) Their true “earned” draft pick spot in each round based on record, as opposed to other picks they may hold through trades with other teams
      2) Natural may be a way of differentiating the main college draft from the supplemental rounds that come later, or the seemingly dozens of other drafts MLS holds

      I think it’s #1 though.

  4. Random draft question – don’t we also have Orlando’s 2nd round pick this year from the Okugo deal? Seem to recall that was part of it.

  5. Ken Salief actually has to convince himself the US is better than Isreal…
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    Good grief…
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    The Iceland friendly is very very intriguing to me. This will be an important match for them as they prepare to advance out of a rather straight forward group in June and it will be important for JK as his team better come ready to play… cause clearly he was annoyed last year at the same time of offseason with his players.
    .
    Better stop with the tinkering too Jurgen. Put a damn ‘Best 11’ together and let them play over and over through the winter and spring- especially of defense- or we will get razed by South America on our own soil… In truth I kinda hope it happens…maybe that would be the critical mass to really rethink our how we are doing things.
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    Youth Jurgen. Youth. I can watch us lose this summer if it is youth getting vetted. World Cup qualifying will be a cinch for the kids after playing against the best south america has to offer.
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    YOUTH JURGEN.

    • I’m hoping that he just sounded non-committal to not burn any bridges and stay in consideration for both countries…but if not, good grief indeed.

  6. Was watching a football Youtube video this morning, as is often the case over Cheerios, when the 10 year old girl we give a ride to school on Wednesday popped into our house and said who is that…. and why such music?
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    I couldn’t believe the question. Who do you think that is pirouetting with the ball…inside inside… swivel hips and all… Valkyrie music….building.
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    Holy hell young lady… that’s Zinedine Zidane. Don’t you know.
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    That’s how my morning started … the 4 and 6 year old kept telling her he is the greatest player of all time. HELLO.

    • Don’t blame the 10 year old. Blame her parents. 🙂

    • I obviously have never met your kids, but they clearly are genuises. You must be extremely proud.

      • it might also be the zidane videos he plays on their ceilings while they sleep. the nurture/condition approach. also, i give the neighbor kid and you credit for her not being afraid to ask. says she is comfortable in your home.

      • Agreed…brought a killer danish too for the ‘troubles’ of driving her.
        .
        And yes… the Zizou poster is actually on the wall under the top bunk… not even Messi occupies that space, his Fathead is reserved for the bookshelf wall across the way.
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        that ain’t no shit either. I miss Zidane’s gracefulness everyday.
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        Oh for the day when our kids can think…I want to be…________, Union HG player.
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        World Class boys …the race is on. The challenge laid.

  7. Today is the Union’s pre-combine workout for draft eligible players.
    .
    Only names I found so far that have been invited are defender/midfielder Antonio Matarazzo and leftback Bryce Terrill from Columbia as well as forward Florian Valot from Rider.

  8. Wonder if Abby Wambach is going to become a voice with thoughts that grate on me the way Lalas’ voice and thoughts grate on me.
    .
    Frankly…I’m annoyed already.

    • The mind reels with inappropriate comments.

      • el Pachyderm says:

        Chose the final game of her stellar international career to rebel yell for the coach of MNT to be fired for among other things I guess, having too many non American born American citizens on the team. Can you imagine what people would say if Fabian Johnson wasn’t on the team but none of that matters really…because
        :
        … the premise of her argument is belligerent… particularly considering many of these NT players are born of service men and women overseas working in the name of our country… the very essence of those who should be playing for their country.
        .
        This is my best boo for you Ms Wambach.

      • I read her comments and almost threw my phone at my office wall. Just asinine. Hell LeRoux – her teammate and probable friend – is Canadian…

  9. EL P,
    I read your comments regularly–and to be honest, there are a few subjects where we are on opposite sides of the fence, but mostly on travel soccer(what is the source of your unmitigated hatred?), your view of Americans, and Klinsmann(who shares that view).
    Abby is(was) a soccer player, not yet an experienced polished commentator. So her choice of words were not the best but clearly expressed sentiments that are shared and mentioned elsewhere.(And you chose to ignore her main argument about gender equality in the sport)
    There are several million people involved in youth soccer in this country. Yet, for past 5 years, Klinsmann, who is also responsible for “development” in a vague dual role, has made little attempt to disguise his disdain for American youth soccer or MLS.
    Among his first actions as USMNT coach is to put in place “an office in Austria” to scour for Americans with dual citizenships who grew up in Europe. He actively encourages players not to play for MLS, and a USMNT has more than half the players who do not play stateside.
    SO—-I am not going to nitpick Abby’s “foreign born” statement.
    I am going to say that there is much more disappointment in USMNT than USWNT, not because of record(although “winning makes things better” temporarily) but because many of the players are not as familiar as Abby, Hope Solo, Carli Lloyd, Alex Morgan and others.
    These women played in American colleges, and in US towns where many their age not only had chance to be on same field but maybe play with or against them. How many times have you seen Carli in local news? Similar to other USWNT players in their hometowns. That inspires kids here in this country.
    While soccer in US is clearly a poor professional path vs the other professional sports(fanbase and salary), US national teams are a motivation to millions of youths who play soccer. Obviously chance is less than winning the megamillions 3 times in a row, but it is a dream that many kids have.
    Right now, as long as Klinsmann rules the roost, he makes clear that he doesn’t want players who come from US Youth system.
    Honestly, El P, you can go on all you want about how bad US is, how unfit Americans are, and how travel soccer sucks, etc. but you aren’t growing the sport with your petty comments. Youth soccer has thrived in this country, growing by leaps and bounds since I was a kid in late 80’s.
    Someone like Abby inspires and adds to the growth of the sport in this country–Klinsmann detracts.

    • You failed to mention the biggest problem with youth soccer in this country, its a pay to play system there are a lot of kids that can’t aspire like Amy because of financial hardships, till that happens we will be a 2nd rate country, the women in other countries started playing later will catch and pass the US soon, Futball is a poor persons sport

    • I make little attempt to disguise my disdain for MLS and USMNT players. It’s no where near up to par with most of the world. If the US wants to be competitive, the bulk of the USMNT needs to be playing with and against the best. Period. End of discussion. You don’t get better by beating up on mediocre players in a league where barely half a dozen teams actually play with something that resembles tactics.

    • This is great stuff. Excellent rebuttals UnionGoal. So as quickly as I can in the face of getting kids off to school….
      .
      …To begin I do not feel my comments are petty, particularly in regards to travel soccer. It is my opinion that travel soccer is a detriment to the development of the youth players we want playing for our MLS and national team. That’s all. I have terrific concerns about it…which I’ve offered on many numerous occasions. It’s not hatred…hatred is the strongest most awful of all words… its is a deep concern about us being on the wrong path…a wrong path that Jurgen Klinsman sees and recognizes IMO. He does have many players on his team that came up in the youth system most notably his golden boy DeAndre Yedlin… the youth NT are filled with players in MLS Acadmey and abroad.
      .
      Regarding Abby Wambach and gender equality…if she was a school teacher I agree whole heartedly regarding equality of pay and the like…but why should ladies be paid as much to play a sport that does not garner any where near the interest stateside let alone worldwide? Now for them playing on terrible fields…to that I have no argument.
      .
      Regarding Ms. Wambach comments about these ‘foreign players’ she is completely off base. Regarding JK setting up a shop in Austria to find the best players to fill out a national team roster..why would we have any issue with this at all…. if Fabian Johnson, who is american by citizenship despite not growing up here grows up playing in a system that is far superior to ours why would his inclusion be detrimental… these kids are the children typically of moms and dads defending our country…. i could give a rip if they have never stepped foot in an american youth game…
      .
      This game to me is about excellence. I am tired of seeing us lag so so so far behind and we are light years behind and it is the failed youth model… it is the NT player pool getting turned over every 3 games… I could go on and on. Jurgen Klinsman while not perfect has highlighted IMO many of the glaring wholes in the game and also attempted to fix the flawed youth system as best the coach of senior national team can.
      .
      Lalas and Wambach…two voices that will likely grate on me is all.

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