Daily news roundups

Conceicao acquired, final pre-SuperDraft news, more

Photo: Earl Gardner

Philadelphia Union

Brazil

The Union announced on Wednesday the acquisition of 26-year-old Brazilian center back Anderson Conceicao on loan for the 2016 season. Like many of you, I knew nothing about him, including his name, before the announcement, although Kevin Kinkead tweeted he can also play left back. Hopefully that changes for the better soon.

In the meanwhile, Earnie Stewart said of Conceicao: “Anderson’s natural athletic ability and winning pedigree was really something we zeroed in on during our offseason assessment. He’s the type of defender who really addresses some of our technical needs and we strongly believe we’re getting someone who is committed to helping build the next chapter of our club.” Fingers crossed. More at PSP, Philadelphia Union, Delco Times (also at Union Tally), CSN PhillyPhilly Soccer News, Brotherly Game, Philadelphia Sports Network, and Goal.com.

It appears the Union and Fabinho have agreed to terms:

https://www.instagram.com/p/BAfvsQBQXlY/?taken-by=fabioalves3

Today’s draft

The 2016 MLS SuperDraft begins today at 1 pm. If you can’t make it to Baltimore, you can watch a live stream of the draft at ESPN3, MLSsoccer.com, and Fox Sports Go. Only the first two rounds of the draft will take place today, with the third and fourth rounds being held by conference call on Tuesday.

Some final mock drafts: SBI has the Union selecting Jack Harrison at No. 3, and Keegan Rosenberry at No. 6. Draft Utopia has the Union selecting Brandon Vincent at No. 3, and Fabian Herbers at No. 6, followed by Alex Morrell in the second round, Dennis Castillo in the third round, and Ben Strong in the fourth round.

At here at PSP).

At Reading United, a look at the four Reading alums — Neco Brett, Darius Madison, John McCarry, and Keegan Rosenberry — available for selection today.

Lancaster Online on Rosenberry’s availability in today’s draft.

Brotherly Game looks at the Union’s history of picking in the top six spots of the draft and has a roundup of mock drafts.

MLS Multiplex believes the Union have “the best spot” in the draft and will trade their No. 3 pick to NYCFC — who are hot for Jack Harrison — for their No. 4 pick.

Metro looks at today’s draft. Their review of the Union’s draft history unaccountably omits 2010.

A listing of each MLS team’s best-ever draft pick at MLSsoccer.com has Amobi Okugo as the Union’s best selection.

More

Here’s a video preview of the 2016 Union schedule from new Union “insider” Marisa Pilla and Peter Pappas.

Prost Amerika reviews the 2015 Union defense.

Former Union man Faryd Mondragon was hospitalized in Colombia on Wednesday following what reports say could have been a suicide attempt. In a tweet before the hospitalization that has since been deleted, Mondragon said “There is only me who can judge my life, and I’m tired of being judged by others without the possibility of defending myself.”

And, saving the best for last, MLS: The Gathering — Philadelphia Union edition.

MLS

Goal.com reports UCLA striker Abu Danladi will not be in today’s draft after talks for a Generation adidas deal stalled. Also at Goal.com, the top prospects at the draft by position.

The league announced six college seniors had signed MLS contracts ahead of today’s draft: Jonathan Campbell, Kyle Fisher, Todd Wharton, Callum Irving, Hadji Barry, and Ben Polk. You will recall that Brandon Vincent signed with the league last week.

More on the possibility Chicago will trade its No. 1 pick. The Armchair Analyst has five predictions about what will happen in today’s draft.

At ESPN, Doug McIntyre on what to watch for in the draft, Jeff Carlisle on whether we still need the draft.

At MLSsoccer.com, a player’s perspective on what the combine is like from Joshua Yaro.

Player moves:

DC United goalkeeper Bill Hamid has undergone surgery for the knee injury that prevented him from participating in the January USMNT camp.

At Yahoo Sports, Leander Schaerlaeckens wonders if the NFL’s exit from St. Louis opens the door for MLS expansion in that city.

Transit options and challenges for the Minnesota United stadium plan in St. Paul.

Vice Sports looks at what’s going on with Miami Beckham United’s efforts to secure a stadium spot.

NWSL

The league announced its allocation of USWNT players on Wednesday. Sydney Leroux’s move to Kansas City to be with her husband Dom Dwyer involved a a three-team deal.

US

The US U-23 WNT training camp that runs Jan. 18-25 in Carson, Ca. will conclude with a game against the full Irish national team.

The 2016 U-17 Women’s NTC Invitational will take place in Carson, Ca., Feb 11-15. Participating will be the US, England, Japan, and South Korea.

Elsewhere

From Reuters: “Sheikh Salman Bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa could revisit the bidding process for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups if he wins next month’s FIFA presidential election and previous ‘wrongful conduct’ has been proven.”

Following extradition from Switzerland on Wednesday, former head of the Honduran FA, acting CONCACAF president, and FIFA vice president Alfredo Hawit has pleaded not guilty in Brooklyn to corruption charges related to the ongoing FIFA corruption investigation.

An investigation by CONCACAF into officiating at last summer’s Gold Cup concludes there is “no clear or convincing evidence of match fixing or an intentional effort to affect the results.” So, it was just crap officiating, then? Anyway, CONCACAF says reforms are underway, particularly in regard to the process of appointing referees and match officials, and remuneration.

21 Comments

  1. With the Fabinho news i’m reminded that i don’t recall any news on Nogs being re-signed or extended or whatever. I *think* i read here or somewhere that he’s expected to return…

    • According to transfermarkt.com Nogueira’s contract is until December 2016.
      .
      http://www.transfermarkt.com/vincent-nogueira/profil/spieler/56806

    • I believe Nog had an additional team option year on his contract. The team’s just choosing to pick it up might not even qualify as newsworthy. Both Maidana and Nog were in the same boat and Curtin said (pre Earnie) that the team would make the “appropriate decisions.”
      .
      I assumed that the Union must have picked up Maidana’s option then traded him, unless they just traded his MLS rights to Houston, who would have then had to work out a new deal with Maidana. You’d think if they picked up Maidana’s option they likely did Nog’s around the same time.

  2. Regarding the NYFC speculation – How about Poku & #4 for #3
    .
    We know Curtin wanted Poku last year

  3. That’s a very sad story about our former keeper, Faryd Mondragon. Best wishes to him in the days and years to come.

  4. Right now the left side of the Union’s D should have no problems communicating, even if it is in Portuguese.

  5. So, our current internationals are Barnetta, Noguiera, and (until I learn his name better) the New Guy. 3 players for 6 available slots this year. Don’t know if that will have an effect on who they would be willing to draft. Not even sure who among the draftees are counted as Internationals but have to believe that Holness and Harrison are, among the possibilities for pick #3.

    Edit: could also include McFadden if the player is right about the Union interest. That would make 4 of 6.

    • Forgot about Ayuk too.

    • I really hope McFadden is all talk and wishful thinking. He does not excite one bit.
      .
      Holness and Harrison are both GA which I believe doesn’t count towards international slots. Someone with better knowledge can correct me.

      • I was not aware that being in GA affected their international status as well. That is very interesting if true. Completely agree with you on McFadden. Barring trading for more International slots, I’d rather they use the couple they have left on more exciting options.

      • I thought I remembered reading that Blake didn’t count as an Intl because of his GA status, but I can’t remember where. Anyone else remember that?

      • That’s where I drew my conclusion from. Again, I might be wrong.

      • GA only counts as off budget. Blake has a green card and that is why he doesn’t count as an international slot.

      • Thanks for the clarification. So that blows my theory out the window. Bummer.

    • We spent a lot of energy last season getting guys green cards. I’m not sure how that finished up, but we opened up a few international slots that way.
      .
      Those slots can also be traded, like allocation money. We may have more than the typically allotted amount, or they could work some deals to pick up one or two.
      .
      Thanks to the Byzantine nature of the MLS rules, we’ll never really know how many of these guys we’re allowed to have…

    • I thought the Union had 7 international spots this season.
      .
      Each club is given 8 spots which can be traded on a year by year basis. The Union traded 1 spot to Houston along with Williams but that was it so they should have 7 spots.

      • I think you might be right CP. I probably should have actually looked up the rule before my original post. My bad.

  6. http://www.mlssoccer.com/rosters/2016
    .
    4 Intl spots occupied as of today.
    .
    (Props to whoever initially pointed out this link a few weeks ago, sorry can’t recall who it was)

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