Daily news roundups

Union complete draft with defender and winger, preseason dates, more news

Photo: Ben Solomon/Rutgers Athletic Communications

Philadelphia Union

The Union selected defender Mitchell Lurie (Rutgers), and midfielder Cole Missimo (Northwestern, in rounds three and four of the 2016 SuperDraft on Tuesday.

In a post at the Union website, Chris Winkler writes of third-round pick Lurie, “He seems to be a natural left back, but played center back for Rutgers in 2015. There’s also some possibility of him being higher up the pitch as a winger, but all signs seem to point Lurie’s future coming on the back line.”

Winkler writes of fourth-round pick Missimo, “A right-footed attacker, Missimo does appear to have the ability to play on both wings, but predominately played on the right for Northwestern. The Union have clearly set out to bolster depth on both wings this offseason.”

More on the Union’s final selections at PSP, Philadelphia Union, Delco Times, CSN Philly, Philly Soccer News, and Brotherly Game.

More on Lurie’s selection at ScarletKnights.comAsbury Park Press,

More on Missimo’s selection at Northwestern SoccerThe Daily Northwestern, WNUR Sports,  and Inside NU.

By the way, Union Academy alum and Philly native Darius Madison was selected by Toronto, No. 70 overall.

The current roster and more

So, here’s where the Union roster currently stands:

GK (2): Andre Blake (GA), John McCarthy
DEF (6): Anderson Conceicao (INT’L), Maurice Edu (DP), Raymon Gaddis, Richie Marquez, Keegan Rosenberry, Joshua Yaro (GA/INT’L)
MID (7): Eric Ayuk (INT’L), Tranquillo Barnetta (INT’L), Leo Fernandes, Sebastien Le Toux, Vincent Nogueira (INT’L), Chris Pontius, Walter Restrepo
FWD (2): Fabian Herbers (GA/INT’L), C.J. Sapong

DESIGNATED PLAYERS (DP): 1
HOMEGROWN PLAYERS (HG): 0
INT’L ROSTER SPOTS FILLED (INT’L): 6
GENERATION ADIDAS PLAYERS (GA): 3
UNSIGNED DRAFT PICKS (3): Taylor Washington (No. 23), Mitchell Lurie (No. 44), Cole Missimo (No. 64) 

With only 17 of 28 roster spots filled (next to Chicago, currently the smallest roster in the league), we can surely expect some important signing announcements in the coming weeks — particularly for the forward corps — even if each of the unsigned draft picks earns a spot on the team. As Jim Curtin said last week after the opening rounds of the draft, “It will be a bit of a new style that we are going to have and we are excited to unveil it…It’s not a finished roster, by any means right now. We are anxious to get to work and we think we have identified some targets, and we will continue to look.”

Curtin is the guest on the latest KYW Philly Soccer Show, which will be available later today.

MLS Multiplex reviews the Union’s 2016 draft. A review of the fact that the Union now have their own USL team might be suggested.

At Brotherly Game, the start of a new series on “silly offseason complaints” from Union fans.

Preseason dates

New York Red Bulls announced their preseason schedule on Tuesday, and they will play the Union on Tuesday, Feb. 26 in Florida. Time and location are to be determined.

At the Washington Post, Steven Goff reports DC United are “finalizing” arrangements to play the Union in St, Petersburg on Feb. 17.

Already announced is the preseason game against Jacksonville Armada on Feb. 6 at Community First Park in Jacksonville at 6 pm. Here’s a list of preseason games in Florida that have been announced so far.

Local

The draw for the Copa America Centenario will take place in New York on Feb. 21. The Linc will host three group-stage games, including one USMNT game on Saturday, June 11.

Ocean City Nor’easters alum John Nadji-Manga was selected by Colorado in the fourth round of the SuperDraft on Tuesday, No. 63 overall.

Harrisburg City Islanders have scheduled a press conference to make “a special announcement for 2016” on Tuesday, Jan. 26. In addition to the City Islanders CEO, president, and head coach, Harrisburg mayor Eric Papenfuse is slated to attend. Some kind of stadium announcement, perhaps? Local 21 reporter Jason Bristol tweeted on Tuesday, “I’ve learned Harrisburg City Islanders will play some home games this upcoming season at Metro Bank Park, home of Senators.”

At the Inquirer, on Carli Lloyd being the national spokeswoman for the locally based Hand & Stone company, “one of the fastest-growing franchise chains in the massage and facial spa industry.”

Glenside, Pa.’s Megan McCool has been called up for the US U-19 WNT camp taking place in Lakewood Ranch, Fla., Jan. 23-30.

Pulisic!

MLS

With Jordan Morris turning down a move to Werder Bremen, SI, ESPN, and ASN on why the young forward made his decision and how his future will be just fine starting in MLS.

Ashley Cole and Roma have mutually agreed to terminate his contract. A signing announcement from LA Galaxy is imminent.

No official announcements yet, but it appears Chicago have signed Portuguese central defender Joao Meira, while Columbus are about to acquire Danish winger Emil Larsen.

Fox Soccer has a slideshow (ugh!) of ten possible international transfer targets.

At SI, Grant Wahl has a string of stories from comments made by high profile players such as Steven Gerrard, Andrea Pirlo, Frank Lampard, David Villa, Kaka, Sebastian Giovinco, Giovanni Dos Santos, and Clint Dempsey from the MLS Media Day on Tuesday. More at ESPN.

At ESPN: “LA Galaxy manager Bruce Arena feels MLS needs to slow its expansion plans and that the league is losing focus on developing domestic players.” In another ESPN article, Arena says the league is too controlling when it comes to how teams spend their money on players: “I think all player decisions should be made at the local level, period, and the clubs are responsible for what they do. I haven’t seen anyone fired at the league lately, but I’ve seen a lot of people fired at clubs.”

FourFourTwo on why the SuperDraft is obsolete.

DC United have released new renderings of their stadium-to-be.

Pro Soccer Talk has a Q&A with LAFC owner and president Tom Penn.

From the USL website: “The City of Rochester tonight approved a lease that will see the Rochester Rhinos continue to compete at Sahlen’s Stadium for the 2016 USL season, and beyond. The motion was passed unopposed. The decision clears the path for local residents David and Wendy Dworkin to complete the purchase of the club and become the newest ownership group in the USL.”

US

Benny Feilhaber has spoken out against Jurgen Klinsmann’s selection policy:

I don’t know what that reason is. I don’t know if Jurgen doesn’t like these players, he doesn’t like their attitude, he doesn’t like their faces, he thinks they are ugly. I don’t know.

If you ask me it can’t possibly be based on on-field performances. There are plenty of guys in MLS that have had better seasons than other guys, in MLS or other countries, that are getting opportunities for the national team…

I’ve accepted the fact that Jurgen’s not going to call me. If I play the year that I played this last year, and I’m not getting a call, then I’m not going to get an opportunity under Jurgen.

In regards to how a coach should approach a team … there are two duties – one is making the best possible team that you can possibly make with the players that are available to you. And two, try to continuously improve that team so that team doesn’t stall in any way and continues to improve.

For me, Jurgen seems to try and do the second one without doing the first one. He would rather put young guys on the team that potentially could become somewhat important on the team and he leaves out players that could make the team better right now.

That’s the number one job of a national team coach. Not to make the team as good as he can make it in five years, to make it as good as he can make it now and continuously improve it. (In that way) he doesn’t do his job. There are players in the player pool that do not get called in that have performed well enough on the field to get an opportunity.

Still, Feilhaber says he’s at peace with not being in Klinsmann’s picture.

Uhhh…

Elsewhere

You will recall the news on Tuesday that Sepp Blatter will continue to be paid until a new FIFA president is elected. UEFA has confirmed Michel Platini will also continue to be paid “until further notice.” Meanwhile, CONCACAF have confirmed that former president Jeffrey Webb is not being paid.

From Reuters: “The German Football Association has backed Gianni Infantino in his bid to replace Sepp Blatter as FIFA’s president.”

In other endorsement news, the AP reports, “FIFA presidential candidate Prince Ali of Jordan says the Iraqi soccer federation has pledged to vote for him.”

The Washington Post has a profile piece on Infantino.

Vice Sports examines the controversy around Mexican national team and club fans using the “puto” chant.

16 Comments

  1. this might be better left to the comments section for this week’s podcast but to me one of the more interesting and undiscussed things curtin revealed in the interview is that edu was going to get called up to the national team this january but stayed home because he is still rehabbing from his injury

    • If Jurgen Klinsman is thinking of calling in Maurice Edu…clearly he has not received the memo…
      .
      “Move on JK…youth youth youth.”

      • He is younger then Jones…
        .
        But on a more serious note. If JK has any interest in trying to play with three at the back again, I think Edu would be the best option at the middle of the 3.

  2. Pulisic is really making use of his opportunities over the winter break.
    .
    BVB’s Bleacher Report page even has rated him their top youth prospect.
    .
    http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2608519-ranking-borussia-dortmunds-top-10-youth-prospects/page/11

    • Dude…. I love me some Christian Pulisic.
      .
      My two young boys have been watching him on Youtube as an 8 year old through national team games and BVB snippets. He is flavor. He is US swagger. He is the model… nothing short of this mentality – nothing short of this love is the goal… if it is a fun hobby for you great, no problem… but if the game matters to your chromosomes and the aura of your being… he is the model and his is the ethic.
      .
      He played, He balled, He balls…. and with that pure talent -derived- to exceptional skill he moved to a system/club to maximize and learn how to actually play the game… he is futbol… and as Kephern Fuller so eloquently states in a podcast with John Pranjic on 3four3 regarding his street game club Joga SC in Arlington VA and emerging talent factory…
      .
      “I’m here to beat you.
      -I’m here to embarrass you.
      -I’m here to win…and that’s what’s up.”
      .
      That’s how Pulisic plays. It’s the culture in my home and I hope it is the culture in yours.
      .
      Period. The end.

  3. Fabinho should also be on the current roster. As its been stated that he is the starting left back.

  4. Did I miss something? Where’s Caroll on this roster?

  5. Old Soccer Coach says:

    The paucity of strikers makes me wonder if, at the last moment, they will call Conor Casey, who has drawn no interest that I have noticed from any other teams at any level.

    • I guess we are going to lose out on the Alexandre Pato sweepstakes. Too bad.

      • Party boy on a big contract? Corinthians will be so happy to get that contract off their books. He had so much promise at Milan, but then lost his way. Such a shame, hope he can turn it around at 26.

  6. Are Yaro and Herbers just GA or both GA and INT’L? I know people were speculating the latter last week but the list above seems to indicate the former. Does anyone know for sure?

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