Photo: Paul Rudderow
Philadelphia Union
Jim Curtin’s weekly press conference is scheduled for today at 12:30 pm. Speaking to reporters after Tuesday’s training session, Curtin provided updates on several concerns.
On the injury front, Curtin said Sebastien Le Toux, having passed a first phase of the league-mandated concussion protocol, will undergo more testing today: “Sebastien is pushing for this weekend.” Fabian Herbers should be available this weekend after recovering from a minor hamstring strain. CJ Sapong trained in full with the team on Tuesday.
Curtin also made clear his thoughts on the second yellow card Josh Yaro received in Saturday’s loss in Houston: “It’s not a second yellow. The ref made a mistake. I think the kid (Manotas) did a good job of baiting him into a play. Josh got into a 1v1 situation off kind of a one-touch through ball. Obviously, as a center back, you don’t want to get isolated. But at the same time, it doesn’t take a genius to look at the tape and see that it’s not a second yellow card. The ref doesn’t see it; I think he’s a little far behind the play and makes a mistake.” Curtin said there is no appeal process for yellow cards.
Here’s what Curtin had to say after Tuesday’s training session regarding summer transfer window targets:
I mean, listen, every team wants to improve. We have a couple things, and there’s always a lot of variables that go into it, a couple of options that we’re looking at. Obviously with the loss of Vincent, and Mo still kind of not being there, obviously the midfield is something that we’re looking at. I’m happy with the way guys have performed in there, I think Tranquillo, Roland, BC, and Warren have all been excellent, but that’s only four bodies. So, you need some guys that have been through the battles as professionals, whether that’s an international guy or an in-league guy, we’re kind of weighing those options right now. But, yeah, we’ll definitely be looking to upgrade that area of the field, as well as some depth in other spots, and, obviously, everyone wants a striker.
More on Curtin’s remarks on Tuesday at Philly Voice, Union Tally, and Philly.com.
At Section 215, a transfer window discussion.
Power Rankings! At Soccer America, the Union drop five spots to No. 8: “A third loss in the last four games is more concerning than the 1-0 defeat to the last-place team in the Western Conference, even though said goal was scored by a former Philly player in the final seconds.”
Vote Andre Blake for Save of the Week!
Keegan Rosenberry drops to No. 2 behind Jordan Morris in MLSsoccer.com’s Rookie Rankings: “There’s a lot of love for Keegan Rosenberry around these parts – the Politboro values his high-level consistency and barbering, but when the squad is out here dropping points against Houston (given, in the final seconds of stoppage time) that’s enough daylight for JoMo to sneak through.” Morris scored twice in Seattle’s 3-0 win over West Ham in a friendly on Tuesday night.
Marisa Pilla goes behind the scenes with the Talen Energy Stadium grounds crew.
Bethlehem Steel FC
Bethlehem wraps up their five-game road swing tonight against Toronto FC II (7:30 pm, YouTube). Previews at Bethlehem Steel, Brotherly Game, USLsoccer.com, and Toronto FC II.
Unauthorized Bethlehem Steel FC Blog reviews the impact Union Academy players have made in their appearances for Bethlehem.
At Brotherly Game, Matt Ralph has more on Auston Trusty and his time with the US U-20 MNT, who won the NTC Invitational on Sunday with a 3-1 win over Japan.
Philadelphia Union Academy
Soccer Wire has a preview of Thursday’s quarterfinal match between the Union U-18s and their counterparts from PDA in the U.S. Soccer Development Academy Playoffs at YSC (5 pm).
City Islanders
Pittsburgh Sporting News has a report on Monday’s 0-0 Keystone Derby draw between Pittsburgh Riverhounds and City Islanders. The Pitt News has a photo gallery from the game.
PDL
Reading United will look to increase their lead in the Mid-Atlantic Division tonight when they host Evergreen FC at 7 pm. First place Reading (22 points, 7-3-1) is currently one point ahead of second place Ocean City (22 points, 7-4-0).
Brotherly Game has a recap of Reading United’s 4-0 win last Saturday over Baltimore Bohemians.
Local
Former Union man Jimmy McLaughlin, now with FC Cincinnati, has been named to the USL Team of the Week after scoring the lone goal in his team’s home win over Bethlehem Steel on Saturday.
US
Alex Morgan on the possibility the USWNT will have a new CBA before the Olympics: “No I don’t see that happening. The Olympics is a month away and we’re still pretty far away. So I’d say that that’s slim to no chances…It’s still ongoing, and I think it will be ongoing for a while.”
The Guardian on why competition for a spot on the USWNT is so fierce.
US Soccer announced on Tuesday, ”
The U.S. Under-15 Girls’ National Team will for the first time participate in the CONCACAF U-15 Girls’ Championship, with the 2016 tournament taking place from August 9-21 at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Disney in Orlando.
Twenty-two CONCACAF teams and one CONMEBOL team will participate in this year’s tournament, designed to encourage development for youth players from across the confederation while promoting competition at the international level…
The USA was drawn into Group A where it will face Mexico, Trinidad & Tobago, Haiti and the Dominican Republic.
Groundbreaking for the new $62 million National Training and Coaching Development Center in Kansas City will take place on Sunday.
Elsewhere
It is Portugal vs. Wales in today’s Euro 21016 semifinal (2:30 pm: ESPN, ESPN3, Watch ESPN, ESPN Deportes).
Reuters reports, “Germany said on Tuesday Sunday’s final game of the Euro 2016 soccer championship in Paris could prove an attractive target for Islamic State, especially if hosts France, victim of November attacks, are playing.”
The AP reports, “UEFA’s tournament director says he is ‘very satisfied’ with security operations at Euro 2016 ahead of the last three matches.”
The AP reports, “Extra security measures are planned for the 2018 World Cup in Russia following hooligan violence at the European Championship, new FIFA secretary general Fatma Samoura said on Tuesday.”
Barcelona’s Argentinian soccer star Lionel Messi has been sentenced to 21 months in prison and fined 2 million euros ($2.2 million) after being found guilty of three counts of tax fraud, a court in the Spanish city said on Wednesday.
The court handed the same jail sentence to the Argentine soccer player’s father, Jorge, and fined him 1.5 million euros. However, in Spain it is customary that those sentenced to under two years for non-violent crimes do not serve time in jail.
I wonder how the sentence might affect Messi’s ability to travel internationally? Can he get into the US with that conviction?
ESPN reports, “Argentina only have ‘a 50 percent chance’ of being able to field a team at next month’s Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, according to Argentine Olympic Committee (COA) president Gerardo Werthein.” On Tuesday, Gerardo Martino resigned as head coach of Argentina.
Reuters reports, “FIFA has reduced the ban on two senior officials.” Former secretary general Jerome Valcke’s ban was reduced from 12 to 10 years. Chung Mong-joon’s ban was reduced from six to five years.
Has Andre Blake been up for save of the week every week?
Well, I think there was a week where we didn’t have a game back in march. Other than that, yes. MLS just pencils his name in one of the slots and then starts reviewing what everyone else did.
Having done no careful research, Ed Farnsworth says it’s his 12th nomination and current MLS website logos are labeled “week 17”, so there are four weeks unaccounted for. One week is the Matt Jones start. That leaves three. We did have a weekend off earlier, I hazily, vaguely suspect. As I say, I have done no carefully research.
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That said your essential point stands, of course.
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Somebody yesterday wondered when the Commisioner was going to insert Tim Howard instead of Blake. While angry should that happen, I would applaud it as the exposure might hasten Blake’s departure. Unlike the club and the league, I am not trying to realize a profit. I would rather realize the Cup, so, Garber, do your thing and pander to the prominent.
I read somewhere this morning that Blake has been nominated for SOTW in 12 of the 24 weeks in which he was the starting keeper.
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Edit: OSC beat me to this.
Edit 2: The 24 weeks are “all time” not just this season.
I would feel better about thi if his kicking game hadn’t Hella-bad the last few games. I don’t know what the heck is going on, but he’s been even worse than McCarthy (and I never thought I’d see wordse than that).
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Field position and possesion after your guy gets to have the ball in hand cannot be disregarded. If you keep giving it away THAT easily, you’re creating your own problems.
Sorry for the poorly typed post, no more phone posts for me.
no kidding. all over the place with the kicks. i’m sure his distribution via kicks will be addressed after that performance
“Germany said on Tuesday Sunday’s final game of the Euro 2016 soccer championship in Paris could prove an attractive target for Islamic State, especially if hosts France, victim of November attacks, are playing.”
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I think they are saying that France shouldn’t be playing in the final…
Game has already begun. We call this “de-stabilization” and the French have proven themselves over and over again to be very susceptible to this sort of stuff. But Zinedine Zidane could explain it so much better than I.
“Curtin said there is no appeal process for yellow cards.”
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That’s not a good sign of JC’s knowledge given that the league does allow for appeals of 2nd yellow cards.
Well done, I had forgotten that. It does cost money, and I think you can do it infrequently, if not only once a season. There may be other provisions to reduce frivolous appeals.
http://pressbox.mlssoccer.com/content/appeal-review-red-card-decision
Gotta be smart when you pick your battles with the Disciplinary Committee. If we have cover for Yaro this week with Tribbett then why risk what the committee to deem a “frivilous” appeal and lose your ability to appeal in the future?
MLS history indicates that it will be difficult to successfully implement (summer) transfers, but I have hope for ES bringing in a starter
Will we ever get an update on Edu?