Photo: Alejandro Bedoya’s Instagram
Philadelphia Union
Alejandro Bedoya was introduced to the media in a press conference this morning. We’ll have a transcript up soon but one thing is clear, his honesty and humor seems certain to make him a hit with the fans. Check out the video of the press conference to see for yourself:
In the latest Inside Doop, Dave Zeitlin notes the “possibly significant injury defensive midfielder Brian Carroll suffered” in Saturday’s draw with DC and writes, “Could that also mean Edu finally makes his season debut after missing the entire year with a stress fracture? Edu has been back in training for a couple of weeks now but doesn’t seem to be progressing as well as he’d like. But if he is feeling better this week, the idea of Edu and Bedoya partnering together in the central midfield behind Tranquillo Barnetta would probably be salivating to most fans — and usher in an exciting, new era for the club.”
Tranquillo Barnetta has been named to Goal.com’s Team of the Week (warning: slideshow).
Vote Andre Blake for Save of the Week! Don’t forget to also vote Tranquillo Barnetta for Goal of the Week!
Power rankings! The rankings at SI begin with a review of the Union’s moves in the summer transfer window. In the rankings, the Union move up one spot to No. 10: “Whatever momentum the Union gained from their big midseason additions, the deflating nature of Saturday’s 2-2 draw against D.C. United probably took away at least some of it. The Union were on the edge of a much-needed win, but a late, preventable goal will leave them stewing. The Union haven’t put together three positive results in a row in over two months.” At ESPN, the Union drop one spot to No. 14: “The Union snapped a two-game losing streak in Washington, securing a 2-2 draw, but Jim Curtin will be miffed that his team couldn’t see out a victory in the dying moments.” At Soccer America, the Union remain at No. 13: “The attack should be fearsome once Alejandro Bedoya and Charlie Davies are folded into the mix; can the defense step it up as well?” Good question.
Keegan Rosenberry remains at the top of MLSsoccer.com’s Rookie Rankings: “The Union gave away points at the death in D.C., but defender Keegan Rosenberry put up a tackle, 2 interceptions, 3 clearances and 3 recoveries, also contributing a pair of key passes on the offensive end. #KeeganDoesWork”
Delco Times on Charlie Davies settleing in with the Union. Goal.com on the adversity Davies has faced, and his eagerness to take the next step in his career with the Union.
At MLSsoccer.com, senior editor Arielle Castillo uses Chris Pontius’ goal on Saturday against DC United as the starting point for a poll on whether or not a player should celebrate a goal against his former team. Apparently, the goal “put his new team up for an ultimate 2-1 victory.” And here I thought the Union conceded an equalizer in the 94th minute.
At MLSsoccer.com, a look at this year’s hat tricks includes Roland Alberg’s trio of goals against Chicago. Unfortunately, the next hat trick in the league was Didier Drogba’s against the Union.
The Sports Quotient appreciates the Union’s summer transfer window.
At the Union website, a social media roundup of the Union’s transfer window deadline week.
Bethlehem Steel FC
At the Bethlehem Steel website, a quote sheet from Sunday’s draw with Charlotte Independence.
Considering the team’s playoff prospects, Unauthorized Bethlehem Steel FC Blog writes, “[A]side from a whole bunch of scoreboard watching, the fledgling Philadelphia Union farm club are going to have to actually do something that it, to be quite frank, simply has not been able to accomplish up to this point — put together an honest-to-goodness winning streak and pronto…the harsh reality of the situation at hand is the fact that, twenty-two matches into this 2016 United Soccer League campaign, the longest ‘winning streak’ for expansion Bethlehem Steel FC so far has been all of two games and not quite so irresistible BSFC has been able to manage this not quite so impressive feat all of one time.”
Philadelphia Union Academy
Union Academy connected players played a big part in the US U-20 team’s 4-3 comeback win over New York Red Bulls II on Monday to conclude the training camp in Basking Ridge, New Jersey that opened on July 30. After going down 2-0 early in the game, the U-20s fought back to make it 2-2 with goals in the 36th and 37th minutes, only to concede another goal in the 46th minute. Former Union Academy forward Sebastian Elney, who is now with University of Maryland, equalized in the 67th minute before Union Academy forward Yosef Samuel provided the assist on the 91st minute winner. Continental FC Delco defender Chad Poarch was subbed into the game in the 78th minute. Recaps at US Soccer and Soccer America. You will recall the team defeated New York Cosmos, 2-0, on August 3 in the first friendly of the camp.
Union Academy defender Matthew Real has been called up by the US U-18 MNT for the Vaclav Jezek Tournament in the Czech Republic, August 10-21: “The USA will open the tournament against Slovakia on Aug. 16, then play Hungary on Aug. 17, and finish group play against Russia on Aug. 19.”
At Brotherly Game, Matt Ralph notes the Union U-16s defeated their counterparts from San Jose Earthquakes 1-0 on Monday at the LIGA Bancomer MX International Tournament in Mexico City. The win, which came from an own goal, is the Union’s first in the tournament. The team faces Club Tijuana today. Ralph writes, “The top two MLS teams will advance to the finals against the top two LIGA MX teams. LA Galaxy lead the MLS Group with nine points and the Union are tied for second place with FC Dallas on three points after FC Dallas’ 2-1 loss to Santos Laguna on Monday. LA Galaxy lost to Pachuca 3-0 on Monday. Pachuca now leads all teams with 12 points from four wins.”
City Islanders
The City Islanders, 12th in the Eastern Conference (21 points, 6-14-3), are on the road on Wednesday to face first place Louisville City (45 points, 13-3-6) at 7:30 pm (YouTube). Louisville City has a preview.
At the City Islanders website, a Q&A with midfielder Paul Wilson.
PDL
Reading United defender Rob Sagel, and Ocean City Nor’easters midfielder Miguel Jaime, as well as Ocean City forwards Chevaughn Walsh and Nathan Regis, are part of the field of players for the 2016 All-PDL Playoffs Team – Fans’ Choice vote.
MLS
New England Revolution host Chicago Fire in the semifinals of the US Open Cup tonight at 8 pm (ESPN2). LAG hosts FC Dallas on Wednesday night at 10 pm (ESPN2).
Pioneer Press reports Minnesota United’s MLS announcement is expected to take place on August 19. Looks like they’ll be dropping “United.”
Monitor St. Paul reports, “The St. Paul City Council is poised to vote Aug. 17 on the Major League Soccer stadium site plan, Midway Center redevelopment master plan, a technical zoning amendment allowing the stadium to move ahead, and plat [sic] changes tied to redevelopment.” Perhaps the August 19 announcement is connected to the date of the vote? Meanwhile, the report notes, whatever the city council decides, “everyone still waiting for state legislature/governor to act.”
The Tennessean reports, “Convinced that Nashville should aim higher than the minor leagues, a group of Nashville business heavyweights has organized a new coalition to help Music City compete for one of four future expansion franchises that Major League Soccer plans to add. The 22-member Nashville MLS Organizing Committee, which is composed of leaders from several of Nashville’s largest corporations, is set to formally announce its creation Tuesday.” The committee is not connected to the Nashville USL franchise announced in May that will begin play in 2018. More at Nashville Business Journal and The Chattanoogan.
US
The USWNT closes group play at the Olympics today against Colombia at 6 pm (NBCSN). The US is already through to the quarterfinals and Soccer America notes if they win tonight, they will next face “the third-place team from Group E (likely China or Sweden) or Group F (likely Australia),” all of which sets up a possible semifinal game against host country Brazil. Previews of tonight’s game at US Soccer, MLSsoccer.com, Pro Soccer Talk, and Fox Soccer.
Soccer America notes, “Saturday’s USA-France women’s game at the Rio Olympics on NBCSN averaged 2.9 million viewers, up 19 percent from the USA’s second game at the 2012 London Olympics. The USA’s opening 2-0 victory over New Zealand drew 1.3 million viewers on Wednesday, more than double the viewership for the USA-France opener at the 2012 London Olympics.”
The New York Post on the two Carli Lloyds representing the US at the Olympics, the soccer one and the volleyball one.
Carli’s Kicking Hot Sauce, eh? And only $10 for a three pack of 12-ounce bottles? Thanks for the heads up, Click2Houston.
What I get from the Bedoya presser: MLS has got to fix it’s bullshit player contract rules and regulations. It’s just getting in its own way.
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But back to the U, I’m exited for the club. Can’t wait to see Bedoya in the starting XI.
The idea of Edu/Bedoya/Barnetta is absolutely tantalizing. Let’s hope everyone’s healthy and ready.
Edu cannot possibly be close to 90 minutes high paced late season game fit.
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The sequence Curtin has used for two years in preseason is 30-60-75-90. The pace of games is much faster in August than it is in February, so he will be playing at that pace, which is good.
best scenario: we’re a month away from any impact he will bring.
all this team is tasked to do is shore up defensively, collect points, and squeak into playoffs. anything over that is unlikely. by playoffs, we might have the chemistry of this new midfield to do more than whimper in them.
I didn’t mean to imply he’ll go 90 this weekend. I’m simply excited by the potential of that spine.
An unfit Edu might be a good thing.
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Hear me out – if he is not feeling like he can play all out for 90mins then maybe he plays more reserved and is more willing to sit in front of the backline a-la-Carroll. It could force him to play more like the at-home #6 many think he should be.
The general quiet and lack of meaningful updates makes me think we’re not seeing Mo this year. Warren Creavalle – time to step up and boss the midfield. Get well soon BC.
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#BCLegend
They took over four days to process Derrick Jones, who signed on a Wednesday as I recall and was not cleared to play by Sunday afternoon.
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Major League baseball looks modern and efficient in comparison.
Hell, the DMV looks modern and efficient in comparison.
+1, although I must give props to my local DMV in Harrisburg. They have it down to a science in my last few visits. Actually impressed me.
MLS injury report updated today:
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OUT: Maurice Edu (left tibia stress reaction 3/10, out 3-4 months); Matt Jones (right MCL sprain)
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QUESTIONABLE: Cole Missimo (low ab strain); Brian Carroll (foot injury)
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Carroll was seen on crutches. He and Jones reportedly the only two that did not train today while Edu was full participant.