Photo: Paul Rudderow

Philadelphia Union

The Union will look to end a four-game winless streak when they travel to face New England Revolution on Saturday (7:30 pm, TCN, MLS Live, Direct Kick). Will Alejandro Bedoya start? Will Charlie Davies score against his former team? How will Warren Creavalle do replacing the injured Brian Carroll? Will the backline get its act together? We’ll see. Previews at PSP, Philadelphia Union, CBS Philly (audio), Brotherly Game, Soccer America, and Goal.com.

At Philly Voice, Kevin Kinkead looks at the need for either Ken Tribbett or Josh Yaro to claim the right center back spot: “The Union just needs one of these two to earn the starting spot, put it in a figurative chokehold, and never let go. ”

At the Union website, video of Alejandro Bedoya’s first day of training with the Union.

At Brotherly Game, Matt Ralph talks to the former coach of Bedoya and Charlie Davies at Boston College, Ed Kelly, who says, “They’re two different types of players, but you couldn’t get two better guys…Charlie is so dynamic. And Ale, I’ve yet to see anyone make the runs from deep in midfield like he does…I’m definitely going to have to figure out a way to watch more Philadelphia Union games.” Ralph notes Bethlehem Steel head coach Brendan Burke was a teammate of Davies at Boston College for two seasons.

Brotherly Game looks at the options to replace Brian Carroll as he recovers from his foot injury.

The Union announced the 26 members of the More on the new Fan Council on Thursday. CBO Tim MCDermott said in a statement, “This is a great opportunity to proactively engage with our dedicated fanbase and learn what’s important to them. Collectively, we will identify ways to improve the fan experience and enhance what is already regarded as the best stadium experience in Philadelphia. We received more than 500 applications for board positions and have established the Union Fan Council with a well-diversified representation of our overall fan base.” More on the fan council at Philadelphia Business Journal.

At the Union website, Auston Trusty talks about his decision to sign with the club as a Homegrown Player: “It was my choice, and there were options, I mean there were multiple options, but at the end of the day I knew it was right for me and it was right for my career and the future for me, and going on to sign with Philadelphia was the right choice.” Allentown Morning Call notes the signing of Trusty.

Bethlehem Steel

Bethlehem Steel is on the road this weekend to face Pittsburgh Riverhounds on Saturday (7 pm, YouTube). Bethlehem is currently in ninth place in the Eastern Conference and five points out of a playoff spot. Preview at Bethlehem Steel.

The already thin Bethlehem backline apparently will be without new Union homegrown signing Auston Trusty when they travel to face Pittsburgh Riverhounds this weekend, with Unauthorized Bethlehem Steel FC Blog reporting, “as was learned when the Philadelphia Union recently signed midfielder Derrick Jones to a Major League Soccer contract, it takes at least a minimum of four days for all of MLS’s Mickey Mouse paperwork requirements to be fulfilled.”

In USL news, tonight’s game between New York Red Bulls II and Orlando City B will serve as a live Video Assistant Referee trial.

Philadelphia Union Academy

Union Academy defender Rayshaun McGann has been called up for the US U-17 MNT camp in Park City, Utah, Aug. 14-22. The announcement from US Soccer notes, “The camp will be an audition before Hackworth names the final 20 players for the 2016 Torneo Naciones de Mexico, set to take place Aug. 22-29 in Mexico City, where the USA will take on Portugal on Aug. 25, Qatar on Aug. 26 and finish the tournament against Mexico on Aug. 28.”

City Islanders

Twelfth place City Islanders are on the road this week to face eleventh place Toronto FC II on Sunday (7:30 pm, YouTube). Preview at Toronto FC.

Local

At CBS Philly, Matt Leon talks to new La Salle men’s team coach Rob Irvine.

MLS

League VP of Competition Jeff Agoos tells MLSsoccer.com, “We reviewed the New York-LA game and concluded that there had been two missed penalty kick calls late in the game. In addition, the Disciplinary Committee also determined that the foul by Jeff Larentowicz merited a one-game suspension.” Agoos says “video review would have allowed for the review of these non-calls.”

Galaxy head coach Bruce Arena said of Agoos’ comments, “It’s been four days since the game, and the league was unable to accurately review the play.”

In addition to the Larentowicz suspension, the disciplinary committee also suspended Houston Dynamo defender David Horst and Orlando midfielder Antonio Nocerino for one game, both for “violent conduct which endangered the safety of an opponent.”

Salt Lake has re-signed defender Chris Schuler from USL-affiliate Real Monarchs: “Schuler signed with the Monarchs on March 18, playing nine matches with the USL side after rehabbing a foot injury suffered last season with RSL.”

CBS Sacramento has an update on the plans to build a stadium in Sacramento as part of that city’s bid to land a MLS franchise.

US

The USWNT faces Sweden today in the quarterfinal of the women’s soccer tournament at the Olympics today (12 pm: NBCSN, NBCOlympics.com, NBC Sports Live). Sweden is coached by former USWNT head coach Pia Sundhage.

Carli Lloyd said ahead of the game, “I think we’re feeling good. You know, I wouldn’t want a perfect journey to the top. I think everyone just needs to take a deep breath and relax. We tied against Colombia but it’s all good. It will motivate us even more.”

Hope Solo said, “We need to do better. We’re still passing the ball around the back quite slow. We’re still not using our midfield enough. But we rested some players and we’re going to have fresh legs going into the quarters.”

Sundhage said, “We’re going to play the best team in the world, Olympic champions and the World Cup champions, and that is challenging and inspiring. All the pressure is on the Americans. We’re not playing well in the attack, but we’ve done some good things defending, and if you can put those things together, we have a chance to win.”

US head coach Jill Ellis said of Sweden, “They will park the bus.”

Previews at US Soccer (preview, five things to know), LA Times, Fox Soccer, Soccer America, MLSsoccer.com, Philly Soccer News, and Stars and Stripes FC.

Fox Soccer has a profile piece on Mallory Pugh.

MLSsoccer.com on USNT supporters group Sammers SC, who were founded three years ago.

Elsewhere

The Premier League season begins on Saturday. Check out the latest Footy on the Telly for listings of the games and other live soccer on TV, online, and on satellite radio.

Paul Pogba will be ineligible to play in Manchester United’s season opener. He picked up two yellow cards in last season’s Coppa Italia, which results in an automatic one-game suspension.