Photo: Courtesy of Philadelphia Union

Philadelphia Union

US Soccer announced on Monday that Alejandro Bedoya would not join the USMNT camp in Miami ahead of Friday’s friendly in Cuba after suffering “a strained rib muscle” in last Saturday’s 3-2 loss to NYRB, an injury that saw him subbed out of the game in the 52nd minute. The announcement does not make clear whether Bedoya will join the team for next week’s friendly against New Zealand at RFK.

Power rankings! At Soccer America, the Union drop three spots to No. 15: “Ten goals conceded and only two points in the last five games doesn’t bode well for a playoff appearance if the Union should make it.” At SI, the Union drop two spots to No. 11: “Just a few weeks ago, the Union’s primary goal was securing a top-four spot in the East. Now one slip up in the season’s final weeks could see Philadelphia miss the playoffs entirely…Philly’s had a better-than-expected season, but the season’s final months could undo all of that good work.” At ESPN, it’s a one-spot drop to No. 7: “Five games without a win means they’re no longer a safe bet to make the playoffs.”

At Union Tally, Matthew De George has a timely look at the playoff picture and concludes, “It’s entirely possible you could see three teams even on 46 points on the final day, one of whom gets the fourth spot. But the most important takeaway is that the Union should – if they take care of business [e.g., get atleast a win and a draw in their last two games] – be among that group, which accomplishes the stated goal at the beginning of the season,” namely, reaching the playoffs.

At Philly Voice, Kevin Kinkead suggests some Union fans take “step back and consider a few things” about their expectations for the team before analyzing its “schoolboy defending” in the NYRB loss.

In the latest Inside Doop, Dave Zeitlin wonders if Josh Yaro’s season is over after leaving Saturday’s loss with another head injury.

Chris Pontius makes MLS Multiplex’s Team of the Week.

At the Union website, Marisa Pilla reviews last weekend’s Eastern Conference results.

Also at the Union website, a photo gallery from Saturday’s loss at NYRB.

At Brotherly Game, Jared Young looks at the Union’s salary numbers: “The Union have done well getting quality from underpaid starters but they have also squandered a good portion of their cap without getting a sufficient return.”

The Philadelphia Union Foundation will be hosting its fourth annual “Cocktails & Cleats” fundraising event on Thursday, Nov. 10 at Vie.

Local

Temple hosts Villanova today at 3 pm.

The weekly Philly Soccer Six Awards have been announced. They are:

Player of the Week: Zach Zandi, Villanova (2 GWGs in 2-0-0 week for Villanova)
Defensive Player of the Week: Alex Cagle, Temple (2 shutouts, 9 saves in 1-0 win at Penn State for first win at PSU since 1989)
Rookie of the Week: Shane Bradley, Villanova (Keyed the defense from the center back position in 2-0-0 week)

Villanova’s Zandi also made the Big East Weekly Honor Roll, while Temple’s Cagle was also named AAC’s Goalkeeper of the Week.

At CBS Philly, Matt Leon talks to Temple senior midfielder Jorge Gomez Sanchez, who is currently third in country for Division I college players with ten goals through ten games.

The Daily Pennsylvanian looks at Penn head coach Rudy Fuller’s role as a mentor not just to players but to his assistant coaches. (The article incorrectly gives the impression that former Union assistant coach Rob Vartughian is head coach of NYCFC, rather than an assistant coach there.)

MLS

The Washingtonian reports a contract DC United wants season ticket holders to sign could, if broadly interpreted, prevent fans from talking about games on social media. Consumer rights attorney Paul Levy, a United season ticket holder since 1996, says, “What I see is the language that says you can’t post a description of a game. You can’t post images or video or audio of the game, which in theory means if you take a selfie, you can’t post that.” A DC United spokesperson says such concerns are unfounded.

The LA Times notes MLS “is the only major professional sports league in the U.S. whose teams don’t fly charter,” adding, “And as MLS continues to expand, many say the rigors of commercial travel have become too demanding.” Galaxy head coach Bruce Arena says he tells his players not to wear any team gear at the airport: “I’m embarrassed that we travel that way. I don’t think it helps the reputation of our league. I try to keep it as quiet as possible.”

Crain’s New York has a Q&A with  NYCFC president Jon Patricof , who says of the team’s search for a site to build a stadium, “We are working on it daily in some way, shape or form. It’s a very active process, but there’s nothing new to report.”

Sam Allardyce to Minnesota United?

US

ESPN, Goal.com, and MLSsoccer.com all note the opportunity that is before Sacha Kljestan with the USMNT.

ESPNW talks to USWNT head coach Jill Ellis about her mission to prepare the team for the 2019 Women’s World Cup, which will involve bringing in new faces to compete for roster spots. For example, Carli Lloyd the only player now on the roster with more than 200 caps. Ellis says of Mallory Pugh, “If she reaches 200 caps, I don’t think we’re doing our job. When I used to recruit in college, my sole job was to out-recruit what I had. And if I did that, I knew we would grow and be successful…If we’re looking at the pure development of our game, the challenge is not to have a 200-cap player because that means there is something better that is coming along.”

The US faces Ghana today in their second group game at the U-17 Women’s World Cup. The team won its first game, defeating Paraguay, 6-1.

Elsewhere

A lot of reaction pieces out there to the news that Bob Bradley is the new manager of Swansea. Here’s a sample: The Guardian, Pro Soccer Talk (1, 2), Goal.com, Soccer America, and WalesOnline.

FIFA president Gianni Infantino, apparently no longer satisfied with his proposal to expand the World Cup to 40 teams, now suggests further watering down the field to 48 teams in 2026, with 16 teams being sent home after one game. Maybe FIFA should just send each  of the 211 member federation its own World Cup trophy and call it a day. More at Reuters, BBC, ESPN, The Guardian, and Goal.com.

FIFA has opened disciplinary proceedings against multiple associations, including those of Honduras, El Salvador, Mexico, Canada, Chile, Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, Peru, Italy and Albania, “for the discriminatory and unsporting conduct of fans during recent 2018 FIFA World Cup™ qualifying matches.”