Photo: Paul Rudderow
Philadelphia Union
With the team off this weekend, no press conference with Jim Curtin was scheduled for Wednesday as is usually the case. However, Curtin did speak to reporters at Wednesday’s training session. Here are some highlights:
- Curtin said Josh Yaro is recovering quicker than expected from the concussion he received against NYRB last weekend and it is hoped he can return to full training on Tuesday.
- Asked about the possibility that Yaro could sit the rest of the season out, Curtin said, “We’ll do what the doctors tell us and we’ll obviously listen to Josh’s input as well. We’ll do what makes sense in terms of his safety.”
- Asked if Maurice Edu or Auston Trusty would be the backup if Yaro cannot return to play, Curtin said, “If you wanted to speculate and not have [Yaro] available, you’d lean toward just having Auston be the guy that is the third just because it’s his natural position and it’s something that’s easy for him.” You will recall Trusty, who has made the gameday 18 twice since his singing with the team in August, is currently with the US U-20 team at the Four Nations tournament in England, the team’s final opponent in the tournament on Oct. 10.
- Alejandro Bedoya (rib injury) and Ilsinho (plantar fasciitis) did not participate in training on Wednesday.
- Asked if Bedoya will be available for the game against Orlando on Oct. 16, Curtin said, “Bedoya will be fine, he’s getting treatment. We’ll see if he gets called into the second national team game. But hopefully he’s here with us and getting treatment and getting back to 100 percent.”
- Curtin acknowledged it’s a strange time in the season to have a bye week but the time off is useful: “It’s good to have the extra week. We obviously have a couple of guys that got banged up, so it comes at a good time…We can regroup and know exactly what we need to do at home.”
More at Union Tally, Philly Voice and Philadelphia Union.
At Delco Times, Matthew De George talks to new signing Kevin Kratz about how he came to MLS and, unsurprisingly, a good word about the Union from Tranquillo Barnetta helped. So far as what to expect from him. De George writes the midfielder “is expected to provide cover for injury uncertainties in what remains of this season while potentially vying for a larger role next year.” Kratz says
They told me in case we need anything in the midfield in different positions, then I hope I am the right guy to help out there and to push in training so that these guys who are playing right now are fit and that there’s someone behind them so that they have to show well on the weekends. But I have to get the system and all that. I’ve talked to the coach already a few times and how they want their center midfield to go back or to go wide to get the ball and how we are going to do it. I have to learn quickly, but it’s good.
At the Union website, Marisa Pilla looks at the scenarios that will see the team reach the playoffs.
After defeating Andre Blake in the semifinals, Andre Blake is against San Jose’s David Bingham for the final voting for Save of the Week. Cast your vote here.
At Brotherly Game, Jared Young has his weekly player ratings comparison.
Philadelphia Union Academy
The Union announced on Facebook on Thursday the Union Academy U-17 team’s schedule for the Generation adidas Cup regional qualifiers this weekend that will take place at the Power Training Complex Friday through Monday. The Union schedule is:
Friday, Oct. 7 vs. Atlanta United FC at 2pm
Saturday, Oct. 8 vs. New England Revolution at 4pm
Monday, Oct. 10 vs. NYCFC at 4pm
The post notes, “The Fall Regional helps determine level of qualification for the annual Generation adidas Cup Finals in Dallas in April.”
Here’s the full schedule of games:
Local
At two goal and one assist effort from junior midfielder Matt Crawford saw Saint Joseph’s come from behind to defeat Rhode Island 3-1 on Wednesday.
University of Pennsylvania drew 2-2 at home with University of Delaware.
Potomac Soccerwire has a Q&A with friend of PSP and former Philadelphia Independence midfielder Joanna Lohman, who is now with NWSL Cup finalists Washington Spirit.
MLS
Don Garber says Bastian Schweinsteiger would be welcomed “with open arms” if he decided to come to MLS.
Atlanta United have announced they will open their inaugural season at Georgia Tech’s Bobby Dodd Stadium while construction of Mercedes-Benz Stadium is completed. A press release from the club said,
Citing the franchise’s promise to be as competitive as possible from Day 1, Atlanta United announced today the team will begin its inaugural campaign in 2017 playing a normalized schedule with a balanced slate of home games across the MLS season. To that end, the club will open play in the spring of 2017 at Georgia Tech’s historic Bobby Dodd Stadium, with home matches played there until Mercedes-Benz Stadium is ready for play next summer. Previously, the club had planned to play its first three months entirely on the road.
Atlanta Journal Constitution reports the agreement with Georgia Tech runs through July in case there is a construction delay with Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Dirty South Soccer highlights the concerns of some season ticket holders about the use of Bobby Dodd Stadium.
NYCFC have announced the acquisition of a 17-acre site for its training facility in Orangeburg, NY. Work will begin on the new facility, which will be designed by the architect who designed the Manchester City and Melbourne City academy facilities, this fall and is expected to be completed “in early 2018.”
Speaking of training facilities, USL-side FC Cincinnati plans to build one before the start of the next season. Club president and general manager Jeff Berding says, “Our plan is to have it open in 2017 and be able to add to it, so if we’re fortunate enough to get an MLS (Major League Soccer) invitation, we’ll be able to upgrade it long term to be an MLS-quality facility.”
Speaking of the USL, the just announced three-year partnership between the league and OPTA will debut with the USL Cup Final on Sunday, Oct. 23.
US
The USMNT friendly in Cuba on Friday is not expected to be affected by Hurricane Matthew. ESPN’s Jeff Carlisle tweeted the US team would depart for Havana on Wednesday night instead of Thursday as was originally planned. A tweet from US Soccer showed the team arriving early this morning.
Soccer America has three key themes ahead of Friday’s game.
At MLSsoccer.com, how the friendly against Cuba came to be.
The US U-20 MNT was defeated 1-0 by Germany in its opening game at the Four Nations tournament in England on Wednesday. You will recall the Union’s Austin Trusty and Derrick Jones are with the team. Neither was in the starting lineup and as of this writing no match report is up at the US Soccer website to determine if either saw minutes off the bench. The team faces Netherlands on Friday.
Members of the US Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions have sent a letter to SUM Marketing, the MLS-owned company that owns the marketing rights for US Soccer, asking for information to help “better understand how commercial and revenue agreements may help explain wage disparity between the U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team (Women’s Team) and the U.S. Men’s National Soccer Team.”
Elsewhere
CONCACAF president Victor Montagliani tells Reuters he’s leaning toward a regional bid to host the 2026 World Cup: “The more I think of it the more it (a regional bid) makes a lot of sense…it would probably be consistent with how we govern football in our region.” He also says the confederation is considering a name change in order to move on from a “toxic” past.
Speaking of moving on from a toxic past, ESPN and The Guardian report FIFA has ended its relationship with the Baur au Lac in Zurich, the luxury hotel that was the preferred place for members of the organization’s executive committee to stay and the site of raids by police as part of the investigation into FIFA corruption.
I’m real uneasy about bringing Yaro back so soon. He was out like a light and should really be shut down until at least the First Playoff game.(hopefully).
But I kind of suspected this was gonna happen. I always thought that Edu was injured all of last year and Curtin rode him a to much to try and get the open cup and that helped contribute to his current injury problems. So hopefully I’m wrong and Yaro will be fine.
Agree on Yaro.
Also agree on Yaro.
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This is his second concussion within a 2-month period. Caution is warranted.
Concussions aren’t treated based on how bad they look upon reception. It’s all based on healing time, there is a clear and codified procedure. I’ve seen slight knocks take months, I’ve seen players out cold back in eight days.
I spoke with Yaro at length on Monday night when he came to an event at our soccer club. I was amazed that he was well enough to come, but he said he is feeling fine. Since I have very little experience with head injuries, I was quite surprised after seeing him out cold on the field.
Its not that he feels better it is that he has gotten two in a short period of time.
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That makes them potentially dangerous.
“Mo.meo Mo.meo wherefore art thou Mo.meo?”
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Two extra weeks and the manager still can’t tell us Maurice Edu will see any time.
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Please sir, heal up and be well -I mean it genuinely… then on with ya-I never wanted you here, you took the place of my favorite player missed some might important PKs and now haven’t seen the field in just about one calendar year. With all due respect.
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In other more important news today…
At least someone, anyone is asking The Don and SUM some questions…. how long can they keep the veil over ‘your’ eyes.
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“It wears me out It wears me out.”
it will be a great double punch to the sport in this country: US Women get better pay, MLS loses some opacity
I would take Schweinsteiger in a heartbeat. Just for his passing. An even more talented Nogs. He would be a decent replacement for my favorite player Barnetta.
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US U20’s lost to Germany 1-0 yesterday. Good result seeing the last time we played them it is 8-1. Seriously. They are playing a loaded England and Holland too. This team is packed with some premier youth players. Here is hoping they put the games on line.
Instead of Seba we could just call him Ba.
I can’t see Schweinsteiger playing football in Texas. It’s not that Dallas isn’t a good team, but…. it’s in Texas. I’d certainly take him on the Union…
Who wouldn’t take Schweinsteiger? The fact that he doesn’t play on United to me has always been a joke. Give him what he wants and bring him to Philly he clearly is worth more than Edu and Barnetta combine to this team. Were losing Barnetta and Edu hasn’t played in a year. If I had the money I would pay for Schweinsteiger to come here if for nothing more than to watch him play. My wife speaks german and spent a year living in Munich if he needs convincing of what Philly is like compared to Germany.
Its possible if you put a midfield of Pontius , Alberg, Bedoya, Schweinsteiger, and Kratz on the field that you have the best midfield in MLS.
Ha. It is silly to say “I’d take Schweinsteiger.” He’d make avery club in MLS better. Only reason to pass on him would be the price (TransferMarket says he’s worth 10 million euros).
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Anyone have 10 million euros to spare?
Another day… another player ahead of Mo Edu in the pecking order. Why is he even training if he is clearly not going to play. What is going on?
Who knows? I’ve even come across people saying “oh, he is still on the Union I didn’t know that” or “Maurice Edu still plays soccer?”. I’ve said it for awhile now he didn’t add what was expected of him from his salary. And I hope with his contract being up they let him walk.I don’t care at this point anymore about Edu its time to move on and talk about what this team could look like with the right signings and space on the roster. People I see as easily disposable on this roster Edu, Creavalle, Ilsinho, Anderson (if not already gone), Missimo, Restrepo, Fernandes. People not easily replaceable, but might no longer be with the team Barnetta, Carroll, Davies. I also could see replacing Sapong however he could be moved to the wing, but he is no striker.
Right there with you in every thing you said. Edu was the club’s first “real” adventure in the DP world (I don’t count Freddy Adu) so I’m totally cool with spending the money at the time, but without a minimum 50% cut to his salary, it’s time to move on. At this point he is either not healthy enough to play and we just aren’t being told that info OR he is being held out (by his or his agents choice) on purpose so his career can continue somewhere else. I’m not saying Edu is that kind of guy… by all accounts he seems like a good guy, but I can see it being a business move for him
If Edu would only learn to be disciplined and learn to get paid $200,000 a year to start I bet he could be turned into one of the best center backs in the league, but we all know he won’t do that so on to greener pastures let someone else pay him a hefty some of money to pretend that he is a midfielder.
Today’s…. Daily Dime.
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Promotion – Relegation. The one soccer economic policy crippling the advancement of the game in this country. They know it. I know it. Do you know it too? This IS by design.
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Oh and some enjoyable reading….for your day.
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http://www.topdrawersoccer.com/the91stminute/2016/10/fc-dallas-and-rbny-full-organizations-and-empty-seats/
I’ve noticed that at RB games I’ve seen on TV. National and against the Union. Lots of empty seats. I can say the same for Talen as well.
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I think the biggest problem for theses teams is stadium location. If they were in their respective cities with easy access to transportation, they’d sell more tickets. I haven’t made it to a single game this season in part because I don’t relish the drive to Chester. It takes forever. If I could get there via Regional Rail and /or subway (Broad St or Market/Frankford) I’d be there. Imagine if the Union played in University City? It would be packed every game, I guarantee.
You can get to the stadium in Chester via Regional Rail and a direct bus on gamedays.