Photo: Earl Gardner
Philadelphia Union
The Union announced on Thursday Charlie Davies has been re-signed to a one-year deal. Reports at PSP, MLSsoccer.com, Delco Times, CSN Philly, Philly Soccer News, Brotherly Game, Section 215, Philadelphia Sports Nation, ESPN, Soccer America, and Goal.com.
Richie Marquez comes in at No. 9 in Soccer America’s rankings of left center backs: “After sitting out the season opener, Marquez reeled off 33 straight starts and drew praise while averaging 1.6 tackles and 4.4 clearances per game.”
Noting reports that Keisuke Honda “definitely prefer[s] MLS” over a move to China, Fox Sports includes the Union among a list of MLS teams with an open Designated Player spot that could use his services: “The Union need a playmaker, and Honda fits the mold perfectly. Tranquillo Barnetta is out, and there’s a DP spot open for Honda. The Union have mainly structured their approach around promising young players and MLS veterans, but they could be a solid fit for the Japanese international.”
MLSsoccer.com notes the interview Jim Curtin did with Philly.com’s Jonathan Tannenwald.
MLS
Landon Donovan to Real Salt Lake? On a two-year Designated Player deal? Who is the Eastern Conference team that has also made an offer? Ives Galarcep reports, “A source with knowledge of the RSL offer told Goal USA on Thursday that the club’s initial offer was far from what Donovan was looking for in salary, making it appear unlikely that Donovan was heading to the Western Conference club.” At Yahoo Sports, Leander Schaerlaeckens wonders if a Donovan return could be about the 2018 World Cup.
LAFC have released new renderings of their stadium, groundbreaking for which took place in August.
St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports, “Attempts by lawmakers to expand the number of tax breaks offered in Missouri are likely to be squelched by the state’s new governor, his spokesman said Thursday…[Austin Chambers, senior adviser for Governor-elect Eric Greitens] said he and Greitens have spoken on the phone with top officials involved in bringing a Major League Soccer team to the city. A face-to-face meeting also is planned.”
SI has an in-depth look at St. Louis’ expansion bid.
Las Vegas Review-Journal reports, “The city of Las Vegas’ bid for a Major League Soccer franchise was shot down last year, but some city officials are ready to take another shot. The Las Vegas City Council is slated to discuss next week a contract with New York-based company Inner Circle Sports, LLC, to develop a plan aimed at drawing an MLS team to Las Vegas.”
Could the NASL and New York Cosmos “have ‘heartbeat'” and return to play in the fall of 2017? SI’s Brian Strauss and Empire of Soccer’s Dave Martinez tweet that’s what sources are telling them.
FiftyFiveOne reports, “There’s now a growing confidence that the NASL will live to play another season” — but without league commissioner Bill Peterson:
The ownership groups have also pulled off a coup of sorts, completely saving the league without the assistance of commissioner Bill Peterson. The remaining owners met during the week before Christmas without Peterson, not even letting him know about the meeting. Peterson faced intense scrutiny from owners and the press this year. Most notably, owners felt they were given a false image of security as Peterson made up interest from ownership groups to expand the league.
The article continues, “There’s still a major hurdle to be cleared before the NASL is alive in earnest. There will be a USSF meeting before the end of 2016. This meeting will require the NASL to prove their viability again, no matter how the league plans to press forward.”
Graham Ruthven writes at newstalk.com, ” the Cosmos’ current situation raises a red flag for the NASL model and the argument that came with it.”
Elsewhere
From The Guardian: “Cristiano Ronaldo’s agent, Jorge Mendes, has claimed that his client has rejected a deal from an un-named Chinese club that would have involved offering Real Madrid €300m to sign the Portuguese forward and paying him more than €100m a year in wages.” Mendes says, “Money is not everything”.
The AP reports, “A Russian stadium that is due to host a 2018 World Cup semifinal match has been officially completed after many construction delays and corruption scandals. The St. Petersburg stadium, provisionally called the Zenit Arena, has taken almost a decade to build, prompting Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev to publicly call it ‘disgraceful.'”
The Telegraph reports the Professional Footballers Association has asked England’s FA to ban headers for youth players under the age of ten.
Check out the latest Footy on the Telly for listings of live soccer on TV, online, and on satellite radio for the upcoming week.
If the Union signed Honda would they need to rename Toyota Plaza?
Awesome post! You win quick wit of 2016 (well at least for December 30th)!
UnionGoal
I love Keisuke Honda and he would be a perfect fit between Pontius and Bedoya, but we’d have to get rid of Alberg and Ilsinho to free up money to improve elsewhere I think. Attacking mid isn’t a need, but I hate turning down talent.
That’s based on the assumption that Bedoya is playing on the wing though. While his best position can without a doubt be debated, the Union have so far shown to want him in the middle of the pitch so that is where I would put him for now (just to be realistic). The debate is if he’s a 10 or 8. If we were to sign Honda then Bedoya is our 8. I think it’s harder to find a great 10 than striker (for a reasonable salary) in this league so as long as they bring in a talented striker to go along with it I would probably argue that it makes more sense to spend the money on your 10 than your striker.
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This would give us our 3 DPs as our 3 central midfielders. This probably makes sense as that’s our engine room. Now the players in those roles could be debated for sure, but I think it makes sense to spend it on those positions.
Honda gets my vote to replace Barnetta as long as the budget remains for an immediate impact striker. Move Ilsinho and free up his money – fun to watch but not worth it on a team with this talent level.
I think ES gives Alberg another year but he has to be more than a poacher to stay.
I think Bedoya was in the middle because of need but wing is where he should play if Edu comes back 100%.
The biggest hole is 6 – if asked to listen to the C&C Music Factory again I may pull a Van Gogh.
Would love to see him in blue and gold. Perfect replacement for Barnetta
Debating where Honda would best fit on this squad is great silly stuff. Acting like Ale is better and Honda would give way is even better fantasy. I’m surprised some one hasn’t said “an Edu-Honda-Bedoya triangle would be awesome!”
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I mean, if you’re gonna daydream, go for the hot tub full of stewardesses one, right?
SLAP!
That’s my wife responding to your comment—need to remember not to read PSP with her looking over my shoulder….next time mark it NSFW (not safe for Wife!)
UnionGoal
“Money isn’t everything”…unhuh.
Wish I had enough money to turn down $105 million dollars a year (what is that, half a million a game?)
UnionGoal—who is busy waiting for the lottery to call his number since he picked baseball over soccer at age 9…if only I had stuck with it, maybe not $100 million but perhaps worth measly 2 million of that now to a Chinese club? I can still score from 18 with either foot, guys!
你好 (Nǐ hǎo) anyone? Anyone?????