Photo: 215Pix
Philadelphia Union
The Union opened the third phase of their preseason with a 1-0 victory against the Tampa Bay Rowdies, thanks to a goal from Derrick Jones.
You can watch the full replay here.
More about the game at PSP, and at PhillyVoice.
Check out Kinkead’s series of tweets regarding Medunjanin:
Haris Medunjanin is the same player as Andrea Pirlo, clear as day. This Union roster screams 3-5-2 at me. All of the pieces are there. Watch video of 2012-2013 Juventus if you ever get a chance. That’s the best way to deploy a regista while mitigating defensive role. We play 3-5-2 in casa and it’s a great formation once you get the movement down, best way to protect a deep-lying playmaker.
Something to look out for moving forward this preseason.
Jacob Born previewed the Union defenders.
Local
Harrisburg City Islanders announced their six-game preseason schedule.
MLS
New York Red Bulls added Panama international Michael Murillo on loan.
FC Dallas showed off their US Open Cup Championship rings. One of these years…
Lots of new primary jerseys: New York Red Bulls, Minnesota United, Orlando City, SJ Earthquakes.
David Villa saw red with help from the video assistant referee. If this is the way it is to be used, I must admit that I am strongly in favor of it.
Around the globe
The USMNT U-20 team lost 1-0 to Panama despite playing up a man for over 70 minutes. Union man Auston Trusty did not play. More at Goal.
John Harkes was let go as manager of FC Cincinnati. It reportedly came as a surprise.
Former Union man Brian Brown signed with the USL’s Reno 1868 FC.
Lincoln City FC became the first non-League side to make the FA Cup Quarterfinals since ’14. 1914. A late goal held up for a 1-0 victory over Premier League side Burnley.
The USWNT will play two friendlies in April against Russia in Texas.
You know I like strange stories. Here’s one from the top Vietnamese League, where a team protested a late penalty call by simply refusing to continue to play.
Highlight of the weekend
I know the Union scored a goal, but this one has to go to Sean Raggett of Lincoln City. The goal itself may not be anything spectacular, but the story is.
I disagree with the 3-5-2 thing. I don’t get this mindset. “Hey this player looks good, but has a flaw we need to cover! So instead of triyng ot fix it in the formation we’ve trained in, played in and practiced in for going on 2 years and have committed to at every level of our organization, let’s pretend we are Juventus and play a new formation!!!! WOOOOO!”
After just 45 minutes of the first pre-season it’s clear as day. The fact that all the starters probably weren’t on the field all at the same time shouldn’t cloud your judgement.
Or emulate Toronto and seize the moment. 🙂
–
(Mind you, I’m not advocating it myself, but I see the case for it.)
Toronto did that after the season was already in progress. They still played a 4-4-2 for part of the season before switching. I could see the point of using more than one formation but shouldn’t we use the pre-season to see how players fit in first?
Of course!
Hey Adam thanks for stepping up and doing the up dates! And I agree about the Raggett goal for Lincoln. Just happened to sit down and watch it happen…Also…The locker room celebration was great!
The key with Medunjanin getting forward is the chemistry with his #8/6, the other half of the double pivot.
.
It will take some time for the nuances to work out. It took Akinyode and Jones a game or two last year for the Steel.
.
Edu pairing with him, or Bedoya, should either happen, could be interesting offensively. Defensively we’d have to see.