Photo: 215Pix
Philadelphia Union
Notes from Kinkead: Blake will be with the team for both games this week, but has a rib issue. Herbers is back in training. Creavalle and Marquez are likely out. Also a good recap of the last time the Union played NYRB in the USOC.
Andre Blake and Alejandro Bedoya earned spots on the MLS Team of the Week.
Before leaving for the Gold Cup, the tandem have lifted the Union’s spirits.
The Union can turn things around again.
Quick hits from Curtin’s press conference.
Jim Curtin determined that Elias Aguilar was not a fit for the team. Draw your own conclusions what that means.
Get to know NYRB, who you may remember from last week. Why to watch.
Local
The Development Academy Playoffs are over, and the Union Academy teams saw mixed results. The U-14s won all 3 of their matches, but the U-16s and U-18s were much less successful.
Harrisburg City took 3 points from Louisville with a 1-0 win. Pedro Ribeiro had the goal for Harrisburg.
MLS
Toronto beat Montreal 2-1 to claim the 2017 Canadian Championship. Giovinco won it for Toronto in the 95th minute.
Dallas beat Colorado 3-1 to continue their U.S. Open Cup defense.
What you missed in MLS week 17. Analysis of all the action.
Power Rankings: MLS, SI. SI names each team’s MVP so far.
Portland signed Congolese defender Larrys Mabiala using TAM.
Cyle Larin has been cleared to return to action.
An explanation of why Dominic Kinnear was fired.
This week’s Twitbag.
MLS expansion has hit snags all over the country.
Around the globe
FIFA released the full World Cup corruption report. Among the tidbits immediately found: the Russian Committee destroyed evidence, Qatar was using a local soccer program to funnel money to FIFA Executive Committee members, and the U.S. was completely clean.
The UEFA U-21 Final is set, with Spain and Germany set to face off. Stop me if you’ve heard this before: England lost in PKs.
NBC has decided to put its non-televised Premier League games behind a paywall…that doesn’t include the televised Premier League games. Pretty sure the only happy people are NBC investors.
Soccer’s ugly sexism is keeping women from coaching the beautiful game.
Highlight of the day
Saul Niguez from long distance, the middle goal of his hat trick.
I hope Ernie has another #10 in his sights….. Our current roster options don’t cut it.
By far the biggest need on this team. We would look totally different with a legit #10 DP.
Agreed. And that is the biggest frustration of all. One player instantly makes this team legit. Not guaranteed MLS Cup winner, but legit and threatening.
the fact that that is true gives me both hope and despair
https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2017/06/26/quakes-gm-jesse-fioranelli-explains-dismissal-head-coach-dominic-kinnear
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The all time winningest coach in MLS history gets shit canned cause essentially the team is too inconsistent and playing in reverse…
…Meanwhile new Union Sporting Director comes in and observes Jim Curtin is a swell young coach.
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Shake my head and muse to myself.
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So now San Jose has a Spanish Methodologist and will be hiring a coach capable of implementing said philosophy is what I read.
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Meanwhile our coach has his new Pro A license and a learn on the job comfort.
did I mention we have no central attacking midfielder?
Can this comment be taken out of moderation.
NBC’s Prem games were already behind a paywall called cable TV. This shift follows the trajectory toward a la carte online streaming video service. Now at $50/year, the price is over 10 times the per subscriber fee for NBCSN ($3.60/year). Nice racket if you can get it up and running.