Photo by Earl Gardner
Philadelphia Union
There are just two goals remaining for Union Goal of the Year.
C.J. Sapong discusses his opportunity with USMNT.
Alejandro Bedoya also spoke about his recent call-up.
Rookie defender Jack Elliot finished 3rd behind Julian Gressel (ATL) and Abu Danladi (MINN) for 2017 AT&T Rookie of the Year.
Local
Bethlehem Steel FC’s Santi Moar named USL Rookie of the Year finalist.
Steel FC announced their Goal of the Year winner : Chris Nanco.
Penn State Abington men’s soccer team will play against #15 Lynchburg College in the first round of the NCAA Division III tournament Saturday at 2PM.
Two Saint Joseph’s University soccer players received Atlantic 10 post-season honors.
MLS
Goal.com released positional rankings for the 2017 MLS season.
MLS has released an official blooper reel from the 2017 season. Lots of laughs here.
Chicago Fire manager and former Union player, Veljko Paunovic has downplayed recent rumors about him taking a Serbian coaching job.
Former Union goalkeeper coach Oka Nikolov has sneakily accepted a deal to coach with LA Galaxy.
Two long-time MLS veterans retired, Justin Mapp and Chris Rolfe.
Montreal Impact made another coaching change, hiring Frenchman Remi Garde as new skipper.
MLS expansion candidate FC Cincinnati expect finalized plans for a soccer-specific stadium to be done shortly.
USA
USWNT returned to Vancouver last night. The match ended in a 1-1 draw.
Landan Donavan goes on record stating he is not interested in running for US Soccer President but hopes to remain actively involved in US Soccer.
Former England manager Sam Allardyce has confirmed his interest in holding talks to become the next USMNT manager. But is he a good fit?
Kyle Martino, Paul Caligiuri join U.S. Soccer presidential election race.
Around the globe
Adidas revealed the official ball for the 2018 World Cup – the ball is a modern version of the original adidas Telstar from the 1970s.
Manchester United’s Paul Pogba returned to training Wednesday. He could be back following the international break.
Six of the final nine slots for the 2018 World Cup will be decided by two-legged playoffs. Score predictions here.
Big Sam for USMNT. I can’t decide if I think it would work or not. AS much as I’d like a younger, more bold direction, it’s hard to argue the positives Sam brings. First. He’s definitely a big step up from Arena. Second, right now, what is the USMNT in world football if not Sunderland, West Ham or Palace? In the end, though, I can’t see Allardyce as a forward looking appointment. Intriguing. And it would be fun to watch him interviewed, but I don’t think he’d be progress. Maybe that’s unfair. I don’t know.
The answer you are looking for is simply, no.
Ha. That made me laugh. Truth in simplicity.
He feels like Arena but with an accent
Oka Nikolov to LA Galaxy. Can anyone with better knowledge if the goalkeeper position tell me how effective he was as a coach? As awesome as Blake is his weaknesses haven’t greatly improved much since he joined.
For Blake’s sake, I can only hope we can bring in someone decent. Too bad Brad Friedel is off the market now…
One more item on the To-do list for Ernie.
Big Sam? Are we in a relegation scrap?
We were. And we got relegated. No World Cup for you.
Says the guy who lives in Italy…
No, we were not…….tournament footy and club footy are two different animals Danny boy!
zing! andy. swedes looking to upset
What happened to the MNT is far worse than relegation homie. At least when you’re relegated, you get paid three years royalties and “get back at it” three months later to right the ship……..we have to stew on this for a couple years. I’m half goomba……my loyalties lie with Italia today!
Swedes deserved that one……..
For anybody who remembers the movie American Flyers with an early Kevin Costner as the cyclist, Marcus Sommers, I’m reminded of the scene where Mad Dog Barry Muzzin rides up behind the Russian, Belov in the third of the three stages race and says, “Think about this Belov I’m behind you, but I’m really 2 seconds ahead…”
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Montreal leave company with Biello and hire Remi Garde, which as a lifelong lover of French football will prove to be a shrewd and wise decision…….and I now expect Montreal, who finished three points behind the Red Ass Union now are actually three points ahead.
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ENJOY the Clip.
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Justin Mapp wasn’t an original Union member. He was traded to the Union in the middle of 2010.
Oops
A black and white soccer ball? Adidas going out on a limb with this one. Next thing you know they will be launching a retro line of black cleats.
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Do you know how hard it is to get black leather cleats anymore?
I thought black boots were making a comeback, which is good!
Last time I saw John McCarthy, it looked like he was wearing black Diadoras. That took me back.
Brasils! Great boots….I think they were the first colored boots too……red and blue ones for WC 94……never was the same after!
Leave it to the Italians to be the first to add color to shoes – then the first to drop it.