Philadelphia Union
I wrote a piece on why the Union should sign Lee Nguyen. Apparently, I’m not alone. Fansided pegs Philadelphia Union as one of the four teams that should go after Nguyen.
The Union announced their promotional schedule. Dog night is April 7th. Why single that out? Because dogs. Obviously.
Courtesy of Philadelphia Union
Local
Solid rundown of Atlantic City FC’s inaugural roster, a mix of local and international players.
Not sure if you guys have heard, but the Philadelphia Eagles are going to the Super Bowl. USWNT star Julie Ertz is taking a week away from her team to support husband and Eagles tight-end Zach Ertz in their campaign for best couple in sports.
MLS
Yes, it’s happening. MLS has awarded David Beckham and Miami the next MLS expansion team, set to play in 2020. More from MLS, Sports Illustrated, and an award show’s worth of celebrities.
Miami doesn’t look to be the only thing headed for MLS. I normally hesitate to post rumors before they’re confirmed but: Zlatan. According to multiple sources, LA Galaxy are close to signing a deal with Manchester United to bring Zlatan Ibrahimovic to MLS.
In the latest move of their complete roster-revamp, Orlando City have traded with Columbus for Justin Meram. Meanwhile, Cyle Larin is officially headed to Besiktas.
Colorado Rapids signed Scotland international and former Glasgow Rangers center back Danny Wilson.
Kansas City acquired their own Scot, forward Johnny Russell.
A look at the five MLS teams in the CONCACAF Champions League.
Around the globe
Tottenham agree to a £25 million transfer for PSG’s Lucas Moura.
How the Sanchez-Mkhitaryan swap actually came about.
Messi passed Ronaldo as the highest scorer from free kicks in La Liga since 2003.
Is there any way of holding Sugarmans feet to the fire on spending money? I know he said he was willing to if Ernie brought him prospects, so he can push the blame, but this is ridiculous now. We have a lot of the same guys from last year at lower salaries, Edus massive number is gone. We paid Andre, that’s about it. Accam was funny money.
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I truly think they’re just wearing us down, so when they sign a third tier #10, we’ll forget about any other needs and just be satisfied we filled a roster hole. Even though they would have obviously only JUST thought about the move, I really hope they’re pushing for Nguyen. He would be great for what we need. I’d love the have an actual backup striker who pushes CJ for minutes. He’s got such great hustle, but we need someone who can finish pushing him to improve into a Star forward.
He’s never spending money. He’s riding it out until expansion is complete and he can sell. That’s why the only signing was with league money. This will be Ernie’s last year here. Sugarman can blame Ernie and start the cycle over.
“I’d love the have an actual backup striker who pushes CJ for minutes.”
This has more to do with Curtin learning to rotate and give his starters rest so we can see what the backups we currently have can do.
I’m going on strike with my support of this team if they don’t sign an attacking midfielder before the start of the season. I don’t care if it’s Lee Nguyen, a rough diamond from the Eredivisie or a $1 million Argentinian. We need it. Make it happen.
Well “any other needs” besides a #10 weren’t going to be filled anyway. There is no veteran CB coming. There is no other “backup” striker coming (they already have 2). There is no left back coming. The only possibility is the #10. So any expectations beyond that are wasting your time.
Yep.
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The backups at LB are on the roster already – Ray Gaddis and Matt Real.
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The backups at striker are, as All4U said, are already on the roster.
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There is no backup CB. I think, honestly, that’s intentional on Earnie’s part so as to force Curtin’s hand to play the “kids” instead. (Not that Marquez is a kid, of course.)
correct me if I’m wrong but there are currently about 17 center backs employed, yes?
I feel like I’m following the Flyers….Trade the whole team, don’t worry there’s a salary cap and it’s not possible…
In all fairness, there is much more maneuverability in MLS than the NHL. I wouldn’t advocate for trading everyone, but certainly I think it’s reasonable to expect a team that finished so low to have more than one expected different starter from the previous year.
G.O., that may be reasonable, but it’s not logical, when there are two backups already, for one position, that is already filled. The Union have famously wasted money on positions they have had already filled, and now you want them to do it again?
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My Flyers point had nothing to do with comparing MLS to the NHL. I was commenting on the lunacy of the people making those comments…
Just noticed that they have starting times for the games that had previously been TBD. Remember how cold it was with a 4pm start on March 11 last year? WHY ARE THEY STARTING THE GAME ON MARCH 3 AT 7PM????? This pretty much eliminates any chance of getting casual fans to the game unless it’s ridiculously unseasonably warm.
I was there. It was barely tolerable at kickoff, but when the sun went down it was like the dawn of a new ice age. Holy crap. Never been colder.
YES, and the concessions didn’t think to have extra hot chocolate until the third or fourth home game. When it was as cold.
If a fan, casual or otherwise won’t come to a game because it’s too cold, I don’t think they are needed. For that game, or any afterwards. Honestly if you won’t go to a game because it’s too cold, please just stop watching. Thank you.
That comment makes absolutely no sense. You’re saying that the Union should only cater to the hardcore fans? No, they should schedule the games at a time that gets as many fans to go to the stadium as possible.
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And I plan to go to the game just like I did with the Toronto game last year. It doesn’t mean that I wouldn’t prefer a 2pm start.
No I’m saying the Union shouldn’t give a fuck if someone won’t come because it’s “too cold”. I’m saying don’t root for the team if you feel it’s “too cold”. I’m saying you are a wuss if you think it’s “too cold”. 70k people just watched the Eagles play in January. If you can’t watch in March, I really don’t want you. Is that clear enough?
spot on, All4U.
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not to mention an NFL game take four freaking hours.
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stay home.
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that river effect sure is cold as shit though. fuckall.
The Eagles have an 84 year history to build upon, and have the power of the NFL’s marketing behind them.
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The Union have none of those. They absolutely should be looking to draw in casual fans. Hell, I started as a casual fan. My daughter and I went to the first home game at the Linc because, eh… why not? Not every day you get to see a local team’s first-ever home game. We were hooked and I bought my season tickets that night.
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If you mean the Union shouldn’t cater just to casual fans, then I can get on board with that. But it’s absolutely something they need to include as one of many factors. To say otherwise is shortsighted, in my opinion.
You won’t fill a soccer stadium with hardcore fans, especially not in this town with this team. If you want to fill the stadium – which you need to do in order to turn a profit and have any hope of signing that unicorn of a #10 – you need to cater to every demographic. That includes the casual fans who won’t go because it’s too cold.
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The SOB weren’t even filling up on nice days at the end of the year, and they tend to be the most extreme fans. I don’t think mom and dad are bringing their 5 and 7 year old to a game when it’s 35 degrees out. And they matter.
Prag, the SOB issue is more about team quality and ownership spending, and you know it. So don’t bring that into this argument. You know what draws in crowds? A winner. That’s a novel idea. How about trying to win. That’s WAY more important than game times, temperatures or whether or not the snack bars carry hot chocolate. Wining WILL actually fill the stadium.
The cold definitely shouldn’t deter people, there are much colder things that people go to. That said, it is dumb on the Union’s part.
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Definitely agree that the number one thing they should do to get attendance is actually win games.
Comparing the Eagles in January to the Union in March is like apples and oranges. Not only have the Eagles sold out every home game for the last umpteen years, it was a PLAYOFF game, not the first game of the regular season.
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And while winning will likely help the Union’s attendance, how does the Eagles’ regular season attendance this season compare with 2012, 2015, and 2016? I’m pretty sure the difference was insignificant.
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The Union need to build the fan base and one way to do that is to make the experience as positive as possible. Afternoon games in the summer are just too hot, but this time of the year they are a perfect way for families to take their kids, the future fans of this team, to the game.
The Union need to build a fan base by wining, not smoke and mirrors, lies, and game times for optimal weather. They’ve tried that shit already. Hows it working out? Oh, people are whining about temperatures? Right. Also you do realize the Eagles have also been bad during some of those years and still sold out games, sat through snow storms, never once looked at temperatures or whined about them. If the temperature is really going to determine whether or not you go to a game, don’t go. Please, don’t go. You aren’t needed. The temperature/game time thing is just an excuse. That’s all it is. It gives you an excuse to not go do something you didn’t want to do in the first place. So don’t do it. Fair weather fans I believe you are called. No thanks.
Just to be clear, you’re ok with a half-empty stadium, as long as they are passionate fans.
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I’m just curious if we should be contacting the Austin City Council now, or wait a while.
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The bottom line is, you need every kind of fan in order for your team to be successful. You need the die-hards. You need the casual fans. You need the parents looking to entertain their kids for a few hours. And yes, the weather is a factor. This is why they only get about 9,000 through the doors when it pours rain.
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Winning will absolutely help…but it doesn’t guarantee anything. And the other articles on this site are all about how we haven’t done enough to build a winning team. So with that in mind, do we just roll out there with a bad team and an empty stadium? How quickly do you want this franchise to leave town?
All4U, you just don’t seem to get it. I’m going to the game regardless of the weather, just like I’ve done for almost every home game since 2010. Your idea to encourage people to stay home is just stupid. It’s a great way to get the Union to move and leave us without a team. How does that make sense? If your goal is to do that so maybe we can get another team in 20 years with different owners, then by all means, you stay home. But if you’re interested in keeping the team in Philly, then maybe you should concede that having more fans is better than fewer.
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Yes, a winning team will help, but given they are currently stuck with the resources they have, they can make smarter decisions with respect to the start time to get a bigger crowd.
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Your point that the Eagles have sold out during losing season goes against you argument about winning being important. It shows that winning is not necessarily what puts people in the seats.
If Sugarman is the owner? Not soon enough. You don’t think Sugarman would get the point if the stadium was empty? Yes I would be perfectly happy with passionate fans. You want to know why? Because they breed. Imagine that. They create MORE passionate fans. They also talk, and cajole, and convert. The casual fan idea is an oxymoron. Fanaticism negates casualness. Also when hasn’t the Union run out there with a bad team? So really, people aren’t going to skip the game because of weather. They aren’t going because they are unhappy with the product they have been presented and are using weather as an excuse.
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Andy the point about the fans going to Eagles games was that they were established, and despite the weather, even when they were bad, they still went to games and didn’t use temperature as an excuse. Is having more fans better than less, why sure it is. Is it worth worrying about losing 100 fans (maybe) over a start time? No not really. Not at all.
It seems that my point is getting lost. So I’ll restate. Using time/temperature/weather as a reason not to go to a game is just an excuse to not do something you really didn’t want to do in the first place. You just didn’t care enough. ( I’m using “you” not pointing fingers at any individual [Glad you’re going Andy]) Why wasn’t this a problem when the Union were brand spanking new and the few years after? Why now, that seats aren’t filling up (because the fans have come to realize the owner is taking them for a ride) is the weather/start time an issue? Wining, spending cash equivalent to the rest of the leagues top teams, and having a believable/confidence inducing manager, would all be cures for what’s ailing this team. If THOSE ACTUAL issues are addressed, weather becomes a non-factor.
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Well I hope that was clearer.
I’m a pretty big fan of the U, but I’m no fan of freezing my ass off. Doesn’t seem like much to ask the team to play the game while the sun is shining. And some of us die-hard fans might have a harder time dragging along those family members who might otherwise indulge us if not for the promise of likewise freezing their asses off on our behalf.
I’d have to argue you’re a big fan of the U if cold is going to stop you. Sorry, that’s just being soft. Plain and simple. If they can play in shorts in that weather surely you can sit bundled up under a blanket without crying tears.
Bet you hate players who wear gloves…
Read online the owner of Beckham’s little project in Miami is a Japanese man worth $15,000,000,000.
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-yes thats BILLION dollars
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for a frame of reference, Arthur Blank is worth $4.5 billion.
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let that sink in… for a while.
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If these new owners intend on buying players and not building from within, then so be it but if we think an MLS Academy will be able to build from within and really compete at the top of standings, well…. I just don’t see it.
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Which brings me back to sell sell sell sell.
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I hope the USA becomes an exporter.
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As for Zlatan… and his likely destination of Los Angeles Galaxy… it is clear, MLS will MLS in order to do what MLS does which is rig and cajole and do whatever it wants to prop up its sacred cows.
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It makes me sick to be honest.
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here’s a new investor worth 15 billion.
heres a league terrified one of its sacred franchises may become third page news.
here’s us…. do you see it? right here….
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infinitesimal.
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At one point didn’t we have a reserve or something on Zlatan? If so, are we getting anything from LA? I seem to remember a photo via a window showing a list with his name on it.
…..ya do know, Philadelphia Union discovered Zlatan.
They also discovered his salary demands and quickly undiscovered him.
Bam! Winner, winner; chicken dinner. All4U wins for the day. We can all go home now and come back tomorrow…
I find it hard to think MLS is worried about a sacred franchise when they finished last in the league in 2017. Also if we sign Zlatan who is giving him service? The bigger story to me is MLS changed the rules so that teams keep a 100% of the sale for a homegrown player. I’m interested with the signing of an 18 year old Baco in Atlanta and what happens to 17 year old Andrew Carleton. They play basically the same position and he’s an American. If you want to sell players, you have to play them, no?
Infinitesimal…. and shrinking exponentially by the day.
In other MLS news, Dollar Dog Night now bookended by Bring Your Dog Day.
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I can’t take it.
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Let’s have a punt pass and kick during half times while we are at it. Sing take me out to the ballpark in the 70th minute.
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Is there anything Original about soccer in america?
It’s ineptness?
I’m of the mind that there is a room with Ernie and our 2 scouts in it (they might let Curtin in sometimes). Outside of that, the rest of the organization is trying to do anything possible to draw people, with the handicap of the team not being competitive and the fans realizing it more by the year. Agreed these things are ridiculous, but unfortunately may be necessary until we win some.
Dollar dog night, to me, isn’t a big deal. It probably draws in a few people – mostly college kids, I would imagine. But that said, I’d wager it’s a net positive on concession sales for the night.
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Now, Bring Your Dog day? While my daughter will no doubt love it (she wants to be a veterinarian, even) that is the epitome of American sports marketing gimmicks.
I’ve got a great gimmick that would help turn out fans. It’s a freebie. $1 Parking Nights. Keep the soggie meet sticks and let me spend the money I’ve saved to park on a dirt lot on a Modelo Especial.
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Dogs don’t belong anywhere near the pitch. That’s crazy.
I’m not sure what’s wrong with making the experience enjoyable for everyone. Are you afraid that the puppies will run onto the field during a game? Should all teams just fire their marketing departments?
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Seriously, what’s the issue?
Because it reeks of minor leagues. It smells of desperation. It’s a distraction. It does anything but actually affect what most are really there to see, the team. It’s hey look at this hand while you ignore what the other is doing. It’s irrelevant. All they need now is the ponies, and the have a dog and pony show, literally.
Have you ever been to an NBA game? It’s a rave that is occasionally broken up by some basketball.
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It’s marketing. It brings people to the game. It convinces people who otherwise would find something better to do to that maybe they can have fun at a soccer game.
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We are not selling out the games. And even when we are “selling out,” the seats are certainly not full. So why not try to fill the stadium so that it looks full on TV?
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All of pro sports requires marketing. I have never understood the opposition to it.
I’ve been to one basketball game, in the late 80’s early 90’s. Would not pay to go again. Bad product. I understand it’s marketing Prag. I get that’s what they are asked to do by the owners to sell tickets. From my view, it’s desperation. It shows they know they have a bad product, and need to distract from what they are really selling.
1. Gimmick.
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2. The game is the attraction. Simple. Everything else is a distraction from the game. Some people like the distractions. Some people count on the distractions. Some people go to the games because of the distractions.
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All the other Professional games (like NBA mentioned above) have forced time outs and NEED to stretch the viewers’ attention… to generate more revenue through advertising. Not footy- its what makes it different. Rhythm….. unless they add the distraction of VAR.
The game IS the distraction.
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Call me an elitist. A purist. What you will.
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I do not need a $1.00 Hot Dog gimmick distraction a Bring Your Dog to the Game distraction. A dog. At a soccer game.
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For real?
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Likely think I’m stoned, but wait for it, I’ll be the guy sitting here saying I told you so in 5 years when there are forced advertisement breaks in MLS games… know why? cause nobody watches and its the logical conclusion to ramp up money. Further bastardizing the greatest game in the world.
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It is coming.
A team with advertising on the front of it’s uniform playing on a field with advertising on boards that flash advertising around the stadium in a stadium with a paid naming rights sponsor watched on tv with a scoreboard in the corner that has a sponsor change every ten minutes that will pan to the end lines where 3-D advertising lays on the ground and sometimes is woven into the net. How are they going to ruin it anymore?
Now here’s some news:
http://voetbalindebollenstreek.nl/katwijk-raakt-succescoach-schreuder-per-direct-kwijt/
Stewart goes and hires a dutch third tier manager who seems to have guided his team to two promotions and in line for a third (best I can tell from the Google translate of the piece). This man is the next coach of your Philadelphia Union.
Can we call him Ernest Steward from now on?
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The translation to “trainer” has me a bit unsure. Was he just a trainer or was he the coach/manager/gaffer? Also, please let him replace Curtin.
Ha. That was good translation.
Google gives good translation,yes?