Photo: Paul Rudderow
Philadelphia Union
MLS released its player salaries for 2018. Some notes on the Union, as of May 1:
- The Union’s total is above $8 million for the first time in club history
- Union midfielder Borek Dockal is earning $1,714,285.68.
- Jay Simpson got a raise.
- Fabinho, Fabian Herbers, and Ilsinho all took pay cuts.
Mark McKenzie, Anthony Fontana, and Matthew Real were all called up to the U.S. U20s for the 2018 U20 Concacaf Championship. Don’t worry, Union fans. McKenzie won’t go until the Union’s season is over – playoffs and all.
Also worth noting, Philadelphia native and former Union Academy product C.J. Dos Santos has been called up as well to one of the two keeper positions.
MLS
As mentioned above, MLS Players Association released its player salaries. Check them out here.
After speculation from fans and media, Atlanta United head coach Tata Martino will officially be leaving the club at the end of the season.
Around the globe
UEFA Champions League action continued Tuesday:
- Manchester City dominated Shakhtar Donetsk, 3-0.
- Macnhester United lost to Juvents, 0-1.
- Real Madrid eeked out a win against Viktoria Plzen, 2-1.
- Bayern Munich shut out AEK Athens, 2-0.
- Roma beat CSKA Moscow, 3-0.
- Swiss champions Young Boys drew Valencia, 1-1.
- Ajax scored in stoppage time to beat Benfica, 1-0.
FIFA and UEFA both have plans for big new tournaments. It doesn’t look like those plans are compatible.
My word watching ManU play is a lesson in suffering. Some dynamic players on that team playing some ungodly boring soccer.
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yea Jose …….yeah, not my brand of game…. and to boot they are losing which makes it even more insufferable.
Man, replacing the amount we are paying Simpson and Sapong with one legit offensive player would really help this team.
Another thing that jumped out most to me regarding the salary release is that the top three centerbacks on the depth chart – Trusty, McKenzie, Elliot – make a combined $223,229.54 in total compensation. The next two on the depth chart – Marquez and Yaro – make a combined $375,430.
Just to show how bad a ref Unkel was on Sunday, I just rewatched the game now and it was a full 4 minutes from the time of the Bedoya handball and when the PK was taken and yet there were only 4 minutes of stoppage time at the end of the game (despite there being 4 second half subs as well).
I also had a few issues with Unkel’s performance on Sunday, but this one is more on the 4th official than Unkel since the 4th official serves as the time keeper and determines stoppage time.
The fourth official is no prize either. I forget his name, but he’s just as bad as Unkel.
I was under the impression that the ref keeps time and signals to the 4th official how much stoppage time he should signal. Of course in this case, no signal was ever given since he was busy announcing a sub.
A point about the firestorm over the FIFA and UEFA plans. Concacaf has started a Nations League as well. Cory Burke and Andre Blake have already played in its qualifiers twice for Jamaica..
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That story from The NY Times deserves more attention.