Photo credit: Paul Rudderow
Philadelphia Union
Alex Mendez scored a beautiful goal, but how about that Mark McKenzie pass?
At $175 million, the Union are the eighteenth most valuable Major League Soccer franchise. In other words, they’re worth 9% of the Cleveland Browns.
Cory Burke, captain Andre Blake, and the rest of the Reggae Boyz stayed perfect in CONCACAF Nations League qualifying, beating Suriname 2-1.
Local
Bethlehem Steel FC’s Prosper Chiluya is hoping to get his first Zambian national team cap as the Chipolopolo get ready to face Mozambique.
The University of Pennsylvania’s Alex Touche and Brandon Bartel, who connected for three game winners this season, have been named to this season’s All-Ivy League Team.
MLS
Oscar Pareja is rumored to be heading to Mexico to coach Club Tijuana.
St. Louis wants an MLS team, but they want that team to be the ones who pay for the stadium.
Marlins Park could serve as a temporary home for Inter Miami.
Wayne Rooney answers US trivia.
US Soccer
Christian Pulisic is angry about what he saw on the field at Wembley.
The U20 MNT continued their CONCACAF U20 domination, beating Costa Rica 4-0 and securing a U20 World Cup berth. They play Honduras tonight at 8 in the semifinals. Of interest, Mexico plays Panama at 5:30 in the other semifinal. Both games will be available on Univision Deportes.
US Soccer is still taking it’s time in naming the next USMNT head coach.
World
The Premier League has pulled their head out of the sand and will institute Video Assistant Referee next season.
Germany’s terrible 2018 continues, with the men’s team being relegated to UEFA Nations league B.
I really don’t know what to say about this double nutmeg by Arsenal Women’s Danielle van de Donk-
Just @DanielleDonk things 🔥 pic.twitter.com/qozLPYgpwj
— Arsenal Women (@ArsenalWFC) November 17, 2018
Union just announced their roster moves for next season:
https://www.philadelphiaunion.com/post/2018/11/19/philadelphia-union-exercise-2019-options-seven-players
And, the day after posting their individual “Season I’m Review” articles for both Epps and Herbers, both had their options declined.
#thatssounion
https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2018/11/19/stejskal-philadelphia-union-head-coach-jim-curtin-agree-new-deal…It happened.
Slaps head
oh. yay.
Of local note, 2 Berks County teams (Reading United territory) – Wilson & Fleetwood – won the 4A & 2A state tiles respectively, and West Chester is in the NCAA Division 2 semifinals next Thursday (11/29). We have such a strong soccer presence in Southeast PA.
this is genius, especially after the Cincinnati mockery:
https://twitter.com/forwardmsnfc/status/1064239316468187136?s=12
Curtin in for next year. I just don’t understand how this moves the team forward.
This is now 2 GMs from Europe that everyone seems to love that have seen Jim in action and decided not to replace him.
True, it does make me question my thoughts. The one positive is that Ernst in the press conference very clearly said, “we will not be predictable and only play one way” next year.
Coupled with the business plan…. stands to reason.
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Excellent observation by you.
The Union just released an expansion USL team. I believe Richie Marquez will be playing somewhere next year and a team like the Galaxy could have used him.