Photo credit: Earl Gardner
Philadelphia Union
The Union’s eMLS competitor Cormac “Doolsta” Dooley won the League Series One championship.
Garfan gives us all a window into how Piotr Nowak ran the Union.
Bethlehem Steel FC brought in defender Steve Kingue on loan.
Tannenwald gives us some quick notes from pre-season.
Assistant coach Pat Noonan is staying with the Union, after being approached by Caleb Porter to join him in Columbus.
MLS
Terrence Boyd is interested in coming to MLS.
Jozy Altidore finds a move south of the border “intriguing“.
Charlotte is back on the expansion menu, this time with the backing of the Carolina Panthers.
Still overloaded with DPs, Atlanta is shopping Almiron in Italy. But Newcastle isn’t out of the running yet.
NYCFC is bringing Juan Pablo Torres back Stateside, pending an International Transfer Certificate from Belgium’s KSC Lokeren.
US Soccer
Matt Miazga’s European sojourn continues.
The USMNT wore armbands honoring Sigi Schmid last night, on the way to beating Panama 3-0.
While the performance on the field was satisfactory, the performance in the stands was not.
World
Thierry Henry on the outs in Monaco.
Is that an Inbetweeners reference?
Neymar may miss PSG’s Champions League match against Manchester United due to an injury sustained in a French Cup game. But the team he sustained that injury against are not apologetic.
Meanwhile, in LigaMX …
New white kit is out…Blah. Also Giovinco left Toronto’s camp awaiting a transfer…Bad and good news.
At least the red “bimbo” is gone, but yeah. What a snore. There are a lot of great colors in the Union crest they could incorporate. MLS designs have been truly bland.
It just makes that 10th anniversary feel special doesn’t it. Fits this organization to a T or kit as it were.
I liked the attacking 3-2-4–1 the NT used last night and how effective finding usable space the advanced width was. Players appeared very comfortable in their roles and while it was a pair of ‘B or C’ teams, I thought the US showed pretty well. Some passing issues with the internal flank backs, but that’s nit picking.
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All in all a good showing for Berhalter. I find myself rooting for him and have a good feeling we are in an uptrend.
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Now about the 17 people who went in a stadium of 60,000 is another story and highlights the tone deafness our Soccer Administrators seem to be operating under.
Yeah very much understood that these were B & C teams like you said, but have to agree that the players looked even more comfortable as the match went on. It’s great to dominate possession, but to do it with a purpose shows Berhalter knows what he’s doing. And I have a lot of faith in him and I’m genuinely more optimistic after last night.
I thought that the passing was excellent. The finishing in front of net was another story but they can work on that.
Berhalter’s focus on “breaking the lines” was really on display in this one. Lima’s tucking in next to Bradley seemed to work very well (Man City-esk?). What I really like about Berhalter is I always get a feeling he’s got a plan and that his players “get it” and will do their best to implement it. Now whether or not he has the players to successfully implement it is another story. Have we seen enough of Zardes to know he’s not the answer? Man I hope so.
The new kit, while boring and white again, isn’t terrible. I don’t know if it’s just the new Bimbo style logo or what, but I don’t hate it.
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ESPN just reported Neymar out again with another foot injury. Not good
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I also liked what I saw from the USMNT last night and given the situation (B/C teams playing a meaningless friendly), I was happy with the way they looked. And I also agree with the Elephant… man what a joke to play that game in that stadium. Just a bad, bad look
I do hope the empty stadium isn’t blamed on some sort of ignorance on the part of fans. There was very little reason to get up for a meaningless friendly with no real star attractions at a price that was likely at least twice as high as it should have been. Agree with those who suggested USSF should have given tickets away for free. Why not invite all the members of youth clubs in the state or metro area for example?
All the reporting on it I’ve seen so far blames USSF. Apparently WWE’s Royal Rumble was just down the road too, though how much of a crossover there is between fan bases is debatable. If there was any doubt as to what the priority of USSF was, i.e. promotion of the sport in the U.S. or making money, last night’s spectacle should leave no doubt. It just sucks for all the players that had to debut in front of that crowd.
Scottish league…All Scots like a good fight or at least appearing to be so ;).
What did everyone think of Cann’s ‘interview’ of Tim McDermott and Ernst Tanner? Seemed to me that this year will again be an experiment and that we are again at the start of a 5 yr plan instead of being half way thru one.
we definitely hit the reset. it’ll be a step back from last year. if “winning MLS Cup” is the plan, then restart of the 5 years is where we are.
I don’t know how much of an “experiment” it is. To me it’s more of a transition. I would also change “5 year plan” to plan of the future. I would also say if you are looking for an endpoint or final product, you should probably give up on that idea.
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ESPN FC had a great video about Ajax and the way they develop players (http://www.espn.com/soccer/blog/espn-fc-united/68/post/3757094/for-most-clubs-losing-a-star-like-frenkie-de-jong-would-be-a-killer-for-ajax-its-their-business-model).
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A quote from the video seems to sum it all up for me. Something along the lines of ” here at Ajax we develop the individual (not the team)”.
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The main concern from a club like Ajax is keeping the business model going by selling players and reinvesting in the youth. No where in this is wining trophies being considered important. It’s more of a by-product. I understand this idea is not likely to go over well with the fan base. It’s definitely a more “European” idea. But the Union have the owner they have. He isn’t selling anytime soon. He isn’t going to invest heavily into the first team either. So I think we need to get used to the idea that the Union will be a team that plays their youngsters. The Union will also try and be a “selling” club. This is the future of this club, and as much as it goes against my general nature, I’m actually starting to like the idea.
I don’t know how much of an “experiment” it is. To me it’s more of a transition. I would also change “5 year plan” to plan of the future. I would also say if you are looking for an endpoint or final product, you should probably give up on that idea.
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ESPN FC had a great video about Ajax and the way they develop players. Just check the website, because I tried to put the link in and my comment has been held up for hours for “moderation”.
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A quote from the video seems to sum it all up for me. Something along the lines of ” here at Ajax we develop the individual (not the team)”.
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The main concern from a club like Ajax is keeping the business model going by selling players and reinvesting in the youth. No where in this is wining trophies being considered important. It’s more of a by-product. I understand this idea is not likely to go over well with the fan base. It’s definitely a more “European” idea. But the Union have the owner they have. He isn’t selling anytime soon. He isn’t going to invest heavily into the first team either. So I think we need to get used to the idea that the Union will be a team that plays their youngsters. The Union will also try and be a “selling” club. This is the future of this club, and as much as it goes against my general nature, I’m actually starting to like the idea.
Hell yes. I appreciate this comment very much as I’m sure you could figure.
Haha, no doubt you would el P.
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It’s taken a bit for me to come to this point. As I said, it goes against my nature and not going all out to win still irks a bit. But there lies a wannabe G.M. somewhere hidden inside me, and with Tanner coming and starting as he is, he has lit that passion anew with the Union.
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I was the guy that would spend hours simulating seasons in EA sports games, drafting, trading and signing players over and over again to get the “best” team together I could. I’d trade established players just to get more draft picks. Then use those picks to trade up in the draft for multiple #1 picks. “The next best thing” is what drove me, and this idea is what is intriguing me now with the Union.
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The idea of developing the individual seems so foreign as an American, but why should it? We espouse individual freedoms and accomplishments in our culture. Why can’t it be the same for our footy team? Had this club been truly created from a local instead of a New York real estate mogul, then I think this idea wouldn’t be so hard to get over. If this country had a history of local clubs making the big leagues or finding players locally, it would be easier to just root for the kid from junior high, your local rec team, or somebody’s little brother. The one big plus I see as being American, is the playoff’s. The playoff’s give a club following the philosophy above, a greater chance at trophies IMO. On any given game day as it were, you only have to be the better team.
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Man I ramble on don’t I, and I still could say more. I’ll stop here to let others have a say. LOL
Speaking of LigaMX…the Monterrey vs America game was off the wall: 3-2 finish with 4 red cards.
I watched most of the second half. I had to double check I wasn’t watching a hockey game.
Has USSF ever explained the logic behind their ticket pricing? I mean I get wanting to make some money off the games, and maybe there is some sort of magic # that accountants have figured out where they know the tipping point between attendance and ticket prices. Or maybe there’s just minimum pricing connected to the venue and ticketing service, but how anyone can legitimately attempt to defend those prices purely on a supply/demand basis is hallucinating.
US Soccer is in the mania phase of its recurring bipolar cycle.
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Grandiosity. Delusion.
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It can be challenging not to be manipulated by the manic patient. Takes one hell of a strong constitution.
Pat Noonan is next coach. when that’ll be i don’t know. Caleb Porter recognizing his talent, getting a long-term deal from Philly after Crew approached, Curtin on short contract in a rebuild year.
Late to the party but shocked no mention of the halftime discussion of McKenzie and whether or not the Union would allow him to join the u20’s for the World Cup over the summer. I was barely paying attention and then I realized they were talking about the Union. I tried to find a video of it but searching didn’t come up with anything.
It was an interesting discussion. Do you keep him with the club, helping you win games over a couple weeks – OR – do you let him play on a international stage and potentially double/triple his market value?