Photo: Jordan Culver-Pro Soccer USA
Philadelphia Union
The Union stay unbeaten in preseason with a 4-1 win over Orlando in a 120-minute scrimmage. For those of you keeping score at home, Curtin’s crew have scored 10 goals through four preseason scrimmages so far, and conceded four.
New episode up of It’s Always Soccer in Philadelphia. Kevin Kinkead’s guest is Matt Doyle, MLS’s Armchair Analyst.
Union departures from 2018 roster:
Simpson (Leyton Orient)
Yaro (San Antonio FC)
McCarthy (Tampa Bay Rowdies)
McGuire (Gefle IF)
Epps (RBNY)
Najem (Memphis (901)
Dockal (Sparta Prague)
Herbers (Fire)
Rosenberry (Rapids)
Marquez (Unsigned)— Joe Tansey (@JTansey90) February 12, 2019
Yesterday, PSP’s Steven Whisler analyzed the Union’s 4-4-2 diamond.
Looks like Borek Dockal is heading back to Sparta.
Bethlehem Steel
They play West Chester United tonight in a free friendly.
Might be temporary, but the Steel’s website is AWOL.
USL
ICYMI: Amobi Okugo joined Austin Bold FC.
Ocean City Nor’easters alumni Todd Morton signed with the Real Monarchs.
Local
The wife of New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy says she’ll take a more active role in running Sky Blue.
Penn State‘s men’s team released their spring schedule.
Emily Armstrong, a keeper from Central PA, is off to Sweden.
MLS
The Red Bulls signed Danish forward Mathias Jørgensen.
Lancaster native Travis Worra announced his retirement in a pretty classy way.
In preparation for their 2020 debut, Nashville hired Stellar Soccer agent Ally Mackay as assistant GM and former Sporting Kansas City fullback Chance Myers as chief scout.
Speaking of SKC, Peter Vermes responded to fans that say the club doesn’t spend money.
MLS in 2009:
– 15 teams
– 24 roster spots- no reserves
– 7 team-owned and operated SSS
– $8 million annually in TV $MLS in 2019:
– 24 teams 📈
– 30 roster spots, + USL affiliations ⚽️
– 18 team-owned and operated SSS 🏟️
– $90 million annually in TV $ 💰MLS in 2029:
???? https://t.co/4YtLEZhDdt— MLS Buzz (@MLS_Buzz) February 12, 2019
NWSL
After a year in Iceland, defender Ally Haran joins NC Courage.
U.S. Soccer
Lindsey Horan will miss the SheBelieves Cup because of a quadriceps injury, and the USWNT roster is set for the year’s first home game (Morgan Brian isn’t on there by Jill Ellis’ choice.).
Around the globe
Australia’s WNT is without a coach. No one is sure why.
Ole Gunnar Solskjær’s ManU suffered their first defeat, 2-0, in Champions League action against PSG. Oh, and Pogba got a red card.
Dortmund’s Jadon Sancho delayed the team’s flight to London because he forgot his passport. If Agatha Christie was still around, would should be inspired to write “The Case of the Absent-Minded Midfielder”?
After being interrogated by the Stasi and beating cancer, Malmo’s Uwe Rosler facing Chelsea Europa League action should be a walk through the pitch.
Highlight of the day
Soccer in the Arctic:
One story missing is that legendary keeper Gordon Banks passed away yesterday.
Thanks for posting the arctic soccer video; amazing!
+1
Agreed. That was fascinating.
+1
great find.
The Bethlehem Steel FC are now part of the Philadelphia Union’s website.
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There has been some restructuring in the communications’ staff job assignments, little of which do I know anything about. The one thing I do know is that they now have a website manager.
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https://www.philadelphiaunion.com/bethlehem-steel-fc should get you to the Steel FC portion of the Union site.
Tim you do yeoman’s work. Thank you for all you do.
Thanks Tim! I’ll update my bookmark.
Supposedly trialist Yomi Scintu is signed? Not sure if Union or Steel.
One of the more questionable signings. Enormously so if he is without a green card.
Transfermarket showed it as a done deal a day or two ago.
I’d love to see a statistical study of the success rate of the draft. Something like, since 2010, how many first rounders are still in MLS? How many are still playing the game professionally in other leagues?
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It feels like the Union have been horrendous in the draft, but when you look back on it, I’m not sure their success rate is all that much different than most clubs.
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Just curious if this can lend further credence to Tanner skipping it completely. Why bother when the return is minimal?
Superdraft days are numbered for sure. Competitive college soccer days are numbered for sure. Only a matter of time before the Euro-style academy system dominates on this side of the pond. It objectively makes for better quality and better quality pays dividends.