Photo: Nicolae Stoian

Union

Keon Daniel update: a report in the Trinidad and Tobago Guardian says, “Daniel’s agent Andre Fortune said [the] Union’s immigration attorney was assisting in the player’s visa problem (which prevented him from playing for the club last weekend) and the [Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation] may be asked for assistance.” A later report from the Trinidad Express quoted a TTFF spokesperson as saying, “The club is sorting it out. They do not require the Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation to do anything. Their attorneys are handling the matter.”

Citing information from an unidentified “worker within the US Citizenship and Immigration Services,” the Brotherly Game says “the earliest return date for Daniel would be either September 24 or 30.”

Sebastien Le Toux says, “We have a playoff-type game coming up with Columbus…and we are going to be ready for it.”

Kevin Kinkead’s scouting report on the Union’s website notes that Columbus has been slumping since beating the Union in August, going 0–2–1.

Key Columbus defender Chad Marshall left Wednesday’s game against Houston at the half after a hip injury. Subsequent MRIs have revealed no real damage. “Basically the MRI didn’t show anything,” said Columbus coach Robert Warzycha, “It depends how he responds to treatment. He may be available for the game against Philly, he may not.”

Marc Narducci looks at the eight game winless streak and wonders if the Union are “starting to feel a little snakebit.” He then quotes Sheanon Williams as answering, “Definitely.” Did Narducci really go up to Sheanon Williams and ask, “Tell me, Sheanon, is the team starting to feel a little bit snakebit?”?

Pennlive.com has a post with links to info about new signing Morgan Langley, including a Q&A with the young midfielder we linked to in August.

Gabriel Farfan says the trust shown in him and his brother Michael by Peter Nowak has meant a lot. “It showed showed he had confidence in us to do the job, and hopefully we’ve proved that,” adding, “I honestly don’t have a preference (about position). Obviously, my dream is to play for the national team. Position doesn’t matter, whether that’s as an outside back, or an outside midfielder.” The time he spent playing in Mexico has also helped. “MLS is a physical league, there it’s the opposite. I’m one of the smallest guys on the team here. It was nice to get my technical side down. It’s more pass and move down there.”

This piece at the CSN Philly looks at how young the Union roster is in the frame of how the team continues to invest in the future. With 20 of the 26 players under the age of 27—and 15 of those 23 or younger—making for an average age of 24.6 and the youngest roster in the league, Nowak says, “We’re not just looking what we need to do to win the next game. But we’re also looking what is beyond that.”

Nowak says that, even though Faryd Mondragon isn’t on the pitch, he’s still helping to lead the team. “Faryd is with us. He’s sitting on the bench and giving direction in the locker room as well.”

The Bleacher Report has “5 bold predictions” for how the remainder of the Union’s season will play out.

Local

The Inquirer rounds up PA boys’ and girls’ results as well as South Jersey boys’ and girls‘ results, noting the Haddonfield boys’ won the 600th game in the history of the team on Thursday.

MLS

Officiating in MLS is terrible. When you look at CONCACAF Champions league or national team matches, it is also terrible throughout the federation. For its part, MLS executive vice president Nelson Rodriguez says, “everything is on the table” for improving officiating and that the league as well as the US and Canadian federations are “in the middle of discussions…regarding new initiatives to help improve officiating.”

Forbes says the investment made by the league in using Opta stats has paid off.

The release of the MLS salary figures gives Soccer America the opportunity to present its bargains and busts.

US

With six goals in his last five home games, Jozy Altidore continues to tear it up in the Netherlands. Here’s a look at his latest cracker:

Elsewhere

Former FIFA presidential candidate and head of the Asian Football Confederation Mohamed Bin Hammam has lost his appeal against his lifetime ban from football. “The appeal made by Mohamed Bin Hammam has been rejected,” FIFA said on Thursday, “and the decision of the FIFA ethics committee confirmed.”

FIFA executive committee member Worawi Makudi of Thailand is denying allegations he misused FIFA development funds.

The Glazers have been given the go-ahead to float Manchester United stock in the Singapore Stock Market.

Footy on the Telly™

Friday, September 16
Freiburg v Stuttgart 2:30pm ESPN Deportes
Akron v New Mexico 7pm Fox Soccer
Portland v New England 11pmFox Soccer

Saturday, September 17
Blackburn v Arsenal 7:30am ESPN2, ESPN Deportes
Nottingham Forest v Derby 8am Fox Soccer Plus
Bayer Leverkusen v Cologne 9:30am ESPN Deportes
Aston Villa v Newcastle 10am Fox Soccer
Everton v Wigan 10am Fox Deportes, (tape at 5 on Fox Soccer)
Wolverhamptin v QPR 10am Fox Soccer Plus
Bolton v Norwich 12pm Fox Soccer
Cagliari v Novara 12pm Fox Soccer Plus
Gijon v Valencia 12pm DirecTV
Granada v Villarreal 12pm DirecTV
Mallorca v Malaga 12pm DirecTV
Kaiserslautern v Mainz 12:30pm GolTV
Toronto v Colorado 1:30pm Direct Kick
Swansea v West Brom 2pm Fox Soccer Plus
Barcelona v Osasuna 2pm ESPN Deportes
Inter Milan v Roma 2:30pm Fox Soccer, Fox Deportes
Chicago v Chivas USA 4pm Telefutura
Sevilla v Real Sociedad 4pm GolTV
Monterrey v Cruz Azul 6pm Telemundo
Jaguares v America 6pmAzteca America
Sao Paulo v Ceara 6pm GolTV Premiere
USA v Canada 7pm Fox Soccer, Fox Deportes
Philadelphia Union v Columbus Crew 7:30pm The Comcast Network
Chivas v Puebla 8pm Telemundo
Pachuca v Atlas 8pm Telefutura
Irapuato v Merida 8pm GolTV
Houston v San Jose 8:30pm Direct Kick
Dallas v New York 8:30pm Direct Kick
Seattle v D.C. United 9pm Direct Kick
Real Salt Lake v Kansas City 9pm Direct Kick
San Luis v Santos Laguna 9:30pm Galavision
Atlante v Tigres 10pm Telefutura
America de Cali v Itagui 10pm GolTV
Los Angeles v Vancouver 10:30pm Direct Kick

Sunday, September 18
Atalanta v Palermo 6:30amFox Soccer Plus
PSV v Ajax 6:30am ESPN Deportes
Tottenham v Liverpool 8:30am Fox Soccer Plus
Siena v Juventus 9am Fox Soccer, Fox Deportes
Zaragoza v Espanyol 10am ESPN Deportes
Fulham v Manchester City 10:30am Fox Soccer Plus
Manchester United v Chelsea 11am Fox Soccer (4:30pm on Fox 29)
Schalke v Bayern Munich 11:30am GolTV
Atletico Madrid v Santander 12pm ESPN Deportes
Sunderland v Stoke 12:30pm Fox Soccer Plus
Pumas v Toluca 1pm Telemundo
Levante v Real Madrid 2pm GolTV
Napoli v AC Milan 2:30pm Fox Soccer, Fox Deportes
Lyon v Marseille 3pm Fox Soccer Plus
Tijuana v Tecos 3pm ESPN Deportes, Azteca America
Athletic Bilbao v Real Betis 4pm GolTV
Avai v Palmeiras 6pm GolTV Premiere
Morelia v Queretaro 7pm Fox Deportes

Monday, September 19
Ipswich v Coventry 2:30pm Fox Soccer Plus