Daily news roundups / Featured

The call, the tweets, the bottom line, the hangover, more

Photo courtesy of MLSsoccer.com

The call

Peter Nowak: “Did you guys see the replay [of the free kick goal that was ruled offside] or not yet? I saw it, the frame. The ball is off Séba’s foot already by two or three yards...All I can say is that we live in a country where you can criticize everybody, including the President and the federal government. But you cannot criticize the referees, and this is a bad sign going into the playoffs. I think from the beginning, you can see what the mentality from the four officials was.”

Carlos Valdes: “I need to see the replay. I didn’t touch it, but I want to see the play and why [the refs made the call],” Valdes said. “But in my eyes, we scored – it was a goal.

Danny Califf: “I didn’t see anything wrong with the goal. Considering we didn’t get any calls all night and for him to take one away that really wasn’t offsides was a bit frustrating and disappointing.”

Sebastien Le Toux: “I didn’t really see it. It was a tough break.”

The Tweets

Freddy Adu: “Sorry to all the union fans especially those who made the trip to NY. This was not a good showing. We will be better in the playoffs.”

Freddy Adu: “Philly fans are the best and they deserve nothing but the best. You support us through everything. Thanks. We’ll do better in the playoffs”

Gabriel Farfan: “Thank you to all of our amazing fans tonight….unfortunately we didn’t get the 3 pts but It was beautiful seeing your support.”

Amobi Okugo: “Thank you to the fans who made the trip…. Hope to make it up to you all in the playoffs”

Sheanon Williams: Want to thank the fans who made the trip out to ny tonight I was great to have the support tough result but its #ontothenextone #hungry”

Faryd Mondragon: I want to thank our fans (that’s why they r the best of the MLS) for coming on such a massive amount and cheering for us!!! DOOP!!!”

The bottom line

Peter Nowak: “I think the team needs to take charge right now to be in a position to challenge themselves…I think that if you work every single day to push these guys, the message sometimes is going to get old. They need to take the reins from me and the coaching staff, and make sure they will compete against each other and against the teams they will face, whoever it’s going to be.”

Danny Califf said, “Thank God this was the last game of the regular season and not the first game of the playoffs.”

From the Union media department: “With a Union Loss [against New York]: Seeding and playoff game location/date determined by other matches. Could be anywhere from 2nd in East to 4th in East.”

The hangover

Match reports from Philly Soccer Page, the Daily News, the Inquirer (1), the Inquirer (2), Delco Times, CSN Philly, Philly Soccer News, the Star Ledger, the AP, Soccer America, SBI, Goal.com, and post game quotes from the Goalkeeper.

Reaction from Unholy Union: “Last night’s match against New Jersey Pink Cows was an exercise in….I’m not exactly sure what. It was frustrating, that’s for sure.”

Chris Vito writes, “On a weeknight, more than 1,200 Union fans commuted two hours north to occupy Red Bull Arena’s upper bowl…They arrived hours before kickoff. The team they root for never showed up.”

Kerith Gabriel writes, “The Union better hope the adage ‘defense wins championships’ holds weight, because its offense still has many holes to fill as its quest for the MLS Cup gets under way next week.”

The header that led to the own goal was made by 5′ 7″ fill-in striker Dane Richards. When asked what his response would have been if told before the match he would score from a header, he said, “I would’ve laughed at you.”

Union

Michael Farfan makes Soccer America’s final five list for Rookie of the Year.

SB Nation makes the case for Le Toux for MVP.

Beginning next season, 610 WIP AM, which also broadcasts on the former 94.1 FM WYSP, will broadcast 17 regular season Union games.

The Brotherly Game looks at what the radio deal could mean.

This article on social media refers to the Union as “American ‘soccer’ forerunners in social media.”

MLS

The Re-Entry Draft will be held December 5 and 12.

Bobby Convey says he will not be returning to San Jose in 2012. Hm, I wonder if there are any other teams that could use a left midfielder?

LA Galaxy advanced to the CONCACAF Quarterfinals with a 1–0 win over Motagua in Honduras.

US

Akron coach Caleb Porter has been named coach of the U-23 USMNT team ahead of CONCACAF qualifiers for the 2012 Olympics. Tab Ramos was named coach of the U-20 team.

Bayern Munich president Uli Hoeness has dismissed Jurgen Klinsmann’s time in charge to the team as an expensive mistake.

Elsewhere

FIFA’s unveiling of the which cities in Brazil will host games for the 2014 World Cup was overshadowed by lingering charges of corruption.

Footy on the Telly™

Friday, October 21
Augsburg v Werder Bremen 2:30pm ESPN Deportes
North Carolina v Maryland 5:30pm ESPNU
West Virginia v Providence 7pm Fox Soccer
Portland v Santa Clara 11pm ESPNU

Saturday, October 22
Adelaide v Sydney 2:30am Fox Soccer
Wolves v Swansea City 7:30am ESPN2, ESPN Deportes
Borussia Dortmund v Cologne 9:30am GolTV
Newcastle v Wigan 10am Fox Soccer, Fox Deportes
Aston Villa v West Brom 10am Fox Soccer Plus
Santander v Espanyol 12pm DirecTV
Gijon v Granada 12pm DirecTV
Fiorentina v Catania 12pm Fox Soccer Plus
Toronto v New England 12:30pm Direct Kick
Liverpool v Norwich 12:30pm Fox Soccer, Fox Deportes
Hamburg v Wolfsburg 12:30pm GolTV
Malaga v Real Madrid 2pm ESPN Deportes
Reading v Southampton 2pm Fox Soccer Plus
Juventus v Genoa 2:30pm Fox Soccer, Fox Deportes
Barcelona v Sevilla 4pm GolTV
Blackpool v Nottingham Forest 4pm Fox Soccer Plus
Bolton v Sunderland 5pm Fox Soccer
Tecos v Santos Laguna 6pm Galavision
Queretaro v Cruz Azul 6pm Telefutura
Jaguares v San Luis 6pm Azteca America
Fluminense v Atletico MG 6pm GolTV
Vancouver v Colorado 7pm Direct Kick
D.C. United v Kansas City 7:30pm Direct Kick
Tigres v Monterrey 8pm Telemundo
Pachuca v Pumas 8pm Telefutura
America v Nacional 8pm GolTV
Chicago v Columbus 8:30pm Direct Kick
Real Salt Lake v Portland 9pm Direct Kick
Atlas v Morelia 9:30pm Galavision
Atlante v Tijuana 10pm Telefutura
Dorados v Correcaminos 10pm GolTV
San Jose v Dallas 10:30pm Direct Kick
Chivas USA v Seattle 10:30pm Direct Kick

Sunday, October 23
Lecce v AC Milan 6:30am Fox Soccer Plus
Manchester United v Manchester City 8:30am Fox Soccer, Fox Deportes
Arsenal v Stoke 8:30am Fox Soccer Plus
Real Sociedad v Getafe 10am ESPN Deportes
QPR v Chelsea 11am Fox Soccer, Fox Deportes
Hanover v Bayern Munich 11:30am GolTV
Atletico Madrid v Mallorca 12pm ESPN Deportes
Osasuna v Zaragoza 12pm DirecTV
Blackburn v Tottenham 12:30pm Fox Soccer Plus
Toluca v Puebla 1pm Telemundo
Valencia v Bilbao 2pm GolTV
Florida v LSU 2pm ESPNU
Bologna v Lazio 2:30pm Fox Soccer
Lille v Lyon 3pm Fox Soccer Plus
Villarreal v Levante 4pm GolTV
Texas A&M v Oklahoma State 4pm ESPNU
America v Chivas 4:30pm Univision
Inter Milan v Chievo 5pm Fox Soccer
Houston v Los Angeles 7pm Galavision

Monday, October 24
Brighton v West Ham 2:30pm Fox Soccer Plus

15 Comments

  1. Please do not post that picture again on this website.

    • Ed Farnsworth says:

      It was but a place holder while I found footage of The Call that I could take a frame from, which has since replaced it. I still have the taste of bile in my mouth from first looking at it.

      • Its bad enough I had to see it on MLS.com…also horrible seeing “Richard’s goal” at #8 on ESPN’s top 10 plays this morning.

  2. Ummm, did Coach Nowak imply what I think he implied when he stated, “you cannot criticize the referees, and this is a bad sign going into the playoffs”?

    I got very tired of the ESPN talking heads pimping the hell out of both LA Galaxy and the Energy Drinks. Galaxy deserve the plaudits, but Red Bulls as a sleeper??? I get it ESPN, you want ratings, but you do a grave disservice to MLS when you focus solely on two teams.

    Was it as obvious to everyone else that this team missed Paunstar? Pfeffer was a disaster in midfield, don’t quite know what Cach and the staff were thinking on that account.

  3. ExtraTime Radio’s podcast from last night – which I listened to on the way in to work this morning – talked about Convey being used as leftback, and even stated that Philly would/could be a logical destination. Sure, the “romantic” story would be local kid with ties to Nowak coming home, but doesn’t he command an exorbitant salary?

    • We talked with Bobby last year on the Philly Soccer Show. He told me and Dan Walsh in no uncertain terms that he would not play for Nowak.

      • Good interview too. Convey’s clearly a Philly guy.

        Convey and Nowak didn’t get along well, and Convey didn’t think Nowak would ever want him for his team after the problems they had at DC United. These two guys are clearly a case of the immovable object meeting the irresistible force.

        But Convey did say he’d love to play in Philly.

  4. I may be opening myself for a full frontal assault, but I looked at the match report and was surprised at the love for Mondragon. From what I saw, he was at fault for the goal, and tried REALLY hard to give NY two more:
    1) The goal … the ball to Richards was a floating cross 2 yards away from Mondragon … why didn’t he come out for it? Why didn’t he claim it? After seeing MacMath’s aggressiveness, maybe I am just wrong in expecting my GK to control his area.
    2) The lobbed pass behind our line that sprung Rodgers and Richards free. If they did not flub it, it was another goal. Again, where was Mondragon? He needed to be more convincing. In fact, if I remember right he started to chase it then stopped.
    3) I think the second half, a low cross into the box collected by a wide open NY player which then turned into a comedy show. All I remember watching it was how Mondragon was glued to his line like statue and had plenty of chances to come out and get the ball.
    I may be picky but I totally thought Mondragon was as much at fault for the goal as anyone else … I’m sorry but I expect my GK to come out and get that ball, or atleast punch it.

    • I 100% agree with you that Mondragon was at fault on that goal. He HAS to come off his line for that ball and make an attempt at it. If he misses then so bet it but at least he didn’t just sit there on his line hoping for the post to save him. I want MacMath in the playoffs. He will at least go down trying.

    • The OG has been reversed.

      http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/articl…win-over-union

      Credited to Richards now.

      Mondragon could have come out but look at the video as part of the article. You’ll notice that Valdes in front of Richards did not even jump. Mondragon may have counted on Valdes to jump. All Valdes had to do is jump up a bit and he would have cleared the ball. I also rather have Mac in goal but think that Valdes is to blame most.

      • Yeah I saw that. But I also saw a completely passive and unsure Mondragon. In fact watching it again it looked like he was in great position to claim it, stared at it for a second, then retreated back to his line.

      • It’s clearly an own goal. Really poor call by whatever powers that be that changed it. If a defender gets the decisive touch (ie the ball would not have gone in had he not touched it) then it’s an own goal. It’s pretty clear that Richards’ shot was not going in – it hit the post and came back out. Own goal Mondragon, though not much he could do about it hitting him.

  5. Goal sequence: Okugo loses his man. He should have recognized that Garfan was on “the ball” and should have followed the runner into space. Because he did not everybody shifts towards the ball with Califf going to the corner. This ultimately pulls Valdez out of position and creates too much space for the attack.

    No one to blame but Okugo in the events leading to the goal…IMO

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