Daily news roundups

Le Toux wins. Williams “unattached”? More news.

Union

Sebastien Le Toux has won the Fair Play Award for the second year in a row. Bien fait!

Le Toux said of the award, “It may not be the most prestigious prize that people are asking about, but I’m very happy to get [this award] this year. It means I am always respectful on the field so I’m glad that the league and the referees know that.”

Unholy Union notes that on the USMNT U-23 roster on the US Soccer website for the Olympic Qualifying training camp in Germany, Sheanon Williams’ club affiliation is listed as “unattached.” What the f’ is up with that? [Update: Good news – Williams’ club affiliation has been corrected on the USMNT website.]

JP Dellacamera says “it’s not so much major moves that are needed heading into 2012 as much as tweaking the roster.” He poses four questions:

  • will the Union find a true No. 10 in the international market or will Roger Torres prove to be the player for that role?
  • can the Union find a target forward to hold up the ball and make the attack of Le Toux and others more effective?
  • Where will Freddy Adu lineup and what kind of expectations will be on him with a full off season of preparation with the team?
  • will the Union youth continue to improve?

Union Dues wraps the season.

Keon lives! You can watch video of the Trinidad & Tobago team preparing for their upcoming qualification match against Guyana here.

Local

The La Salle women’s team, ranked 23rd in the nation, will face 25th ranked Maryland in the first round of the NCAA championship tournament.

MLS

Kansas City’s CJ Sapong has been named MLS Rookie of the Year. Michael Farfan was one of the three final nominees for the award.

Portland Timbers edged out the Union to win the Fair Play team award.

The CONCACAF Champions League Quarterfinal draw has been released. LA Galaxy is paired with Toronto FC and Seattle Sounders willface Santos Laguna. The quarterfinals begin March 6-8.

We’ve linked to this news several times already but it keeps popping up in my news feed so here we go again: MLS (17,872) is now the third most attended professional team sport in the US behind the NFL and MLB, surpassing for the NBA (17,323) and NHL (17,132).

Tim Ream has confirmed that Arsenal is interested.

Rafa Marquez was dropped from the Mexican national team because of “indiscipline.” Rumors are swirling that the big baby will leave MLS to rejoin his first team, Club Atlas.

Blau Weiss Gottschee is one of the most respected youth academies in the New York area and when the Cosmos resurfaced they partnered with the academy as the New York Cosmos Development Academy. Gottschee is now suing the Cosmos for lack of payment, claiming it is owed $210,000. More on the story here.

US

Landon Donovan will remain in the States to prepare for the MLS Cup final while the USMNT plays France and Slovenia in Europe. Samir Nasri will be unavailable for France due to a knee injury. Slovenia released their roster on Monday.

Apparently, the consensus among the national professional punditry is that Michael Orozco Fiscal does not deserve to be selected by the USMNT. The Shin Guardian lays out why the pundits are wrong.

USL president Tim Holt talks about potential changes to the US Open Cup format.

Elsewhere

FIFA has denied England’s request that players be allowed to wear embroidered poppies on their kit in Saturday’s friendly against Spain in honor of Remembrance Day. FIFA bans the use of political symbols and said allowing the poppies would “open the door to similar initiatives…jeopardizing the neutrality of football. ” A FIFA spokesperson said, “There are a variety of options where the FA can continue supporting the cause of remembrance. One of them already was approved by Fifa, the period of silence.”

Delays in the construction of rail hubs, road systems and airport terminals are likely to cause major transportation headaches for those traveling to Euro 2012 in Poland and Ukraine.

FIFA is pressuring Brazil to pass “World Cup 2014 laws” covering a range of issues, from the price of tickets to penalties for selling pirate merchandise and the sale of alcohol in stadiums. FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke said, “Either we do (the Cup) together or we will never manage it,” adding there is “not a day to lose.”

Sepp Blatter says he will revive the so-called Strategic Committee, made up of representatives from clubs, leagues, players and referees, to address corruption in FIFA. “I will also now, let’s say, put to life the strategic committee…where FIFA itself will show to the world that we are going to work in our own family.” Oh, brother.

Former acting president of CONCACAF Lisle Austin has lost his appeal of a one-year ban after being found guilty of corruption in the recent bribery scandal involving now banned for life former FIFA presidential candidate Mohamed Bin Hammam.

Former Juventus general manager Luciano Moggi has been sentenced to five years and four months in jail for his role in the 2006 match-fixing case which led to Juve being demoted and having their 2005 and 2006 Serie A titles taken away.

Want to know what it’s like to watch a match in North Korea? Read on.

Valentin Ivanov, one of the greats of Soviet soccer, has passed away after a long struggle with Alzheimer’s disease.

8 Comments

  1. Lots a questions about Williams. Holding out for a payday? Released by Union? Looking for a better option? Still think he’s overrated but was thinking he would be our right back next year…Im curious to see if he makes the U-23 cut…also could the U be looking for a better right back? A RB that is stronger in the air? One not so easily bumped off the ball?

    • Haha, or more than likely it was some poor intern who got tired and typed in the wrong word. And judging from the fact his affiliation is now the Union on that site, thats probably all it was.

    • Ed Farnsworth says:

      You forgot to include “typographical or data entry error?” in your list of questions. Williams’ affiliation is now listed as the Philadelphia Union on the USMNT website.

    • It looks like the correction was made. Not sure what better right back is out there right now but there are not many that can make runs up and down the field like Williams does. As far as being stronger in the air I think he has done a good job and with time will put on more size. I enjoyed watching Williams makes his runs and crosses and I’m excited to see what he brings to Union next year. Keep up the great work Sheanon!!!!!

  2. I know certain ladies who would be interested to know if Williams was “unattached”

  3. Congrats Le Toux

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