Daily news roundups / Featured

Marfan to train with Sunderland? Additional troubles for WPS. More news.

Photo: Paul Rudderow

Philadelphia Union

Tweet from SBI: “I’m told Philadelphia Union midfielder Michael Farfan will be heading to England for a training stint with Premier League side Sunderland.” As of this writing, we are waiting for confirmation from the Union about this report.

SI says, since the Union addressed their biggest needs with recent signings from the international market, “the only need for Peter Nowak’s club is to stockpile more wing options.”

The Guardian’s look at top prospects in the SuperDraft has Enzo Martinez as a possible pick for the Union.

Also from the Guardian, in case you missed it, Sons of Ben VP Corey Forlan shares his insight into what the Union will do in the draft.

ASN Philly offers their take on the draft.

Former Union goalkeeper Brian Perk joins current Union goalkeeper Zac MacMath at the USMNT U-23 camp.

New Union partner Goldenberg’s Peanut Chews is launching a new campaign to re-brand the iconic Philadelphia candy. Here’s a look at what to expect.

MLS

Goal.com has an extensive recap of the final day of the Players Combine.

Soccer America breaks down their top picks in the draft. Goal.com does the same.

Yep, so does SI.

If you’re not excited already for the SuperDraft, there’s this:

Robbie Rogers has left Columbus Crew to sign with Leeds.

Former Rangers and Middlesborough striker Kris Boyd is considering a move to Houston Dynamo.

Tweet from Soccer Insider: “Hearing that 2 veteran #MLS referees and several new candidates failed fitness test at Florida camp last weekend”

Landon Donovan and Everton face Brad Friedel, lauded in the Guardian today as “the daddy of all Premier League goalkeepers,” and Tottenham today at 2:30pm on Fox Soccer. Will Donovan take the “easy road” in addressing Friedel’s comments last month by scoring a goal? Or will Tim Howard and Friedel, two of the four goalkeepers in the history of the Premiership to score a goal, make it no. 2?

WPS

Philadelphia-native and well known nutter Dan Borislow, the ousted owner of magicJack, has won part of the case he brought against WPS. A Florida judge found that WPS improperly terminated his franchise. The judge will announce on Jan. 18 whether this resulted in “irreparable harm.” More on the ruling here.

WPS CEO Jennifer O’Sullivan said in a statement following the ruling, “If the court rules to reinstate the franchise, my fear is that ownership will seriously consider folding the League, thus ending professional soccer for women in the United States.”

ESPNW has a timeline of Borislow’s dealings with WPS.

Philadelphia Independence

Swedish news outlet aftonbladet.se is reporting that Independence forward Veronica Bouquete has signed a two-year contract with Tyresö. (Read crappy translation here.)

At the USWNT U-23 camp is Independence defender Lauren Barnes. Also there is Independence 2011 Rookie Draft pick Bianca D’Agostino and New Hope-native Amber Brooks (North Carolina).

All White Kit looks at the 2011 Rookie Draft. Of the Independence picks, AWK says that, with the exception of Sinead Farrelly, “The rest of the draft looks like bust city one season in.”

Local

Former Temple, Philadelphia Kixx and Ocean City Nor’easters goalkeeper Patrick Hannigan has signed with NASAL expansion team San Antonio Scorpions.

It’s not exactly local, but it is Pennsylvania. USL PRO club the Pittsburgh Riverhounds announced on Tuesday plans to build a $7.5 million 3,500 seat soccer stadium to be completed this summer. More on the news here and here.

US

It’s official: the US will play Italy on Feb. 29 in Genoa.

Notre Dame’s Randy Waldrum has been named coach of the USWNT U-23 team.

Here’s a look at USMNT U-20 forward Villyan Bijev, who recently signed with Liverpool.

Elsewhere

Argentina will play Brazil at MetLife Stadium, aka the New Meadowlands,  on June 9.

Sid Lowe takes a closer look at the voting for the Ballon d’Or and notes a few curious decisions.

The Dutch Cup replay between Ajax and AZ Alkmaar, which follows the abandonment of the game on Dec. 21 after a fan attacked Alkmaar’s goalkeeper, will only be open to fans under the age of 13. The Guardian reports, “Tickets will be free for clubs and primary schools for children aged under 13, with one adult supervisor allowed in to look after every six of them.”

One Comment

  1. Having family ties in Pittsburgh, i can just picture the view of the City, the river, etc. from this stadium. Station Square is a great spot but i never imagined a Soccer stadium being built there. This is Great news!! 🙂

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