Daily news roundups / Featured

JackMac levels for US U-23s. Draft reaction. Findley howler. More.

Photo: Nicolae Stoian

Philadelphia Union

Jack McInerney scored in the US U-23 team’s 1–1 draw with the USMNT. McInerney, Amobi Okugo, and Freddy Adu started the first half. Zac MacMath and Sheanon Williams started the second half.

John Hackworth says of Tom Brandt, the Union’s first pick in the Supplemental Draft, “We wanted to get a quality player in the back and we feel like we did that with Tom Brandt. He was one of our targets…He’s a good all around player. He’s a central defender but he’s also played some in the midfield.” Brandt scored a hat trick in his final college game.

More background info from the Union on their Supplemental Draft picks.

The Union’s fourth pick in the Supplemental Draft, Brandon Zimmerman, played for Hackworth when he coached the US team in the 2007 U-17 World Cup. Hackworth says, “He’s a very versatile player who can play across the back or in the midfield.” Incidentally, Brandon is the younger brother of Preston Zimmerman, the guy who recently created a storm on Twitter with his criticism of Jurgen Klinsmann’s USMNT selections.

MLSsoccer.com gives the Union a 5.5 for their Supplemental Draft picks. “Brandt projects to be depth at center back but the highlight is Witkowski, who is a tricky, very technical winger and a former Polish U-18 national teamer. Union boss Peter Nowak will know him well. Hoppenot and Zimmerman are the honest, hard-working type, who will have enough to do to hang on during preseason.”

Kerith Gabriel talks to Union scouting and player development head Diego Gutierrez about Latin America players coming into MLS. Gutierrez says the Union’s recent offseason signings are players with the potential to become foundational players for years to come. “They work hard, have a good pedigree and they want to make a name for themselves. They don’t even have to speak English that well; they go on the field and compete, and no one has to question their leadership and work ethic. That’s what we want here and those are the guys I will always go after”

PPL Park is No. 4 on Steve Davis’ Top 5 list of stadiums that should host US 2014 World Cup qualifiers. “[The location helps in terms] of bringing Mexico, Central American or Caribbean sides in colder months. Plus, if fans in Philly can’t make visitors just a little uncomfortable, nobody can.” Damn straight!

The Sons of Ben are offering a two-for-one ticket deal for Saturday’s Help Kick Hunger charity event. Even if you can’t go, show your support for this worthy cause.

Philadelphia Independence

All White Kit has some audio clips and quotes from Paul Riley at the WPS Draft, including one that seems to suggest that Lauren Cheney will be joining the Independence. When asked if he is interested in coaching the USWNT, Riley says, “I would love the job, it’s a dream job.” He’s awesome.

Riley believes there will be 14 teams in WPS in 2014. “I think we will, because I think the West Coast will come in all together. We’re not going to bring them in until there are six or seven of them, and when they come in, they’ll jump the numbers up pretty quickly. And if we can get five or six out there, that’ll be great too. We don’t need seven. But I think right now, they’re probably at three over there, and they need to get to five or six before we do it, because that’s important.” So, he’s also ambitious.

This look at the Independence’s 12th pick in the WPS Draft, CoCo Goodson, has the awesome title “Coo Coo for CoCo.

Local

With four alumni selected in Tuesday’s Supplemental Draft, bringing their total to seven former players selected in the 2012 MLS draft, Reading United set a new club record. We are fortunate to have such a fine organization in our area.

This is the first year that University of Pennsylvania has had two players selected in the Supplemental Draft.

Antoine Hoppenot follows Josh Walburn to be the second player from Princeton selected by the Union.

Villanova’s Kevin Garcia was selected by New England in Tuesday’s draft.

The Elite Clubs National League’s player development program will be hosting a regional camp this weekend at Twin Valley High School in Elverson, PA. Players from FC Delco, FC Bucks, and Penn Fusion are among those participating.

MLS

Billy Schuler explains that the decision to sign with Swedish side Hammarby rather than enter this year’s SuperDraft was influenced by, among other things, the length of the Generation adidas contract he was offered by MLS. “The Generation Adidas deal I was offered is a five-year contract. It’s a two year guaranteed contract with three option years that the club holds. So, if there is European interest or something, the club would have to let you go, which is usually not very easy. I’m going to turn 22 in a few months, and that would kind of hold me down in MLS until I’m 26. For me, that’s a long time.”

Lancaster, PA-native Zarek Valentin describes what it was like to be left unprotected by Chivas USA and taken by Montreal in the Expansion Draft in this thoughtful interview.

Former Union goalkeeper Brad Knighton has been signed by Vancouver. Every Union player in the photo illustrating this article is no longer with the team, including Knighton’s new teammate, Jordan Harvey.

Thierry Henry says he’s sorry for swearing at an Arsenal fan following his team’s loss to Swansea on Sunday.

Don Garber says City Council scandals in DC are hampering negotiations to secure DC United a new stadium deal.

I like mine with cinnamon, maple syrup, and a little bit of milk.

It looks like Chicago Fire will have a shirt sponsor in 2012: Quaker Oats. The Fire’s press release announcing the deal begins, “The Quaker Oats Company, a division of PepsiCo, and The Chicago Fire Soccer Club are kicking off a season of food, fitness and fun for the city’s soccer fans and families.” Oh, brother.

US

A man was shot and killed on Tuesday in the restaurant of the hotel in which the USWNT are staying ahead of their opening Olympic qualifier in Vancouver against the Dominican Republic on Friday.

Caleb Porter believes continuity is the key to qualifying for the Olympics. “I want to have some continuity from camp to camp so that we can really build the team. With the way that we want to play, you have to have a lot of the same guys in so you can grow this concept within them.

Jurgen Klinsmann’s former bosses at Bayern Munich say he is a good organizer and passionate and believe he will succeed as USMNT coach.

A Scottish man has been charged with racially abusing Maurice Edu on Twitter.

Jamie Trecker looks at why US soccer has failed to produce large numbers of (male) world class players.

Recently out pro player David Testo has been nominated for a position on the US Soccer Athlete Council.

The U-20 women’s team is in Group B with Panama, Guatemala and Cuba  in the upcoming CONCACAF U-20 championship to be held March 1-11 in Panama City.

The USMNT U-17 team dropped its first game in the Aegean Cup 2012 International Youth Tournament, falling 2–1 to Turkey.

The US Paralympic team is off to England for a training camp. They will play England twice while there.

Here’s a look at Wisconsin-born Lauren Sesselmann, who is on Canada’s women’s national team.

Elsewhere

Real Madrid host Barcelona today in the Copa del Rey (GolTV, 4pm).

The Guardian’s David Conn says, “FIFA is facing a moment of truth—or another whitewash.”

And then there’s Robbie Findley’s howler for Nottingham Forrest on Tuesday:

One Comment

  1. Really happy for JackMac, SoccerByIves singled him (and Okugo) out for praise as well. Thank god those two have a great chance of being on the Olympic squad and thus getting a ton of valuable playing time – I doubt they would be able to get the same amount on this team right now.

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