Daily news roundups / Featured

Le Talk, Union preseason opens, USMNT survives the dives, more news

Featured image courtesy of Philadelphia Union

Le Talk

[Update: MLSsoccer.com’s Kevin Prince-Wright tells UK radio station talkSport that Le Toux is “going to be involved in a significant transfer to Bolton within the next few days,” adding that Le Toux is “gonna finalize his contract tomorrow with Bolton.” Prince-Wright suggests that Le Toux would be a good replacement for Johan Elmander, who left Bolton for Galatasaray on a free Transfer last May.]

While posing a hypothetical question to the Union Twitterati whether they would accept $2.75 million for Sebastien Le Toux, Jonathan “The Goalkeeper” Tannenwald mentions, “I’ve been told there has been no offer yet.”

Meanwhile, Daily News reporter Kerith Gabriel writes, “It’s likely the Union will start the 2012 campaign without Frenchman Sebastien Le Toux.”

In a report on the Tim Ream deal, Football.fr says, “Sebastien Le Toux should also soon join the Wanderers for a similar amount.” Ah, la comédie française!

Here’s the take on Le Toux’s return to the States from English website vitalfootball.uk: ” Naturally, the manager will still be looking to either bring people in or, in typical Bolton fashion, talk about bringing people in but not being able to as soon as the transfer window closes…If Le Toux isn’t coming, and his return to the States would suggest that, with eight days left in the window he isn’t, then the club are obviously in the market for another striker.”

Bolton’s need for Le Toux is connected to the status of Bolton captain Kevin Davies (more here), whether Bolton target Giovanni Dos Santos is headed to Villareal, and whether they can acquire Ismaël Bangoura.

Philadelphia Union

The Union’s preseason opened on Wednesday with fitness tests ahead of the start on Monday of full training. John Hackworth says, “Always the first thing you’ve got to do is make sure the guys are physically able to handle the demands of preseason.”

New signing Gabriel Gomez will report to the club today following his start on Wednesday night in Panama’s 1–0 loss to the USA. Look for our report on how Gomez looked later today.

UCLA head coach Jorge Salcedo says of Chandler Hoffman, “[H]e was born to score goals.”

The Daily Pennsylvanian catches up with recent Union draftee Tom Brandt, and Red Bulls pick Christian Barreiro, as they begin training with their new clubs.

Philadelphia Independence

The club website has a Q & A with returning PSP favorite Holmfridur Magnusdottir. Interestingly, the headline refers to her as a forward.

Local

Some 3,000 days after he was drafted by New England, Haverford School and FC Delco product Jeremiah White is back with the club as a trialist.

The Delco Daily Times looks at the positive light that was shown on the city of Chester on Tuesday, thanks in part to the announcement that PPL Park will be the site of the 2012 MLS All-Star Game.

Camille Roberts (Fogelsville, PA), Meredith Manley (Pottstown, PA), Allison Vickers (Williamstown, NJ), Madeleine Brill-Edwards (Haverford, PA), Maria Garofolo (Barto, PA), Kaelyn Johns (Downingtown, PA), Phoebe McClernon (West Chester, PA), Allison Trzaska (Yardley, PA), and Jenna West (Manheim, PA) are among those invited to the U.S. Youth Soccer ODP program national camp in Las Vegas.

MLS

The Tim Ream to Bolton deal is official.

DC United have signed 30-year old 6-foot-4, 198-pound Argentine defender Emiliano Dudar on a free transfer from Swiss club BSC Young Boys.

Recently signed with Vancouver, Brad Knighton says of his exit from the Union, “I don’t dwell on the past. It was tough seeing it then, but it was the best thing that happened to me. I was able to come to Carolina rather quickly and get games under my belt. That’s one thing I hadn’t had in four years of MLS experience. Sitting on the bench, you’re not getting better day in and day out. You’re more of a training player.”

The Seattle Sounders have announced a partnership with PDL club Tacoma Tide FC, which will be re-branded as Sounders FC U-23s.

US

Hope Solo, visibly limping after clearing a ball early in the second half of the USWNT’s win over Mexico on Tuesday night, Eli said if Solo was unavailable for either the semifinal or final Olympic Qualification games?

ESPN, Goal.com, MLSsoccer.com and Soccer America have player ratings for the USMNT’s 1–0 win over Panama. More on the victory here and here.

Ahead of a start that was shortened by a red card, Geoff Cameron described what was different about playing under Jurgen Klinsmann compared to playing under Bob Bradley. “It is completely different vibe with Jurgen than with Bob,” Cameron said. “People can have fun and not walk on eggshells. Jurgen lets players be who they are but we then have to come together. He is positive. Guys still have a good time but work hard.”

When asked after the game if he thought Panama’s Blas Perez took a dive in the play the resulted in his red card, Cameron said, “I think so.”

The red card may have been a good thing in terms of a learning experience for the team. “We wanted to introduce the players to those difficult games away from home out of their comfort zone,” Klinsmann said after the game. “So to come here and experience this, I think we did very well tonight. You could see it after the red card. We couldn’t create any more chances but it really paid off, especially coming down here, you could see.”

Fox Soccer have announced that they will be broadcasting Friday’s FA Cup match between Clint Dempsey’s Fulham and Landon Donovan’s Everton 3pm, FSC). MLSsoccer.com looks at the admittedly one-sided comparison of how the two have fared in Europe.

David Testo, the first openly gay US professional soccer player, has been elected by his peers to the U.S. Soccer Athlete Council. Other members of the council include Stuart Holden, Heather Mitts, and Jonathan Spector.

Elsewhere

While the Bundesliga is setting new records for revenue and attendance, Bayern Munich’s youth system is setting new standards for player development.

The AP reports that Europe’s top-clubs collectively lost nearly $2 billion in 2010.

Poor Real Madrid, always blaming the ref. The Guardian’s Sid Lowe runs down the game. (All I know is that Pepe was still on the pitch at the final whistle boggles the mind. And that Dani Alves strike? Incredible.)

3 Comments

  1. That Alves goal was RIDICULOUS! For a second I thought Iker was going to cry because he got scored on by a defender that wasn’t a set piece

    • Benzema’s wasn’t too bad either. Great 2nd half. Ref was OK for 80 minutes; then he lost the plot. Barcelona and Madrid should have had penalties, the red card was debatable, and the 3 minutes over-time should have been extended to 5 but not by 2 seconds. Was glad I had DVR’ed that match and could watch it later at night. I had extended the taping by 1/2hr and it taped some of Mourinho’s interview after the match. Was just great: most of the time he just answered with a poker face “I don’t know”. Wow….
      >
      How about the Carling Cup game and Man City’s loss?! Was a real battle with Bellamy shining and afterwards everyone on Liverpool smiling like they had won the Champions League. Not so sure about Mancini’s future… Would not be surprised if Mourinho takes over during the summer. Mark my words.

  2. This is what I love about MLS – no facts. Euro media rumors are the Ream deal and subsequent LeToux one to be roughly 2.5M pounds, or $3.9M US. The NYPost states the Ream transfer fetched between 2.75 and 3M. Kind of a big swing, when we’re all guessing with a +/- of 25%. That dramastically alters the value of the transfer. I love the Le Toux transfer at almost $4m, not as thrilled at $2.75, especially when you think of where that difference could be deployed come July 1.

    Anyway, good stuff guys, keep up the good work.

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