Photo: Courtesy of Colorado Rapids

Philadelphia Union

Kerith Gabriel tweeted on Friday morning, “JUST IN: Conor Casey signed on dotted line yesterday, and is official on @philaunion active roster. Jersey number still TBD at this time.”

It says in Thursday’s edition of the Daily Doop that “preseason is a mere two weeks away with players reporting to camp at YSC Sports in Wayne in just 14 days.” So there you have it: The Union preseason begins Thursday, Jan. 17. (Figure Thursday and Friday for medicals with proper training starting on Monday, Jan. 21—does that sound about right?)

The Daily Doop also notes that season ticket packets generally ship “anywhere from 2-3 weeks before the season starts” so season ticket holders should start to see delivery “around the middle of February.”

In this post on the Union website, John Hackworth talks to Andy Jasner about the team’s approach to offseason acquisitions. “I think each move we’ve made, it was done with a lot of thought with our current needs and where we’re heading as a club…As a staff, we talk about players all the time and we’ve been very diligent and will continue to be that way…I think for us, it was important to remain focused on the type of players we were searching for. I had my eye on a number of players and we’ve been able to get some things done already, which we’re very pleased about…We’re always looking to improve our club. I don’t think that ever changes. If there’s something that can be done, we will certainly explore it. We will look at everything, but it has to be the right move and the right player for the Union.”

Asking the question “who will surprise in 2013,” Nicholas Rosano answers at MLSsoccer.com Chicago, DC, and—you guessed it—the Philadelphia Union. While noting some concerns, primarily in the midfield, Rosano says the Union have “a glut of young talent and seasoned veterans to provide guidance. If they can address a few holes (and perhaps bring in a veteran ‘keeper), don’t be surprised to see them back in the playoffs after a one-year hiatus.”

At SI, Grant Wahl offers the second edition of his yearly “MLS Ambition Rankings.” After recounting the series of strange decisions that characterized the end of the Nowak era, and the bizarro lawsuit that followed Nowak’s dismissal, Wahl puts the team at No. 14 on the list, a six spot drop from where they were in the first rankings in 2012. What past bad history has to do with current ambition is beyond me but, in fairness, the rankings seem to be more an evaluation of front office and ownership competence, commitment, and engagement than of the moves made by teams to improve on the field.

Local

Ocean City Nor’easters present their Top 11 Moments of 2012.

MLS

Multiple sources are reporting that a six month loan deal will see Seattle’s Freddy Montero return to Colombia to play for Millionarios is all but complete. The motivations behind the loan will sound familiar: to play in the Copa Libertadores and improve his national team profile. More from futbolred.com (in Spanish; crappy Google translation here), SBI, Sounder at Heart, Seattle Times, and MLSsoccer.com.

The league has released its preliminary list on Generation adidas signings: Walker Zimmerman (Furman), Andrew Farrell (Louisville), Mikey Lopez (University of North Carolina) and Jason Johnson (Virginia Commonwealth University).

Remember that Tyson Wahl fellow, the left back/center back who many thought the Union would pick up in the Re-entry draft? He just signed with Columbus.

Colorado have signed Ecuadorian international center back Diego Calderón.

Midfielder Andrea Pisanu will join Montreal Impact on loan from Bologna.

US Soccer Players has a list of four “big picture goals” MLS needs to achieve in 2013, none of which are likely to happen in that time frame, whether or not one feels the goals themselves are good ones.

Re: Sepp Blatter’s recent comments:

• At Grantland, Brian Phillips presents a gem of a piece of commentary that’s so good on so many levels, I don’t know where to start.
• GolTV’s Juan Arango says it was the FIFA president’s praise of soccer’s growth in China that got so many people in the US ticked off and Blatter is an idiot anyway. This Arango fellow owes me three minutes of my time back.

Newsday says, you know what, that soccer stadium in Queens thing, well, it just might work. As long as some careful planning is done, of course.

What’s that, New York Daily News, the Mets say they could host an MLS team at nearby Citi Field? Hilarious.

US

The Philadelphia Sports Writers’ Association has named the USWNT their Team of the Year.

The centennial celebration continues at US Soccer.com with a look at Tab Ramos becoming the first player to sign with MLS. Also, whatever happened to USMNT forward Ante Razov and USWNT midfielder Linda Hamilton.

USWNT legend Kristine Lilly will be inducted into the Connecticut Soccer Hall of Fame.

At ASN, Will Parchman debuts the new “The Striker” column. The column will explores issues surrounding, you know, the American striker.

Elsewhere

A public prosecutor in Northern Italy is set to open charges of inciting racial hatred against Pro Patria fans who racially abused AC Milan players in a match that was abandoned on Thursday.

Clarence Seedorf doesn’t agree with Kevin-Prince Boateng’s decision to leave the pitch after suffering racially abuse from the stands in Thursday’s friendly. Speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live, Seedorf said, “I don’t feel it’s such a fabulous thing. These people will feel empowered now. They should just be identified and kicked out of the stadium.”

A fan in France may have zlatanered Zlatan Ibrahimovich with his offer to give up the rights to the domain name Zlatan.fr.