Photo: Earl Gardner

Philadelphia Union

Yesterday we posted video on the PSP YouTube channel of John Hackworth’s Monday press conference following the open training session. As far as we know, it’s the only video of the press conference.

The Union focused on defensive depth in their first three picks in Tuesday’s Supplemental Draft. Several selections also featured local connections, such as Yardley, Pa. native Eric Schoenle, Princeton’s Mark Linville, and Reading United alumni Leo Fernandes. Question: If you had reservations about how the 2013 SuperDraft had gone for the Union, do you think the Supplemental Draft picks make for a more successful draft overall?

More background on the Supplemental Draft picks from the Union website, Philly.com, and Philly Soccer News.

One of the traditions of the Union preseason over the past four years has been the Name the Unnamed Trialist game. our photo essay of the open training session for a look at each of the trialists.) I know Gabriel had a “meet the trialists” series back in October, but I think this might be the first time the club has officially named its trialists in the preseason, at least this early in the preseason.

Here are local TV news reports on Jake Keegan being selected in the Supplemental Draft from newschannel34 and WBNG as well as a report in Binghampton University’s student newspaper.

More alma mater reports for new signing Aaron Wheeler and Supplemental Draft pick Mark Linville. as well as this feature on SuperDraft pick Don Anding from the Union website.

For many Union fans, the question of who will be the club’s starting central defender tandem is really one of where will Amobi Okugo play. Okugo says, “I’m just going into this preseason to fight for two positions, whether it’s center mid or centerback. We haven’t even played a game yet, so everyone is fighting for spots. I’m just trying to be on the field and stay on the field.”

More on what Hackworth is thinking in terms of left back.

More on Brian Carroll being named team captain.

Union Tally  and Goal.com have more on the Adu saga. The Goal.com article from Keith Hickey has this gem of a quote from an anonymous “former U.S. youth international” about Adu: “He thinks he’s God’s gift to soccer.” Yikes.

On Monday, we linked to a page on the website that supplies the heat transfer letters and numbers for MLS kits that shows the new number fonts. This page on the site shows a comparison of the new numbers and letters font with the previous version. Big improvement.

Neither the Linc nor PPL Park are one of the 2013 Gold Cup venues.

Local

A report from Rochester says that USL PRO team Rochester Rhinos “are one of four teams that will affiliate with Major League Soccer this upcoming season…Details of the agreement are expected to be released Wednesday by Major League Soccer.” Given that Harrisburg City Islanders are already affiliated with the Union, might they be part of Wednesday’s announcement?

Nine Reading United alumni were selected in this year’s drafts. NINE!

Harrisburg City Islanders will host their final open tryout ahead of the 2013 season on Feb. 27-28 at In the Net Sports Complex in Palmyra, Pa. Click here for more details.

MLS

FC Dallas head coach Schellas Hyndman on the Brek Shea to Stoke rumors: “I think it’s a sign of the league and the quality of players that we have in this league. It comes as no surprise that some of our better players are being identified. But for us today, Brek is a member of FC Dallas and I think that any other comments I make at this time would not be correct.”

Reports say that MLS nixed a Shea deal and Stoke manager Tony Pulis no longer thinks the winger will join the club in this transfer window..

Local lad Bobby Convey, who has struggled with injuries for some time, says he’s feeling fit. “I don’t feel old any more. I feel good. We’ll see what happens going forward. I really hope to be doing well. I probably haven’t felt this fit since I’ve been in England.” UP THE ROYALS! (Reading, not Kansas City.)

Vancouver Whitecaps and Scottish international Barry Robson have mutually agreed to dissolve his contract.

At Goal.com, Kyle McCarthy considers the fallout from Landon Donovan’s unspecified return to the playing field.

Columbus Crew have signed Brazilian center back Gláuber Leandro Honorato Berti. Four names? Are they sure he’s Brazilian?

Apparently, former Manchester United defender Mikael Silvestre is training with Portland.

Paolo DelPiccolo was the 26th pick in the SuperDraft but instead of heading to Montreal he signed a six-month deal with Eintracht Franfurt. Montreal director of soccer operations Matt Jordan says “the door is still very much open” for DelPiccolo eventually signing with Montreal.

Ryan Nelsen will take over as Toronto’s new coach on a full-time basis on Feb. 1.

Do you find the SuperDraft underwhelms? At MLS Talk, Earl Reed does, too,

The Cascadia Cup Council had a “productive and respectful conference call” with MLS representatives on Tuesday “that opened important dialogue” regarding the ongoing Cascadia Cup controversy.

Luck versus skill in goalscoring. The Central Winger takes a statistical look.

NWSL

It looks like Tobin Heath will be playing for Paris Saint-Germain before joining the Portland Thorns.

US

Jeff Parke scored in the USMNT’s 3–0 closed door scrimmage win against Club Tijuana’s reserves on Tuesday.

Steven Beitashour and Edson Buddle have dropped out of the USMNT camp with injuries.

Jurgen Klinsmann has some interesting things to say in this interview with the Wall Street Journal. Asked what’s missing from US soccer, Klinsmann says,

If a player makes it to MLS when he is 18- or 19-years old, he thinks he made it. This is the problem we have because we are not socially so connected so deeply to soccer in the daily life. They think, you get a tryout in Europe with West Ham, this is huge, you made it. No, you haven’t even made it if you have the contract with West Ham. And even if you play there and if you become a starter, which would make us happy, that still doesn’t mean that you made it. My whole talk to Clint Dempsey for 18 months was [about how] he hasn’t made shit. You play for Fulham? Yeah, so? Show me you play for a Champions League team, and then you start on a Champions League team and that you may end up winning the Champions League. There is always another level.

Or, as this companion piece says, for Klinsmann, mediocrity will not be tolerated.

Tom Sermanni has announced his 29-player roster ahead of the USWNT’s friendlies against Scotland on Feb. 9 and Feb. 13. Refreshingly, there are some players who haven’t been named in a while as well as some new faces.

A must read for US soccer history fans is this interview with Elmo Cordeiro, the ballboy in the USA’s historic 1-0 win over England in the 1950 World Cup. What a story.

Elsewhere

Bradford—tenth in League Two, number 74 among English clubs—lost 2–1 to Aston Villa but won the League Cup semifinal series 4–3 on aggregate to advance to next month’s final where they will face either Chelsea or Swansea on Feb. 24 at Wembley. Bradford are the first Fourth Division team to reach the final since 1962. Bradford manager Phil Parkinson said, “It’s dreamland.”