Daily news roundups

No Jack on ASG roster, Union academy draw with Chelsea U-23s, US-Costa Rica, more

Photo: Michael Long

Philadelphia Union

The 2013 MLS All-Star team roster was announced on Monday. Jack McInerney isn’t on it.

At Philly.com, Jonathan Tannenwald says, “From where I sit, it’s possible that McInerney has become a victim of his own success. Here’s why: As soon as he got called up to the U.S. national team’s CONCACAF Gold Cup squad, he was bypassed in the scoring charts.”

At Goal.com, Avi Creditor agrees. “Jack McInerney practically carried the Philadelphia Union—and the Golden Boot race—prior to his CONCACAF Gold Cup call-up, yet while his 10 goals were enough to warrant a place on Jurgen Klinsmann’s roster, they were not enough to get the 20-year-old into the MLS summer showcase. Ironically, if McInerney had not missed three league games to be with the U.S. national team, he might have done enough to get selected.”

All-Star team coach Peter Vermes said, “[McInerney] has had a tremendous year thus far. Obviously, he’s a young guy and for some of the other guys the consistency has been there. I applaud his performance thus far this season. He’s had a breakout year. I’m sure that if he continues on this way, he’ll have opportunities. He’s someone that I would say is in the mix at this moment, as far as the mix of alternates, that I’d look at for sure if Robbie Keane could not make the trip.”

At ProSoccerTalk, Richard Farley looks at Don Garber’s selection of DeAndre Yedlin and concludes, “Jack McInerney would have been a better choice if you’re looking for a young buzz-generator.”

With several All-Star players also being eligible for a call up to the USMNT for the knock out rounds of the Gold Cup, Tannenwald suggests that Sebastien Le Toux and Sheanon Williams also have a chance at being brought in for the All-Star Game.

At SI, Brian Straus argues that the exclusivity that goes along with a 20-player All-Star Game roster and keeps the likes of McInerney—and Landon Donovan, and Javier Morales, etc., etc.—out of the team, “along with the accompanying stakes,” also makes the All-Star Game “the most intriguing in sports.” He neglects to note that, unless they happen to be taking place in your city, All-Star Games are generally about as intriguing as the lint in a dryer filter.

At The South Jersey Times, Eric Goldstein describes McInerney’s omission as “a bit of a head scratcher.”

While we’re on the topic of Jack, Tannenwald also writes that he believes McInerney’s time with the USMNT at the Gold Cup is vital, even if he doesn’t see time on the field. “To me, McInerney should spend as much time as he can soaking in as much knowledge as he can from a national team camp. Even if he doesn’t get to play in a game, the experience of working with Klinsmann, Landon Donovan, Stuart Holden and others will teach McInerney what it takes to raise his game to the international level. In the long run, that will serve McInerney in better stead than a week with his club team. Especially when that week includes the Union’s longest road trip of the year.”

In the latest Inside Doop, Dave Zeitlin notes, “Conor Casey is averaging a goal or assist every 98.7 minutes this season, putting him on pace for his best statistical year ever in MLS.”

Keon Daniel didn’t enter the game but Trinidad & Tobago defeated Honduras 2-0 to advance to the Gold Cup quarterfinals where they will face Mexico.

Power rankings! At SI, the Union drop three spots to No. 9. At ESPN, they rise three spots to No. 8.

More on Sunday’s closed door friendly against Chelsea U-23s from Kerith Gabriel, who notes that eight players from the Union roster—Chris Konopka, Aaron Wheeler, Matt Kassel, Don Anding, Roger Torres, Antoine Hoppenot, Cristhian Hernandez and Jimmy McLaughlin—played.

McLaughlin scored the Union goal, assisted by Torres, in the 1-1 draw with Anding, Wheeler, and Kassel all featuring in the defense, as did “academy stud” Billy McConnell. McConnell is a graduate of Council Rock North High School who will be playing for Indiana this fall and played his club ball with PDA.

At the Patriot Times, Michael Bullock notes that, in addition to Hernandez and McLaughlin, three Harrisburg City Islanders players also played in the scrimmage, Lucky Mkosana, Matt Bahner, and Kenny Caceros.

Gabriel says to expect more of such scrimmages. Union academy director Tommy Smith said, “It’s important for us to play against some of the best young players in the world. I’d known from my own time at Rangers that Chelsea will have among them the best youth players worldwide and it’s good for our boys to experience that and to cope with it.”

You can view photos from the game on the Union’s Facebook page.

Local

When Harrisburg City Islanders travel to face Orlando City on Saturday, they’ll also be facing 2011 Rookie of the Year CJ Sapong, on loan from Sporting Kansas City to their partner club in Florida. MLSsoccer.com looks at how Sapong is faring in Orlando.

At the Patriot Times, Michael Bullock notes that Harrisburg’s Florida trip begins with them playing VSI Tampa 24 hours before they play Orlando. I understand that clubs are trying to save money on travel costs, but USL scheduling is ridiculous.

Taylor Racioppi (PDA Clash; Ocean Township, N.J.), has been called up for the USWNT U-17 camp at Ohio State University, July 21-31.

MLS

New England Revolution defender Kevin Alston has been removed from the disabled list after receiving treatment for chronic myelogenous leukemia since April.

David Beckham says he will soon announce the home of his MLS franchise. “It will be in a few months maybe but it’s important to get it right. This is a big decision where I’ll have my franchise and how I’m going to do it. It’s something I’m excited about.”

The rivalry between the Bronx and Queens over which borough gets to be the home of NYCFC continues.

Predreg “Preki” Radosavljević has been named head coach of Sacramento’s new USL PRO team. Sacramento is scheduled to join USL PRO in 2014 along with Oklahoma City.

US

The US faces Costa Rica tonight in their final group game at the Gold Cup (8 pm, FSC, UniMas, Univision Deportes, Fox Soccer 2Go). If the US defeats Costa Rica and finishes first in the group, they will play either El Salvador or Martinique in the quarterfinals in Baltimore on Sunday. If they are defeated by Costa Rica and finish in second place, they will play Honduras.

Jurgen Klinsmann said, “This game is like the final for Group C. Players understand they need to step it up and that the whole tournament really starts for us with Costa Rica. This is a team that we’re going to fight for World Cup qualifying points in September and we want to send them a signal. We take this very seriously and everybody is ready for this battle. We kind of saved a couple legs in the game against Cuba with some changes that we made there. We won’t save anybody for the game against Costa Rica.”

Klinsmann added, “Costa Rica is one of the top teams in the CONCACAF region and we’ll get a real picture, a real benchmark of where we are at. We need to be focused and on our toes because we badly want to win this group and go to the quarterfinals as the No.-1 seed. The team understands that point, and I think we will step it up.

SBI reports that Costa Rica is more focused on playing attacking football than on gaining revenge for their loss in the Snow Game.

Previews from PSP, US Soccer, MLSsoccer.com, Fox Soccer, Soccer America, and Goal.com.

The USMNT would set a new record for their longest win streak with a victory over Costa Rica. They are currently on seven wins in a row and US Soccer has an interesting look at what has taken place over those games.

At SI, Grant Wahl puts the spotlight on Joe Corona.

When the US plays Costa Rica tonight, the American Outlaws will (of course) be there. Here’s a look at the Hartford Chapter, who will be helping to lead the chants at Rentschler Field.

Fabian Johnson suffered a partially torn ligament in his ankle playing in a preseason game in Germany but is expected to be able to play again in about a week.

Josh Gatt will need knee surgery and is out for the rest of the season in Norway.

FIFA remembers the retirement of Claudio Reyna, five years ago today.

9 Comments

  1. All I have to say is: I am boycotting this year’s All-Star game in protest.

  2. There’s really no excuse from Vermes or Garber, none. Not that the All-Star game matters, but I’ve had enough of not watching Jack play in the Gold Cup that I think I’ll sit out this all star game.

  3. John O'Donnell says:

    I couldn’t be happier that he’s not on this year’s all-star team. He should be well rested for the stretch drive. Also remember this is the first year he’s been a 90 minutes player and has played almost every game till his call up. He should come back with good experience and hopefully a run at the gold boot.

    • Andy Muenz says:

      I’m glad he didn’t get the callup but for a slightly different reason. He’s already going to be well rested after not having played for 4 weeks. Maybe too well rested, as in not in game shape. At the all star game he would get at most 45 minutes of playing time, probably significantly less. Hopefully, Hack will realize that he needs the opportunity to get his legs back in shape and will play him for at least 60 minutes the night before against Stoke.

  4. voted jack in says:

    Listen Stop complaining about jack ot making it in… You could have voted him in. but union fans failed to do so

  5. OneManWolfpack says:

    Fan voting is stupid. Period. Mac lead the league for most of the year in goals and was only passed by because he was called up to his National team. And then passed over by the coach of the team and the commissioner. Gimmie a break. He got stone cold robbed. Don’t pick a guy like Keane just so you can say you did, knowing he’s gonna drop out. That’s just stupid. Mac deserved it flat out… with out being a replacement.

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