Daily news roundups

Okugo suspended for two games, what to fix, rankings drop, more news

Photo: Daniel Gajdamowicz

Philadelphia Union

A Union spokesperson confirmed to PSP on Monday that Amobi Okugo will be suspended for both the home game against Montreal on Saturday and the road game against San Jose on Sept. 8 for yellow card accumulation and the red card he received after his second yellow of the day against New England.

In the latest Inside Doop, Dave Zeitlin writes of the loss to New England, “In truth, the biggest problem for the Union wasn’t the referee, it was the team’s shoddy midfield play…Turning the ball over and allowing so much space on counter-attacks is a problem that the Union need to quickly address.”

At the Delco Times, Matthew De George has a laundry list of concerns that John Hackworth must address before Saturday’s game against Montreal.

Late recaps of the New England game from the Examiner and Gant Daily.

You will recall last week that stat site SportsClubStats.com had the Union’s chances of making he  playoffs at 72.6 percent. Following the loss to New England, the site dropped the Union’s chances to 58.8 percent.

Power rankings? If we must. At Soccer America and SI, the Union drop two spots to No. 9. At ESPN, it’s a two-spot drop to No. 12. ProSoccerTalk has them at No. 10.

Good news Union fans! San Jose Earthquakes stars Victor Bernardez and Marvin Chavez have been called up by the Honduran national team for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers and will be out of town when the Union visit on Sept. 8.

Montreal Impact head coach Marco Schallibaum will not be on the sidelines when his team visits PPL Park this Saturday while he serves the second game of a two-game suspension. The Impact crushed Houston 5-0 without Schallibaum last Saturday. Montreal midfielder Patrice Bernier said, “You never get used to that, but we were able to deal with it. It was our first victory with [assistant coach] Mauro Biello at the helm. It’s proof that the group is strong. The coach is there during the week, so it doesn’t change the preparation. It was a nice way to answer — that we’re able to perform without the coach being there. And also to show the league that it doesn’t affect us to much if you knock a person out of our club.”

After Saturday’s big win, Biello described former Union midfielder Justin Mapp as “probably our most consistent player all year.” He continued, “Every time he gets the ball, something’s happening. He’s able to go inside, he’s able to go outside, he puts defenses on their heels. He’s been really effective so far.”

The Brotherly Game recaps how former Union players did last week.

Local

When he isn’t captaining Reading United, Council Rock North grad Steve Neumann plays at Georgetown where he is described by MLSsoccer.com as part of “the most fearsome strike tandem in college soccer.”

La Salle’s Kelsey Haycook is the Atlantic 10’s first Player of the Week of the new season. This is the fifth time Haycook has been named the conference’s player of the week.

Drexel’s women’s team defeated Marist 2-1 in their home opener on Monday night. The match went to two overtime periods.

After starting the season on Friday with a 2-0 win over NJIT, on Sunday the Temple women’s team defeated Delaware State 4-0.

MLS

New England’s Kelyn Rowe, who struck for two goals against he Union on Sunday, has been named Player of the Week by MLSsoccer.com and ProSoccerTalk. Rowe is also up for Top 3 Performer of the Week and Goal of the Week.

The Revolution were named SBI’s Team of the Week.

NWSL

Former Philadelphia Independence coach Paul Riley has confirmed that he’s pursuing the newly open job of manager of the Engand women’s national team.

FC Kansas City’s Vlatko Andonovski has been voted NWSL Coach of the Year.

US

Soccer Insider projects the US roster as the latest cycle of World Cup qualifiers draws nearer

Soccer America looks at the ongoing makeover of the US backline.

At ASN, Jon Godfrey argues that Aron Johannsson will claim a spot on the US roster for the 2014 World Cup. Incidentally, Godfrey says that Jack McInerney needs “more seasoning” and he expects him to be a part of the 2018 US World Cup team.

ESPN checks in on how USMNT players did over the past week.

Elsewhere

The Atlantic says that NBC’s Premier League deal doesn’t mean America loves soccer and may prove to be detrimental to MLS.

Jonathan Tannenwald talks to Brian Kweder, the Perkiomen High School graduate who is ESPN’s senior director of programming and acquisitions about the network’s commitment to soccer.

Play football in the River Windrush at Bourton-on-the-Water in England? Why not, they’ve been doing it for a hundred years.

13 Comments

  1. Glad to see that it’s not just the fans who see that there are some major problems that need to be fixed. It’s basically everyone on earth except for Hackworth who recognizes the deficiencies and realizes our place in the standings isn’t masking some of the season long issues with the team.
    .
    That said, they’re a very talented group and I think if there are some smart adjustments and changes in personnel we can definitely make the playoffs, and with the way the league is, possibly make some noise there.
    .
    Here’s to hoping that John takes his head out of the sand, makes some roster adjustments and gets us back on track for the stretch run. (We all know he won’t change anything, so lets hope the forwards and defense keep it together)
    .
    Any news on the Gaddis injury? If he’s out, any possibility that Brian Carroll could fill in at CB and have Keon (choke) play DMID? I know it’s not perfect but I’d rather see him than Wheeler or Albright.

  2. I got it! Just like Nikolov was brought in to tutor Zac. Kleb was brought in to tutor Torres! Torres is learning how to become a true two way player from a brazil international! NExt year, torres is going to start at CAM, be great, and lead the league in assists!!!!

  3. HAHAHAHA if Baky Saoumare had just been patient and kept his mouth shut he would be getting his big chance now…
    sucker

    • Chicago is four points behind with two games in hand. If they pass us, Baky will be the one laughing.

    • Its asinine to hold such venom for Baky when all he wanted to do was play. And, whats worse, is that there is no way he is in the wrong here.
      Okugo should have been from day 1 a stand in at CB till Baky was ready. But Hackworth sucks, and fell in love with him there.
      Then when Parke came in, THAT shoulda signaled the move of Okugo to CDM and a Baky/Parke partnership. PArke woulda been a great veteran leader for all these talented pieces.
      I cant think of a single thing in regards to this situation Hackworth did right. He weakened the team in several positions. He threw away a perfect chance to make his team stronger. The only one we should be laughing at here is Hackworth (and us, once Chicago passes us in the standings)

      • I need a sarcasm emoticon….
        Baky is doing great in Chicago, I am glad for him. The joke was he would have been waiting clear until now if he had stayed in Phila as opposed to going to Chicago and playing for a surging team.

      • oh, haha. sorry i missed that

      • It’s fine. If you have to explain the joke it’s not the fault of the person who didn’t get it.

  4. If Hackworth would’ve just started him when he should’ve . . .

  5. Anyone else think Wondo deserves to be on the MNT roster?

    • My Union fandom says yes, my US fandom says no. I’m kinda hoping they send Lenhart to Costa Rica, though, just to see how riled up he could get the crowd.

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