Daily news roundups

Montreal bits, Lahoud called up by Sierra Leone, USMNT roster, Champions League Draw, more

Photo: Earl Gardner

Philadelphia Union

Look for our preview of Saturday’s game against Montreal on PSP later this morning. In the meanwhile, check out our quick reference to get up to speed on the past history between the two teams.

Previews from the Delco Times, the Brotherly Game and Goal.com.

At Goal.com, Kyle McCarthy predicts a Montreal win.

In an article on Marco Di Vaio’s scoring prowess, Montreal assistant coach Mauro Biello says, “Early this season, Justin [Mapp] would find Marco with final passes, and [Andres] Romero as well. When we can play wide, we find those spaces for Marco and Felipe in the middle.”

Michael Lahoud has been called up by the Sierra Leone national team and will be unavailable for next week’s game in San Jose. Lahoud said of the call up, “When I found out [about the call-up], I was kind of like ‘hold the phone.’ It took me by surprise because I haven’t played that much this season, but I guess the minutes I have played were enough. I am excited and also anxious for the opportunity.”

At MLSsoccer.com, Dave Zeitlin looks at the Union’s defensive options with Amobi Okugo being suspended for the next two games. At the Union website, Kevin Kinkead does the same.

At the Inquirer, Marc Narducci writes that Jack McInerney should be back in the starting lineup. McInerney says of his goal drought, “It’s definitely been tough and frustrating, and I feel it has been a combination of the fact I have been on a little unlucky streak and in a little slump…Early this year I was scoring every time. I want to get back to that, and the confidence will come.”

SBI has more quotes from Wednesday’s press conference.
Union academy U-16 player Chris Gomez has a diary of his time at the recent youth national team combine on Portland.

Local

Reading United alumni Steve Neumann, Pedro Ribeiro, and Ben Sweat have been named Preseason All-Americans by Soccer America.

The college season begins this weekend for area men’s teams.

Drexel opens the season at home against Fairleigh Dickinson this afternoon at 4 pm. La Salle opens at home against Lafayette at 7 pm.

The Daily Pennsylvanian checks in with seniors Stephen Baker, Jonny Dolezal, and Duke Lacroix. Baker and Dolezal were with Reading United over the summer, Lacroix with the Ocean City Nor’easters.

The DP also talks to sophomore trio Forrest Clancy, Griffin Heffner and Alex Murphy. Murphy was part of the Lehigh Valley United team that won the U-19 national championship in July.

Here’s a preview of Muhlenberg’s men’s team.

MLS

SBI reports that the league has turned down two offers from Stoke City for Juan Agudelo as too low. Because Agudelo is in the final year of his contract, the league has the final say over the terms of his contract.

New England has signed Jamaican national team left back O’Brian Woodbine on a free transfer.

NYC FC is looking at a nine acre site just south of Yankee Stadium for their new home. More on the site here.

Opposition to the stadium plan for DC United? It’s out there.

Two San Jose Earthquakes supporters have been arrested for the April attack on a Portland Timbers fan and will be extradited to Oregon. More arrests could follow.

At ASN, John Godfrey says it’s time MLS raised the salary cap. “That way you can give the audience what it wants—a higher-quality product on the field—in a transparent and straightforward fashion.”

In the wake of the NFL concussion settlement, Soccer America’s Paul Gardner wonders what’s next for soccer.

NWSL

The league website previews Saturday’s championship final between Western New York and Portland (8 pm, Fox Sports 2).

US

Jurgen Klinsmann has announced his 23-player roster for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers.

It is Landon Donovan’s first call up for a World Cup qualifier since June of 2012. “I’m excited,” Donovan said after the roster announcement. “I want to be part of that team going forward, and I’m happy to be a part of the group. We have real work to do, and we have the potential in the next couple weeks to be qualified for the World Cup. That’s always the goal, and I’m going to do everything I can to make that happen.

Klinsmann talks about the roster in this Q&A.

Klinsmann said, “If we’re able to get three points in San Jose next Friday, we’re almost there. We’re almost in Brazil. I don’t want players to think, even for one second, about Mexico in Columbus. I want them to tune in to Costa Rica and give everything they have.”

Klinsmann isn’t concerned about the relative lack of veterans on the US backline. He also said DaMarcus Beasley is set at left back with Fabian Johnson on the left wing.

More from Klinsmann on the roster and his plans for the qualifiers at SBI.

Matt Besler is one of eight US players who will be suspended with their next yellow card. Besler said, “With yellow cards, it’s bound to happen It’s 10 games. When I got my first one in the first game I played, (midfielder) Michael Bradley came up to me and was like, ‘Dude, if you’re a player who plays in a lot of these games, it’s impossible not to get two yellow cards.’ … I can’t really comment on the rule, but that’s why you have 23 guys on the roster. It tests your depth, for sure. If you’re looking for guys not to get suspended, then yeah, it’s too tight. But if you’re looking to test teams’ depth, that’s what it does.”

I can comment on CONCACAF’s rule that yellow cards carry throughout the qualification tournament: It sucks.

Mexico has also released its roster for the next two qualifiers. Costa Rica is expected to release their roster later today.

The US will receive no favors in Costa Rica. The president of the National Team Committee, Adrian Gutierrez, said roads won’t be closed to ease travel for the US so the team “should make plans to arrive early wherever they go.”

Soccer Nation has a two-year report card on Klinsmann.

Leander Schaerlaeckens has a thought provoking look at the “soccer-industrial complex” that has grown up around youth development. “For some of these organizations it’s a simple equation: more teams, more trophies, bigger brand, more kids, more money. But what often gets lost in the shuffle is the quality of the soccer education.”

Elsewhere

ESPN, SI, and Goal.com on Thursday’s Champions League group stage draw.

The Europa League draw took place earlier this morning.

UEFA president Michel Platini says goal-line technology has opened a Pandora’s box.

2 Comments

  1. I don’t get how they could turn down Juan Agudelo’s contract. How do they have control over the terms of his contract? Aren’t they going to rosk losing him for nothing if he is in the final year of his deal.
    MLS you confuse me.

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