Daily news roundups

Union passes on Re-entry draft, Preseason in Clearwater announced, Garcia report to be released, more

Philadelphia Union

The Union passed on making a selection in second phase of the Re-entry Draft on Thursday. Former Union defender Bakary Soumare was selected by Montreal, and former Union forward Chandler Hoffman was selected by Houston.

On Thursday, the Union made it official: the team’s preseason camp will now take place in Clearwater, Fla., home of the Phillies preseason camp since the 1940s. In fact, the site of the Union’s training camp, the Joe DiMaggio Sports Complex — which will be adding stands to accommodate 2,000 spectators –is right across the street from where the Phillies train.

An article from the Clearwater Gazette we linked to in Thursday’s roundup said the Union’s deal with Clearwater is for three years with an option to renew.

Matthew De George reports at the Delco Times that a Union spokesperson said “the parties involved, including the St. Petersburg/Clearwater Sports Commission, are optimistic about a longer-term partnership.”

Nick Sakiewicz tells Philadelphia Business Journal, “We looked at other locations in Florida, but we able to work out a great deal with the city of Clearwater. The mayor and city administration were very easy to work with.”

Sakiewicz said he expects the team will work with the Phillies on events in Clearwater, explaining, “We’ve had a great relationship with the Phillies over the years and we’ve done a lot of cross-promoting and co-marketing with the team.”

The Tampa Bay Times reports, “Philadelphia Union vice president Dave Rowan said the franchise will work to persuade other Major League Soccer teams to move their preseason training to this area.”

In addition to the previously announced preseason game against new NASL side Jacksonville Armada on Feb. 7, the Union will also face NASL side Tampa Bay Rowdies on Feb. 10. After that, with the Disney World Pro Classic not being staged this year, the Union will participate in the IMG Tournament in Bradenton. Participating clubs in the IMG Tournament are yet to be announced, but last year Chicago, Columbus, DC, New England, Orlando, Toronto, and Swedish side Malmo FF were involved in preseason games at IMG.

The Union’s 2015 preseason schedule tentatively looks like this:

Jan. 23 – Jan. 30: Team begins training at YSC
Jan. 30: Open training day at YSC for fans
Feb. 2: Team departs for Clearwater, Fla.
Feb. 7: Match vs. Jacksonville Armada FC at EverBank Field (5 p.m.)
Feb. 10: Match vs. Tampa Bay Rowdies at Joe Dimaggio Sports Complex (6 p.m.)
Feb. 12: Team returns to Philadelphia
Feb. 16: Team departs for Clearwater, Fla.; IMG Tournament begins
Feb. 19: Chamber Breakfast
Feb. 20: Spring Training Fan Trip Welcome Reception
Feb. 21: Spring Training Fan Trip match in Bradenton, Fla.
Feb. 22: Spring Training Fan Trip open practice and BBQ
Feb. 28: Team returns to Philadelphia

You can find information on the preseason Fan Trip, which will take place Feb. 20-22, by clicking here.

More on the preseason news at Philly.comDaily News and Philly Soccer News.

At the Union website, Andy Jasner reports on the combine the Union hosted at YSC on Tuesday and Wednesday. Jim Curtin says in the report, “there’s a lot of talent here,” explaining, “We don’t want to let anyone slip through the cracks so it’s one of those situations where we have another opportunity to upgrade what we had in place from last year and move forward.” Curtin said some of the players will probably join the Union in the first week of preseason.

Perhaps of more interest to Union fans is this comment from Curtin: “January will be the time when international signings will come. Right now, it’s a lot of little tweaks to the roster.”

Sons of Ben

The Sons of Ben raised $15,388 and collected 512.8 lbs of food in last weekend’s Help Kick Hunger charity event at Brauhaus Schmitz.

Local

Allentown Morning Call has a report on Moravian Academy’s Bob Hartman being named the NSCAA High School Private/Parochial boys soccer Coach of the Year. The report notes Hartman “was chosen as state and regional coach of the year before he earned the national honor.”

Pittsburgh Riverhounds have a new president, Richard Nightingale, and head coach, Mark Steffens, who comes to Pittsburgh after 18 years with Charlotte Eagles.

Nightingale said, “I’m a big believer in having a vision for where we want to go, not only for soccer in Western Pennsylvania, but, ultimately, we’d become renowned nationally for what we do here. We’ll set the benchmark, whether it’s for developing players, innovative training or a game experience.”

Nightingale said the Riverhounds have dissolved its partnership with Houston Dynamo and will move forward without an affiliation with an MLS team in order to have more flexibility with roster moves. He also said he plans on having a women’s pro team within the next three years.

MLS

In the second phase of the Re-entry Draft on Thursday, 15 clubs passed on making a selection. Eight players were selected by six teams:

Montreal Impact – Bakary Soumare (D)
San Jose Earthquakes – Marvell Wynne (D), Sanna Nyassi (MF, 2nd round)
Houston Dynamo – Chandler Hoffman (F), Nathan Sturgis (MF, 2nd Round)
FC Dallas – Atiba Harris (F/MF)
New England Revolution – Tristan Bowen (F)
Orlando City SC – Josh Forde (GK)

You will recall the articles from the Orlando Sentinel and Stoke Sentinel we linked to on monday reporting that Brek Shea would be returning from England to join Orlando City. Stoke City manager Mark Hughes said on Thursday, “We envisage Brek completing his move to Orlando. It hasn’t been confirmed yet, but he was in the building yesterday trying to tie it up.” More from Fox Sports, ProSoccerTalk, and the AP.

Is Mix Diskerud headed to Club Tijuana rather than an MLS club? More from ProSoccerTalk.

It has not yet been announced by MLS, but Chivas de Guadalajara has issued an announcement saying Erick “Cubo” Torres has been bought by the league. “Club Deportivo Guadalajara informs that Major League Soccer (MLS) has taken up the buy-out option on forward Erick Estefano Torres Padilla. As part of the negotiation, the player was ceded for six months, on a loan deal, to Guadalajara.”

Toronto FC general manager Tim Bezbatchenko says Jermain Defoe is in the team’s plans for 2015. “Jermain, we’re planning on him getting back. He logs into his account on Sports Office [an online player-management system with a daily line of communication with the coaching staff] and just a couple days ago, he started running on the field. If someone comes and there’s an offer, we’ll consider it. We’re planning to have him on our team but we have contingencies, and if he happens not to be here, we have a plan.” The team also plans to retain Gilberto.

The BBC on how “key” Frank Lampard is to NYCFC. More on NYCFC, who just signed a new local TV deal with the Yankees’ Yes Network, at the New York Daily News.

Kansas City have signed signed 31-year-old Chilean international goalkeeper Luis Marin. Kansas City also signed Hungarian international forward Krisztian Nemeth, a player Peter Vermes said “has extensive experience playing in a 4-3-3 system.”

Chicago Fire have transfered Designated player Juan Luis Anangono to Liga MX side Universidad de Guadalajara. Anangono went on loan to Ecuadorian Serie A side LDU Quitoin July.

Real Salt Lake have traded Sebastian Velasquez to NYCFC for allocation money in a deal that will be officially announced today.

MLS Multiplex says the normalization of relations between the US and Cuba “could certainly be a win for Cuba and a win for MLS.” At MLSsoccer.com, a review of the history of Cuban players in the league. Vice Sports has more with a focus on baseball.

US

Germany has passed the US to be ranked No. 1 in FIFA’s rankings of women’s national teams. The US had held the top spot since 2008.

After first drawing 1-1 with China at the International Tournament of Brasilia, then squandering a two goal lead to lose 3-2 to Brazil, the USWNT bounced back with an emphatic 7-0 win over Argentina on Thursday after heavy rain forced the game’s postponement from Wednesday. Christen Press scored three goals in the first half, adding another goal in the second, and Carli Lloyd scored a first half hat trick of her own. The team will now play Brazil again in the tournament final on Sunday. More from ProSoccerTalk, Soccer America, and the AP.

The US U-20 MNT defeated Honduras 2-1 in a warmup game ahead of the start of the U-20 World Cup on Jan. 9. The US and Honduras play again on Sunday.

Appearing on Sky Sports, Robbie Rogers said of Russia and Qatar hosting the next two World Cups, “I would never pressure anyone into speaking about the issue but it is absolutely insane. If you look at the next few World Cups, they are in places where, if I were to go, I would possibly be imprisoned or beat up or stoned to death. It is pretty ridiculous.”

At Grantland, Chris Wondolowski says of the miss that would have defeated Belgium in stoppage time in the Round of 16 at the World Cup, “I’m not over it. I’m not sure I’ll ever get over it. I actually think that’s OK.” I know I won’t ever get over it, but that’s the beauty of sport, right? Right?

Elsewhere

On Thursday, FIFA began a two day meeting in Morocco during which executive committee members are expected to vote on whether the full report on the investigation of alleged corruption during the bidding to host the 2018 and 2022 World Cups should be released. Reuters reported, “Sources close to the FIFA leadership suggested the vote could be closer than expected and that more committee members might be moved to vote in favor of the release of a redacted version of Garcia’s report as public pressure on them grows.”

The BBC is now reporting,

FIFA executives have unanimously agreed to publish a “legally appropriate version” of a report into allegations of World Cup bidding corruption.

However, world football’s governing body insisted Russia and Qatar will stay as hosts of the 2018 and 2022 tournaments respectively…

[the report] will only be released once ongoing investigations into five individuals are completed.

Sepp Blatter said in a statement, “the report is about history and I am focused on the future,” and that “there are no legal grounds to revoke the Executive Committee’s decision on the award of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.”

More from Reutersthe Guardian and Press Association on the vote to publish the report and Blatter’s comments.

The Guardian reports, “Former Japan international Kazuyoshi Miura has agreed to extend his contract for another season at second division side Yokohama FC, with his new deal taking the former Genoa striker past his 48th birthday.” Apparently, he’s the world’s oldest professional soccer player.

17 Comments

  1. Brek Shea. Wonder what he learned in England. Hopefully some stuff. Decent player who generally underwhelmed me with his understanding of the game last time he was stateside or running around aimlessly with USMNT. Decent player Brek Shea, not surprised he is signing with Orlando as Orlando clearly aims to win MLS Cup in its first season.
    .
    Makes me wonder…. I wonder, I say to myself, when do the Union aim to win MLS Cup?

  2. Gruntled Fan says:

    Thinking Defoe will not be back, those statements were not very reassuring, “yes we are planning on having back but will listen to any offers and have other plans on in place once a premier league team throws buckets of cash at us”. Amazing how often soccer players switch teams relative to other major sports in the US.
    .
    Guessing by Curtain’s comments we can expect more than one international signing in January?

  3. In other news the USWNT no longer best team on the planet. This is a position I think they may have to get used too as the french, germans, brazilians, and japanese are beginning to invest lots and lots of money in infrastructure are are weaving intricate designs on the field. As usual grit athleticism and stunning speed are only part of the equation- last world Cup I thought the french women were simply magnificent.
    .
    Can someone get me Horst Wein on the line, “Hello Horst, this is US Soccer, can you fix us please…from the ground up.” The G Certification, F Certification and National E license should be completely rewritten if all that nonsense is still offered to coaches. See if all mom and pop coaches were required to spend 10 hours learning the Funino way to SSG development and then the all important concussion course- maybe we would have a revolution worth being televised and 6 years old who understand the simple elements of team play. Ladies and gentleman the game is NOT the best teacher. Teachers are the best teachers.
    .
    At least the Union had the sense to bring him in and redesign there U7 and U6 program at YSC. Is anyone getting tired of me saying this.
    .
    Paging Horst Wein. Paging Horst Wein.

    • i say amen brother

    • Dan C (formerly of 103) says:

      Intricate team play is not needed at the u6 and u7 level. Basic skill development, muscle memory, posession games; all of this is what is needed. The most drastic and glaring difference between soccer in this country and foreign countries is simply first touch. You can run all the different tactical sessions that you want, but if your first touch isn’t there you can’t establish possesion and henceforth can’t keep it. This absentee basic skill was on fine display at the World Cup. Besides, throw 6 kids in a room with one dump truck and do you think they will take turns? The ball is the toy at that age and it should be on their feet 90% of the time during any practice session.

      • The intricate design image was for the French women players not a group of 6 year olds. And yes while you are correct about first touch those skills are improved upon in the SSG. Having basic understanding about the patterns that occur in a football over and over and over and how to solve those problems is what is lacking with youth players- which then impacts their tactical understanding as they age.
        .
        Of course kids need the ball at their feet never said they didn’t but all sessions should be 1v1, 2v1, 2v2, 3v1, 3v2 3v3 which will elevate the ball skills and critical thinking necessary and what is so obvious to see is lacking In little players. Yes 6 year olds need to be thinking and memorizing pattern play. That is the biggest difference between us and THEM. Those kids are being taught how to play.

      • Maybe it was different in the past, but the current E license course definitely stresses time on the ball (no standing around, waiting in lines, etc) and the small-sided drills (1v1, 2v2, 3v2, etc) you mention above. I completely agree that is the best way to build technical skills first and encourage creativity.

  4. I’m not as big on following some of this, but was there really NO ONE worth taking a shot at on the re-entry draft?

  5. Can Sepp please stop talking? Yeah, don’t look at the shady dealings over there behind the curtain. They’re history. And by the time my next round of shenanigans is figured out, they’ll be history too. Let’s all live in the future, where I’ll somehow still be king of FIFA.

  6. Wait, has there ever been another instance of TWO SIMULTANEOUS FIRST-HALF HAT-TRICKS in a top-level international or club match? Why isn’t that a bigger deal? That’s insane.

    And I don’t think the USWNT cares if it’s ranked #1 so long as they win when it counts. This tournament hardly qualified. But better competition is definitely a good thing for the team and the sport.

    • OneManWolfpack says:

      And I assume the FIFA rankings are just as back-asswards for the women as they are for the men. The USWNT will be just fine.

    • It isn’t a bigger deal because this is Amer-ica! where discussing Mark Sanchez and Nick Foles over and over and over is what the mob wants. Where Sportscenter only pays attention to soccer every four years where……… the culture…….

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