Photo: Nicolae Stoian
Philadelphia Union
A league source has confirmed to PSP that a deal is in the works to send Zac MacMath on loan to Colorado Rapids. The deal could be announced within the next 12 to 24 hours, pending approval from the league.
The Washington Post’s Steven Goff first tweeted news on Monday of a MacMath trade to Colorado. Kevin Kinkead followed Goff’s tweet with another tweet saying he understood the move would take the form of a loan rather than a trade. Kinkead’s loan tweet about the move was followed later by one from Ives Galarcep saying the same.
Kevin Kinkead, also tweeted, “I’ve also been told that Rais Mbolhi isn’t going anywhere. I expect him to be in Philly in 2015.”
Stay tuned, folks.
Brotherly game has season reviews of Danny Cruz, and another for Union midfielders.
The principals of the Buccini/Pollin Group (BPG), “a privately-held, full-service real estate acquisition, development and management company” are among the Union’s primary ownership group. On Monday, BPG announced “that it has completed the acquisition of the 282-room DoubleTree by Hilton DFW Airport North.” The announcement at Business Wire notes, “The acquisition capped off a banner year for BPG, which completed the development or acquisition of more than $225 million of hotel projects in Del., New York, Tenn., and Texas.”
Union Academy director Tommy Wilson will be on hand when a delegation from the Scottish FA runs a workshop at next week’s NSCAA Convention.
Local
Midfielder Duane Muckette (University of South Florida), a Reading United alum, was called up by Trinidad & Tobago for the CONCACAF U-20 Championship tournament and is currently training with the team in Miami.
Also called up by T&T was Temple defender Brendon Creed. T&T face the US in the CONCACAF tournament on Jan. 21.
At Penn Soccer, more on Duke Lacroix’s invitation to the MLS Players Combine taking place in Fort Lauderdale, Jan. 8-13. Lacroix is an Ocean City Nor’easters alum.
MLS
Kansas City have scheduled a “major player announcement” for today that is expected to announce the return of Roger Espinoza to the club after leaving the club to join Wigan Athletic in 2013. Espinoza tweeted on Tuesday morning, “I am home! @SportingKC”
Columbus Crew have re-signed Federico Higuain to a new Designated Player contract, “the largest contract ever signed in Black & Gold history.”
Montreal Impact have signed Argentine midfielder Andrés Romero to a multi-year contract after completing his permanent transfer from Brazilian club Tombense FC. Romero first joined Montreal on loan from Tombense in 2013.
Brazil North, I mean Orlando City, have signed Brazilian center-back Gustavo Silva Conceição. His nickname is “Geladeira,” which translates as “The Refrigerator.”
NYCFC have signed Ecuadorian defender Andrés Mendoza. His nickname is “Belleza,” which translates as “Beauty.”
Looks like the Carlos Salcedo to Chivas De Guadalajara from RSL move could get litigious. I don’t know what Salcedo’s nickname is.
The league has announced the signing of eight college seniors ahead of next week’s SuperDraft.
Alexi Lalas spoke to MLS Deputy Commish Mark Abbott about the Frank Lampard situation.
- Tweet 1: “‘There is no possibility he (Lampard) is not coming at all…he’ll be playing for the
@MLS team in 2015.'” - Tweet 2: “Abbott on Lampard not really ‘signing’ w/
@MLS: ‘It is a distinction w/o difference…he had overall agreement w/ owner, City Football Group.'” - Tweet 3: “Mark Abbott on whether
@NYCFC season-ticket holders were duped: ‘I don’t think anybody was duped.'” - Tweet 4: “Mark Abbott on Lampard’s reported ‘loan’ to MC: ‘There wasn’t a loan and I’m not quite sure why it got characterized as a loan.'”
An editorial at Empire of Soccer posted after Abbott’s comments, and those from Don Garber that preceded them, “Leave it up to MLS to make a complicated matter even worse.”
At World Soccer Talk, Robert Hay says the Lampard situation obscures the progress the league has made under Garber.
At Soccer Gods, Steve Davis says of LA Galaxy’s expected signing of Steven Gerrard, “This is an aggressive move by a team determined to stay on top in performance and in branding. Arena and Co. simply are not ready for a nice, long nap.”
At World Soccer Talk, Kartik Krishnaiyer on how MLS coverage is skewed by an overprotective media.
Are MLS team owners Stan Kroenke and Phil Anschutz about to get in a NFL stadium construction war?
At Soccer Gods:”Indentured, Servants: The sad, secret lives of MLS mascots.”
US
Zack Steffen is on SI’s list of five US U-20 MNT players to watch at the CONCACAF U-20 Championship tournament.
Elsewhere
Reuters reports, “Jordanian royal Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein, a close ally of UEFA President Michel Platini, announced plans on Tuesday to challenge for the leadership of world soccer’s scandal-hit governing body FIFA.”
A separate Reuters report says, “With the expected backing of European body UEFA, Prince Ali Bin Al-Hussein’s hopes of becoming the first Asian president of FIFA will rest on his ability to sway support at home in the Asian Football Confederation.” More from the Jordan FA, the AP, Inside World Football and Goal.com.
Jerome Champagne, who has already announced he will run for the FIFA presidency, tells The Set Pieces he will not stoop to negative campaign tactics in challenging Sepp Blatter. “No. I will not fall into this demagoguery. In 2015 we need a campaign, not on personality, but a campaign on visions. I want to campaign on visions, I want to campaign on real things.”
The AP reports, “A delegation from world soccer’s governing body is visiting the Gaza Strip to give a boost to local football.”
The Press Association reports, “The Rangers board has rejected Robert Sarver’s 18 million-pound takeover bid, stating it does not ‘adequately value a controlling interest in the Company.'” Sarver is an owner of the NBA’s Phoenix Suns.
So Math goes on loan to Colorado………and. What do we do when both M’Bohli & Blake have national team duties (hahaha duties) or when M’Bohli gets home sick (i’m looking at you Valdes). This front office need to pull its head directly our of its ass & fix this problem. I know since its Philly we have to have goaltender controversy but this is bullshit. I say trade them both and get a vet to groom Blake BUT the most likely outcome will be the Union drafting another goalie…..because thats what Sac does.
We do this we loan out Blake so he gets reps. And we sign us a backup keeper or two. This is the least of our problems.
Agreed.
I have no problem as Mbohli and Blake as our keepers. You have the Algerian national keeper and the future Jamaican keeper as our own. Its our clubs job not to release them both at the same time. European clubs do this all the time….sorry but we need him, no release….we pay them….not you. Sorry, not personal…..just business!
I hope the Refrigerator wears number 72.
Need to see the terms of the loan. But if the Union can recall at any time, they are protected should they need MacMath for an extended period. If MacMath shows well, the Rapids will likely trade for him. Right now the scuttlebutt is they have offered no more than a second round pick. So the loan deal makes sense.
I dont think you can recall with in-league loans. Think he stays the whole season. Its supposedly his last guaranteed and there’s an option for ’16. So,he gone yo.
INTRALEAGUE LOANS: Teams may loan a player to another MLS team subject to the following:
(i) The player must be 24 years old or younger at the time of the loan.
(ii) Each MLS team may only loan one player per season.
(iii) The loan must be initiated during the Primary Transfer Window.
(iv) The player must remain with his new team for the entire MLS Season.
(v) Players may not compete against their former Team during the MLS Season while on loan (includes MLS games and all other competitions).
(vi) Intraleague loans may include an option to make permanent.
I know people around here complain about how the front office treated MacMath. Imagine how Clint Irwin feels right about now.
Good info, Scotty!
I echo John, thank you.
This sounds like a rent to own situation. From what I heard MacMath is in the last year of his contract. So Colorado gets Zac for the year in exchange for a draft pick if they don’t want him or if Zac doesn’t sign with them Colorado can say oh well it was just a loan.
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Seems more complicated than it needs to be. But at least we get some closure.
On Gerrard acquisition in LA…..’performance and branding.’
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That’s the rhythm I’m dancing to outside in the snow, it is the spoonful of music that makes the medicine go down- makes the medicine go down.
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are you listening too — Union FO friends?
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performance and branding. performance and branding.
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Vision. Plan. Philosophy.
Every time I hear brand in reference to anything I reach for my gun.
+1
Interesting.
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Do you own a jersey? Sneakers? Car? Peanut Butter? ad infinitum…….
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no.
As in no I don’t own a jersey. And Owning shoes and liking branding is a false equivalency and dishonest arguing.
I’m not a big fan of branding either but it is hard to argue the free market economy revolving around it. Name recognition matters and doesn’t occur in a vacuum.
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Arguing only because it is fun sieve!. We can stop or continue.
You’re not wrong, but many people identify with brands and choose to buy or patronize brands because of the way they market themselves. It’s the life-blood of business in the 21st century, and the companies with better brand, or catchier jingle or better marketing scheme almost always wins out.
haha +1
Congrats to BPG on your 282 Doubletree Hotel Acquisition. Now push your Union front office to get us the striker and defense help needed so we have as banner a season on the pitch as you did in real estate.
At least a striker would be cheaper to acquire than a hotel.
banks won’t finance 75% of a striker.
Can someone tell me how MLS teams are able to sign players when the transfer window isn’t even open yet?
They can agree in principle to a contract and, I believe, even sign it, but the transfer doesn’t go through for purposes of the player actually being able to play until an open transfer window.
We knew something had to happen. I’m just a bit surprised that it’s MacMath being loaned and not Blake. If Zac stayed, he would still get some minutes when Rais is on Algerian duty. But Blake will not have that option since he gets call-ups on those dates too.
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It’s been a bit eye-opening that we haven’t been able to make a deal for Zac and that he didn’t even get taken in the expansion draft. But this deal suggests that Blake has even less value than Zac does. Maybe then Blake just stays on the team and pays his dues as a backup keeper for a few years, and then when Rais is done with us and wants to go back to Europe he becomes the starter, with more upside than Zac based upon what everyone thinks of him.
Check out the free publicity for the Union on the BBC Sports page:
http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/24843600
Nice picture. Article is pretty spot on too.
It’s also from 2013, it seems…
And the Union’s nickname is “Hilarante”, which translates roughly to hilarious.
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Thank you, I’ll be here all week. Be sure to tip your waitress. 🙂
Hey, kinda blanket thanks here: I love these roundups. I still trudge through articles across the web but I love these little summaries. Thanks, guys. You’ve been so good to us over the last few years.
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