Daily news roundups

Media Day, Adu mea culpa, USA v Iceland, more news

Photo: Earl Gardner

Philadelphia Union

Thursday was the Union’s Media Day. Here at PSP, we have video shot by PSP videographer and photographer Daniel Gajdamowicz on the sessions with the press with Earnie Stewart, Jim Curtin, Maurice Edu, Andre Blake, CJ Sapong, Ray Gaddis, as well as draft picks Keegan Rosenberry, Fabian Herbers, and Joshua Yaro.

At Delco Times, Matthew De George notes Stewart’s comments on adding to the roster, which currently has 20 of 28 spots filled. Stewart is focused on, as De George writes, waiting “for the right, rather than the most expedient, transactions”:

It’s not to fill every spot. We have to make sure that we have a competitive group together. Our goal is to have good players at every position. Having said that, that means that you’re not going to fill every roster spot that there is. It’s not so much the numbers game when it comes to, you have to fill those. As long as there’s quality and they make sure they raise the level of all the other players, that’s the choice you make…

The ideal thing is before the first practice that Jim has all of his players in and we’re fixed and we’re set for the season, except it never works out that way. You can’t let time rush you, because you’ll overpay here and there, and that’s not the intention. So you want to make sure you’re cautious in the process and you bring in the right players for the right prices. You have to be smart, and rushing is never the right way to go.

Remember, the MLS transfer window for players under contract in another country runs from Feb. 18 to May 12. And, as De George writes, Bethlehem Steel should also be factored in. “Flexibility is preferable for the Union to be able to promote high achievers or based on need from Steel. You can expect one or two roster spots left vacant specifically for that consideration.”

At Union Tally, De George has a transcript of some of the remarks from Stewart, Curtin, Sapong, and Gaddis. Stewart’s comments on CBA-mandated rest days are interesting:

There’s rules that you have to abide by that I’m not used to, when it comes to days off in a week that are mandatory from a players’ union perspective or mandatory vacation days that there are. I’m not used to that. It’s a short period of time. I feel in the United States, we’re working very hard to create players that are world class players. And on the other hand, we have a lot of days off, and the combination of those two, I don’t get. So those are things that I have to get used to, and hopefully towards the future, we can tweak those because I think for every sport, no matter if it’s soccer or if you look at swimmers or what they do every single day getting up at 5 o’clock in the morning and then practicing in the afternoon. If they want to be Olympians and they want to get a gold medal, they have to work hard. And vacation will come someday. But not when you’re in the prime of your life. So those are things that you have to get used to, but they are what they are.

At Delco Times and Philly.com, reports on Maurice Edu moving back into the midfield.

At the Daily News, John Smallwood on the Union’s pressing need for “a legitimate, big-time scoring threat.” Smallwood notes there’s plenty of time for a signing, in view of the Feb. 18 to May 12 MLS transfer window for players under contract in another country, but emphasizes a move needs to be made: “[M]anagement needs to do something because the only thing worse than being bad is playing boring soccer when you are bad.”

A Union spokesperson told PSP on Thursday the new Union first kit will be released in February. Is this a sneak peak?

the extensive clarification outlined in our roundup on Jan. 21.

Also at Brotherly Game, a look at new Union CBO Tim McDermott’s successful — and not so successful – branding efforts with the NHL’s Washington Capitals and 76ers.

Brotherly Game’s series on “silly offseason complaints” continues with “The Union keep their cards too close to their chest.

Union VP and CFO Dave Rowan was in Florida on Thursday for a press conference on the Tampa Bay Rowdies-hosted Suncoast Invitational preseason tournament. Fox 13 reports Rowdies owner Bill Edwards is close to requesting funding to expand Al Lang Stadium in downtown St. Petersburg, home to the Rowdies and site of several Suncoast Invitational games.

Speaking of the Rowdies, former Union man and current Rowdie Freddy Adu says in an interview with Ives Galarcep at Goal.com that he accepts responsibility for the many failings of his disappointing career. “Everything that I’ve been through and everything that hurt my career, I brought it on myself because I didn’t dedicate enough time to it. You can say, ‘Oh, I had a lot too early,’ or say whatever you want. But at the end of the day we all need to grow up at some point, and that has just all hit me this offseason. It really did.”

Adu admits he took his contract with the Union for granted:

“I did take it for granted. At that point I had a four-year deal with MLS, and it was guaranteed and everything was fine. I let myself relax, and it was just immaturity,” Adu said. “When I was playing in Turkey, in a little village where there wasn’t much else to do, you were dedicated. You weren’t distracted about going out or partying. I just wanted to play soccer and be out on the field training. I was happy going to training every day, it was something fun to do and I didn’t need anything else.”

Peter Nowak’s firing as Union coach helped expedite Adu’s departure from Philadelphia as new coach John Hackworth grew tired of the player’s lack of focus and his penchant for partying, which the club felt was having a negative effect on a young squad.

“With me not performing to the level expected of someone making designated player money in Philly, coupled with the fact I had the young guys looking up to me on that team, in (Hackworth’s) eyes maybe I wasn’t setting a good enough example for those young guys on the team,” Adu said.

“Looking back on it, he was right. I can’t even be mad at Hackworth for pushing me out of Philly. At the end of the day, you have to take some responsibility for yourself. You have to put yourself in the best situation to succeed, on the field or off the field, and at that time I wasn’t performing great on the field or off the field.”

The Union shipped Adu to Brazilian side Bahia, which led to more instability as the club went through three coaches during Adu’s season there. He struggled to find playing time and eventually turned his attention back to Europe, where he previously endured a string of loan moves during a disappointing stint with Benfica, which bought him from Real Salt Lake in 2007.

Adu says, “I’ve looked back on these past few years and I’ve wasted a lot of time, wasted years of my career, just not dedicating the time I should have to the sport. That’s time wasted. Lucky for me, I started so early that time wasted doesn’t mean I’m 33 or 34 and it’s too late for me. I’m only 26 and I can change and correct the things I’ve done wrong, and that’s what I’m focused on right now.”

Actions always speak louder than words.

Union Academy

At Brotherly Game, Matt Ralph rounds up verbal commitments to colleges from current and former Union Academy players ahead of Signing Day on Feb. 3.

Local

West Chester, Pa.’s Sydney Zandi (Penn Fusion) has been named to the 20-player roster for the CONCACAF qualification tournament in Guatemala for the U-17 World Cup, March 3-13. Before that, the team will play in the 2016 U-17 NTC Invitational from Feb. 11-15 in Carson, Ca. The U-17 World Cup will take place in Jordan, Sept. 30-Oct. 21. At US Soccer, head coach BJ Snow talks about the roster and the upcoming tournaments. Soccer America notes three of those called up are 14.

Philly Soccer News on the new EDP Super Club U-20 League, which is aimed at providing “high-level play for players aged 17-20 as they advance beyond the youth level.”

From the Celtic FC website: The third Annual East Coast Celtic Supporters’ Féile takes place this weekend January 29-31, 2016 at the club’s home, The Plough & Stars at 123 Chestnut Street in the Old City section of Philadelphia. Celtic supporters from all over the world will gather in Philly for the biggest Celtic supporters’ weekend this side of the Atlantic.”

MLS

Player moves:

  • NYCFC have signed 30-year old French center back Frédéric Brillant from Belgian first division side K.V. Oostende. The deal involved Targeted Acquisition Money.
  • Official: Orlando City have re-signed midfielder Darwin Cerén to a multi-year contract.
  • Vancouver Whitecaps and Welsh International striker Robert Earnshaw has announced his retirement. Earnshaw will “immediately take over the head coaching duties for the Whitecaps FC U-14 Pre-Residency team and also serve as the club’s strikers coach.”

Jermaine Jones says the six-game suspension he must serve for losing his mind at, and then touching Mark Geiger, is complicating his chances of getting a new contract in Europe. (FIFA regulations say suspensions must be served across leagues.) Jones also isn’t pleased with the latest contract offer from New England, which he described as “a joke” and is “less than 20 percent” of what he earned last season.

No official announcement yet on Matt Miazga signing with Chelsea. But there is this:

https://twitter.com/TSF/status/692805459066101760?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

Milan midfielder Antonio Nocerino to DC United? Stay tuned.

No Nemanja Vidic to MLS after all. The former Manchester United captain has retired, citing the toll of injuries.

At Goal.com, Mexico national coach Juan Carlos Osorio has attempted to clarify remarks that suggested to single out MLS as a league where players go “for the end of a career.” Osorio says he meant young players should focus on success in Europe and that he would not pass on selecting a player in MLS:

I did say that for any player the ultimate goal, especially at their peak, should be playing in Europe. This goes for any league in the Americas, whether it’s MLS, the Mexican league, Brazilian league, Argentinian league or any other…I have never said that I won’t call in players from MLS. Any suggestion of that idea is false. I would never ignore a player because of the league they play in…I said players should look to MLS for the future and later in their career, but not that they should only go to MLS to retire. The league is a growing league and improving league. It is not an easy league.

Osorio has previously been the head coach of NYRB and Chicago Fire.

SBI talks to former Union man Jack McInerney about his move to Portland. More at Oregon Live.

At MLSsoccer.com, a look at the ongoing renovations of Toronto FC’s BMO Field. The team will start the season with an eight-match road trip.

Orlando City will soon announce plans for a new 23-acre training facility in Lake Nona that is expected to open in 2017. “As planned, the soccer campus will include six practice fields, training and fitness centers, a players’ clubhouse, locker rooms and a rehab and injury center. The building will also include film rooms and classrooms for Orlando City players and academy players…Orlando City also holds an option to acquire 20-plus acres directly in front of the new facilities to expand in the future. The Tavistock Group, which owns Lake Nona, will develop the privately funded campus.”

Don Garber and Missouri Governor Jay Nixon are supposed to talk this week about an expansion team in St. Louis. St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports Garber said in a letter to Nixon, “I look forward to working with you, your staff and local leaders to explore ownership candidates and to investigate viable stadium solutions to bring MLS to St. Louis.” More at MLSsoccer.com.

More on expansion hopes in Charlotte at MLSsoccer.com. You can read the Charlotte Business Journal article the MLS piece is based on (but does not provide a link to) by clicking here.

US

The USMNT hosts Iceland in a friendly on Sunday (3:45 pm: ESPN2, UniMás, Univision Deportes), their first game of 2016.

Previews at SI, US National Soccer Players, Soccer America, Pro Soccer Talk, and MLSsoccer.com.

Michael Bradley tries to put the breaks on the Darlington Nagbe hype train: “I think everyone needs to be a little bit careful in terms of trying to put too much on his plate too soon. He’s still young — certainly young in terms of the national team. He will start to get his chance now to come into the group and see where it all fits in…He has natural ability, for sure. But again, I think for any new player who comes into the group, you want to be careful not to expect too much.”

More from the USMNT camp at ESPN.

At ESPN, a list of the top 25 USMNT players. Topping the list at No. 1 is Fabian Johnson.

Bloomberg reports, “Fox Sports has paid $15 million to broadcast the Copa America Centenario, the biggest soccer tournament to take place in the U.S. in more than 20 years, according to people with knowledge of the contract.”

Soccer projects from Hollywood in the works for the big screen and on network TV.

Elsewhere

Check out the latest Footy on the Telly for listings of live soccer on TV, online, and on satellite radio.

The Press Association reports, “Swiss prosecutors say they have been given important evidence by a whistle-blower in their investigation into FIFA and its suspended president Sepp Blatter. The Swiss attorney general’s spokesman Andre Marty said the case was making progress and says formal charges could be brought by the end of the year. Marty told German broadcaster ARD: ‘A witness, a so-called whistle-blower, gave us interesting information relevant to the case, which brought us markedly forward in the criminal investigation.'” More from Inside World Football and  the AP.

The AP reports, “The German football federation (DFB) says the findings of an internal investigation into bribery allegations concerning the awarding of the 2006 World Cup will be published on March 4.”

Sky Sports reports, “Sepp Blatter expects to attend the FIFA election on February 26 even though his appeal against an eight-year ban is unlikely to be resolved by then.” More from Reuters and the AP.

From Reuters: “The disgraced FIFA president Sepp Blatter will return to the headquarters of the world governing body on 16 February when his appeal against his ban from the sport will be heard, according to his adviser.”

CONMEBOL has announced it is backing Gianni Infantino for the FIFA presidency. CONMEBOL represents ten votes. More from the AP.

The French FA has announced it is backing Infantino. I wonder if that has anything to do with an earlier Reuters report that began, “Jérôme Champagne, the French FIFA presidential candidate, and Noël Le Graët, the French Football Federation (FFF) chief, had a heated exchange in public on Thursday, with Le Graët hurling insults at Champagne before storming out of a restaurant.”

Reuters reports, “Four of the candidates for president of FIFA are heading to Qatar for meetings on Saturday, with one of them, South African Tokyo Sexwale, saying ‘the time for alliances is coming.'”

Cristiano Ronaldo and Donald Trump have partnered to buy a hotel in Monaco.

36 Comments

  1. On that quote about Miazga…damn, dude. That’s harsh! Might be true…but still harsh!

    • Am I wrong for loving that quote? Blunt, in-your-face honesty. Don’t sugar coat it. Brilliant.

      • Easy to be blunt when your name isn’t attached.

      • Blunt, in your face honesty would come with your name attached to it.
        .
        Otherwise it is pretty cowardly if you ask me.

      • Just because the name isn’t attached in the tweet doesn’t mean said player has said as much to Miazga to his face. I would hope so. If not I can see your point.

      • Yes, Henry tells it like it is (it’s gotta be him).

      • I agree about Henry. But that kind of makes me think it wasn’t him because I’d think he would say “put my name on it”.

      • Its either him or one of the W-P brothers. Given the age of TSF, he would be a contemporary of Henry so that’s why that I think it’s him.

      • See I was thinking it was Shaun W.P. too, or Tim Cahill.

      • So I went to the Red Bulls roster website, to see which player might have said that about Miazga. I’m pretty sure there’s one player you can cross off the list. http://www.newyorkredbulls.com/players/irelyn-maloney

      • That story made me well up. That poor kid. What a great smile though! Never thought I’d say this…Well done Red Bulls. I hate you a tiny bit less now.

      • But, really, how awesome would it be if it was that girl calling him soft?

      • That would be one of the greatest things I’ve ever heard. I’d say send them some TAM and sign that girl up with a permanent roster spot. Make her responsible for following Ray and Fabi around saying “Don’t be soft, or I’ll take your job!”.

  2. Adu is saying all the right things. Now show it.
    .
    As angry as I was seeing him waste his talent it would be nice to see him finally “get it” and turn things around before it’s all over.
    .
    His whole story when all is said and done could be a very substantial example for young players in the US.

    • Agreed. Actions that back up those words would be huge.

    • Haven’t we heard this from him before? Maybe it’s a bit different with him admitting it’s all his fault and taking responsibility for his actions. I still wouldn’t count on him to change.

      • Agreed. The lesson to learn about Adu’s career is never ever trust Freddy Adu. Once he starts to achieve some success, he’ll slip up and start acting badly. That’s just who he is.

  3. Freddy Adu’s commentary is solid and insightful and refreshing actually… as compared to a guy like JJ who, while I feel is being jilted out of a worthwhile contract in NE and he has a point on that…is showing zero humility or regard for his actions which led to the suspension of 6 games– totally warranted… sighting Clint Dempsey as an example… as if Clint actually touched the referee….. ahhh Jermaine… just shut up.
    .
    …this attitude is exactly why your ban was not lowered in length — you have no contrition. Jackass.
    .
    Matt Miazga — ouch…what do you have to say for yourself regarding this scathing opinion… I guess we will see.
    .
    Too bad Darlington Nagbe has no tactical idea what he is supposed to do because the National team he plays on has no tactical idea what it is doing… as in something like this…
    .
    ….”You! run to the end line and cross it in…You! stand there and watch when I have the ball – then jog a bit into the proper spot 0.5 seconds too late, so nothing materializes here….You and You– let’s get a bit lucky with some interconnecting passes in the middle of the field – then turn it over before complete 5 passes in a row– or here’s an idea, You! get to touch line and cross it in…. You and You lets boot the ball up field and bypass the midfield altogether… You and You..let’s be sure our spacing is linear right across the field with no support angles for the ball holder”…. on and on and on and on… we are light years away… but generally yes, I agree…
    .
    …let’s slow the hype train down a bit- where exactly is that hype train anyhow- I haven’t really seen it or heard it…… and hey there Michael… a bit crisper with the passing in the build up yourself…what’ya say.
    .
    Luckily for Juan Carlos Osorio the bicycle he is riding is not a fixed gear… backpedal backpedal backpedal… come on JCO… stick to your guns – – love it.
    .
    I love John Smallwood… bringing the game to the masses and uninformed… about 2 weeks after we’ve already hashed it out here… hey John pick up the pace a bit… ‘you’ are PART of the PROBLEM.

    • Johnny Smalls has a habit of coming up small.

      • Yup. The everyday media coverage of Union is just not good enough… Mr. Narducci could up the game a bit too.
        .

      • Hopefully Mr. McDermott will be getting the marketing department together to get us some more air time in all Philly sports media.

      • James Lockerbie says:

        I was hammering the Bob on TCN to mention anything union related and they completely ignored me. Good luck Union media office. mentioned spring training open practice for fans a few more things to talk about and they went right back to the Eagles coverage

      • el Pachyderm says:

        Well the ‘media’ does have the market cornered on how to talk about the Eagles the same way in 100 different ways…
        .
        Being a sports talk radio checker-inner, and using my sample size as verifiable truth, I find the dialouge these last 15 months to be unbearable… You wouldn’t know there are four other major sports in this city or much much more importantly —
        .
        —- that sports actually exist beyond this city… NO its more important to discuss Sam Bradford for the 47th day in a row… and Chip Kelly geting another job or how Doug Pederson likely used wet wipes to clean ‘The Fatman in the Bathtubs’ rear end… or Howie or Jefferey or no Super Bowls or or or… blech. Nauseating.

    • Seriously, Smalls needs to read Cann’s series, and THEN write the article.

      • “Dillwood” is horrible.
        .
        I refuse to even so much as click on any of his articles anymore. I commented on one about the national team back before the WC calling him out about some ridiculous thing he was trying to say should be done and he commented back in the most asinine way it actually left me speechless.

  4. All of this Miazga talk got me thinking about the other young “on the cusp” guys who have basically disappeared. Tapping into the clear knowledge on this site, what ever happened to the likes of Terrence Boyd, Josh Gatt, Joe Corona, Eric Lichai, etc??? Are they living the curse of being on that team that lost out on going to the last Olympics?

    • Lichaj basically picked the wrong club. He went to Villa who changed managers 4 times in 4 years and so each time had to re-prove himself to the new manager and was loaned out repeatedly. Never saw him as #1 RB in anycase, just a serviceable squad player for the US (similar to Spector). They both have solid careers in the Champo though.

    • Gatt has been battling injuries for like… five years now [seems like it at least. Boyd is injured. Joe Corona is barely playing, not sure why.

    • Will Packwood, Joe Gyau, Benji Joya, Luis Gil, Julian Green, Cody Cropper, Rubio Rubin, George John, Shawn Parker…

    • Tim Ream. I think he’s still starting with a team in the Championship.

    • But on the plus side of the ledger, Geoff Cameron has been doing pretty well for himself in the Premier League.

      • Agreed on Cameron. He and Johnson are the only younger US players really making a difference abroad (although Danny Williams may be showing signs of life)

  5. I hope Adu is really ready to turn it around. He is still young enough. Too bad it seems like he didn’t have the right people to guide him.. Also it seams any local media outlet considers the Union something to be skipped over…a 3rd or 4th rate sport. All the best to McDermott on his quest to bolster the Union brand!

    • Old Soccer Coach says:

      Some Greek guy, a veteran of the battle of Marathon, who ended up being told to drink hemlock for currupting the morals of young people by questioning the gods, once said (in translation of course), “Know thyself.”

  6. Soccer is not a American Sport

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