Daily news roundups

News roundup: Picault looks to return, Liverpool upset City, more

Philadelphia Union

After serving his three game suspension, Union winger Fafa Picault is set to return to  on Saturday. DelCo Times and Philly.com have more.

Pro Soccer USA has the Union Academy ranked as second in MLS behind only New York Red Bulls.

Takeaways from head coach Jim Curtin’s midweek presser.

Local

Reading United begin their Open Cup play by hosting the darlings of last year’s tournament, Christos FC.

MLS

New York Red Bulls were not as successful as Toronto in the first leg of their CONCACAF Champions League semifinal, losing to Guadalajara away 1-0.

Apparently referees really care about underwear.

USA

Bruce Arena is releasing a tell-all book in which he writes that he was offered Jurgen Klinsmann’s head coaching position nearly six months earlier than previously thought.

Around the globe

Champions League roundup:

France will reportedly be voting for Morocco’s World Cup bid.

13 Comments

  1. el Pachyderm says:

    Champions League is not league play.
    .
    Liverpool did not upset City.
    .
    Case Closed.
    .

    • Dan C( formerly of 103) says:

      Manchester City was heavily favored across every bookies’ board in the world. Liverpool did indeed upset them.

      • el Pachyderm says:

        I understand. They were favored because of the league dominance.
        .
        At this point in the season teams acquiesce the league though and focus the ‘mentality’ on CL.
        .
        Not to mention Liverpool thoroughly outplayed City a month ago at home- so there is precedent. Bookies shit the bed on this one. Liverpool is an excellent team. The CB has elevated that team to top level.
        .
        It’s not an upset. Period.
        .
        We’ll have to agree to disagree.

      • Dan C( formerly of 103) says:

        You should have bet Liverpool then 🙂

      • I’m biased, but 100% with El Pachy on this one. I don’t know about the betting markets, but nearly every pundit I heard said the same: Liverpool can certainly win this match, particularly at Anfield and being the only team so far to beat City in league play. It’s also worth noting that City was nearly beat by a Championship side that pressed them hard in Bristol City and was beat by League 1 Wigan.

        What is truly a wonder is that Liverpool prevented City from putting a shot on target. That’s the only element of upset I can think of.

        In other words, no one should really be surprised that Liverpool won this leg.

      • If I might add, no fact buoyed my hopes for this match more than hearing Aguero was not going to be available. I had to laugh at the City fan comments I read on Reddit that Jesus was a a superior choice, that he fit Pep’s system better, etc. and so forth. I’ll tell you what, there’s no way Van Dijk and Lovren would have been able to boss Aguero around the way they did Jesus. There’s really no way Aguero would have let City leave Anfield without a goal.

  2. From the ESPN article: Sources told ESPN FC in February that there is expected to be strong resistance to the North American bid, with not only Africa but much of Asia and South America expected to support Morocco.

  3. el Pachyderm says:

    recognizing more and more his complete and utter provincialism and without reading a word of his book, but having heard through Twitter a good deal about it.
    .
    Bruce Arena personifies the problems of American Soccer.
    .
    he is Lady Liberty.

  4. Who’s ready to see the orange ball come out on Saturday!!!

    Forecast has snow for most of Saturday.

    • el Pachyderm says:

      Could u imagine.

      • John P. O'Donnell Jr says:

        Not really. Ernie hasn’t done much yet to deserve the position of USMNT GM. Curtis seemed to set up the current Red Bull philosophy and was let go for reasons unknown. Let the search continue but if they pick Ernie, Curtis would be an excellent replacement. Of course that would probably mean Curtin is out too.

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