UPDATE: The Union have officially announced that Kyle Nakazawa has been traded to the Los Angeles Galaxy along with a 2013 natural second-round pick in exchange for an international slot. The Union are now permitted to have nine internationals on their roster.

No details have been released regarding how long the Union can retain the international spot.

The official deal differs from our initial report below that two second-round picks, as well as the international spot, would travel east in exchange for the Southern-California native, Nakazawa. The Galaxy release is here.

The Philadelphia Union are preparing to trade midfielder Kyle Nakazawa to the Los Angeles Galaxy for an international roster spot and two second round draft picks.

A source has confirmed to The Philly Soccer Page that Nakazawa, a UCLA product, is heading back to the west coast as the Union look to make room for their many internationals.

The Galaxy will add an experienced and versatile midfielder with fantastic dead ball skills to their ranks. While Nakazawa never solidified a spot in the Union’s rotating midfield, he was singled out for praise by head coach Peter Nowak on multiple occasions and proved a very capable spot starter.

An international roster spot was always going to be on the Union’s radar as offseason signings from Costa Rica, Panama and Tanzania joined the team.

Nakazawa played in 22 games (14 starts) for Philadelphia last season. He had a goal and three assists.

Philadelphia Union got the MLS All-Star game for PPL Park.

So why aren’t you excited?

Why was there a collective yawn in response to Tuesday’s announcement when there could have been rapturous joy?

Was it because word had leaked out early and killed the surprise factor?

Or was it because you think the All-Star game doesn’t mean much in the grand scheme of things?

Have you gotten so wound up about the Sebastien Le Toux situation that other soccer news pales in comparison to word on his fate?

Are you skeptical MLS will get a good opponent after two years of Manchester United? Even worse, are you jaded after two straight blowouts by United?

Do you prefer a different format than the current MLS All-Stars versus European club model? Did Simon Borg’s killer suggestion of playing the Mexican league’s all-stars grab your attention? Or would you like the American MLS all-stars to play the foreign MLS all-stars?

Did you scratch your head about the July 25 date because the men’s Olympic soccer tournament starts the next day, which will keep some MLS stars (cough, Beckham) out of the game? Or did you grudgingly concede there was no way to avoid that with a July match?

Maybe your problem was where they made the announcement: Philadelphia city hall. Did that strike you as a slap in the face to Chester, where the game and many supporting events are likely to occur?

Or did you worry about the national spotlight shining down on the struggling former industrial city that has a beautiful soccer stadium and casino but not a single supermarket?

Did you hear the chatter about PPL being the smallest stadium to ever host the game? Do you wish they’d waited until after PPL’s eventual expansion to 25,000?

Is it that you’d rather hook up with Berta from Two and a Half Men than hear the latest sycophantic ode to the Sons of Ben while the national media don’t realize the Union have other fans and supporter groups too?

Or is it none of that?

Are you sneaky-quiet-excited after all?

Is it simply that there isn’t  much to say about the All-Star game besides a quiet “good for the Union,” and then you move along and look into getting tickets?

Maybe it’s just so obvious what’s good about this that you didn’t have much to say. You know it’s another pay day at the gate for the Union, which is good on the revenue side. It’s another spot in the national spotlight for soccer in the Philadelphia area, which is always good.

Perhaps you always knew it was just a matter of time before the Union hosted the All-Star game, because the Union are a well-run club and PPL Park is just that great a place to watch soccer. This was a given, sooner or later. It was no surprise.

Sometimes things are just that simple.

Or are they not?

The Philadelphia Union announced today that 34-year-old Serbian striker Veljko Paunovic has called an end to his 16 year professional career.

In the press release from the Union announcing his retirement, Paunovic praised both the Union fans and the Union organization.

“I want to thank the great Union family for welcoming me from the very first day that I came here,” said Paunovic. “I’ve been so many places around the world and I have never felt as happy as I have been here.  It is with great sadness that I announce my retirement from soccer due to family reasons but I will never forget the Union fans and the atmosphere at PPL Park every game.  I have proudly worn the Union Jersey wherever we have played throughout the country and I will always feel like a Union ‘soldier’ wherever I am in the world.  I also wanted to give a special thanks to my teammates, coaching staff, CEO & Operating Partner Nick Sakiewicz, Diego Gutierrez, and all the employees that work so hard for all of us. I especially would like to thank Peter Nowak, who gave me this opportunity. His knowledge of soccer and great ability to lead the team have taught me so much.  I am deeply grateful to everyone associated with Philadelphia Union.”

Paunovic scored 86 goals while playing in over 400 matches in five countries during his career. With the Union in 2011, Paunovic scored three goals and three assists in 16 starts after joining the club in June. He made 17 appearances for the club and fought off a late season injury to appear in the Union’s second playoff game against the Houston Dynamo.

“We are all very grateful that Veljko joined our club and helped us in a very important stage of our season,” said Philadelphia Union Team Manager Peter Nowak. “He’s been a top professional both on and off the field since he arrived and throughout his stay he has made the Union a better club. We understand that family is more important than anything and, as much we are all sad to see him go and that we are losing such a great guy, we will always cherish his time with us. We wish Veljko and his family the very best.”

In a year where the Union were lacking in aerial prowess and physicality in the front line, Paunovic quickly endeared himself to the PPL faithful with his gritty, hard-working style, attacking every ball that came his way and throwing his body around with reckless abandon.

With the announcement earlier today that Levi Houapeu and Joe Tait had been released by the Union, the news of Paunovic’s retirement now means the Union are compliant with league rules for the number of internationals on  the roster. Meanwhile, the status of Keon Daniel, who was unable to return to the US due to “visa issues” after returning home to Trinidad & Tobago, remains unclear.

The folks here at the PSP would like to thank Pauno for his contributions and wish him the best of luck in his future pursuits.

The Philadelphia Union announced on Wednesday morning that they have declined the contract options on Levi Houapeu, Morgan Langley, Ryan Richter and Joe Tait.

The release of Levi Houapeu and Joe Tait frees up two international spots on the Union roster, a key concern with the recent offseason signings of Gabriel Gomez, Nizar Khalfan, Porfirio Lopez,  and Josué Martinez. The Union now have nine international players on their roster.

Richter and Houapeu are both on the list of trialists released by DC United earlier today.

Ryan Richter and Morgan Langley came to the Union with local connections. Richter is from Bensalem and played his college soccer at La Salle. The fifth overall pick in the 2011 Supplemental Draft, Richter played in all ten Reserve League matches as well as the friendlies against Everton and Harrisburg City Islanders.

Langley played at Swarthmore and joined the Union from Harrisburg City Islanders. He is the only player of the four to have seen time in league play in 2011, coming on as a substitute in the 80th minute in the 1–0 win over Columbus on September 17, two days after he signed with the Union.

Houapeu was the 41st pick in the 2011 SuperDraft. His appearances with the club were limited to Reserve League action before he suffered a season ending injury in September.

Tait joined the Union in September after trialling with the club. He had one assist in three Reserve League appearances and scored a goal in the friendly against Harrisburg City Islanders.

With the SuperDraft behind us, thoughts now turn to the nitty-gritty of the 2012 Union season. Naturally, questions arise. Over a two-part series we pose ten questions to our Union beat reporter, Eli Pearlman-Storch, which began with a look formation, roster depth and leadership roles within the starting XI in Part 1. In part 2 the focus shifts to goalkeeping, breakout stars and who will challenge the Union as they fight for a trip to a second consecutive postseason.

6. GK Controversy?

Zac MacMath is very close to ready; Faryd Mondragon is very close to retirement. The Dragon’s flaws were fairly apparent as the season wore on in 2011: He’s a decent shot stopper but he doesn’t have great range. When the defense limits opponents to 2-3 shots per game, he’s an All-Star. More than that and it’s less star than question mark. The real question is how much the Union need Mondragon’s leadership on the field. I’m not a huge believer in intangibles but there is no doubt that The Dragon has “presence.”

Eli, how good does Faryd Mondragon have to be to keep his job?

Honestly, it’s not a question of doing anything to keep his job. The job is his, plain and simple. And Union fans will need to live with his limited shotstopping range and overly-ambitious service out of the back. Minor errors like those will not be sufficient to force Peter Nowak’s hand. However, if the Dragon shows any signs of wearing down or looking physically creaky, the Union manager might throw MacMath a few starts. Especially in the instances of a fixture logjam, of which there are a few. But Nowak will only do this grudgingly. Mondragon is his man and the Union’s captain, while MacMath is only 20, a relative infant in goalkeeping tools. Yes, he proved that he has the talent to be a top keeper in MLS, but it is still too early to force him into that role.

7. Mwanga Time

The Mwan’s Time Has Come: Promising first season. Injury-riddled, confidence-killing year two. Montreal selected Andrew Wenger over Darren Mattocks because they wanted a player who could immediately influence a game. The jury is still out on Mwanga’s ability to be a consistent game changer. He certainly can do it, but a supersub (aside from being one of Eli’s least favorite terms) is not what the Union thought they were drafting.

Eli, what kind of pressure is on Danny Mwanga this season? And what do you think he has to do to get Peter Nowak to stamp his name next to Seba Le Toux’s as an every day starter?

I haven’t a clue on this one. There are two things that frustrate me more than Mwanga’s slide in form during 2011. One is the manner in which Peter Nowak handled his young hitman—inserting him, pulling him, moving him in the formation and then pulling him again. The other is the manner in which fans don’t give this kid the support he deserves. Remember, he’s still 20 years old. He had a strong rookie campaign after which he was immediately replaced with the signing of Carlos Ruiz and the tinkering at the beginning of 2011 that threw the entire team out of sorts.

Yes, it is absolutely critical for Mwanga to find his feet again, but come on, cut the kid some slack. Do you really expect a young striker to find a rich vein of form without consistent minutes, formations or teammates surrounding him? How about this? Give him four starts in a row. If he doesn’t find his game in that time, then sit him down and call me an idiot. In 2010, he twice made 5 consecutive starts and over those ten games netted 4 goals and 4 assists. In 2011, he never made more than 2 starts in a row. That simply is not enough for.

8. The first nine points

The Union’s first three games will be extremely challenging. Playing at Portland (especially to open the season) is never going to be easy, Colorado came into PPL and sucker-punched the U last year, and Chicago’s strong finish (7-3-3 after tying Philly to start August) means the Fire will expect to start 2012 on the front foot. What should the Union get out of these first three games before a very winnable match at home against the Vancouver Dirty Hasslis?

Two out of the first three on the road is no easy task, but the Union will be ready for the season, keen to prove that 2011 was no fluke. I’m eying six points from the first three matches. But honestly, if the Union play the way they are capable, it could be nine. First, I expect the Union to see off Colorado in the home opener. The crowd will be electric and the Union will have more than the thuggish clods from Denver can handle. Hopefully, 2012 will be the year when the level of play in MLS finally leaves terrible, negative teams like the Rapids behind.

Now that Portland is a second year team, the Union, as well as the rest of MLS, should not fear traveling to the City of Roses. Yes, the atmosphere in Portland is adequately hostile, but the Timbers just aren’t that good (even before they shipped off their leading goalscorer, Kenny Cooper). Given that it is the opening match of the season, the Union will have enough of their own excitement and energy to earn a winning result at Jeld-Wen Field.

Chicago, like a number of other Eastern Conference teams—Toronto and DC United, for example—are poised for a strong year. They have a system in place, time to acquire the correct players and the speedy, skillful athletes that gave the Union fits in 2011. The Union will have two more chances for pay back, but three wins on the trot is a lot to ask.

6 out of 9 to start 2012 ain’t bad, though.

9. 2012′s Breakout Star

In 2011 it was a toss-up between Michael Farfan and Carlos Valdes. Who will be the breakout star of 2012? And who needs to break out or risk an early end to their Philly career (I know you want to say Naka, Eli, so you can’t say Naka here)?

Danny Mwanga. Maybe you got me riled up with all that supersub nonsense, or maybe it’s the fact that Mwanga will be pushed hard by three less experienced strikers chomping at his heels for minutes, but I believe this is the year that Danny Mwanga scores double digit goals, rediscovers 2010′s chemistry with Sebastien Le Toux, and reminds people why Peter Nowak went out of his way to make sure he was the No. 1 pick in the draft. Add to all that the chip on his shoulder that he will have inevitably developed from recent trade rumors, and Mwanga enters 2012 as a dangerous man. That’s where I’m putting my money.

As far as a player who needs to produce in order to stay relevant in Philadelphia, I’m going to say Jack McInerney, but reluctantly. After all, when a team preaches about young player development, while adopting a win now mentality, something’s gotta give. Unfortunately for Jack, it has been his minutes that have been most gravely impacted by the urgency felt throughout the organization. With his Generation Adidas status a near certainty to expire following this season, McInerney must prove that he is ready to contribute right now, which unfortunately appears to mean scoring goals in limited appearances. What makes the situation more dire is the acquisition of Chandler Hoffman, who is being billed as a similar, but bigger version of Jack. If Hoffman maintains the red hot goalscoring form that saw him finish fourth in the nation with 18 goals this season, McInerney might be on the outside looking in sooner than later. No matter how disappointing this would be, and it would be massively disappointing because Jack projects as an excellent player, it is an inevitable function of carrying four strikers under the age of 22.

10. Where should the Union finish in the East?

KC, Houston, and Philly were all supposed to be also-rans in 2011. Will they be back on top in 2012 or will someone else make a surprise run (coughDCUnitedcoughcough)?

While Schellas Hyndman and the Western Conference are beating their chests, expecting to once again dominate the MLS landscape, the Eastern Conference might prove this speculation premature. As mentioned above, enormous strides have been taken in Toronto, DC and Chicago to build teams that can compete week in and week out. Add to the fact that, although we may not like it, there’s no way the Red Bulls can stink as much as they did last year, and all the sudden there are seven teams in the East that can compete for a playoff spot.

As far as the three bottom dwellers, New England is there, obviously. Montreal will face an uphill battle in their first season. And Columbus rounds out the bottom three, as they have simply been holding their team together with smoke and mirrors for far too long. In my opinion, Toronto will be a tough match for any team, especially at BMO Field, but they are still a year away from being true contenders.

At the top of heap, Sporting KC is only getting stronger, as is Houston. If the Union start brightly and find a system that results in consistent goalscoring, they will be right there, always in the conversation, but will face some bitter showdowns with their regional rivals to secure a playoff spot, especially with an extra fixture each. Going into the year, I’d be happy with the Union slipping into the playoffs with the third seed in the East, because once you’re in, all bets are off.

BONUS QUESTION

Predict the starting lineup and formation on opening night (I know the biggest issue for you is whether Freddy Adu goes in the middle or on the wing).

Glad you asked Adam!! But, my answer is too long for the end of this post. Look for a piece analyzing the 2012 Union’s 4-3-3 formation on Thursday.

If you have your own questions to add to the discussion, please send them to info@phillysoccerpage.com and we will do a special post answering as many as we can.

With the SuperDraft behind us, thoughts now turn to the nitty-gritty of the 2012 Union season. Naturally, questions arise. Over a two-part series we pose ten questions to our Union beat reporter, Eli Pearlman-Storch, beginning in part 1 with a focus on formation, roster depth and leadership roles within the starting XI.

1. Midfield Madness

The Union are flush with talented midfielders. In 2011, the team started with a conservative setup that featured three central players behind the front line. As the team sought to improve offensively they pushed players wide but often preferred inverted wingers to true width. By the end of the season we were arguing about who fit best atop the loose diamond that became a default formation.

The defensive spot is Brian Carroll’s to lose but Amobi Okugo needs minutes. Gabe Gomez can play multiple positions while Josue Martinez is likely stuck on the wing unless the Union go three up top. And Michael Farfan has to fit in somewhere, right?

Eli, are there any automatic starters in the Union midfield?

Initially, I believe that Brian Carroll is the only man guaranteed to have his name on the roster card. But both Okugo and Gomez will be pushing hard for minutes and the Union will likely experiment again with two holding midfielders, meaning that two of those three players will be on the field together. Whichever tandem finds the best chemistry could become the go-to pairing for Peter Nowak as the season moves on.

In the attack, Nowak must find a place for Michael Farfan. The now-second year player proved his worth late in the season, winning a starting spot and proving to all of the teams that passed on him in the first round of the 2011 MLS Superdraft just how big a mistake they had made. But where he ends up playing could change depending on other circumstances. With the status of Freddy Adu and Roger Torres surrounded with uncertainty, Week 1 could see Marfan lined up in the center of the park in the attacking midfield role. Despite his excellent chemistry with Sheanon Williams out wide, his crosses are rendered less effective by a lack of aerial ability in the forward line and Farfan’s lack of elite speed might mean that a life in the middle of the pitch will better suit him as he matures.

2. The Seba Spot

Sebastien Le Toux is a striker, right? To take nothing away from his versatility, the guy is a stud up top but an average winger with subpar crossing abilities.

Eli, is there any reason to push Seba to the wing? Is the prospect of a HoffMwan frontline too good to pass up?

No. There is no reason to do push Le Toux wide. Le Toux the winger was deemed surplus in Seattle and Le Toux the winger endured the epic slump that  all of us remember all too well from 2011. One thing that must not be forgotten is that the Union have very few veteran players in the front six and while the inclination is to give consistent minutes to Mwanga, Hoffman, Martinez and McInernery, Sebastien Le Toux has proven his worth both as a goal scorer and a leader for the Union. Veteran leadership on the pitch is a very important and often overlooked part of a team’s construction and, in addition to his tremendous goal scoring record, Le Toux serves as a model for the young strikers in terms of hustle, work rate and heart.

Personally, with so many strikers on the roster, I am in favor of Le Toux leading a three man frontline. With any pairing of the four young strikers alongside Le Toux, none will feel overly pressured to be the main man and all three players will be able to move freely through the formation—a staple of Nowak’s offense—in order to make space for themselves and their teammates.

3. Are reinforcements needed?

Porfirio Lopez and Raymon Gaddis will bolster the thin back line. One has to assume that Greg Jordan will be groomed as a center back, right? RIGHT?? Can the Union make it through another year on a wing and a prayer with very little defensive depth?

With the lineup as is, the Union are fine for defensive depth. Both Gabe Gomez and Gabe Farfan can spell Porfirio Lopez if need be at left back. And out right, Gaddis is the natural backup for Williams, with Ryan Richter deputizing in a pinch. In the center of the park, the Union are still high on Joe Tait as the third choice centerback. Sheanon Williams has shown that he can slide inside in a bind, and yes, I believe that they’ll give Greg Jordan a look in the center of the defense. Hopefully they’ll bring him along a tad slower than Toni Stahl.

4. Pauno

Do the Union risk bringing Veljko Paunovic back in 2012? The Serbian did everything one could ask of a mid-season veteran signing last year. He scored, he said the right things, he was a great teammate, and he treated the fans with the utmost respect (there are few nicer people anywhere on Twitter). That said, should the Union risk going back to the well once too often? The front line is crowded and Pauno was not more than a 50 minute per game player in the midfield.

Eli, do you want more Pauno on your plate?

Yes. They should DEFINITELY bring him back—although not in a starting role. When he arrived last year, the concern was that he would take minutes away from the youngsters (which he did) but throughout the season he proved his steel as the Union’s sole aerial threat up front, throwing his body around with reckless abandon. Young players need to see that, he is a model professional and, as you mentioned, an excellent locker room guy. With four young strikers all in need of grooming, having a player like Paunovic on the practice field providing guidance and leadership is invaluable.

As far as on the field, I am hopeful that Paunovic’s role moves from a consistent starter to dangerous bench presence. When used for more than 50 minutes, his effectiveness trailed off dramatically, through no fault of his own, and therefore bringing him in late in games once the defense has begun to tire will allow him the best opportunity to score goals and influence results for the Union.

5. The US Open Cup

Big changes to the Cup format this season, not that any of it matters to the Union unless they actually, y’know, win a game in this competition. Peter Nowak put out a strong lineup last season and only some bad reffing and the luck of the draw that is penalty kicks kept the U from advancing past DC United.

Do the Union need a good showing in the US Open Cup this season or should they load all their marbles into the MLS chute and let the McLaughlins and Pfeffers handle Cup competition?

Good question. Naturally, with so many youngsters on the roster, the more games that can be had, the better. But to win those games, the Union will likely need a team with more experience and wisdom than a gang of Homegrown Players, rookies and other teenagers can provide. I wouldn’t be surprised if Nowak mixes up his side, perhaps with veteran defenders holding down the fort for a youthful midfield and attack in order to provide support and structure to any Cup tie. Progressing in the Cup would be an excellent outlet to get minutes for some of the Union’s talented young squad, but one wonders whether the coaching staff sees the competition as a distraction from the MLS season and would rather focus all of their resources on going deeper into the playoffs in 2012 in search of the club’s first shot at the MLS Cup.

Click here for Part 2. If you have your own questions to add to the discussion, please send them to info@phillysoccerpage.com and we will do a special post answering as many as we can.

Chandler Hoffman

With the 13th pick in the 2012 MLS SuperDraft, the Philadelphia Union selected UCLA striker Chandler Hoffman. The Hoff had 29 goals and 9 assists in three collegiate seasons, including an astounding 18 goals and 6 assists in 2011. His Generation Adidas status means Hoffman won’t count against the Union’s salary cap in 2012.

An impressive combine performance didn’t help Hoffman, who dropped much further than expected. The Union have acquired an elite finisher who can play up top or in support. Hoffman scored three goals in the 2011 College Cup, only bolstering his already strong reputation.

As PSP wrote earlier this week: Darren Mattocks and Andrew Wenger won’t make it out of the top three picks, so the Union would have to decide if Casey Townsend of Maryland or Chandler Hoffman of UCLA are too good to pass up if they fall to the 13th spot.”

“I feel like I could add some goals and help them make a run in the playoffs,” Hoffman said at the draft, “I have some buddies on the team and I’m very excited to be coming to Philadelphia. I’ll be able to offer something different being a left-footed goalscorer. I can create opportunities.”

Hoffman spent the summer of 2011 lighting it up for the Orange County Blue Star of the USL-PDL. He arrived at UCLA with an Alabama haircut style known as The Swoop. If he grows it back, he has a new and fantastic nickname.

Greg  Jordan

With the 32nd pick in the draft, the Union nabbed defensive midfielder Greg Jordan of Creighton University.

Jordan is a defensive-minded midfielder who helped the Bluejays to a record-setting .20 GAA in 2011. He led the team to the College Cup semifinals where they lost to Charlotte.

The 6’0″ Jordan joins a crowded Union midfield where he will compete for playing time with Brian Carroll and Amobi Okugo. It’s possible the team will groom him as a center back, a conversion which would make him incredibly valuable thanks to his strong ball skills and passing range.

Jordan is a former national finalist in the Got Milk 3v3 tournament, which just gives us an excuse to post his amazing picture.

Raymon Gaddis

Raymon Gaddis

The Union closed out their draft with Raymon Gaddis of West Virginia University at #35. At 5’9″, 151 lbs, Gaddis is a small, swift and strong right back. He will try to earn playing time when Sheanon Williams heads off on a likely Olympic adventure.

In four years at West Virginia, Gaddis had 6 assists and no goals. As the captain of the Mountaineers in 2012, Gaddis was known as a quiet leader. He has the attitude and work ethic that the Union have always valued highly.

Though he didn’t score in college, Gaddis did tally in eight games for Reading United AC in 2010. He was named PDL Player of the Week on June 1, 2010.

“The way we train is the way we play,” Gaddis told The Daily Athenaeum, “We replicate what we do in practice and come out here and try to win.”

Gaddis was named to the Hermann Award Watchlist in 2010.

For information on the newest members of the Philadelphia Union, check out this piece on the Union’s picks. Check out PSP’s pre-draft coverage examining possible Union selections and local players in this year’s SuperDraft.

• 11:57 - SoccerByIves reports that Juan Agudelo is likely on his way out of MLS now that the Red Bulls have acquired Kenny Cooper.
• 12:10 - #1 pick Andrew Wenger has Philly-area roots. PSP’s Dan Walsh has the details.
• 12:19 - How wild will the Mwanga-trade-rumor-mill go now? Mwanga to Revs for Rowe + money? Other random guesses?
• 12:22 - Silva’s stock shot up during the combine. Will this be the year the combine proves useful? Also: FC Dallas confirms they are in talks to send defender Jackson to a Brazilian first division side. Will this impact their SuperDraft selection?
• 12:41 - First 7 picks (Wenger possibly excluded) are for offense. Aside from Wenger/Garza, how many make big 2012 contributions?
• 12:44 - Berry played in the Fire’s youth system. He’s strong in the air on O and D. Union would have taken a long look at him if he’d lasted.
• 1:05 – On the Fox Soccer live chat of the draft, Ives Galarcep continues to say Danny Mwanga is “on the trading block.” Galarcep says additionally, “Also think Philly would rather play LeToux on the right wing.”
• 1:11 – Jonathan Tannenwald tweets from KC, “John Hackworth just strongly knocked down the Danny Mwanga trade rumor.”
• 1:16pm – Hoffman was projected to be a top-3 pick by many. His slip to the Union is a surprise. Could be another Michael Farfan for the Union? Drawback: He’s a poacher. So is Jack McInerney. Are they the same player? Could be. There’s a sudden logjam of young forwards. Somebody will go, unless Nowak tries again to move Le Toux to midfield. Still, value-wise, good pick. Best player available.
• 1:24pm – A Q & A with Hoffman from before the draft at MLSsoccer.com.
• 1:25pm – Tweet from Kerith Gabriel: “Union assistant John Hackworth on Mwanga trade rumor: ‘unless a team offered us $1M and their first rd. pick Danny isn’t going anywhere.’”
• 1:26pm – Chris Vito tweets, “Hoffman said his freshman year at UCLA was the freshman year of Amobi Okugo & the senior year of Kyle Nakazawa”
• 1:27pm -  Vito tweets: “Chandler Hoffman: “I have some buddies on the team and I’m very excited to be coming to Philadelphia.”
• 1:28pm – Fake Peter Nowak tweets, “I’d like to congratulate #RBNY, who have somehow used draft day to get older, slower and less skilled.”
• 1:32pm – Vito tweets, “Chandler Hoffman: ‘Some of the top young players in league are on this Union team. It’s only going to make me better being challenged daily’”
• 1:38pm – In reply to a tweet from PSP asking if he has any Hoffman nicknames he’d like to share, Amobi Okugo tweets, “@phillysoccerpg um not ones he’d like me to use haha”
• 2:08pm – Dave Zeitlin tweets, “According to Hoffman, Vartughian and Hackworth told him they were shocked he was available and knew within seconds he was the pick.”
• 2:12pm – Video of Hoffman talking about being selected by the Union here.
• 2:14pm – Union tweets photos of Hoffman being greeted by coaching staff.
• 2:23pm – Union fan Al Kemery may be the first to have his photo taken with Hoffman.
• 2:29pm – John Hackworth on Hoffman: “We’re surprised he was still available. A player of his quality, especially with him being a Generation adidas player, he was too good to pass up. We watched him, scouted him, have known him for quite some time. He’s a great person as well and willing to work really hard.”
• 2:32pm – Galarcep on the Union selecting midfielder Greg Jordan: “Union select Greg Jordan. Very solid option, a pick for the future, because let’s face it, Brian Carroll isn’t getting any younger (and no, nobody gets younger except Benjamin Button)…Lots of coaches liked Jordan’s game. There are some questions about him being athletic enough, but he is a very sharp player. Good passer, reads the game well. “
• 2:36pm – The general reaction on Twitter to Jordan pick is: “Another midfielder?!?”
• 2:41pm – Chandler Hoffman’s twitter handle: @chandala. Greg Jordan’s: @gnike11.
• 2:46pm – Union third pick defender Raymon Gaddis is a Reading United alumni.
• 2:47pm – Galarcep on Gaddis: “Great pick, the one player on my Top 50 Big Board who did NOT get invited to the Combine. A speedy right back who, for my money, was better than several of the players invited to the Combine…Gaddis was actually part of my college pre-season Top 25 players to watch. Love that pick. “
• 2:59pm – Tweet from Reading United AC: “@readingunited alumni still on the board for the Supplemental Draft: Brian Ownby, Evans Frimpong, Christian Barreiro and Eric Schoenle.”

Round 1

1. New York Red Bulls → Toronto FC. 1 April 2011: Toronto FC acquired this first-round selection, midfielder Tony Tchani, and defender Danleigh Borman from New York Red Bulls in exchange for Dwayne “Tiny Dancer” De Rosario.

Round 2

2. Toronto FC → Chicago Fire. 28 July 2011: Chicago Fire acquired this second-round selection and defender Dan Gargan from Toronto FC in exchange for defender Dasan Robinson.

3. Chivas USA → Real Salt Lake. 6 April 2010: Real Salt Lake acquired a conditional 2012 SuperDraft pick, which became this pick, from Chivas USA in exchange for the rights to defender Dario Delgado.

4. D.C. United → Columbus Crew. 6 August 2010: Columbus Crew acquired this second-round selection from D.C. United in exchange for defender Jed Zayner and a fourth-round selection in the 2011 MLS SuperDraft (which was converted to a first-round selection in the 2011 MLS Supplemental Draft).

5. FC Dallas → Sporting Kansas City. 9 March 2010: Sporting Kansas City acquired this second-round selection from FC Dallas in exchange for goalkeeper Kevin Hartman.

6. Colorado Rapids → San Jose Earthquakes. 7 April 2010: San Jose Earthquakes acquired this second-round selection from Colorado Rapids in exchange for forward Quincy Amarikwa.

7. Sporting Kansas City → Philadelphia Union. 30 June 2010: Philadelphia Union acquired this second-round selection, a second-round selection in the 2011 MLS SuperDraft, and allocation money from Kansas City Wizards in exchange for defender Shavar Thomas

Tony Cascio

What: Winger

Why: Some experts believe the Union will look to solidify their wing play by adding a player like UConn’s Tony Cascio. Montreal drafted Justin Mapp’s left foot and Keon Daniel’s status remains up in the air so the team doesn’t have a lot of depth or experience in the wide areas.

Who: Ives Galarcep calls Cascio “the best pure winger in the draft.” Listed at 5’11″, Cascio has speed and skill and a nose for goal. He tallied 24 in his four seasons at UConn, but he was not the impact player many expected him to be in his senior season. As a Hermann finalist in 2010, Cascio appeared to be breaking through to the top tier of offensive talent, but with only 5 goals and 8 assists in 2011, the winger is likely to be around after the 10th pick.

Sam Garza

Sam Garza can play on either wing or jump up top. He has fought back from an ACL tear his sophomore season, transferred to UC-Santa Barbara, and basically lit the world on fire. Like Cascio, his numbers took a slight dip in his senior season, but 8 goals and 4 assists is a fine return from a guy who spent time all over the pitch. Importantly, Garza excels as the type of winger the Union love. He can play on the left and cut in onto his monster right foot to deliver a bomb from distance. Kyle Nakazawa recovered from a major knee injury in college and his workrate and dedication have been exactly what the Union want from their young players. In an interview with MLSsoccer.com, Garza talks about his recovery and how much he has to prove. He has the attitude and skill set to be high on the Union’s list if they look to bolster this area of the team. Garza’s Generation Adidas status means he would be a cap friendly selection at the 13 pick.

Ethan Finlay may have been on Philly’s radar at the start of the MLS combine, but his strong performance there has likely made him a top ten pick.

Jason Banton

Finally, the Union could look to Englishman Jason Banton. The 19-year old is testing the MLS waters after spells in the youth systems of Arsenal and Liverpool. Banton is big and fast, and he has the versatility the Union love. Chivas USA declined to offer a contract after Banton went on trial last season, and since Chivas rejected him, the kid is probably good. (Hey Zarek Valentin!) The biggest problem with Banton is that he would likely require an international slot. And since the team has -3 available right now, the math could get difficult.

In their first two seasons the Union have had as much use for pure wing play as a T-Rex has use for a side salad. When Mapp and Michael Farfan ran the wing, they were left crossing to empty boxes. The team has been more inclined to fill their midfield with dynamic players who drift in off the wings to occupy the false nine space behind Le Toux. Garza and Finlay would be the best fit for the Union’s current style of play, but it’s doubtful that wide midfielder is the biggest need for this team right now.

What: Defender

Why: The Union are woefully short on defense, but the backs they do have are good enough that they can bring in a talented project and give him time to develop. The team’s last attempt at bringing in a defender through the SuperDraft “Stahl-ed” out of the gate, but there is a deep crop of versatile fullbacks in the 2012 class, and with Mondragon and Califf, the Union have the right veterans to grow a young talent.

Matt Hedges

Who: Matt Hedges is a big, skilled centerback who helped UNC earn a shutout in the College Cup final. His size makes him very attractive to the Union, and the team could bring him along slowly as he adjusts to the speed of MLS.

If the Union are committed to pushing Gabe Farfan into the midfield, Tyler Polak of Creighton could still be around at #13 to add some depth to the back line. Polak spent two years at Creighton before declaring for the SuperDraft and he has been in the US youth system for a while, starting at left back during the last U-17 World Cup. At 5’8″, Polak won’t help the Union’s size issue, and what type of player he will become is still up in the air. He could become a shut down, stay-at-home defender—think Jordan Harvey with a bit more shut down—or he may find that MLS suits him and push forward. He has done both in college and it’s really a matter of finding out how he fits the league and how the league fits him. Polak signed a Generation Adidas contract so he won’t count against the cap in 2012.

Hunter Jumper

Another option at left back is Virginia product Hunter Jumper. The team gets proven versatility in Jumper, who played left back as a sophomore when the Cavaliers won the College Cup, shifted to defensive mid for his junior season, and returned to left back for his final year. Jumper is 6’2″ and, if he lives up to his name, could alleviate the height issues in back. In an interview with VirginiaSports.com, Jumper takes pride in both his own and the team’s defense, but notes that he’d like to get forward whenever possible. If he lives up to his college career, where he notched 5 goals and 13 assists in four seasons, Jumper could be the perfect long-term solution for the Union at left back.

A sleeper, late round selection would be UNC Charlotte defender Charles Rodriguez. While he lacks the offensive skill set of Polak and the height of Jumper, Rodriguez possesses leadership and versatility out the wazoo. He converted to left back for the 49ers as a senior captain, giving up his role in the middle to fill a gaping need on the back line. The Niners went on to make the College Cup final, shutting out likely No. 1 SuperDraft pick Darren Mattocks of Akron and Hermann Trophy runner up Ethan Finlay of Creighton along the way. The Union could snag Rodriguez with a late pick.

What: Striker

Why: While their offense did, um, underperform in 2011, the Union would only take a striker if the perfect situation fell into their lap. And while the cream of the striking crop are all around six feet tall, the rest are a bit smaller. In an interview with The Guardian newspaper, Sons of Ben’s Corey Furlan suggested the Union might use the SuperDraft to find a backup for the possibly Olympic-bound Sheanon Williams or to give Seba some help up front.

Casey Townsend

Who: Darren Mattocks and Andrew Wenger won’t make it out of the top three picks, so the Union would have to decide if Casey Townsend of Maryland or Chandler Hoffman of UCLA are too good to pass up if they fall to the 13th spot. Both strikers were studs coming out of high school and didn’t disappoint in college. Townsend netted 17 goals in his senior season while Hoffman tallied 18 as a junior in 2011. Both are nearly 6’0″ tall but are known more for their feet than their head. Sadly, there is no Will Bruin in the 2012 class of strikers.

If the Union decide to fool us all, there are plenty of small, tricky playmakers available this year. If the team thinks they are set to lose Roger Torres, they could bring in UNC’s Enzo Martinez or trade up for UCLA wunderkind Kelyn Rowe. Both players have high ceilings and GA status.

A work in progress, Rowe is truly the most out-and-out talented player in the draft. Like Jack McInerney, Rowe has some work to do before he lights MLS up. Peter Nowak tends to like that kind of project, but the time probably isn’t right for this kind of move in the 2012 SuperDraft.

First of all: thanks to sidereal for collecting the data and posting it. Sensational. Everything should be done this way.

But I have a nit to pick.

The strength of schedule differences between conferences are real (code is in R), see table 1 below. The West has a tougher time of it. But the claim that there are differences, from team to team, in strength of schedule, isn’t supported by the data.

Presenting a series of means is not data analysis. A mean of 1.4 opponent points per game is not necessarily bigger than 1.2. If we want to know if the differences between those means are meaningful, we have to use inferential statistics. This will tell us whether we should believe the difference, or whether we can’t make a conclusion because there’s too much noise.

Using sidereal’s data, I ran an ANOVA on team × location (home/away). Lo and behold, as sidereal’s intuition showed, location mattered. Team, however, does not seem to matter.

Bad data note: For some reason, Colorado comes up with a 35th game home and away. I’m not sure why that is, but finding and removing those contacts should not affect the conclusions below, in any case.

If seeing is believing, look below. Away games are in red, and those opponents (i.e. the home teams) have a considerably higher Points Per Game (PPG) across the board, but the differences between teams are indistinguishable. Same with the ones in blue (home games); the between-team differences are not noticeable. There’s too much noise in the data. If I remove Home/Away from the analysis, the differences between teams are still meaningless. As appealing as it is to look for conspiracies and excuses before the season even starts, this one doesn’t hold much water.

ggplot(data=mls2012,aes(x=Team,y=Opp.PPG.at.Location,colour=Location)) + geom_boxplot() + theme_bw() + opts(axis.text.x=theme_text(angle=-90)) + scale_x_discrete(name="") + scale_y_continuous(name="Opponent PPG at location")

In the spirit of sharing, here is the data I used.

Table 1: Result of ANOVA of Conference and Location as factors.

> summary(aov(data=mls2012,Opp.PPG.at.Location~Conf+Location+Conf:Location))
Df  Sum Sq Mean Sq F value Pr(>F)
Conf            1    0.88    0.88   7.276 0.00717 **
Location        1   71.99   71.99 596.997 < 2e-16 ***
Conf:Location   1    0.25    0.25   2.079 0.14980
Residuals     642   77.41    0.12
---
Signif. codes: 0 ‘***’ 0.001 ‘**’ 0.01 ‘*’ 0.05 ‘.’ 0.1 ‘ ’ 1

Table 2: Location and team as predictors of opponent points per game

> summary(aov(data=mls2012,Opp.PPG.at.Location~Team+Location))

           Df Sum Sq Mean Sq F value Pr(>F)
Team       18   1.95    0.11   0.884  0.598
Location    1  72.02   72.02 588.855 <2e-16 ***
Residuals 626  76.56    0.12

---
Signif. codes: 0 ‘***’ 0.001 ‘**’ 0.01 ‘*’ 0.05 ‘.’ 0.1 ‘ ’ 1

 Author’s note: Following up after this post was originally published… I ran pairwise comparisons for the teams, and there is no difference between any two of them—even the “easiest” and the “hardest” are indistinguishable.

Further, looked at NY, LA as a separate class of “Marquee” teams; again, the differences were indistinguishable (mean ppg for non-marquee teams: 1.31; for marquee teams: 1.29, df 84.129, t=0.4633, p=0.644).

Just for good measure I ran all of the above with non-parametric statistics (e.g. Kruskal Wallis non-parametric ANOVA) and got the same results. Conclusion: If you’re going to argue that the unbalanced schedule benefits somebody, you can’t use this points-per-game measure.