In Portland, you can put a bird on something and call it art.
We do things a little differently here in Philadelphia.
With the season opener against Portland Timbers just around the corner, we'd like to invite
Philadelphia Union fans to "Put a snake on it!"
Here's what you do.
Photo: Nicolae Stoian
Some rivalries are natural: Geography, time or success push two franchises and fan bases up
against each other like tectonic plates.
Portland and Vancouver could have been 3000 miles apart when they were awarded MLS franchises
for the 2011 season and there still would be a rivalry there.
Photo: Nicolae Stoian
Philadelphia Union
This day in history, February 28, 2008: MLS announces Philadelphia will join the league as its
16th franchise in the 2010 season. (Not sure if this counts as a birthday, but it makes for a nice
headline. More importantly, it's just a great day to remember.
Photo: Courtesy of al Dia
Philadelphia Union
The Union played Costa Rica Primera Division-leading Municipal Perez Zeledon on Sunday, losing
1–0. With no news about the game yet forthcoming from the Union, so far the only information that
can be learned is from an article from Costa Rican news site al Dia that is actually about the
friendship between Josue Martinez and Porfirio Lopez, and a very grainy 59 second video clip posted
on YouTube attributed to Costa Rican soccer website Everardo Herrera.
Ah, awards season. The Golden Globes! The Grammys! The Oscars! The Unis!
Yes, it's the Unis. So don your powder blue tuxes while I, Mr. Tim Carr, the host and award
presenter, do a cheesy lounge musical medley of "I'm looking over a four leaf clover," "Union Man,"
and "Doop," then hand out arguably the most important trophies on Earth: the Unis.
Union
Read Ed's piece on Camden Youth Soccer Club's stolen goals. Do it now. (please)
The700Level wonders whether any of the Union's announcements at their recent town hall meeting
will win back fans who were put off by the Sebastien Le Toux saga.
The team for Ghana's friendly against Chile at PPL Park will arrive on Monday, February 27.
PSP readers will be familiar with Camden Youth Soccer Club from the photo essay and Q&A we did
with one of the club's coaches, Barry Evans, last fall. CYSC is a volunteer-run urban soccer
program that uses soccer as a way to teach healthy exercise and the benefits of teamwork.
As CYSC volunteer Gerald van Wilgen explains, "CYSC has been organizing a recreational
non-competive program in the spring and fall of every year for almost ten years.
File photo: Nicolae Stoian
Philadelphia Union
On Thursday night, the Union held a town hall meeting with invited season ticket holders among
the top 100 loyalty reward accounts. The discussion featured Nick Sakiewicz, Dave Rowan and Bob
Rigby. Based on information from season ticket holders who were in attendance, as well as tweets
from Union fan extraordinaire BarbCV from the event, here are some of the topics that were
discussed:
- The Union is very sound financially with a very healthy coffer for improving existing player
contracts and new player acquisition.
Friday, February 24
12pm Union Berlin vs 1860 München My Sports Germany
12pm Dynamo Dresden vs MSV Duisburg My Sports Germany
12pm Hansa Rostock vs Ingolstadt My Sports Germany
2pm RKC Waalwijk vs Vitesse Eredivisie.tv
2:30pm Borussia M'gladbach vs Hamburger SV GolTV, My Sports Germany
3:15pm Maritimo Funchal vs Uniao Leiria Sport TV Americas
7:30pm Jamaica vs Cuba FIFA.
Photo: Earl Gardner
Your co-hosts, KYW's Greg Orlandini and PSPs Eli Pearlman-Storch, are joined by PSP writer Adam
Cann in the latest installment of the Philly Soccer Show podcast.
In part one, the Greg and Adam talk to Eli about how the Union looked in their preseason
friendly with Orlando City.
When Tacony FC traveled to St. Louis in December of 1911 in one of the first tours pitting the
largely immigrant-based East Coast teams against the largely native-born teams from the West, they
had lost only three games in two years. The confidence they felt on departure proved to be
premature and they returned to Philadelphia with a 4–4 draw against St.
Photo: Daniel Gajdamowicz
USMNT coach Jurgen Klinsmann has announced his 21-player roster for the upcoming friendly
against Italy. The match will take place on Wednesday, Feb. 29 in Genoa and will be broadcast live
by ESPN2, ESPN3 and Galavision from 2:45pm.
Thirteen players return from the group that defeated Slovenia 3–2 on Nov.
Photo: Earl Gardner
Philadelphia Union
Peter Nowak says, "I think we have been working on some really good stuff in Florida. Now it's
just a matter of improving. Now it's working on fitness, formations and getting guys ready for the
season. Because of the Olympic qualifiers, it's kind of hard to determine what our set lineup with
will be.
Photo: Nizar Khalfan
Philadelphia Union waived midfielder Nizar Khalfan just days after he sat out the club's
preseason friendly in Orlando.
Khalfan, 23, joined the Union via the MLS waiver draft in November after Vancouver let him go
following a 2011 season in which he recorded one goal and four assists in 22 games.
Philadelphia Union fans traveled to Orlando last weekend to see the team play Orlando City
SC and to participate in the club's first preseason Fan Weekend. In addition to the game, the
weekend's events included meet & greet sessions with the players, a chalk talk and open practice,
all capped off by a barbecue attended by the fans and players.
Photo: Earl Gardner
The Philadelphia Union announced on Wednesday that they have signed Sheanon Williams to a new
contract. Per club and League policy, terms of the deal have not been disclosed.
Peter Nowak said in a press conference following the departure of Sebastien Le Toux that money
from that deal would be used to improve the contracts of players already on the roster
We have a couple of guys on the roster for whom we want to improve their contracts, because they
still have contracts from past years and they are not financially strong, but they contribute to
the team.
Union
The Philadelphia Union are only making a brief stop in town before heading off to San Jose,
Costa Rica for three games in five days. On February 26, Philly throws down with Costa Rican league
leaders Municipal Perez Zeledon. 22 goals in nine games will make for a nice test for the Union
back line.
Photo: Earl Gardner
The Philadelphia Union announced on Tuesday the signing of the remaining draft picks in
camp—Greg Jordan, Raymon Gaddis, Krystian Witkowski and Antoine Hoppenot—and goalkeeper Chase
Harrison.
Jordan and Gaddis were selected by the Union in January's SuperDraft, with Jordan being selected
32nd over all Gaddis 35th overall.
Photo: Earl Gardner
Given the erratic nature of the preseason, we have elected to invert our usual post-match
format and lead with player ratings. Preseason games are opportunities for positional and tactical
experimentation, and so individual player performances become the most important factor in the
evaluation of the team as they build towards the regular season.
Photo: Earl Gardner
Given the erratic nature of the preseason, we have elected to invert our usual post-match format
and lead with player ratings. Preseason games are opportunities for positional and tactical
experimentation, and so individual player performances become the most important factor in the
evaluation of the team as they build towards the regular season.
