Philadelphia Independence head coach Paul Riley has decided that he will not field a New York
Fury team in the new WPSL Elite Division.
Riley told Big Apple Soccer via email, "Decided not to put NY Fury into Elite part of WPSL. Not
enough time to get housing, facilities etc all sorted out."
Riley is director of football for the Fury, which already has two WPSL teams, when he is not
coaching the Independence.
The Bethlehem Steel FC tour to St. Louis in December of 1916 for the unofficial title of
"Champions of America" was not the first time a Philadelphia-area team had made a trip out West.
Five years before, Tacony FC, the winners of the American Football Association's American Cup
tournament in 1910 and a semifinalist in the tournament in 1911, had made the same trip in what
would be the first of a series of exhibition matches between St.
Union/MLS
Everybody reacts to the Chris Albright signing. Albright himself says, "For me growing up in
Philadelphia and loving the game and playing it all over the area, to have a cathedral for soccer
in Philly, it's special."
CSN Philly: "This was definitely my first choice," said Albright.
West Virginia head coach Marlon LeBlanc spoke to The Philly Soccer Page about coaching
Raymon Gaddis for the past four years. With 2012 Olympic qualifying running from March 22 April 2
and Sheanon Williams in the middle of the national team's plans, there is a good chance Peter Nowak
will scratch Gaddis' name on the lineup card sooner rather than later.
Photo: Paul Rudderow
Philadelphia Union
Michael Farfan talks about his training stint with Sunderland, most of which was spent with the
Sunderland reserves. "I don't think it was any change of play compared to here," Marfan says. "It
was a good level and I held my own.
Marfan says players were interested to learn more about MLS.
Image courtesy of Empire Supporters Club
The Philadelphia Union announced on Monday the signing of defender Chris Albright.
The Philadelphia native, a product of Penn Charter and FC Delco, has played in MLS for 13 years,
beginning with DC United where he started his career as a forward.
Photo: Earl Gardner/Daniel Gajdamowicz
This might sound familiar.
Going into opening day, Philadelphia Union's presumptive starting goalkeeper is a former
University of Maryland All-American, U.S. youth international and top five draft pick. He was
coached by Union goalkeeper coach Rob Vartughian in college and apprenticed to a top veteran
goalkeeper in the pros.
Philadelphia Union
With no news from the Union, or anywhere else I can find, on the team's draw with Florida Gulf
Coast University on Saturday other than this tweet, our featured image today is of a crate of
oranges. No information about lineups, formations, who stood out, no photos, nothing. Meanwhile the
Internet is littered with reports, video, analysis of the preseason games of other MLS teams.
Those looking for hopeful news about women's professional soccer in the US may have been
heartened by the announcement on Thursday that Western New York Flash and Boston Breakers had
officially committed to participate in the Women's Premier Soccer League's new Elite Division. As
PSP wrote last Wednesday, WPSL president Jerry Zanelli had extended an offer to WPS teams to join
the new league for the 2012 season so that players could maintain fitness and form while WPS worked
on the business of re-launching the league in 2013.
Philadelphia Union drew 1-1 in a friendly against Florida Gulf Coast University on Saturday.
Carlos Valdes scored for the Union. So far, there's little info available on the game, so if you
were there or have photos or more info, please share observations, links, etc. in the comments
below.
For those of you wondering, FGCU made the NCAA tournament last year and will play Seattle next
week.
Union
The Tweet of the Week comes from relationship guru Amobi Okugo: "Safehouse and the vow come out
tomorrow ... Some people will have to compromise." Compromise movie idea: The Vowhouse. Denzel
Washington vows to build a house for the love of his life. Then he roundhouse kicks everyone who
comes into said house.
Photo: Courtesy of Philadelphia Union
After last week's tumultuous events concerning the departures of Sebastien Le Toux and Faryd
Mondragon from the Philadelphia Union, and the cancellation of the WPS season, this week's
installment of the Philly Soccer Show podcast slows down the pace with a look at the Union as they
begin training camp in Orlando.
Friday, February 10
2:30pm Wolfsburg vs Freiburg ESPN Deportes, ESPN3
3pm Spain vs USA (beach soccer) Fox Deportes
4pm El Salvador vs Mexico (beach soccer) Fox Deportes
7:15pm Boca Juniors vs Olimpo GolTV
7:15pm Lanús vs San Lorenzo TyCSports
8pm Atlético Nacional vs Boyacá Chicó TV Colombia
9:10pm Morelia vs Santos Laguna Fox Deportes, Azteca America
9:45pm Universidad Guadalajara vs León GolTV
Saturday, February 11
7:45pm Manchester United vs Liverpool ESPN2, ESPN Deportes, ESPN3
9am Auxerre vs Lorient Fox Soccer 2Go
9am Evian TG vs Olympique Marseille Fox Soccer 2Go
9am Olympique Lyon vs Caen Fox Soccer 2Go
9am Montpellier vs Ajaccio Fox Soccer 2Go
9am Valenciennes vs Nancy Fox Soccer 2Go
9:30am Borussia Dortmund vs Bayer Leverkusen GolTV
9:30am Bayern München vs Kaiserslautern ESPN3
10am Everton vs Chelsea FSC, Fox Deportes
10am Sunderland vs Arsenal Fox Soccer Plus, Fox Soccer 2Go
10am Blackburn Rovers vs Queens Park Rangers Fox Soccer 2Go
10am Bolton vs Wigan Athletic Fox Soccer 2Go
10am Fulham vs Stoke City Fox Soccer 2Go
10am Swansea City vs Norwich City Fox Soccer 2Go
10am Peterborough United vs West Ham United Fox Soccer 2Go
12pm Udinese vs Milan Fox Soccer Plus, Fox Deportes, RAI Internazionale, ESPN3, Fox Soccer 2Go
12pm Racing Santander vs Atlético Madrid ESPN3
12:20pm Blackpool vs Portsmouth Fox Soccer 2Go
12:30pm Tottenham Hotspur vs Newcastle United FSC
1pm Brest vs Dijon Fox Soccer 2Go
2pm Osasuna vs Barcelona GolTV
2pm Ghana vs Mali (Africa Cup of Nations 3rd Place Match) Al Jazeera Sports USA
2pm Cobresal vs Colo Colo TV Chile
2:45pm Cagliari vs Palermo FSC, Fox Deportes, RAI Internazionale
3pm USA v New Zealand USsoccer.
Photo: Nick Waters
Philadelphia Union
Porfirio Lopez describes what he will bring to the Union: "Having a winning mentality is the
most important thing in soccer. I'm going to try to bring my experiences and positive attitude into
the group. Without a doubt, winning championships is the priority.
Photo: Daniel Gajdamowicz
With the signing of Lionard Pajoy, the Union may just be nearing the end of their offseason
transactions (at least for outfield players). In a set of three installments, PSP's Eli
Pearlman-Storch outlines the most likely formations for the Union in 2012 and how the roster, as
currently composed, is suited to play in each.
