In which we address the pre-pubescent new roster, and try to see things from where our beleaguered
coach stands.
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.
Los Tiburones Rojos hasta el momento también
están decepcionando, están jugando por debajo del mínimo requerido para calificar y parece que
tardarán cuando menos otro año más en volver a la primera división como varios que se
estancaron y no pueden volver, como León, Dorados,
Correcaminos, el desaparecido Indios que ya no volvió y
últimamente Necaxa.
Sebastien Le Toux and Kyle Nakazawa were seen as the two major free kick takers on the
Philadelphia Union through the team's first two seasons of existence.
For Le Toux it was because of his massive number of free kicks, coupled with a perceived high
failure rate on them. Nakazawa's status as a free kick taker came from a mystique that he developed
among the Union's fan base from great technique.
Aquí algunos cortos previos a la fecha 1 de La Liga de Ascenso
Clausura 2012.
El técnico de Los Tiburones Rojos, Daniel
Guzmán, no garantiza el triunfo ante Pumas Morelos este sábado, "No soy
mago para saber si vamos a ganar" dijo, ante la interrogante de los periodistas sobre el
pronóstico del partido, igualmente indicó que ya tiene definido su once inicial José
Antonio Rodríguez, Omar Domínguez, Uriel Álvarez,
Néstor Olguín, Juan Pablo Montaño, Rafael
Medina, Manuel Pérez, Luis Robles, Diego
Esqueda, Daniel Guzmán Miranda y Carlos Ruiz.
Photo: Paul Rudderow
Editor's note: At the end of the 2010 season, we posted a series of season reviews of every
Philadelphia Union player. Over the next several weeks PSP continues with a review of the 2011
season.
The Freddy Adu redemption narrative began this year the same way such stories typically begin:
At rock bottom.
Photo: Paul Rudderow
Happy New Year from all of us at the Philly Soccer Page. The Union's first kick is only 70 days
away.
Some New Year Tweets
Philadelphia Union: Happy New Year everyone! Thanks for a memorable 2011...see you in 2012!
#DOOP
Philadelphia Independence: Have a safe and wonderful New Year Independence fans, WPS fans,
Soccer fans!
The MLS incarnation of the Seattle Sounders is a very young franchise with only three seasons
under its belt. That combined with the relative lack of player movement in the single-entity MLS
means that there really aren't that many ex-Sounders. But I thought it'd be nice to take a look
back at some Sounders of yore and see what they're up to now.
When rumors of Carlos Ruiz's imminent arrival in Philadelphia surfaced, PSP's Mike Servedio
wrote, "Ruiz is known as a mixed bag, a temperamental striker who has had some big seasons in
terms of goals in the MLS, but is just as well known for his flagrant diving. The Union could
definitely use an experienced goal-scoring striker, with only three out-and-out strikers on the
roster, but with Ruiz' reputation he might have to work to win over the Union faithful (myself
included).
When rumors of Carlos Ruiz's imminent arrival in Philadelphia surfaced, PSP's Mike Servedio
wrote, "Ruiz is known as a mixed bag, a temperamental striker who has had some big seasons in
terms of goals in the MLS, but is just as well known for his flagrant diving. The Union could
definitely use an experienced goal-scoring striker, with only three out-and-out strikers on the
roster, but with Ruiz' reputation he might have to work to win over the Union faithful (myself
included).
Featured image: Daniel Gajdamowicz
Editor's note: At the end of the 2010 season, we posted a series of season reviews of every
Philadelphia Union player. Over the next several weeks PSP continues with a review of the 2011
season.
In an effort to prop up a struggling attack, the Union announced the signing of Serbian forward
Veljko Paunovic on 13 June 2011.
There is one thing you have give to the Philadelphia Union, so far during this and the previous
off season they've had needs on the team and pretty much filled them up. After the inaugural season
it was painfully obvious to anyone that wasn't Helen Keller that Chris Seitz was not going to be
the answer at Goalkeeper.
Peter Nowak spoke to the press today, only hours after the Union announced Costa Rican left back
Porfirio Lopez as the team's fifth offseason signing.
"Porfirio [Lopez] has a great capacity going back and forth and taking pride at defending, and
that's a part we take a look at very closely," Nowak said.
Photo: Paul Rudderow
Editor's note: At the end of the 2010 season, we posted a series of season reviews of every
Philadelphia Union player. Over the next several weeks PSP continues with a review of the 2011
season.
It was a disappointing second year for Jack McInerney.
Photo: Nicolae Stoian
With their first three picks in the 2010 MLS SuperDraft, the Union selected two strikers and a
holding midfielder. All teenagers and, thus, long term projects, fans were still a bit surprised to
see a veteran striker and holding middie arrive during the offseason.
Photo: Paul Rudderow
Editor's note: At the end of the 2010 season, we posted a series of season reviews of every
Philadelphia Union player. Over the next several weeks PSP continues with a review of the 2011
season.
What a roller-coaster ride 2011 was for Philadelphia's favorite Frenchman.
Philadelphia Union
The big news of the day is that Jimmy McLaughlin is the Philadelphia Union's second homegrown
signing. Ed has all the details here. McLaughlin said he has spoken to Zach Pfeffer about turning
pro. ""It's a business and you're playing for a spot every day.
Retro Football Kits - originally posted on Soccerlens.com
Throughout history, people have been kicking a ball but the earliest scientific evidence suggest
that it was an exercise from a military manual in the second and third BC in China it was called
Cuju. Modern football took years in the making after the Chinese forgot about cuju.
Peter Nowak and the Philadelphia Union introduced their first summer signing today. Josue
Martinez is a 21-year old Costa Rican international who fits the Nowak mold as someone who can slot
in at multiple positions. ""He's a very humble guy. He has a different qualities with his speed,
and can play as a central striker or on the wing," Nowak said.
Cover photo: Daniel Gajdamowicz
I know a guy who, when we were growing up, wouldn't greet you with a "What's up?" or "How's it
going?" or whatever.
His first question would be, "You working on your game?" The line had started with our
basketball coach, who basically told us that your off-season was the most important time for the
development of your game, because everything that happened next season would be determined by how
much you improved before it started.
Real quick post to provide some context concerning Brian Ching's vocal unwillingness to play for
the Montreal Impact, and more specifically, Jesse Marsch. There is documented history between the
two men, with two main incidents being what we assume is the focal point of Ching's less than
positive feelings towards the Impact's head coach.
Philadelphia Union
This Vancouver blog attributes Nizar Khalfan's inability to become a regular starter with the
Whitecaps to being away on international duty and being on the outs with then head coach Tommy
Soehn. "Frankly, I think the Whitecaps should have kept him, and my feeling is the loss of the
Vancouver Whitecaps is the Philadelphia Union's gain.
Philadelphia Union
This Vancouver blog attributes Nizar Khalfan's inability to become a regular starter with the
Whitecaps to being away on international duty and being on the outs with then head coach Tommy
Soehn. "Frankly, I think the Whitecaps should have kept him, and my feeling is the loss of the
Vancouver Whitecaps is the Philadelphia Union's gain.
(Photo: Daniel Gajdamowicz)
Editor's note: At the end of the 2010 season, we posted a series of "Raves" about our
favorite Philadelphia players. They need not be the team's best players, but they're guys and gals
we like. Over the next two weeks, we continue the series again with some of the PSP writers' and
contributors' favorite players of 2011.
(Photo: Daniel Gajdamowicz)
Editor's note: At the end of the 2010 season, we posted a series of raves "Raves" about our
favorite Philadelphia players. They need not be the team's best players, but they're guys and gals
we like. Over the next two weeks, we continue the series again with some of the PSP writers and
contributors favorite players of 2011.
Photo: Paul Rudderow
Union
Y0u can watch a live stream of today's Expansion Draft the French Canadian way from 3pm on the
Montreal Impact website. (It's supposed to be on the MLS site too but, as of this writing, they
haven't put the link up yet.)
Montreal Impact head coach Jesse Marsch is among those who noticed Freddy Adu was left
unprotected by the Philadelphia Union ahead of today's Expansion Draft.
Photo: Paul Rudderow
After every Union match, The Philly Soccer Page publishes its exclusive player ratings. Moments
later, our wonderful readers follow up with expansive debate.
With the expansion draft looming, let's see if the PSP's ratings can predict who the Union will
and should protect.
The US will be joined in their third round CONCACAF qualifying group by Guatemala, Jamaica and
Antigua & Barbuda. Oh thank goodness. I was worried I'd never see Carlos Ruiz again! The
round-robin system means the US plays home-and-homes with each team between June 1 and
October 16 2012.
The MLS Board of Governors are ready to address playoff shortcomings again.
Featured Image: Nicolae Stoian
The Philly Soccer Page is fortunate to be able to share its readers the work of five
staff photographers: Daniel Gajdamowicz, Earl Gardner, Michael Long, Paul Rudderow and Nicolae
Stoian. Along with photographs by contributing photographers Nate Monahan and Eryin Wandel, we
present a look back at the Union's 2011 home season along with the road games we were able to
cover, special events and more.
Photo: Daniel Gajdamowicz
Union
Wednesday's press conference contained much talk about the future of the club. Here are some
talking points, beginning with Peter Nowak on:
Consistent lineups: "It's not that we are saying everything is fine. All we are saying is that
having a starting lineup consistent, 11 guys, maybe two substitutions or three guys, you cannot win
the championship with 13 guys.
It seemed so fitting. So perfect, even. The Philadelphia Union were seeking their first ever
playoff match victory and playoff series victory in the same place where they took their first-ever
road victory, and opened their second season with a victory: Robertson Stadium in Houston. But it
was not to be.
No more games in hand, no more disparity between games played at home and on the road, no more
asterisks denoting games that didn't really count because the opposition was bad. With the regular
season over and playoffs under way, we can finally look back on the MLS regular season and compare
statistics through 34 games, where every team played every other team twice.
(Photo: Nicolae Stoian)
Our break down of the Philadelphia Union/Houston Dynamo playoff matchup continues. PSP's
roving correspondent Adam Cann lays out the big questions and Eli Pearlman-Storch answers them.
Today's topic, the Dynamo defense versus the Union offense.
Sure, this post could be called "Sebastien Le Toux vs Dynamo D," but Seba himself would be the
first to say that his statistical surge has been the direct result of the entire team finally
getting on the same page going forward.
(Photo: Nicolae Stoian)
Our break down of the Philadelphia Union/Houston Dynamo playoff matchup continues. PSP's
roving correspondent Adam Cann lays out the big questions and Eli Pearlman-Storch answers them.
Today's topic, the Dynamo defense versus the Union offense.
Sure, this post could be called "Sebastien Le Toux vs Dynamo D," but Seba himself would be the
first to say that his statistical surge has been the direct result of the entire team finally
getting on the same page going forward.
This video doesn't really relate to this article on Nick Sackiewicz that's basically a State of the
Philadelphia Union. Well, aside from the fact that it features the Union. But I like pretty
pictures so I thought I'd throw it in anyway.
It seems like the general state of things with Nicky Sack's club is a pretty picture as well; TV
viewership is up, they're thinking of expanding the stadium, they got rid of Carlos Ruiz and
they're in the playoffs.
This MLS season was chock-full with highlight-reel goals from start to finish, making for one of
the most, if not the most, entertaining seasons to date.
Whether it was the likes of Eric Hassli's volley in Seattle or Darlington Nagbe's volley in
Portland, the individual skill displayed by some players this season was outstanding.
Photo: Nicolae Stoian
Philadelphia Union manager Peter Nowak can prove Sunday just how good a manager he really
is.
It will happen when the starting lineup is announced.
Outsiders may think Nowak's a potential coach of the year, but those who follow the Union
closely know he's been a better executive than a chooser of starting lineups.
In his ten seasons in New England, Stevie Nicol oversaw the most successful run in Revolution's
history. But, after the club's record sharply regressed over the past two years in particular, the
writing was on the wall: it was time for the gaffer to go.
Many will remember that Nicol's debut came in 1999, when he replaced the last storied Revolution
manager the Spiderman himself, Walter Zenga for the final two matches of the season.
Photo: Daniel Gajdamowicz
The Shin Guardian invited Philly Soccer Page to write a preview of Thursday night's Philadelphia
Union game against New York. And when the Shin Guardian calls, it is PSP's Adam Cann who answers
the call.
Among the topics covered are:
John Harkes Keys to the Game "Thursday's predicted Harkes' Keys: 1) Stop Le Toux, 2) Don't
Give Up Goals 3) Marquez Something Something.
One game. Everything on the line.
This is the stuff that rivalries are made of.
Philadelphia Union vs. the New York Red Bulls. On national TV. It's so on.
If Philadelphia wins, the Red Bulls go home for a long winter. Their disastrous season is over.
The Union win the Eastern Conference and home field advantage if they make it to the conference
finals.
