BY ADAM SERRANO
CARSON, Calif. -- Cameroonian midfielder Franck Songo'o stole the show for the Portland Timbers
as the trialist set up a pair of goals to help lead the Timbers to a 4-1 win against the Los
Angeles Galaxy on Tuesday in the first MLS pre-season match for both teams.
The Los Angeles Galaxy's search for Juninho's replacement has ended with Juninho himself.
The Sao Paulo central midfielder is on his way back to Los Angeles for another loan spell with
the Galaxy. Multiple reports out of Brazil say that Sao Paulo manager Emerson Leao had no plans to
use the 23-year-old Juninho, who signed a new three-year deal with Sao Paulo during the MLS
offseason.
Photo: Random free speech/satire from the Internet
Philly native Dan Borislow continues to show he has absolutely no shame or class by pushing for
his Florida club to play friendlies this season while the rest of WPS had to cancel their season
because of legal battles with Borislow.
Photo: Random free speech/satire from the Internet
Philly native Dan Borislow continues to show he has absolutely no shame or class by pushing for
his Florida club to play friendlies this season while the rest of WPS had to cancel their season
because of legal battles with Borislow.
Photo: Nicolae Stoian
In an interview on MLSsoccer.com's ExtraTime Radio podcast, Sebastien Le Toux tells Union fans
who are angry that he was sold to Vancouver that it is important that they continue to support the
Union: "To have you in the stands—it is always great to play in front of you and all of the guys
who played with me are wonderful players and they need you.
The Philadelphia Union were expected to announce the signing of Lionard Pajoy last week, but the
team has yet to officially recognize the striker as a player. According to a Colombian league
report, Pajoy is experiencing visa problems, which are keeping him from joining the Union.
The 30-year-old had problems getting out of his contract with Itagui Ditaires, per a source that
talked to Kerith Gabriel, of the Philadelphia Daily News and Philly.
A few of the issues that gnaw at us, on the eve of season 3. How 'bout you?
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.
Pour a sip on the concrete, and take a look back at the dearly departed.
Photo: Nicolae Stoian from 2011
The offseason can be crazy in the business that is soccer and sometimes it can be all too
easy to forget that in the end, it's really about the game. If you are looking for some inspiration
to help you get your soccer head back on straight, go to the Ritz East tonight to see the
Philadelphia premier of Laduma.
BY ADAM SERRANO
The Los Angeles Galaxy enjoyed a banner day on Wednesday, but it was by no means a perfect one.
After signing forward Edson Buddle and acquiring midfielder Kyle Nakazawa in a deal from the
Philadelphia Union, the Galaxy learned that homegrown signing Jose Villarreal will be out for six
weeks.
Photo by Michael Janosz/ISIphotos.com
The Los Angeles Galaxy and Philadelphia Union both made their fair share of headlines this week,
so it is only appropriate that they combined for another one.
Los Angeles acquired central midfielder Kyle Nakazawa and a second-round pick in the 2013 MLS
SuperDraft from Philadelphia Wednesday in exchange for an international roster spot.
The Philadelphia Union have officially completed a trade of Kyle Nakazawa to the LA Galaxy.
Nakazawa will be sent to California with a second round selection in the 2012 MLS SuperDraft for
one of the Galaxy's international roster spots.
Nakazawa was reported to be on his way to the Galaxy early this morning, when the Brotherly Game
published a storywith information from a source knowledgeable on the situation.
Keon Daniel is not at the Youth Sports Complex, in Wayne, PA, according to fans that are at the
Philadelphia Union's open team practice. Despite seeing a player of Daniel's build with a
dreadlocks style haircut, the midfielder is not at the camp today.
Fans tweeted that the 25-year-old was sighted at preseason training camp this morning, before
retracting their observations.
Photo: Earl Gardner
Le Toux talks
It just won't stop.
As suggested by the 130 readers' comments posted on PSP in less then 24 hours since the Le Toux
transfer news broke, if the sadness felt by Union fans at the news of Sebastien Le Toux's transfer
to Vancouver wasn't enough, subsequent comments from Peter Nowak and Le Toux will, for many, see
that sadness turn to anger.
Photo: Earl Gardner
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.
Photo: Earl Gardner
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.
Another Philadelphia Union player is on his way out of the club, as Kyle Nakazawa will be
traded, the Brotherly Game has learned.
Sources tell the Brotherly Game that the Nakazawa will be moved to the LA Galaxy in a move that
one of the sources said will be announced tomorrow. The trade has been in the works since sometime
last week.
Photo by Michael Janosz/ISIphotos.com
By AVI CREDITOR
The Philadelphia Union have a plan, and they're sticking to it.
The club purchased the full rights to 20-year-old Colombian midfielder Roger Torres from America
de Cali, which had been loaning him to the Union for the last two seasons.
[Editor's note: For a write up of what happened at last year's Team
Dinner, click here. It's a great cause and an incredibly fun event.]
The Kyle Nakazawa organized Team Dinner will have its second annual charity event in late April,
with tickets being open to the general public starting at 4 pm today.
The MLS SuperDraft is Thursday, January 12 at 12pm ET (ESPN2, ESPN3). The Philadelphia Union
have the 13th, 32nd and 35th picks this year, and nobody knows
what the team will do. PSP runs down some of the options.
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.
Freddy Adu spoke to Arch Bell of ESPN.com and, in a column published Monday, expressed an
interest in returning to Europe immediately.
The money quote from Adu is here: "It would be an amazing opportunity to be able to stay here at
Rayo [Vallecano]."
"I definitely miss playing in Europe," Adu continued, "I always said that when I went back to
MLS, I wanted stability, and that I wouldn't go back until I could play for a top-five league.
Featured image: 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.
A striker can go missing for long stretches, only to pop up and score with a single touch.
The Philly Soccer Page " Season Review: Kyle Nakazawa
At the end of the 2010 season, the jury was still out on Kyle Nakazawa. Public opinion was split
nearly 50/50 about his prospects with the Union.
Beckham in a Phils Hat? " Broad Street Hooligans
This obviously won't blow up the way Plaxico did, which is good, but nobody really knows where
he's going.
Featured image: Nicolae Stoian
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.
At the end of the 2010 season, the jury was still out on Kyle Nakazawa.
Featured image: Nicolae Stoian
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.
At the end of the 2010 season, the jury was still out on Kyle Nakazawa.
[Editor's note: Another look at the USMNT under-17 team]
This evening's game took place only 2 days after the American's 2-1 victory over Turkey. One of
my players to watch, Herber Mejia-Flores had an assist and goal in that game. That same day Brazil
drew with France 1-1. In this round robin tournament that meant that Brazil and the US each had 4
points going into this game.
Photo: Courtesy US Soccer
Philly Soccer Page
Today marks the return of one series and the start of another. First, fresh on the heels of our
series of raves, we begin our series of season reviews of every Philadelphia Union player who saw
more than ten minutes of action in 2011 (sorry Morgan!
The Goalkeeper claims he hears rumors that Villanova is bidding to host the 2013 College Cup in
PPL Park.
Opta congratulates the Union on leading the league in goals from outside the box in 2011.
An updated list of players available for the re-entry draft. Union two are still the same.
[Editor's note: Nice write up about what went on during the u-17 game
today]
The U-17 team resides in Brandenton, Fl. at the IMG Training Academy. The system used at IMG is
similar to the youth academies of Europe, where students receive an education at the local school
while intensively practicing soccer.
Photo: Nicolae Stoian
Does anyone ever really pay much attention draft picks after the first round? Maybe in the NFL
where there is real depth from a wealth of college talent and combine hype. But in the MLS
SuperDraft? Does anyone after the first dozen or so selections really matter?
Le Toux's turkey cupcake. (Photo: Courtesy of Sebastien Le Toux)
A Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours from all of us at the Philly Soccer Page. Here
are a few more holiday messages from the Philly soccer community:
Sebastien Le Toux: "Happy turkey day everybody!
That five thoughts on the expansion draft post seemed to work pretty well yesterday, so with
time short and you (maybe? hopefully?) interested, here are five more on how the Montreal Impact
might be the new evil geniuses of Major League Soccer.
And they might just be that. Because right now Montreal looks evil, re: Brian Ching, and they
look like geniuses, re: Justin Braun.
Ever read those posts on SI.com, Fox Soccer, or ESPN.com with the "five thoughts about ..." and
then, well, lo and behold, they offer you five random thoughts about a topic?
Yeah, I always thought they were mailing it in too, too rushed or whatever to come up with a
lede, coherent structure for the column, etc.
This post by TSG staff
MLS continued it's full court marketing press by issuing it's unprotected list just a day after
the MLS Cup final.
2012's Jack Jewsbury...
Some fascinating players on the take (for the take?). Here's a feasible team based upon a
balance of "Don't get blown out" and "Priming for growth.
The following are the official protected and unprotected player lists for the Philadelphia Union
for the upcoming 2011 MLS Expansion Draft. The draft takes place at 2 pm on Wednesday afternoon,
with the Montreal Impact selecting ten players from the 18 current MLS teams. Once a team has a
player selected, that team is exempt from the remaining rounds of the Expansion Draft.
Another MLS Cup, another expansion draft.
For most clubs around the league, that's what the year's final match really means. The day after
Sunday's championship game, MLS teams must submit to the league office the list of eleven players
they plan to protect in the Nov. 23 expansion draft.
The draft's rules are largely the same as last year, tweaked a bit to account for the Montreal
Impact drafting alone, whereas last year's draft had two expansion teams.
Photo: Paul Rudderow
As noted in a recent post on the Philadelphia Union website, "Over the course of 34 games, opposing
teams averaged a mere 3.05 shots on goal this season, an all-time league record."
Over the course of the 2011 season, the Union held opponents to zero shots on goal twice, one
shot on goal 5 times, two shots on goal six times and three shots on goal 11 times.
Philadelphia has a strong foundation for 2012, will it get hit by the expansion draft? (Getty
Images)
Entering the 2011 season, I felt the Philadelphia Union were a team that could surprise a few
folks and be a dark horse pick to make the playoffs. Turns out they made the playoffs but couldn't
get any further than the semifinal round after their loss to the Houston Dynamo last night.
Philadelphia Union vs. Houston Dynamo
November 03, 2011 -- Robertson Stadium
Eastern Conference semifinals -- Game 2
Attendance: 24,749
Scoring Summary:
HOU -- Brian Ching 1 (Brad Davis 2) 48+
Philadelphia Union -- Faryd Mondragon, Sheanon Williams, Carlos Valdes, Danny Califf,
Gabriel Farfan (Roger Torres 66), Michael Farfan, Brian Carroll, Veljko Paunovic (Freddy Adu 66),
Sebastien Le Toux, Jack McInerney, Danny Mwanga (Justin Mapp 66).
