In which we address the pre-pubescent new roster, and try to see things from where our beleaguered
coach stands.
The date has been set (March 18th, 2012). The shirt and scarf have been unveiled and are
available for preorder at Barktees.com. The raffle is being organized. The new Sons of Ben tailgate
location has been announced.
Never, in my wildest imagination, would I have dreamed of this moment.
In which one blogger's wife probes the relationship between players and fans.
Pour a sip on the concrete, and take a look back at the dearly departed.
January 31, 2012 is a date that will not leave the minds of Union fans for a long
time.
A day after finding out that the team captain Faryd Mondragon was going back to Colombia,
the other shoe dropped—Sebastien LeToux had been sold to the Vancouver Whitecaps. While the
Mondragon move was a lot easier to digest, fans were stunned to find out that the beloved Seba was
moving to another MLS team.
January 31, 2012 is a date that will not leave the minds of Union fans for a long
time.
A day after finding out that the team captain Faryd Mondragon was going back to Colombia,
the other shoe dropped—Sebastien LeToux had been sold to the Vancouver Whitecaps. While the
Mondragon move was a lot easier to digest, fans were stunned to find out that the beloved Seba was
moving to another MLS team.
Editor's note: Today, the staff here at PUT woke from a 3 month whiskey and BIMBO brand mini
Kaiser roll-induced haze to the realization that face-of-the-franchise, leading scorer and all
around exception to French stereotypes Sebastien Le Toux was gone. His side of the closet was
empty, his neon boots no longer by the door.
Faryd Mondragon is officially no longer a Philadelphia Union player. The goalkeeper will return
to the team that he began his career with, Deportivo Cali, as soon as the player and his family can
move to Colombia.
"It has been an absolute honor and a privilege to be part of the Union family," said Mondragón
told PhiladelphiaUnion.
Scott Kessler, Jeremy Sharpe, and the Sons of Ben are at it again.
Gentlemen, it is time to put down the razors, grab the grooming scissors, mirrors, assorted
mustaches waxes, choose the style that is right for you, and let testosterone do the rest, all to
raise money for Help Kick Hunger, to benefit The Bernardine Center in Chester, PA.
Photo: Nicolae Stoian
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?
Less than two years after its construction was completed, PPL Park was awarded its first MLS
All-Star game, the league announced on Wednesday.
The game has been scheduled for July 25th at 8:00pm ET and will be televised on ESPN2 and
Galavision. An opponent has not been announced.
The soccer specific stadium, which has a capacity of 18,500, is the home grounds of the
Philadelphia Union, who entered the league in 2010.
Photo: Paul Rudderow
It's official, PPL Park will be the site of the 2012 MLS All-Star Game on July 25.
The opponent, "a renowned international club," will be announced at a later date.
MLS Commissioner Don Garber, Philadelphia Union CEO Nick Sackiewicz, Philadelphia Mayor Michael
Nutter and Chester Mayor John Linder were on hand at the press conference at Philadelphia's City
Hall on Tuesday morning for the announcement.
Saturday's Sons of Ben-organized Help Kick Hunger charity at McFaddens at Citizen's Bank
Park was a huge success. $8,300 was raised at the event, which featured appearances from the
Philadelphia Union's Brian Carroll, Zach Pfeffer and Jimmy McLaughlin. The recently retired Veljko
Paunovic was also on hand.
Saturday's Sons of Ben-organized Help Kick Hunger charity at McFaddens at Citizen's Bank
Park was a huge success. $8,300 was raised at the event, which featured appearances from the
Philadelphia Union's Brian Carroll, Zach Pfeffer and Jimmy McLaughlin. The recently retired Veljko
Paunovic was also on hand.
Philadelphia Union
Sebastien Le Toux tweeted this morning, "I spent a great week at BWFC. Great club with great
people. Now back in Philly." We are waiting for confirmation on this from the Union on this and if
this means there will be no transfer to Bolton.
Following the successful appeal to secure Tim Ream the UK work permit necessary to complete the
defender's move to the Wanderers, Owen Coyle tells The Bolton News that he plans to "add one or two
more to take us on to the second half of the season" before the close of the transfer window on
January 31.
Following the announcement by the Philadelphia Union that a press conference has been scheduled
for Tuesday at 11am to take place at City Hall in Center City Philadelphia, philly.com reports that
the Union will host the 2012 MLS All-Star Game at PPL Park.
The press release from the Union says that team CEO Nick Sackiewicz, MLS Commissioner Don
Garber, Chester Mayor John Linder and Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter are all scheduled to be in
attendance.
As the Brotherly Game reported on Twitter Saturday night, it appears that Philadelphia will be
the host of the 2012 MLS All Star Game.
Philadelphia Union executive Rick Jacobs told a crowd of fans at the Sons of Ben Help Kick
Hunger event that there would be an announcement at 11 am at City Hall with MLS there as well.
Photo: Nicolae Stoian
Philadelphia Union
Jack McInerney scored in the US U-23 team's 1–1 draw with the USMNT. McInerney, Amobi Okugo,
and Freddy Adu started the first half. Zac MacMath and Sheanon Williams started the second
half.
John Hackworth says of Tom Brandt, the Union's first pick in the Supplemental Draft, "We wanted
to get a quality player in the back and we feel like we did that with Tom Brandt.
Photo: Paul Rudderow
Philadelphia Union
Tweet from SBI: "I'm told Philadelphia Union midfielder Michael Farfan will be heading to
England for a training stint with Premier League side Sunderland." As of this writing, we are
waiting for confirmation from the Union about this report.
The Philadelphia Union has released its schedule for 2012. A downloadable file containing the
entire schedule can be found here. With the addition of the Montreal Impact to the Eastern
Conference this year, MLS has moved to a conference based schedule. Each team will play 34 games,
but instead of the balance schedule we enjoyed last year, we will be seeing the following:
Due to the higher number of clubs in the Eastern Conference, each club will play a total of 25
conference matches.
The Philadelphia Union unveiled new 2012 kits. It's not a pretty picture, folks. The story on
the new kits can be found here. On the positive side, the dreaded C3PU kit is now a bad memory.
However, we are faced with overly fussy versions of the original primary and secondary kits. They
each contain one color too many as well as unnecessary and visually distracting embellishments.
The River End belts out the National Anthem.
Zombie-mode in full effect as Corey Furlan gets the beat going.
The header from a Brad Davis free kick begins to make its way into goal...
...and moments later Faryd Mondragon celebrates Seba's beautiful goal.
The River End belts out the National Anthem.
Zombie-mode in full effect as Corey Furlan gets the beat going.
The header from a Brad Davis free kick begins to make its way into goal...
...and moments later Faryd Mondragon celebrates Seba's beautiful goal.
The Philly Soccer Page " Lineup breakdown: Union mid vs Dynamo mid
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 midfield versus the Union midfield.
Photo: Earl Gardner
Union v Houston playoff watch
So, what time exactly will Sunday's game be kicking off? Marc Narducci reports, "If the Los
Angeles Galaxy face the Colorado Rapids in the Western Conference semifinal, Sunday's Union game
will start at 4. If the Galaxy play the New York Red Bulls or Columbus Crew, game time for the
Union will be 5 p.
Photo: Nicolae Stoian
Union in the playoffs
Houston's 3–1 win over LA Galaxy on Sunday night means the Philadelphia Union finish third
place in the Eastern Conference behind Kansas City in first and Houston in second. The Union will
host Houston at PPL Park on Sunday, October 30 in the first game of a two-game Eastern Conference
semifinal playoff series.
PSP photographer Earl Gardner was with the Sons of Ben as they traveled to show their
support of the Philadelphia Union as they took on New York Red Bulls at Red Bull Arena. Here's a
look at what Earl saw during the course of the day as the Sons of Ben and other Union supporters
did their team loud and proud.
PSP photographer Earl Gardner was with the Sons of Ben as they traveled to show their
support of the Philadelphia Union as they took on New York Red Bulls at Red Bull Arena. Here's a
look at what Earl saw during the course of the day as the Sons of Ben and other Union supporters
did their team loud and proud.
Angel's Goal Sealed the Deal the Last Time Philly Played a League Game at RBAI exchanged
three questions with Scott Kessler, editor of Philadelphia Union SBNation blog The Brotherly Game,
in advance of tonight's big game at Red Bull Arena. You can find my responses to his queries by
clicking here.
New York watch
Tickets are still available for tonight's game. C'mon, you know you want to go.
MLS Gameday Guide download.
Match previews from Philly Soccer Page, MLSsoccer.com, JP Dellacamera, the Inquirer,
phillyBurbs.com, the Brotherly Game, Once a Metro (SB Nation NYRB blog even their name is
ridiculous).
If the Philadelphia Union and the New York Red Bulls weren't considered to have a rivalry yet,
they certainly will after Thursday night. The two clubs face off in a game that may decide whether
or not the Red Bulls make the playoffs and if the Union claim first place in the Eastern Conference
in only their second season in MLS.
Photo by Earl Gardner
Union
The Uwishunu photo of the day: A collage from the Union's Toronto tie that put the home team
into the playoffs!
The Union reserves fell 3-1 to the TFC reserves. Pfeffer netted for the good guys.
Veljko Paunovic is having an MRI on his hamstring today.
FBM: Better Know A Supporters Group - Sons of Ben
The Free Beer Movement discusses the Sons of Ben with the Sons of Ben.
We continue our comprehensive coverage of American soccer culture with our series "Better Know a
Supporters Group," just like Steven Colbert's "Better Know a District" from "The Colbert
Report".
Our goal: to feature each of the MLS teams' supporters groups. We've sent e-mails to each and every
SG in Major League Soccer and soon you'll be able to check all what each is all about and what
awesomeness they have to contribute to our growing American soccer world.
We continue our comprehensive coverage of American soccer culture with our series "Better Know a
Supporters Group," just like Steven Colbert's "Better Know a District" from "The Colbert
Report".
Our goal: to feature each of the MLS teams' supporters groups. We've sent e-mails to each and every
SG in Major League Soccer and soon you'll be able to check all what each is all about and what
awesomeness they have to contribute to our growing American soccer world.
Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter has referenced the Philadelphia Union multiple times on
Twitter, always sending out messages of support for the second year club during what has become a
successful season.
Last night, Mayor Nutter announced he'd be at the game and wondered if anyone would care if he
visited the River End.
PSP photographer Paul Rudderow was on hand for Philadelphia Union Saturday night's 1–0 win
over the Eastern Conference leading Columbus Crew. Nowak looked to change their winless ways by
played many of the younger players. Here's a look at what he saw. (Click on the photo for a
full-size photo.
Year two for the Philadelphia Union has brought along on-the-field success, but also
off-the-field success as well. Various celebrities have visited PPL Park so far this season, almost
all of whom have stopped by the River End at some point during their trips to watch the Union
play.
Earlier in the season saw United States Men's National Team (USMNT) midfielder, Stuart Holden,
actually come into the River End and play the drums, plus cheer alongside the Sons of Ben.
Photo by Patricia Giobetti/ISIphotos.com
By JOSE M. ROMERO
One had better know his or her soccer when talking Mission Viejo with Jordan Harvey.
The Vancouver Whitecaps defender was quick to point out, when asked recently about his high
school alma mater, that MVHS in Orange County, Calif.
The Union may not have won last Saturday, but the Union family did.
Before the game against Portland, Philadelphia Union supporters gathered for a charity
tailgate in support of Miles4MJ.
Kristina Whalen, mother of young MJ Whalen, said after the event, "The Sheanon
Williams/Miles 4 MJ Charity Tailgate was the perfect example of what a group of people can do when
they all work together.
