Languagecaster's ggod, bad and ugly: a side doing well in both the English Cup competitions, a bizarre situation for women's football in the USA and tragic events in Egypt.

Photo: Michael Long

Before I get too far into discussing the decision of WPS to cancel the 2012 season, let me say that my initial reaction when the news first broke was that I was simply gutted. Gutted for every fantastic person I've met covering the Independence and women's soccer in general.

Some amazing PSP original work from the past few days: Earl Gardner's sweet photo essay from the SOB Help Kick Hunger event, info on the MLS All-Star game, Ed's fantastic piece on the last All-Star game in Philly, Dan's take on the possibility of selling Le Toux, and Eli's examination of the U's post-Seba strike force.

Photo: Paul Rudderow

Philadelphia Union

Ives Galarcep reports at Fox Soccer that Freddy Adu is heading to with Spanish side Rayo Vallecano for a two-week training stint. The report notes, "Rayo Vallecano is also a club that had been in talks with Adu about signing him last summer before Adu settled on a return to MLS.

File Photo: Daniel Gajdamowicz

Philadelphia Union

Peter Nowak answered questions from reporters via tele-conference on Thursday on the club's recent signings. See our report, published on Thursday night, for an overview of what was discussed. Also, look for a second report from the press conference later this morning for more quotes and analysis, particularly in regards to how the team plan to handle the number of internationals now on the roster and the status of Keon Daniel.

Photo: Daniel Gajdamowicz

Philadelphia Union

The "2011 in Review" articles for the Philadelphia Union are now up on the MLS website. One provides decent insight, the other, not so much. In the Q & A cobbled together from the last press conference of the season, in addition to relating that Freddy Adu was at "60 percent" for much of the end of the season due to a back injury and the need for defensive additions and competition within the various positions on the field, Peter Nowak discusses the mindset the team needs to win a championship:

"I told you guys at the press conferences we've had all year long that we believe in what we're building, we believe what is the culture around the team.

A new signing and a league in trouble in this week's KYW Philly Soccer Show.

KYW's Greg Orlandini and Philly Soccer Page's Eli Pearlman-Storch are joined by fellow Philly Soccer Page writer Mike Servedio as we look at the Union's new forward and the possible decertification of the WPS.

Philadelphia Union

Here's the skinny on new signing Josue Martinez from Kenneth Hernandez, soccer writer for Costa Rican daily Al Dia:

• "Martínez is a player for the future. He's still young and he has a lot to give. But he's just 21 and he needs to establish himself as a forward who responds with goals.

Jeremy Ortiz, a native of Edison, NJ, has been selected for the US National Futsal Team. A four year starter and co-captain in his senior year at La Salle University, the midfielder/forward has also played for Ocean City Barons, now the Ocean City Nor'easters, of the USL Premier Development League, and played professional soccer for the New Jersey Ironmen and Philadelphia Kixx of the Major Indoor Soccer League.

Arsenal goalie Wojciech Szczesny has been earning some rave reviews for his performances between the sticks for the Gunners this season, and he is sure to get plenty more after his comments today about rival Spurs. Well he will from Arsenal fans anyway. Lots has been made of Spurs win in the last 48 hours [.

Hope Solo und ihre US-Nationalmannschaftskollegin Alex Morgan sind seit dem Ende der Frauen-Weltmeisterschaft 2011 in Deutschland gefragte Damen. Aber nicht nur Männerherzen lassen die beiden Schönheiten höher schlagen, sie verzücken ganz Amerika, vom American Football bis zum kleinen Manager im Großraumbüro.

Some 78 clubs currently comprise US Soccer's Development Academy and three of those clubs—FC Delco, PA Classics and Players Development Academy—are part of the Philadelphia Union's Youth Development Affiliate program.

Evaluations of these clubs were first started by US Soccer in 2007 with the founding of the Development Academy.

Sweet win! Three points for the Union puts them in third place and within striking distance of first if they knock off KC in a week. Check out the current playoff situe in the east.

PSP's Eli rolls out a match report from last night's win.

Rounding up the rest of the Eastern Conference playoff picture's Saturday performances, Columbus lost (obvi), the Energy Drinks won, Houston came back late to nip the points, and KC went down to RSL in a rough and tumble match.

Photo: Paul Rudderow

With the recent news that Keon Daniel has been called up for Trinidad and Tobago, who on the Philadelphia Union might be worthy of being called up for the United States?

Since 2007, Daniel has an impressive 46 appearances and eight goals for his country.

USMNT head coach Jurgen Klinsmann has named his 24-man roster for the upcoming friendlies against Costa Rica and Belgium. Eleven MLS players including Colorado's Jeff Larentowicz and Sporting Kansas City's Teal Bunbury were rewarded for their strong recent play with call-ups.

Michael Orozco-Fiscal is also on the roster.

US Soccer President Sunil Gulati just announced that Jurgen Klinsmann as the new head coach of the US Men's National soccer team. Klinsmann is the 35th coach in the program's history.

An official press conference will be held Monday, August 1 in New York City. Klinsmann will be at the helm when the USMNT exacts revenge on Mexico August 10 at Lincoln Financial Field.

Real talent.

[101gg]

• Average EPL success. (The Best Eleven)
• On the home continent. (AFR)
• No need to watch. (The Carvalho Peninsula)
• Just a great summer all around in LL. (La Liga Loca)
• Wayne Rooney's bike in animation. (EPL Talk)
• No boom here.

Team of Destiny.

It didn't matter who won the 2011 Women's World Cup final, the winner already had a title. Japan was the Team of Destiny that brought joy to their nation after a devastating tragedy. The US overcame odds leading up to and then throughout the tournament to improbably reach the finals.

It all comes down to Sunday. We've all heard it before (many, many times).

Japan USA: Sunday, ESPN, 2:45 PM

The US women are in the World Cup final for the first time since 1999. Many wondered if they would have a letdown in their semifinal match against France following an emotional quarterfinal win over Brazil.

One has to wonder how the remaining four teams in the Women's World Cup can top the quarterfinal games we saw last weekend. Three of the four quarterfinals needed more than 90 minutes to be decided. Two went to PKs. We saw the defending champs and host nation eliminated, the sport's best player was eliminated, we had last minute goals to send games to overtime.

The U.S. Men's National team will come to Philadelphia to play a friendly against Mexico on August 10th.

Mexico came from two goals down to defeat the US in the Gold Cup final on June 25th.

There is no love lost between these rivals, and Tim Howard's complaint after the Gold Cup that the post-match awards ceremony was only in Spanish only adds fuel to the fire.

The group stage of the 2011 Women's World Cup has come to a close, with most of the traditional powerhouses moving through to the quarterfinals. We saw more parity than we've seen in the past World Cups: Nigeria got their first win, Equatorial Guinea notched two goals, and Australia moved out of the group stage for the first time ever.

By Dr. Raf Crowley Another close USMNT match against an inferior opponent; another litany of excuses from analysts, bloggers, and pundits alike. Yesterday, our own Andrew Villegas blamed our lackluster effort against Guadeloupe on fatigue. My friends, it isn't fatigue; it's the same thing I said the other day after our dismal performance against Panama.

El trabajo de fuerzas básicas sigue dando buenos resultados, pues ahora tendremos un representante en la Selección Mexicana Sub-18 que estará participando en la Copa del Atlántico realizada en las Islas Canarias, España. Su nombre es Abel Fuentes y juega como defensa. Este torneo tiene mucha tradición en esta categoría, la primera vez que se realizo fue en 1964.

With the Transfer Window in full swing for Europe's top leagues, many of the United States' top players are up for moves across the continent. For the most part, the National Team should see benefit from the new placement of many of its stars and the casual American supporter now has some new and interesting clubs to follow:

Reus and Bradley.