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.
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.
Our 3-part series breaks down the 2012 Union roster by position. Today, the D. Tell us where we're
wrong.
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.
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.
Philadelphia Union
The Goalkeeper has a transcript of Wednesday's press conference with Peter Nowak. Among the
highlights:
On Pajoy: "He's a guy who brings not only character but also a
mentality to the game. He's very physical, and very fast as well. He can change the game, because
he's a different option.
The Union confirmed on Wednesday through the team's Twitter account that Zac MacMath is joined
in preseason training by Chase Harrison, who had temporarily joined the club late last season when
Faryd Mondragon and Thorne Holder were both out with injuries before the club declined the option
to sign him in November to make him available for the Re-Entry Draft.
A few of the issues that gnaw at us, on the eve of season 3. How 'bout you?
Photo: Daniel Gajdamowicz
Philadelphia Union
Sebastien Le Toux tweets, "Just got traded to Vancouver ! Saddest day for me in my Philadelphia
Union story.... Still can't believe it"
The Union host Vancouver Whitecaps on March 31.
Take a look at Adam Cann's roundup of the evolution of Sebastien Le Toux to Vancouver rumors for
links, but to summarize, the Union appear to be trading Le Toux to Vancouver for allocation
money.
Philadelphia Union and Faryd Mondragon confirmed Monday that the veteran goalkeeper will leave
to sign with Colombian club Deportivo Cali.
Mondragon, 40, will return to his hometown to play for the team he made his professional debut
for more than 20 years ago.
"For family reasons, I have requested the club to allow me the opportunity to finish my career
where it started," Mondragon said in a statement released Monday afternoon by the Union.
Photo: Paul Rudderow
Philadelphia Union goalkeeper Faryd Mondragon remains a Union player.
A Union official confirmed Sunday that Mondragon is in camp with the Union and said the club
has not talked with Deportivo Cali, despite Colombian reports that Mondragon could sign with his
hometown club, Deportivo Cali.
Philadelphia Union
Le Toux spotted with Tim Ream at Bolton's win over Liverpool on Saturday. Photo courtesy of Kyle
Scott and crossingbroad.com
A report from The Bolton News on Friday quotes Wanderers' manager Owen Coyle on Sebastien Le
Toux, "I've had some decent reports on him. He's very industrious, hard working and looks a very
good team player, which is what I'm all about.
Photo: Paul Rudderow
With the SuperDraft behind us, thoughts now turn to the nitty-gritty of the 2012 Union season.
Naturally, questions arise. Over a two-part series we pose ten questions to our Union beat
reporter, Eli Pearlman-Storch, which began with a look formation, roster depth and leadership roles
within the starting XI in Part 1.
Featured image: Nicolae Stoian
The next edition of the Philly Soccer Show podcast, scheduled to be recorded
tonight, will feature USMNT U-23 coach Caleb Porter and the Philadelphia Union's top pick in
Thursday's SuperDraft, Chandler Hoffman.
Philadelphia Union
Sunderland blog the Roker Report tells fellow SB Nation affiliate the Brotherly Game that team
manager Martin O'Neill responded to a reporter's question about rumors of a possible Michael Farfan
loan by saying people should not read too much "into these things.
Photo courtesy of Duke University
Pennsylvania native Andrew Wenger won the Hermann Trophy Friday as the best player in men's
college soccer. The former Reading United and Duke University star is expected to be a top-3 pick
in this month's MLS college draft. Stanford's Teresa Noyola won the women's award.
Photo: Nicolae Stoian
Philadelphia Union
Reaction to the release of the 2012 schedule:
The Goalkeeper notes that the Union is hosting New York and DC twice. "This strikes me as unfair
from a competitive balance standpoint...As such, it would seem to me to make more sense to have
each team host one team once and one team twice.
Photo: Daniel Gajdamowicz
Philadelphia Union
Tim Ream's giveaway to Danny Mwanga that resulted in the Roger Torres game winning goal when New
York played the Union at PPL in April has been named the Gaffe of the Year by MLSsoccer.com. Yeah,
it was pretty gaffable.
An AP report at ESPN begins, "Major League Soccer player Freddy Adu will train with Rayo
Vallecano and may join the Spanish club.
Photo: Earl Gardner
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.
When the Philadelphia Union took goalkeeper Zac MacMath as their first round pick in the 2011
MLS Superdraft, many a fan and pundit were left saying "Huh?
Philadelphia Union
The Union's Central American pipeline continued to flow with the announcement this morning of
the signing of 26-year-old Costa Rican left back Porfirio Lopez, one day after the announcement of
the signing of Panamanian midfielder Gabriel Gomez and two weeks after the signing of Costa Rican
forward Josue Martinez.
Philadelphia Union
Kerith Gabriel reports that the Philadelphia Union will announce a "blockbuster deal" with
Panamanian international Gabriel Gomez. Gabriel says that Gomez is the "the same box-to-box
defender/midfielder that was a beast in Panama's 2-0 win over the United States in the group stage
of this summer's Gold Cup.
File Photo: Daniel Gajdamowicz
Philadelphia Union
In Thursday's press conference, Peter Nowak reiterated a theme that he has stressed since the
end of the season: he is looking to create competition among positions within the squad. "The more
guys we have in [camp] being involved with the team and the team-mentality is better and will help
us to have better results.
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.
Philadelphia Union
John Hackworth explains what the Union is looking for going into the 2012 season. "When you're
retooling, you have to make sure you're managing the roster and the salary cap. We're not
necessarily trying to get younger; we're trying to get better. And we're going to look at every
avenue do that.
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.
Faryd Mondragon looked like the answer in 2011.
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!
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!
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: Courtesy of Philadelphia Union
It didn't end the way we wanted, but, oh, what a season. As Adam Cann wrote in our match report
for Thurday night's loss in Houston, "After ten months, the Union ended their season where it
began. In their wake they leave every reasonable expectation, and in the city they represent they
will find nothing but love.
(Photo: Daniel Gajdamowicz)
All this week, PSP will be breaking down the Philadelphia Union/Houston Dynamo playoff
matchup. PSP's roving correspondent Adam Cann lays out the big questions and Eli Pearlman-Storch
answers them. First up, we compare the goalkeeping of the second and third best teams in the
Eastern Conference.
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.
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).
Photos: Nicolae Stoian and Paul Rudderow
Before his injury, there was no question that Faryd Mondragon would be the starter between the
posts the rest of the season for the Philadelphia Union. As a vocal leader and captain, not many
people were thinking about the young backup Zac MacMath overtaking Mondragon's starting job.
Photo: Paul Rudderow
Union
Playoff tickets are now on sale!
Kerith Gabriel reports in the Daily News that Faryd Mondragon, who is a finalist for Soccer
America's Goalkeeper of the Year, will start against Toronto. "I am not used to being out, so it
felt like forever," Mondragon said.
The last time the Philadelphia Union played in Seattle it was their debut game as an expansion
team, a game that ended as a 2–0 loss. When asked after Saturday night's 2–0 victory over
Seattle what had changed in the 18 months since then, Peter Nowak replied bluntly, "The result
changed. That's more important than anything.
Union
Kerith Gabriel reports that "a member of the technical staff told the Daily News" that
Zac MacMath will be in goal against Seattle.
The Union will have traveled 10,000 miles in a week between the Chivas USA game and the Seattle
game. Peter Nowak says, "You cannot fool your body.
Photo: Rafael Stoian
Union
Faryd Mondragon has resumed his normal training routine on Wednesday for the first time since
breaking a finger on September 3. Peter Nowak said of Mondragon's status at Wednesday's press
conference , "We'll see where we are at the end of the week. We'll find out before we go to
Seattle, but I believe he will travel with us.
Photo: Paul Rudderow
Union
Zac MacMath is listed as questionable with a left ankle sprain in Tuesday's injury report (see
below). Faryd Mondragon and Thorne Holder are still listed as out.
Sebastien Le Toux was named MLS Player of the Month by North American Soccer Reporters.
Union
The Union have not released updated injury information on Zac MacMath as of this morning.
Keon Daniel is listed as part of the T&T national team that underwent light training in Bermuda
yesterday.
Local lad and former Union trialist Jeremiah White is working out with the Montreal Impact as
they look to form a roster for their first season in MLS.
Photo: Daniel Gajdamowicz
True, nothing can take the shine off an exciting victory over a regional rival like a 3000 mile
plane flight, but with so much on the line, it was hard to imagine the Union would not find the
energy needed to match Chivas USA. Against a team who knows how to score goals and push numbers
forward, the Union's best defense was to keep the home side off the attack with tidy ball
possession and potent attack of their own.
