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A Philadelphia Union blog hosted by Christopher A. Vito and Matthew De George

Saturday, June 29, 2013

Dallas-Union: Lineups and pre-match thoughts

Philadelphia Union
MacMath
Gaddis-Parke-Okugo-Williams
Le Toux-Carroll-Farfan-Cruz
Casey-McInerney
Bench: Konopka, Albright, Torres, Wheeler, Fernandes, Hoppenot, Kassel

FC Dallas 
Fernandez
Benitez-Hedges-Zimmerman-Watson
Jacobson-Michel-Jackson
Castillo-Cooper-Perez
Bench: Seitz, Nunez, Ferreira, Warshaw, Woodberry, Keel, Hassli 

- Danny Cruz appears to have overcome what sounded like a pretty severe ankle knock to get in the starting XI. We’ll see which side he starts on.

- This is the chance for Michael Farfan. Without Kleberson, Michael Lahoud and Keon Daniel, Farfan returns to his preferred central midfield role. We'll see if he can make a mark on the game in the same way that Daniel has of late.

- As far as Dallas, they’re just going to go for it, it appears. They have Kenny Cooper and Blas Perez in the same side, a bit of a rarity this year. Instead of former MVP David Ferreira operating in the slot, they’re going with more width in the form of Fabian Castillo opposite Jackson. That’ll be a stiff test for the Union defense, both in limiting service from the wings and cutting out the aerial threat presented by the two tall forwards.

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Gold Cup roster: The ramifications around MLS

The powers that be over at MLS headquarters put together an article Friday that divulged this impressive fact: The CONCACAF Gold Cup features 32 players from MLS rosters, tied for the most all-time at the biennial tournament. With that many pieces gone, it’s worth exploring the impact on a playoff race that has the makings of a good one. So team-by-team, here’s who is missing.  

Los Angeles' Landon Donovan headlines
the U.S. team for the Gold Cup. (Associated Press)

Eastern Conference
Montreal: None.
Talk about the rich staying richer. That’s what happens when the Eastern Conference leaders have just five players hailing from Canada, only one of whom sees regular time. They dodge a bullet with the somewhat surprising exclusion of Patrice Bernier, the guy who directs their midfield, but that’s really the only close call.

Union: M Keon Daniel (Trinidad and Tobago), F Jack McInerney (USA).
Losing the co-leading scorer in MLS for up to five games is a big blow, as is Daniel’s absence given a rash of injuries in the midfield. But they get it paid forward from their opposition. Of the five games McInerney would miss, four are against Western Conference teams. And as we’ll see shortly, Real Salt Lake, Houston, Portland and Vancouver all face significant losses. (The other game is Chivas, so there’s that.)

New York: D Roy Miller (Costa Rica).
A few months ago, losing Miller wouldn’t have seemed like such a big deal. But Friday’s news that Heath Pearce could be done for the year with hip surgery leaves the Red Bulls shorthanded at the back. All this for a team that has given up seven goals in its last three matches – the latest installment a pretty memorable one for Union fans in which the other healthy fullback, Brandon Barklage, was absolutely torched in the first half – and faces visit from Houston and Montreal book-ending a trip to Colorado. That’s tough.

Kansas City: D Mechack Jerome (Haiti), F Peterson Joseph (Haiti).
Sporting KC loses a pair of guys who’ve played well recently. But Jerome’s exit is mitigated by the return of Matt Besler (even if Jerome is technically a right back). As far as Peterson, Peter Vermes is already searching for ways to re-integrate Kei Kamara (back on loan from Norwich) and Teal Bunbury (back from a knee injury) into the side, plus there are high hopes for Dom Dwyer after he scored 328 goals for Orlando City this year. And there’s the fact that Graham Zusi, Besler and Benny Feilhaber were among the 12 players from the preliminary 35-man squad left off the final roster. With home games against Columbus, Vancouver, Toronto and a trip to Chicago, SKC could be poised for a run.

Houston: D Corey Ashe (USA), F Will Bruin (USA).
On paper, the Dynamo lose two key players. But it’s not that bad because, A) They get Oscar Boniek Garcia and Brad Davis back from World Cup qualifiers; B) Bruin has been struggling up top and may have been headed for more time on the bench anyway (paging Omar Cummings), and C) It could’ve been worse had Tally Hall not ended up as the odd goalkeeper out and been called up just to sit the bench. Plus, after injuries forestalled it, Ashe really deserves his first cap. Oh yeah, and a bye week means the Dynamo only play three matches during the Gold Cup.

New England: None.
This really couldn’t come at a better time for the Revs. Not only are they 3-1-2 in their last six, there really were few choices for possible call-ups. Juan Agudelo has played just once in 20 months for the U.S., and Jerry Bengston is persona non grata in his native Honduras. With games against San Jose, Colorado, Columbus and D.C., all weakened by the Gold Cup, there's a chance at some serious points.

Columbus: F Jairo Arrieta (Costa Rica).
You could say that Arrieta is a big loss for the Crew. But the reality is that the forward has played just four games since the beginning of May. In those games, Columbus is 0-3-1, having scored just two goals. With LA, Portland and New England looming, they’ll need to figure something out quickly.

Chicago: GK Sean Johnson (USA).
The Fire are undefeated in their last five matches and finally starting to make up ground in the East, making this a bad time to lose their goalkeeper. We’ll see what Paolo Tornaghi, he of four MLS matches worth of experience, has to bring to the table.

Toronto: D Ashtone Morgan (Canada), D Doneil Henry (Canada), M Kyle Bekker (Canada), M Jonathan Osorio (Canada).
The four youngsters have combined to play 30 matches for two-win Toronto, a team that has had 25 different players start a game this season (by comparison, the Union have had just 16). If you’re in the Toronto area, I’d beware: Just about any able-bodied male is being drafted into the side these days.

D.C. United: GK Bill Hamid (USA).
Hamid is a loss, but he hasn’t exactly had the best of seasons (as the Union demonstrated back in April). The bigger story is that D.C., an anemic offensive team, gets to hang onto Dwayne De Rosario and Kyle Porter. Plus, with Joe Willis filing in, maybe the defense will get it together finally.

Western Conference
Portland: M Will Johnson (Canada), F Frederic Piquionne (Martinique), M Rodney Wallace (Costa Rica).
The West-leading Timbers have no doubt been the story of the season. So what does Caleb Porter’s brand of beautiful soccer lose? Try six goals and an assist from Johnson, four and five from Wallace and one and three from super sub Piquionne. The team that travels to PPL Park July 20 will have plenty of options left, but it won’t exactly be full strength.

Real Salt Lake: F Alvaro Saborio (Real Salt Lake), GK Nick Rimando (USA), D Tony Beltran (USA), M Kyle Beckerman (USA).
Is there a team harder hit than the second-place squad in the West? When the Union come to town July 3, they’ll face a team whose depth will be severely tested. Gone is one of the best goalkeepers in MLS, who started 16 games this season, and Beckerman, a strong candidate for U.S. captain and the fulcrum of the RSL attack (not to mention the only MLS midfielder called up). Beltran, seen as a rising defensive star, has started 15 matches, and despite playing just eight matches, Saborio is the co-leading scorer with four goals. At least they get Luis Gil back from the U-20 World Cup.

Dallas: F Blas Perez (Panama).
The conundrum this year for Dallas – if a team with three losses in 16 matches can be said to have one – has been regularly getting Perez and Kenny Cooper in the same starting XI. Cooper should step right in for the Panamanian.

Los Angeles: F Landon Donovan (USA).
Lando’s return from Jurgen Klinsmann's wilderness is the story of this Gold Cup squad at the outset. For the Galaxy, the news may hasten the search for another designated player. But with Robbie Rogers playing regularly, Pablo Mastroeni providing midfield depth and Jose Villareal back from the U-20 World Cup, there’s ample cover. Plus they get to keep Omar Gonzalez away from international duty.

Vancouver: GK Simon Thomas (Canada), M Russell Teibert (Canada), D Carlyle Mitchell (Trinidad and Tobago).
For the next month, the Union turn into fans of Canada. If Canada can make it to the quarterfinals July 21 – a daunting task given a group with Mexico and Panama, and the fact that they have to finish as one of the top two third-place teams – it would rule out Portland’s Johnson from the trip to Philly. Should they make the semis, Teibert, a sudden revelation for the Whitecaps, would be in doubt for when the Union travel to British Columbia July 27. Mitchell (two starts this season) and Thomas (third stringer) aren’t big losses.

Seattle: M Mario Martinez (Honduras).
The surprising call-up of Martinez has cast doubt upon his loan arrangement with the Sounders. But when you consider that Brad Evans and Eddie Johnson were on the preliminary American roster, it could’ve been a lot worse for Sigi Schmid.

Colorado: None.
Like the Rapids need more guys missing for one reason or another. And they get Shane O’Neill back from the U-20 World Cup.

San Jose: D Nana Attakora (Canada), M Martin Chavez (Honduras), D Clarence Goodson (USA), F Chris Wondolowski (USA).

Nothing’s gone to plan for the Earthquakes this season. So what’s a little extra? Now the challenge of climbing out of the lower reaches of the Western table must proceed without MLS MVP Wondolowski. Even the well-meaning acquisition of Goodson will have to be delayed until at least August. They'll also miss Attakora and Chavez, who played significant time this season. For a team desperately looking for someone to step up, it’ll have to be some unusual suspects rising to the occasion in the next month.

Chivas USA: D Steve Purdy (El Salvador).
Purdy’s most illustrious qualification is that he’s played only three games for a Chivas USA team quickly going down the tubes, having picked up one point from the last 30 available. Hard to dig deeper into the bedrock they’ve hit.

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Thursday, June 27, 2013

Some Golden tactics: Where McInerney could play for Team USA

So, Jack McInerney is on the Gold Cup roster, a development that has been hinted and speculated at for months.

That’s part one of the equation. Now the inevitable follow-up: How much will he play?

It will take a while to fully answer that question. It stands to reason that for a young player like McInerney, Jurgen Klinsmann wouldn’t deprive him of games in the league not to have him see at least some time. With all due respect to the national team, games in MLS are far more valuable than sitting on the bench and watching the Stars and Stripes beat up on Cuba, and you’d hope that is implicit in that selection.

Positionally, McInerney will face a battle for time. Luckily, he provides a little something different than the other forwards in camp. Much of it will depend on what type of formation Klinsmann chooses to use, and that starts well behind where McInerney figures to play. Read more »

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McInerney named to Gold Cup

Union striker Jack McInerney has been named to the final 23-man roster for the CONCACAF Gold Cup. Should the 20-year-old striker play, it'll be the first time a Union player has been capped for the U.S. Men's National Team.

McInerney would have to report to the team by July 1, meaning he is available for this weekend's game against FC Dallas. With the final July 27, he stands to miss up to five Union matches.

U.S. Soccer roster

U.S. ROSTER BY POSITION
GOALKEEPERS (3) : Bill Hamid (D.C. United), Sean Johnson (Chicago Fire), Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake)
DEFENDERS (8) : Corey Ashe (Houston Dynamo), DaMarcus Beasley (Puebla), Tony Beltran (Real Salt Lake), Edgar Castillo (Club Tijuana), Clarence Goodson (Brondby), Oguchi Onyewu (Malaga), Michael Orozco Fiscal (Puebla), Michael Parkhurst (FC Augsburg)
MIDFIELDERS (7) : Kyle Beckerman (Real Salt Lake), Alejandro Bedoya (Helsinborg), Joe Corona (Club Tijuana), Mix Diskerud (Rosenborg), Joshua Gatt (Molde FK), Stuart Holden (Bolton), Jose Torres (Tigres)
FORWARDS (5) : Will Bruin (Houston Dynamo), Landon Donovan (LA Galaxy), Herculez Gomez (Club Tijuana), Jack McInerney (Philadelphia Union), Chris Wondolowski (San Jose Earthquakes)  - See more at: http://www.ussoccer.com/News/Mens-National-Team/2013/06/23-Player-Roster-to-Compete-in-2013-Gold-Cup.aspx#sthash.ZzO6jI1W.dpuf

U.S. ROSTER BY POSITION
GOALKEEPERS (3) : Bill Hamid (D.C. United), Sean Johnson (Chicago Fire), Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake)
DEFENDERS (8) : Corey Ashe (Houston Dynamo), DaMarcus Beasley (Puebla), Tony Beltran (Real Salt Lake), Edgar Castillo (Club Tijuana), Clarence Goodson (Brondby), Oguchi Onyewu (Malaga), Michael Orozco Fiscal (Puebla), Michael Parkhurst (FC Augsburg)
MIDFIELDERS (7) : Kyle Beckerman (Real Salt Lake), Alejandro Bedoya (Helsinborg), Joe Corona (Club Tijuana), Mix Diskerud (Rosenborg), Joshua Gatt (Molde FK), Stuart Holden (Bolton), Jose Torres (Tigres)
FORWARDS (5) : Will Bruin (Houston Dynamo), Landon Donovan (LA Galaxy), Herculez Gomez (Club Tijuana), Jack McInerney (Philadelphia Union), Chris Wondolowski (San Jose Earthquakes)  - See more at: http://www.ussoccer.com/News/Mens-National-Team/2013/06/23-Player-Roster-to-Compete-in-2013-Gold-Cup.aspx#sthash.ZzO6jI1W.dpuf
U.S. ROSTER BY POSITION
GOALKEEPERS (3) : Bill Hamid (D.C. United), Sean Johnson (Chicago Fire), Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake)
DEFENDERS (8) : Corey Ashe (Houston Dynamo), DaMarcus Beasley (Puebla), Tony Beltran (Real Salt Lake), Edgar Castillo (Club Tijuana), Clarence Goodson (Brondby), Oguchi Onyewu (Malaga), Michael Orozco Fiscal (Puebla), Michael Parkhurst (FC Augsburg)
MIDFIELDERS (7) : Kyle Beckerman (Real Salt Lake), Alejandro Bedoya (Helsinborg), Joe Corona (Club Tijuana), Mix Diskerud (Rosenborg), Joshua Gatt (Molde FK), Stuart Holden (Bolton), Jose Torres (Tigres)
FORWARDS (5) : Will Bruin (Houston Dynamo), Landon Donovan (LA Galaxy), Herculez Gomez (Club Tijuana), Jack McInerney (Philadelphia Union), Chris Wondolowski (San Jose Earthquakes)  - See more at: http://www.ussoccer.com/News/Mens-National-Team/2013/06/23-Player-Roster-to-Compete-in-2013-Gold-Cup.aspx#sthash.ZzO6jI1W.dpuf
U.S. ROSTER BY POSITION
GOALKEEPERS (3) : Bill Hamid (D.C. United), Sean Johnson (Chicago Fire), Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake)
DEFENDERS (8) : Corey Ashe (Houston Dynamo), DaMarcus Beasley (Puebla), Tony Beltran (Real Salt Lake), Edgar Castillo (Club Tijuana), Clarence Goodson (Brondby), Oguchi Onyewu (Malaga), Michael Orozco Fiscal (Puebla), Michael Parkhurst (FC Augsburg)
MIDFIELDERS (7) : Kyle Beckerman (Real Salt Lake), Alejandro Bedoya (Helsinborg), Joe Corona (Club Tijuana), Mix Diskerud (Rosenborg), Joshua Gatt (Molde FK), Stuart Holden (Bolton), Jose Torres (Tigres)
FORWARDS (5) : Will Bruin (Houston Dynamo), Landon Donovan (LA Galaxy), Herculez Gomez (Club Tijuana), Jack McInerney (Philadelphia Union), Chris Wondolowski (San Jose Earthquakes)  - See more at: http://www.ussoccer.com/News/Mens-National-Team/2013/06/23-Player-Roster-to-Compete-in-2013-Gold-Cup.aspx#sthash.ZzO6jI1W.dpuf
U.S. ROSTER BY POSITION
GOALKEEPERS (3) : Bill Hamid (D.C. United), Sean Johnson (Chicago Fire), Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake)
DEFENDERS (8) : Corey Ashe (Houston Dynamo), DaMarcus Beasley (Puebla), Tony Beltran (Real Salt Lake), Edgar Castillo (Club Tijuana), Clarence Goodson (Brondby), Oguchi Onyewu (Malaga), Michael Orozco Fiscal (Puebla), Michael Parkhurst (FC Augsburg)
MIDFIELDERS (7) : Kyle Beckerman (Real Salt Lake), Alejandro Bedoya (Helsinborg), Joe Corona (Club Tijuana), Mix Diskerud (Rosenborg), Joshua Gatt (Molde FK), Stuart Holden (Bolton), Jose Torres (Tigres)
FORWARDS (5) : Will Bruin (Houston Dynamo), Landon Donovan (LA Galaxy), Herculez Gomez (Club Tijuana), Jack McInerney (Philadelphia Union), Chris Wondolowski (San Jose Earthquakes)  - See more at: http://www.ussoccer.com/News/Mens-National-Team/2013/06/23-Player-Roster-to-Compete-in-2013-Gold-Cup.aspx#sthash.ZzO6jI1W.dpuf
U.S. ROSTER BY POSITION
GOALKEEPERS (3) : Bill Hamid (D.C. United), Sean Johnson (Chicago Fire), Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake)
DEFENDERS (8) : Corey Ashe (Houston Dynamo), DaMarcus Beasley (Puebla), Tony Beltran (Real Salt Lake), Edgar Castillo (Club Tijuana), Clarence Goodson (Brondby), Oguchi Onyewu (Malaga), Michael Orozco Fiscal (Puebla), Michael Parkhurst (FC Augsburg)
MIDFIELDERS (7) : Kyle Beckerman (Real Salt Lake), Alejandro Bedoya (Helsinborg), Joe Corona (Club Tijuana), Mix Diskerud (Rosenborg), Joshua Gatt (Molde FK), Stuart Holden (Bolton), Jose Torres (Tigres)
FORWARDS (5) : Will Bruin (Houston Dynamo), Landon Donovan (LA Galaxy), Herculez Gomez (Club Tijuana), Jack McInerney (Philadelphia Union), Chris Wondolowski (San Jose Earthquakes)  - See more at: http://www.ussoccer.com/News/Mens-National-Team/2013/06/23-Player-Roster-to-Compete-in-2013-Gold-Cup.aspx#sthash.ZzO6jI1W.dpuf

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Wednesday, June 26, 2013

June 26 Press Conference: Hackworth, Carroll and Hoppenot

Saturday's date with Dallas looms large for the Union and dominated the focus of manager John Hackworth, midfielder Brian Carroll and Antoine Hoppenot in Wednesday's press conference. Here's some snippets of what they had to say.

Union manager John Hackworth
On the challenge presented by F.C. Dallas:
I think FC Dallas has had a pretty good start to the year. They’ve been at the top of the table the entire year. Right now they’re sitting third in the Supporters’ Shield, third in the West but have had a very productive start the first half of this season. They’re a very good team in all ways, and we don’t see many weaknesses in their lineup. They’ve been consistent with the way they’ve played, and I just think it’s going to be another big challenge for us here art PPL. The good news is that we can prove we can beat a team ahead of us in the table now, and this one is going to be a good battle because we’re both toward the top of the table.

On the effect of Dallas' date with Portland Thursday:
It depends. I have no idea how Dallas is going to approach their game against Portland. We’ll obviously keep a very close eye on it. But sometimes when you play those games in quick succession, they can actually get you in a little bit of rhythm, and other times, it can be a distraction especially with the travel. I hope it’s the latter for them. I hope they come in fatigued. But our expectation is that we’re going to play one of the best teams in the league Saturday. We’re certainly going to give their best. They’re a team that has been very tough to play against every single time out, and I expect a little bit of the same Saturday.

On avoiding a mental let down after New York:
It is a challenge, there’s no question. We need to try to do a really good job of staying focused and not still thinking about New York. So far this week, I think the team has responded very positively. From what our staff can tell and in the conversations we’re having in our training, we’re fully focused on Dallas, but I’m not going to lie to you and tell you it’s different. There is a normal little bit of let down because you build up to a rivalry game, you build up to the importance of trying to beat someone in front of you for the first time in a year, and that was a huge game. But we knew this stretch was going to be tough the whole time, so I think in our planning and the way that we presented it to the players, we talked about this four-game stretch to being pivotal to our success all year long. So hopefully I think they’ll be very up for it on Saturday.
Read more »

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Monday, June 24, 2013

Matt Kassel makes history in sub appearance

As Antoine Hoppenot bulged the net in the 89th minute Sunday, the course of Major League Soccer history was changed.

OK, that’s a bit dramatic. But Hoppenot’s goal played a definite role in an MLS first.

When Hoppenot finished off the cross by Sebastien Le Toux to put the final touch on the Philadelphia Union’s 3-0 win over the New York Red Bulls, Union manager John Hackworth called back would-be sub Aaron Wheeler and instead put on Matt Kassel.

In the process, he gave Kassel the distinction of being the first MLS Homegrown player out of the 76 signed in the last five years to play against the team that signed him. He beat Chivas USA’s Tristan Bowen to the punch by about six hours, as Bowen played against former team L.A. Galaxy later Sunday evening.

No matter the historical ramifications, it was satisfying for Kassel simply to get on the field.

“It’s always great to finally get rewarded, and after coming in each day and working as hard as I possibly can, just keeping my head down and knowing that whenever my name is called I have to be ready, and today was that opportunity and I’m excited,” he said. Read more »

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Union 3-0 Red Bulls: Post-match observations (with video)

Sunday’s 3-0 win by the Philadelphia Union was one of those games where there seemed to be more going on than one or two stories could possibly encapsulate. So there’s Conor Casey’s obvious contributions to the win, and Zac MacMath’s view of a busy week. But here’s what’s left over from the remains of the games.



- We might as well get right into it: The Lloyd Sam red card that changed the game. John Hackworth deferred comment until he saw a replay. Sam did the same. Notorious friend of the refs Mike Petke called it “a coin flip”. And Danny Cruz was sure it was red. With that many different conclusions, it’s clear that it was a borderline red. In watching it over and over (check it out for yourself), I don’t even think it’s terribly clear who got to the ball first. The statement issued by the ref stated that it was a two-footed challenge by Sam, but the replay really shows that he simply had two feet near where Cruz slid into him. Awkward, it certainly was. Whether it was red-card-worthy malicious, I’m not so sure.

- Boy, was Thierry Henry angry and frustrated out there. His post-game comments don’t quite do justice to the handful of outbursts he had when passes weren’t played where they needed to be.
Read more »

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Wednesday, June 19, 2013

John Hackworth, a year on the job

Last week, while the Philadelphia Union had dispersed for the international break after being eliminated from the U.S. Open Cup, manager John Hackworth quietly celebrated his one-year anniversary of taking the helm at PPL Park. A lot has changed since Peter Nowak was axed and Hackworth installed June 13, 2012, so much so that I thought it worthy of a column in Thursday's paper hitting the highs of Hackworth's reign.

I had the chance to sit down with Hackworth briefly Wednesday — other news understandably occupied the press conference — to discuss his year on the job.

On his recollections of the day and what it meant to him:
Certainly the day that I found out and the day it was announced, was a huge change for this organization. And looking back on it, there are a lot of mixed feelings because Peter and I were very close, and you don’t ever want to get an opportunity at the expense of someone else’s loss, and that was on a personal level somewhat hard to deal with. You’re conflicted for sure, but it’s certainly something that long-term I thought wanted to do and a major goal of mine. And the way that the club and the players supported me during the transition being an interim, having to earn the job as a head coach, was a very positive experience for me. Now being a year-plus into it, it’s nice because I know how hard this business is and know how volatile it can be and the pressures that go into it. I think if you can be consistent and be into it, the one true measure if you’re good at this level is longevity. Making it a year, while it’s not long, is a very positive step.
Read more »

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John Hackworth's press conference notes, June 19

A lot was said today by Philadelphia Union manager John Hackworth on a variety of topics. The top one certainly was the acquisition of goalkeeper Oka Nikolov, I'll have a little more on that later. But the rest of the talk here from Hackworth.

On the stretch that lies ahead, starting with the New York Red Bulls Sunday:
We think it’s going to be a very difficult stretch, maybe one of the more difficult stretches of the year that we’re going to have. Particularly with how good Dallas has been this year, they’re probably a little bit of a surprise in the league, the fact that they’re number on in the Supporters Shield and the top team in the league right now. New York is not a surprise. The quality that they have is apparent to everyone, and they’re a good team. So then you have to go on the road and take on Salt Lake which you’re dealing with not only one of the best teams in the league but you’re playing at elevation, and then you turn around and go to probably one of the hottest places in the hottest month of the year and play a team that has an unbelievable home record in Houston. So this is going to be a huge set of games for us, these next four. We talk about the parity in the league all the time, and we’re going to have to go through these four and face four very good opponents. But we’ve done that this season so far, and while it hasn’t been smooth sailing so far, I like where we are and I like the way we’ve rebounded from adversity and from poor performances and the way we’ve kind of grinded out results at times and especially we’ve been a tough team on the road. I like our chances, and I’m really glad we have those first two at home.
Read more »

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Wednesday, June 12, 2013

D.C. United 3-1 Union: Post-Match Thoughts

I’ll have a follow tomorrow and some columns next week where I’d like to explore a couple of things in more detail, but here’s three quick points that I see to be abundantly clear after the Union’s 3-1 loss to D.C. United.

1. Don Anding is an MLS player. Anding’s introduction in the second half breathed life into an otherwise dead Union team. He’s got the pace to play at this level and is a surprisingly physical specimen. He got the assist on Jack McInerney’s goal and had another dangerous cross that Sebastien Le Toux probably should’ve put in the back of the net, which could’ve tied the game and led to a very different result. John Hackworth’s system is meant to accommodate wingers, and Anding looks to fit the bill. That brings me to my next point …

2. A Danny Cruz-less half is not a good half for the Union. Formationally, the biggest change between the domination of Columbus and the limping against D.C. was Cruz, who missed with a shin contusion. With Michael Farfan in his place on the left trying to tuck in centrally and do whatever it is he’s been doing lately, the Union missed the attacking cattle prod that is Cruz’s game, not to mention the space among the defenders it opens for the likes of Conor Casey and McInerney (the former of whom did little). Anding appears to be cut from that same mold, which should make the likes of Keon Daniel and Farfan think twice about their job security, especially with the attacking contributions of Ray Gaddis and Sheanon Williams minimized this season. But more on that later.

3. A defense at sixes and sevens. What a horror show from the Union defense. Hackworth was accurate when he said they gifted Dwayne De Rosario two of his goals. Jeff Parke appeared to pick up a bit of a knock around the 70th minute, and was slow to cover DeRo on the second goal before the giveaway that led to the third. Amobi Okugo, who admitted not even realizing the third goal had developed until it was in the back of the net, was culpable on goal two. Against Columbus, you saw Dr. Jekyll; tonight was Mr. Hyde.

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Tuesday, June 11, 2013

Aaron Wheeler, center back? Hackworth thinks it's possible

If there was one question for which Philadelphia Union John Hackworth was looking for clarity in last week’s friendly with Reading United, it was if he had the kind of defensive depth that he’d hoped, the kind that made the trades of Bakary Soumare and Gabriel Farfan in the last month workable.

The answer originally looked murky. And then, thanks to one of the unlikeliest of sources, it showed shocking clarity.

An injury at the last minute meant that fans were forced into a bit of double-take when reading the starting backline: Don Anding, Matt Kassel, Chris Albright and Aaron Wheeler.
Wait, that guy who made his MLS debut just days earlier as a striker and darn near picked up his first career assist? Yeah, that guy.

The ability of the 6-4, prototypical center forward Wheeler to deputize in the center of defense was at the tip of the tongue for Hackworth four days later when reviewing the takeaways from the friendly at his weekly press conference.

The performances in the 2-0 win over the Union’s developmental partner in the USL Pro division may not have changed who will be on the pitch Wednesday when the Union travel to D.C. United for the fourth round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, but they certainly change the equation moving forward, Wheeler being among the main catalysts for that change. Read more »

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John Hackworth's weekly presser, D.C. Open Cup edition

Despite a relatively sedate period in the Union's schedule, gaffer John Hackworth had plenty to say about the upcoming Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup date with D.C. United and last week's friendly with Reading United. Video and highlights below:


On the expectations about this meeting with D.C.:
Before I talk about maybe the personnel, I expect this game to be a typical game that we play down there are the SoccerPlex. I think it’s going to be a hard game. I think it’s going to be a really emotional game. I think that D.C. will absolutely put everything they have into winning the game. We have to make sure we match or exceed all of those things. I know D.C. is not in the best form right now in terms of their league play. I know they had a good result on the weekend and they may be turning things around. They’re positive about their result against New England. I just know that it’s going to be a tough game no matter what.

On what fuels this D.C.-Philly rivalry:
I don’t know. (D.C. coach) Ben (Olsen) and I were joking about it in preseason that we can’t figure out why our teams get so emotionally charged against each other. Usually head coaches that have little grudges against each other, they seem to fuel a little of that fire. But Ben and I get along pretty good, even when it’s pretty emotional along the sidelines, usually we’re respectful to each other and obviously being very competitive and saying what we need to say, but it’s different when we’re across the white lines for sure. I think that’s a good thing because we certainly look forward to it, and whether you’re playing in an Open Cup game or in the league, this rivalry between D.C. is real. And I think that’s what it comes down to, that no matter what game, whether it’s a preseason game with your second team playing or an Open Cup game or a league game, it’s always going to be feisty when we play.

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Thursday, June 6, 2013

Wheeler's Union debut inches away from perfection

The margin between great and perfect for Aaron Wheeler is about a foot.

When the 6-4 striker made his MLS debut Wednesday night in the 90th minute of the Philadelphia Union’s 3-0 win over Columbus Crew, it was a dream come true. The dream, though, almost got better when Wheeler found space down the left flank and found himself on a 2-v-1 with the league’s leading goalscorer, Jack McInerney.

After galloping into the free acreage before him, Wheeler squared a pass to McInerney, and McInerney’s right-footed drive beat Crew goalkeeper Andy Gruenebaum but missed the far post by about a foot. The shot, which Union manager John Hackworth admitted afterward that McInerney should’ve finished, would’ve been the 20-year-old’s 11th goal of the season ... and the first assist of Wheeler’s career.

“I haven't, but all the guys have been giving him a little slack for it,” a beaming Wheeler joked afterward from teh locker room of PPL Park. “They joked after that he said ‘I hate you Wheeler,’ before he shot it. He’s the leading goalscorer in the league; the guy finishes those nine times out of ten. It’s just unlikely that I happened to be the guy to pass to him that one time.”
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Wednesday, June 5, 2013

Union-Crew: Lineups and pre-game thoughts

Philadelphia Union (5-5-4, 19 points) 
MacMath
Gaddis-Parke-Okugo-Williams
Cruz-Carroll-Daniel-Le Toux
Casey-McInerney 
Bench: Konopka, Albright, Torres, Fernandes, Wheeler, Hoppenot , Farfan 
Columbus Crew (4-4-5, 16 points) 
Gruenebaum 
Barson-Gehrig-Glauber-Wahl 
Meram-Tchani-Sanchez-Speas 
Higuain-Oduro 
Bench: Lampson, George, Warzycha, O’Rourke, Añor, Finlay, Schoenfeld

- It’s no surprise that Kleberson is unavailable due to a hamstring strain. He’s replaced in the middle by Keon Daniel, who’ll pair with Brian Carroll.
- Without Kleberson in the lineup, Union manager John Hackworth is back to his flirtation with a 4-3-3-type formation, although it’s likely he’ll use Sebastien Le Toux in the midfield, likely wide right. The position, which the Frenchman has said over and over again that is not his preference, will mean the formation is mostly a 4-4-2. There will be a fair amount of interchange between the two wingers, but the matchup that is likely preferred is Danny Cruz running down the left to attack Chad Barson rather than the stalwart Tyson Wahl. I’d even expect to see some of Jack McInerney tracking into the midfield into that space behind the two forwards, with Le Toux generally more adept at running the forward line than creating from the midfield.

- Columbus’ attack will be all about how they cope with departures. Eddie Gaven is out for the year with a knee injury while Jairo Arrieta is on international duty. Justin Meram has deputized well on the wing, and Ben Speas has also played well in that role. They’ll be vital to opening space between dual forwards Dominic Oduro and Federico Higuain, who should interchange a lot into midfield.

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