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Philadelphia Signs Veteran Keeper Oka Nikolov

By on June 19, 2013 | Follow @WVHooligan |

The days of Zach MacMath in between the pipes for the Philadelphia Union look to be coming to an end.

Wednesday the Union announced the signing of veteran goalkeeper Oka Nikolov, who most recently played for Bundesliga side Eintracht Frankfurt. The 39-year old Macedonian has spent the last 20 years with the club and earned 414 total appearances, including 229 in the Bundesliga. Most recently, the German-born goalkeeper started the final eight games of Eintracht Frankfurt’s 2012/2013 season, helping earn the club a spot in the playoff round of the 2013/2014 UEFA Europa League.

“We’re excited to have a player with Nikolov’s experience and leadership join our team,” said Union manager John Hackworth. “We think he will provide excellent depth and mentorship to our young goalkeepers.”

It looks very interesting to see this go through for the Union. They had been reportedly in talks with Toronto FC to trade for Stefan Frei. That deal got killed as the Union and Toronto couldn’t get things worked out.

Continue Reading · Comments { 0 } · in MLS, Philadelphia Union

Chivas Snags A Farfan Twin From Philly

By on May 14, 2013 | Follow @WVHooligan |

Well Jose Luis Sanchez Solá, or El Chelis at least got one of his guys. Tuesday afternoon Chivas USA announced the trade of Gabriel Farfran from the Philadelphia Union in exchange for allocation money and a first round pick in the 2014 MLS SuperDraft.

Yeah. Money and a pick for arguably the lesser of the two Farfan twins. Consider this that Chivas only got allocation money from New England for Juan Agudelo and that makes this even more fun. Agudelo is worth only allocation while G. Garfan costs a first round pick (possibly a high one at this rate) and money.

Oh Chivas, you make it too easy to mock you sometimes. Still, uh, good pickup though.

Good job by Philadelphia to get plenty out of this as you know they’ll draft pretty well come next January with that pick.

Continue Reading · · in Chivas USA, MLS, Philadelphia Union
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2013 MLS Season, Week 8: Player of the Week

By on April 22, 2013 | Follow @WVHooligan |

Not a real shocker in this week’s MLS Player of the Week race. Typically on a weekend where you score two goals and most of the other games end 1-0, that guy stands out just a little more.

That was the case for Philadelphia Union striker Jack McInerney as he scored a brace to help lift the Philadelphia Union over D.C. United 3-2 on Sunday.

It is the fourth time a Union player has been recognized, and the first since Justin Mapp was honored in Week 11 of 2011. Sebastian Le Toux received the honor twice in 2010. The Union striker was the overwhelming choice this week with 17 of the 27 votes cast. Landon Donovan (4) and Nick Rimando (3) were the only others to receive multiple votes.

As you’ll see by clicking the link, I was one of the three that voted for RSL keeper Nick Rimando. It wasn’t that I didn’t appreciate McInerney’s two goal effort on Sunday, I just thought that RSL would have lost to Chivas had Rimando not made the five big stops – including one penalty save. Simple as that. I still give a big kudos to Jack, he is a hell of a player to watch.

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Philadelphia Hosting Star Wars Day

By on April 18, 2013 | Follow @WVHooligan |

Yep. You can’t make this stuff up apparently. The Philadelphia Union announced today that the club will host Star Wars Day during the May 4th match against Seattle Sounders at PPL Park.

The game, a 4:00 p.m. kickoff, will feature interactive games, contests and promotional giveaways in conjunction with the iconic film series created by George Lucas.

So a costume contest will be done. Special t-shirts will be made. And more. Wow.

Star Wars-themed Union T-Shirts displaying “MAY THE FORCE BE WITH DOOP” on the front will be available for $150. The limited-edition T-Shirts will also be for sale that day in the Union Shop with all proceeds benefitting the Philadelphia Union Foundation.

Photo via PhiladelphiaUnion.com

Photo via PhiladelphiaUnion.com

I have to say the shirts are pretty sweet looking. I’m not the biggest Star Wars geek out there but I do think this is a pretty neat promotion by the Union.

More details on the day can be found here.

Continue Reading · · in MLS, Philadelphia Union, Seattle Sounders FC

Giving Grades: How First and Second Year MLS Bosses Stack Up

By on April 17, 2013 | Follow @WVHooligan |
Porterball is starting to show its way in MLS. (Jaime Valdez-USA TODAY Sports)

Porterball is starting to show its way in MLS. (Jaime Valdez-USA TODAY Sports)

It seems as though with each passing season in Major League Soccer we get a new crop of coaches in the league. Last year we got a couple new coaches and this season was no different with five new managers roaming the sidelines.

After seven weeks I feel as though we know a greater deal about each coach. Some are doing very well while others are still navigating the tricky and difficult MLS waters.

Typically at this time of the year we can begin to see a coaching hot seat forming and while I may get to that soon, I felt it was better to take a step back and see how the newcomers were fairing. Here is how I see them all doing so far this season with the sophomore coaches included as well.

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Continue Reading · · in Chivas USA, Colorado Rapids, MLS, Montreal Impact, New England Revolution, New York Red Bulls, Philadelphia Union, Portland Timbers, Toronto FC, Vancouver Whitecaps

Freddy Adu And MLS, Done Forever?

By on March 25, 2013 | Follow @WVHooligan |
Freddy Adu ends his second chapter in MLS. (Joe Camporeale-US PRESSWIRE)

Freddy Adu ends his second chapter in MLS. (Joe Camporeale-US PRESSWIRE)

Never say never right? And never say something is done forever as well, right?

Well, in the case of Freddy Adu and Major League Soccer, the time may have finally reached its peak where the two sides should just say they are done with one another for good.

Adu (finally) parted ways today, officially that, with the Philadelphia Union. He is now set to move to Brazil at the young age of 23-years old. Yes, he is still only 23 and is on his ninth team.

Esporte Clube Bahia in Brazil is picking up the tab on this one, a move that one has to hope and wonder if it will finally spark his career in the right path again. Philadelphia sure as heck didn’t do it. Neither did his other stops before that.

In 35 games with the Union, Adu picked up seven goals and tallied two assists. Not exactly lighting it up.

Sure you could argue that he hasn’t found the right system for his skill set. Or the right coach. The attempt with Peter Nowak failed twice in MLS and the short time with John Hackworth didn’t last long at all. Adu was off the team’s plans by the end of the 2012 MLS season and was pretty much shown the door before the New Year rolled in.

So is it time for MLS to say enough? I think so. Even at his age I think so.

We know the story and how it began. Adu was young, talented and badly over-hyped by everyone. It wasn’t his fault in some respects but we always knew he wanted to be in Europe. And when that failed for him, he made the wise move to return home. But at some point he needs to evaluate his self worth as a player and a member of a team. No one wanted the Union to pay what they were paying him (DP money). The Union didn’t want to pay it either. They were willing to sit him out, away from the club for the first three months of the year with him eating salary until someone came in and bought them out.

Its tough to see a promising player go from MLS but at this point, he’s done enough in MLS that fans won’t miss him that much. He’ll likely return here some day, and I do hope at that point he lands in the right situation for him. One that sees him play, produce and win.

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2013 MLS Season Preview: Eastern Conference

By on February 28, 2013 | Follow @WVHooligan |
Sporting KC hopes to keep their hold on the Eastern Conference in 2013.

Sporting KC hopes to keep their hold on the Eastern Conference in 2013.

It is time to get down to it. I’ve already gone through each MLS side, along with several other previews. But now it is time to get down to where I think things will shake out once the dust settles later this year.

Yes, I am talking predictions folks.

First up is the Eastern Conference.

Right now I see the Eastern Conference as a pretty deep group of clubs. I feel confident that it could end up being a eight team race for the long haul of the season. Yes, eight teams folks. I think the top part of the conference is pretty well stacked but the middle group from about 3-8 is closer than some might think.  Continue Reading →

Continue Reading · · in Chicago Fire, Columbus Crew, DC United, Houston Dynamo, MLS, Montreal Impact, New England Revolution, New York Red Bulls, Philadelphia Union, Sporting KC, Toronto FC

Philadelphia Union Unveil Their Third Kit

By on February 26, 2013 | Follow @WVHooligan |

Thanks to the internet (largely Big Soccer…yeah it’s still around), images of the new Philadelphia Union third jersey are here.

The team is paying tribute to Bethlehem Steel FC, a former juggernaut of American soccer. The team has stated that the jersey will be worn by the team for March 2′s season opener at PPL Park against Sport Kansas City.

The jersey has a modified BIMBO logo in the middle with a nice BSFC patch in the bottom corner.

I personally love seeing teams of yesterday get honored in this manner. I hope more MLS teams are able to reach out to the past and do stuff like this. Maybe not so much in a retro day style paying respect (another topic for another day) but to just show the country and new fans of the game that American soccer has been around for a long time. Continue Reading →

Continue Reading · · in MLS, Philadelphia Union, Soccer Gear

2013 MLS Season Preview: Philadelphia Union

By on February 20, 2013 | Follow @WVHooligan |
John Hackworth could have a contender in Philly. (Photo by Drew Hallowell/Getty Images)

John Hackworth could have a contender in Philly. (Photo by Drew Hallowell/Getty Images)

Things did not go as planned in 2012 in Philadelphia. Once thought as the club that was on the verge of big things going into the 2012 season, the Union failed to live up to any good expectations that were set on them as they struggled early on and eventually saw Peter Nowak get fired.

Now enter a new year. John Hackworth is the boss now (as he has been since Nowak left). Late in 2012, the Union looked like they were starting to come around even though towards the end of the season their playoff dreams were already dashed away. Big moves made this winter have help get the fan base in Chester at least somewhat happy again too.

But will it all be enough for getting back to the playoffs in 2013? Time to find out where things stand with Hackworth’s bunch.

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What’s Lacking: New York and Philadelphia Preseason Look

By on January 22, 2013 | Follow @WVHooligan |
What questions do Philadelphia and New York have going into their preseason? (Getty Images)

What questions do Philadelphia and New York have going into their preseason? (Getty Images)

We’re pushing forward in out preseason look in at the 19 MLS clubs.

Two more Eastern Conference clubs to go with the Chicago Fire and Columbus Crew, as well as last year’s Eastern Conference finalists D.C. United and the Houston Dynamo. Earlier today, I took a quick look at the Montreal Impact and the New England Revolution.

Time to dive into two more Eastern Conference clubs with a look at some items that are lacking going into the start of the preseason camps.

New York Red Bulls

- Coaching. This is an obvious one but it is also one that has to be mentioned until the day/week/hour/etc. that New York finally hires a new coach for the 2013 season. Mike Petke has been sort of in charge the last couple of weeks as he handled the SuperDraft stuff last week.

- Thin in the midfield. One thing many will say when looking at this Red Bulls squad is how light they are in the midfield, especially on the wings. They need some help throughout their midfield as behind their main starters are a bunch of inexperienced players.

Philadelphia Union

- The Adu of it all. This isn’t really a lacking kind of item but it is something that has to be brought up when discussing the Union. What they do with Freddy Adu could be a make or break kind of thing. He’s a hefty player on the books for them and unloading him will certainly ease the minds of the front office and likely some players.

- Depth on the wings. This kind of goes for both in the midfield and in the defense. I like their main guys but after them the Union do seem thin on the outside. Adding one or two more parts to the outside for depth purposes will be a good thing to see before the start of the season.

Continue Reading · · in MLS, New York Red Bulls, Philadelphia Union