Wow, where did you read that about Valdes? I don't even see a friendly scheduled for Colombia on the August 15th date. http://www.fcf.com.co/index.php?opt...atid=12:noticias-seleccion-colombia&Itemid=31
Possibly see introduction of @PhilaUnion D Bakary Soumare soon with @carlosvaldes5 getting called up for an Aug. 15 FIFA int'l match date— Kerith Gabriel (@sprtswtr) August 1, 2012
right after the part you bolded. they are having a camp with the new coach: That is why the team will use this time to perform various work sessions in the High Performance Centre of the Royal Spanish Football Federation, SOCCER CITY, located in Las Rozas. This duty cycle will end with a match behind closed doors
I had to say that I was worried about Valdes getting a call up didn't I?!?! Congrats to all three and I hope they all do well and return healthy. In Keon's case I hope he is allowed back in this time with no problems. As for Valdes, I wonder if Mondragon going back to Colombia pointed the national team at Valdes. Of course getting named to the MLS All-Star team probably helped too.
Do we know for sure if Valdes, Daniel, and Gomez - especially Valdes - are not available for selection on Sunday due to their respective national team call-ups? All I've been reading is "might" this and "might" that, but nothing definitive.
http://m.philadelphiaunion.com/news/2012/08/valdes-gomez-and-daniel-called-international-duty Its offical now
We knew they've been called up. Will they be available on Sunday? In Hack's presser on Wednesday, he singled out Valdes and said they're still working out travel logistics with the Colombian national team, etc.
Greetings Union fans. I come in peace. Valdez has been called in for a 24 man practice roster in Spain. Since Colombia does not have a friendly the coach Pekerman decided to have a training camp instead. This does not mean he will be called in for the World Cup Qualifiers but it is a sign that he will be given a chance to fight for a roster spot. Luckily for Carlos Colombia has two CBs out for the next WCQ in September (Yellow Card Accumulation) so he will have a good chance. The training will start on Sunday so I assume that is when Valdez will be there... ...but I am not 100% sure about that. Also, Mondragon was called in to be the backup GK so I know some of you are interested in knowing that. Maybe he did mention to Pekerman about Valdez (being a former teamate) but Pekerman has scouts who are looking at MLS so that is the more likely of reasons.
Valdes left for Spain yesterday according to his tweet. carlos valdes @carlosvaldes5 At the aiport going to Spain!! http://yfrog.com/odzn9cwej On another note that I had not seen anywhere in the local press, it looks like Philly may soon have another national teamer in the near future. After being a benchwarmer on Caleb Porter's ill-fated USA Olympic team earlier this year and perhaps thinking that his chances to thus ever play for the senior team were limited at best, it looks like Sheanon Williams' national team aspirations have turned to Trinidad & Tobago (he is of T&T descent). Like Keon Daniel, Williams was named to the team to face Canada this Wednesday but was later deemed "unavailable" (Philly likely said no since it was a friendly, they play Chicago today in a huge game and they were already letting Daniel go) and later replaced. T&T is already eliminated from WC Qualifying so it may be a while for Williams to play in a game which officially would tie him to T&T should he play for the Soca Warriors. It would be unfortunate as Williams given the USA RB situation (Cherundolo nearing the end of his USA career, Chandler coming up with excuses to play in a USA game which would tie him to the USA as he waits for a Germany call which will never come, Parkhurst who is really more of a CB than RB). While Williams certainly would be in the mix of other good younger MLS RBs (Loyd - FCD, Beitashour - SJ, Alston - NE, Myers - KC) who could eventually get a look at USA RB, Kilnsmann may opt to keep looking for Euro-based players with a US parent before he goes the MLS route. http://www.ttproleague.com/index.ph...friendly&catid=3:national-team-news&Itemid=81
Did not know Williams was of T&T descent, thanks for the info and the link. I would have been really curious to see how things played out if this friendly was in Canada and if Keon would have been able to go. Has any info come out about why he cannot go to Canada? There have been a couple of games this year that he could not get in due to Visa issues. Ideally it would be nice if MLS and the US and Canadian governments could work out work Visas for its players so there are no issues like this. I think I heard some European NHL players had some issues with Visas but they got worked out.
Valdes and Gomez called up for WC quals on September 7th and 11th. http://www.philadelphiaunion.com/news/2012/08/union-pair-receive-international-call-ups Won't miss NER game on the 1st and shouldn't miss TFC game on the 15th (both away).
true but if they both play both games then there would be a strong chance that they will not get the start 3 days later.
http://www.philadelphiaunion.com/news/2012/09/union-pair-receive-u18-call Zach Pfeffer and Zack Steffen (Union Academy goalie) called up for US U-18 camp and game against Netherlands.
Rumors swirling in Colombia that Valdes may start against Uruguay today. He must be impressing coach Pekerman in practice. Should be proud of him as Union fans.
Well it is not 100% set in stone that he plays so you may get your wish. Not a scratch will be on him if he eats bench. That said, many people think he will play and I think that is great. May open the doors for other MLS player to be called up by Colombia.
I'm happy for Valdes, he derserves it the way he has been playing. Besides, getting called up for national duty brings prestige to your club.
He definitely deserves it, but it sounds like we can thank Mondi for bringing Valdes' name to the forefront.
that's what friends are for. I can see Mondragon being in a FO some day and doing right by it. Something we don't know about here.
I don't know how much credit should be given to Mondragon. Pekerman has scouts watching the MLS so I think he would have been called up anyway.