As much as I loathe DCU, it was fun for Neal. Good for him. He has really shined since being a late signing and helping to replace DeRo the later part of the season.
Hate the dozen trophies? Don't worry, we won't be making it thirteen this year without DeRo. He is the kind of magician that does really special things. It is nice to see a call up from the minors show well, though.
Full list of players that have had their options taken/re-signed includes: Jamie Watson, Rob Valentino, Dennis Chin, Miguel Gallardo, Luke Boden, Justin Clark, Anthony Pulis, Mechack Jerome, James O’Connor and Adama Mbengue. http://orlandocitysoccer.com/news/?article_id=1141
I think they will have to get in line for his services, along with him just moving back to Malta (or whatever). I am surprised he has lasted this long with Orlando.
Charlie Campbell to get another shot with FC Dallas: http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2012/11/07/fc-dallas-bring-back-orlando-prospect-second-look
Well, that's the spine of the defense returning. Glad that Valentino is back - for my nerves sake. And good luck to Molino!
In that same article, Ian Fuller is only listed as "assistant head coach". Looks like he's retired as a player.
Where the team stands with their 2013 roster: (GK) Miguel Gallardo (D) Jerome Mechack (D) Kieron Bernard (D) Luke Boden (D) Justin Clark (D) Rob Valentino (D) Bryan Burke (M) Adama Mbengue (M) James O’Connor (M) Ian Fuller (M) Jamie Watson (M) Anthony Pulis (F) Dennis Chin Free agents and players currently not under contract include: (GK) Sean Kelley (offered new contract) (D) Wes Allen (offered new contract) (D) Kyle Davies (option not taken up) (M) Charlie Campbell (offered new contract) (M) Erik Ustruck (offered new contract) (F) Rodrigo Lopez (option not taken up) (F) Matt Luzanaris (option not taken up) (M) Kevin Molino (offered new contract) (F) Max Griffin (option not taken up)
Orlando signs Long Tan and re-sign Erik Ustruck. Where the team stands with their 2013 roster: (GK) Miguel Gallardo (D) Jerome Mechack (D) Kieron Bernard (D) Luke Boden (D) Justin Clark (D) Rob Valentino (D) Bryan Burke (M) Adama Mbengue (M) James O’Connor (M) Ian Fuller (M) Jamie Watson (M) Anthony Pulis (M) Erik Ustruck (F) Dennis Chin (F) Long Tan
Long Tan is decent and should do very well in the USL Pro league this year. A quality signing by Orlando.
Jerome Mechak is on trial with KC and doing well by all accounts. He scored off a free kick and I think he started at Disney the other day. He might be gone for this season.... Best of luck to him if so!
I spoke with Jerome and his family, He was all smiles after working the wing with G. Zusi for 50 min. I think he is gone to bigger things. Adama and Jerome will both be playing for KC tonight at 1800.
Last night when Adama Mbengue was red carded, why did the announcers on MLSsoccer.com make a big deal about KC coach Vermes not liking what Mbengue did. Is he actually a KC player on loan or something? I thought he was just a African/U23 call up?
First off, Kevin Molino is officially back. Second, we got our first set of loans from Sporting Kansas City. We got English forward Dom Dwyer, American midfielder Christian Duke, Cameroonian defender Yann Songo'o and American goalkeeper Jon Kempin.
If that's the quality of player the loan deal gets us - I'm all for it! Perhaps most exciting is Dwyer - up top maybe with Chin and let Tan come on a sub for fresh legs? (or some combination thereof). Good addition as the last game you can see without Chin we are missing a finisher (Jean and Tan don't have the knack for putting it in the net, although they do other things well - and Jean and Watson are more withdrawn forwards than up-up top guys). But all these guys will probably get significant playing time just by the quality of player they are, except maybe Kempin - thus is the fate of goalkeepers.
Sporting Kansas City announced Thursday that the club has loaned four players to USL PRO side Orlando City SC. Goalkeeper Jon Kempin, defender Yann Songo'o, midfielder Christian Duke and forward Dom Dwyer, in a bid to gain valuable playing time, will make the temporary switch to Orlando City, which signed a two-year partnership with in January to become an affiliate of Sporting Kansas City. "We're excited about this partnership with Orlando because it not only gives us an opportunity to partner with a great organization, but more importantly it also gives us an opportunity for players who we think have real potential within our team to be able to go into an environment and play on a regular basis for a real competition," Sporting Kansas City Manager Peter Vermes. "That's a big aspect of the growth of a player so that constant competitiveness is going to be huge for their development."
Dwyer and Songo'o both started on Saturday against FGCU. Dwyer got one of the goals. Also, the numbers: Songo'o: 2 Dwyer: 9 Duke: 12 Kempin: 21 (which pretty much confirms Sean Kelley isn't coming back)