2016 Pre-Season Matchday #4: Rowdies v Union, February 20, 2016 p/d/p (R)

More than a few Union links in terms of tonight's game - Freddy Adu, Danny Mwanga, Georgi Hristov (mystery pre-season trialist in Union's 2013 preseason Florida camp - cut by Hack so the likes of Hoppenot could be kept for forward depth. Hristov has gone on to be one of NASL's leading scorers in recent years) and Ben Sweat (ex-Reading United left back - IIRC, he trained with the Union during that Reading stint).

It would not be a surprise to see Curtin give the 2nd team the majority of the minutes tonight with the first team doing the same in the next game (NYRB). There are not a lot of roster decisions to be made with the group (Ilsinho and Missimo are only true trialists left - Tribbett and Akinyode are Bethlehem players, so could see Tribbett loaned to the Union while Akinyode is more likely there as DM cover until Edu gets in the mix.

 

Not gonna be able to watch this, I expect you all to take good notes for me.

 

NASL salaries are typically $15K - $100K with a few exceptions for some of the bigger names (likely more bigger name veteran foreign players like the Cosmos have brought in - i.e. recently retired Raul, now Venezuela NT and Bundesliga vet JuanArango - than hyped youngsters who failed to cut it at higher levels). Adu may be making over $100K just based on the name but likely not much more - still could be in the $75K - $100K range. Mwanga may be in the $50K - $75K range. Average NASL salary is supposedly less than $40K.

 

I rarely do this, but I voted win. #beatAdu

 

Unless you ask one of the NASL fanboys. They'll dispute those numbers saying they're not accurate and then go on about how the average NASL player makes more then the average MLS player.

 

Lineup:

Jones
Fabinho - Anderson - Tribbett - Rosenberry
Caroll - Nogueira
Pontius - Ilsinho - Fernandes
Sapong

 

You are crazy. The day Adu left the Union was one of the best for this organization. Up there with Firing Hak, Sak, and hiring Earnie.

 

I know it's still 5 minutes to game time but I get nothing on the feed link at all.

 

If anyone is having trouble with the stream, I had to use internet explorer (chrome was not showing the video link).

 

Maybe it's not up yet but I get nuthin in Explorer or Chrome.

 

just went up for me on all 3 iexplorer, firefox, and chrome

 

Rosenberry starting again at RB. Am I detecting a pattern or is this just preseason things?

 

Stewart has already said they do not plan to carry the 28 player maximum. It seems likely that a few others in camp will stick (Ilsinho, Tribbett perhaps on loan from Bethlehem - not so sure Missimo will be signed by the Union or Bethlehem). The open roster spots give the team the ability to pay salary budget players more $ (if salary budget spots remain open) or get some allocation $ (if off-budget spots remain open). If there are injuries, they apparently can call up Bethlehem players.

GK (3): Andre Blake (GA), Matt Jones, John McCarthy
DEF (8): Anderson Conceicao (INT'L), Maurice Edu (DP), Fabinho, Raymon Gaddis, Richie Marquez, Keegan Rosenberry, Taylor Washington, Joshua Yaro (GA, INT'L)
MID (10): Roland Alberg (INT'L), Eric Ayuk (INT'L), Tranquillo Barnetta (INT'L), Brian Carroll, Warren Creavalle, Leo Fernandes, Sebastien Le Toux, Vincent Nogueira (INT'L), Chris Pontius, Walter Restrepo
FWD (2): Fabian Herbers (GA, INT'L), C.J. Sapong

Rosenberry and Tribbett have both beenregular starters this preseason. Would not think Curtinwould start the season with such aninexperienced backline in front of Blake.

 

Holy crap, that was a nice header!

 

Tribbett with the GOAL! off of the corner kick!

 

We took a competent corner and scored? What madness is this?

 

Ilsinho with two sweet and dangerous deliveries from the free kick and then the corner

 

y'all are lying. no way we scored from a corner

 

Union with some nice pressing in midfield to win back possession??!?!?!?! What is this???? Looking dangerous on corners???

Oh wait............never mind, playing an NASL side......

 

17' GOAL!!! Tribbett's header from Ilsinho's corner kick finds the back of the net! 1-0 Union

— The U Match Day (@TheUMatchDay) February 21, 2016

701204221736185856 is not a valid tweet id

 

Ilsinho is freaking nasty.