2011 Philadelphia Union season

Background

At the end of the 2010 season, Philadelphia was 7th in the Eastern Conference, which unfortunately was not enough to get them into the MLS Playoffs. During the off-season, the team lost Fred, Seitz, Salinas, and Moreno through re-entry and expansion drafts. The Union did acquire 2 new players before the 2011 SuperDraft in January: one through trade (Brian Carroll from Columbus Crew) and their first homegrown player (Zach Pfeffer). In the MLS SuperDraft, Philadelphia had selected three new players for the team: Zac MacMath (GK from University of Maryland and 5th pick overall), Michael Farfan (M from University of North Carolina, 23rd overall) and Levi Houapeu (F from University of Maryland, Baltimore County, 41st overall). During the Supplemental Draft, the Union picked up another 3 players: Ryan Richter (MF/F), Josh Walburn (D) and Matt Marcin (MF).

Shortly after the SuperDraft, the team released MF Toni Ståhl, who had only played a handful of minutes with the team in 2010, and was sent off in the first game of the season with 2 yellow cards. Toward the end of January, Philadelphia released their other goalie from the 2010 season, Brad Knighton.

On January 20, Philadelphia introduced two new players: Colombians Faryd Mondragón (GK) and Carlos Valdés (D). Mondragón had recently come from playing with F.C. Cologne in the German Bundesliga, and has at least 50 caps with the Colombia nationaltTeam. Valdés comes from Club Independiente Santa Fe in the Colombian First Division, where he served as captain before coming to Philadelphia.

On January 11, the Union became the 13th team in MLS to gain a shirt sponsor. Bimbo Bakeries USA will sponsor the team in exchange for US$12 million (three million for four years). Bimbo Bakeries has sponsored other teams in Mexico and Costa Rica, but this is their first time in MLS.

Review

Preseason

Philadelphia Union will play their first pre-season game against the U-17 US Men National Team on February 6. They will then play two friendlies against university teams, University of South Florida and University of Central Florida, on February 10 and 13 respectively. Their last pre-season game in Orlando will be against Orlando City, a new team in the USL Professional Division, on February 19.

The club announced the signing of former MLS Most Valuable Player Carlos Ruiz on February 22.

League Start

Philadelphia Union's first game was away against Houston Dynamo on March 19. Their first home game at PPL Park was against the Vancouver Whitecaps on March 26.

2011 roster

As of September 23, 2011. -- Do NOT add new players before their signing is officially announced by the club -- and do NOT assign unreferenced jersey numbers as well. -- Do NOT create articles for new draft picks until they make either their MLS or U.S. Open Cup debut, and do not add red wikilinks to these players as it prevents the creation of articles by people who don't understand the WP:FOOTY notability guidelines – Players with international caps should NOT be bolded – as per Wikipedia:WikiProject_Football/Clubs – This is Wikipedia, not a football gazette. – Any unconfirmed and unsourced signing/transfer will be reverted at sight. – Thanks in advance.

Match results

Preseason friendlies

Mwanga

McInerney Mwanga

MLS regular season

The Union are 11-8-15 overall, 7-1-9 at home, 4-7-6 on the road.

Ruiz Valdés

Califf Mwanga Ruiz Rochat Hassli

López
Birchall
Ricketts
Beckham
Donovan Williams
Harvey
Califf
McInerney

Mwanga Richards
Miller

Miglioranzi Okugo Valdés Fernández

Mondragón Harvey Le Toux Convey

Futty Brunner Wallace Williams

Torres Mwanga Williams Gonzalez DeLaGarza

Castillo Carroll

Harvey M. Farfan Ruiz Oduro Oduro Paladini Puerari

Mapp Harvey Nakazawa Mwanga

Casey

Espíndola Alexandre

Dunfield Carroll

Nielsen

Valdés Ruiz Mwanga Braun

Najar Kitchen Ruiz

Corrales Hernandez

Valdés Daniel Williams

Torres Nyassi Folan Mullan

Carroll Pause

Valdés Cameron

Le Toux McInerney Shea Santos John

Hesmer Mendoza James Heinemann M. Farfan Valdés

Schuler Russell
Califf

Adu Adu Le Toux Lekić Zerka Feilhaber Joseph Caraglio Feilhaber

Jewsbury

Le Toux

M. Farfan Najar Kitchen McDonald

Ángel Mapp MacMath

Carroll

Johnson

Tainio Rodgers

MLS Cup Playoffs

Le Toux Miglioranzi Williams Carroll Cruz Carr Moffat G. Farfan Carr

U.S. Open Cup

Wolff
Jakovic
Woolard Ruiz Valdés Carroll
Nowak (manager) Barklage
Najar
Boskovic McInerney Torres Nakawaza

Friendlies

Torres González Özil Welker Angulo Richter Pfeffer Torres Tait

MLS Reserve League

Main article: Philadelphia Union Reserves, 2011 MLS Reserve Division

The Union Reserves are 2-7-1 overall, 2-3-0 at home, 0-4-1 on the road.

McInerney Agorsor Rooney Rooney Nakazawa Fred Korb Brettschneider Morsink King Ngwenya Ngwenya Morsink Ngwenya Madison M. Farfan Sousa Fagundez Okugo Anor Horton Mwanga Tait Nakazawa Ekpo Gardner Okugo Richter Cordon

League table

Conference

Overall

Results summary

Squad information

Squad breakdown

Ages are as of March 19, 2011 (the date of their season opener).

Statistics

Statistics are from all MLS league matches.

**** = Not currently part of team.***

Goalkeepers

**** = Not currently part of team.***

MLS Cup Playoffs Squad information

Statistics

Statistics are from all MLS Cup Playoffs matches.

Goalkeepers

Honors and awards

MLS Player of the Month

MLS Player of the Week

MLS Goal of the Week

MLS Team of the Week

MLS All-Stars 2011

Player movement

Transfers

In

Out

Loans

In

Out

Miscellany

Allocation ranking

Philadelphia is in the #17 position in the MLS Allocation Ranking. The allocation ranking is the mechanism used to determine which MLS club has first priority to acquire a U.S. national team player who signs with MLS after playing abroad, or a former MLS player who returns to the league after having gone to a club abroad for a transfer fee. Philadelphia started 2011 ranked #5 on the allocation list and used its ranking to acquire Freddy Adu. A ranking can be traded, provided that part of the compensation received in return is another club's ranking.

International roster spots

Philadelphia has 8 international roster spots. Each club in Major League Soccer is allocated 8 international roster spots, which can be traded. Philadelphia has not dealt or acquired any spots in trades. There is no limit on the number of international slots on each club's roster. The remaining roster slots must belong to domestic players. For clubs based in the United States, a domestic player is either a U.S. citizen, a permanent resident (green card holder) or the holder of other special status (e.g., refugee or asylum status).

Future draft pick trades

Future picks acquired: 2012 SuperDraft Round 2 pick acquired from Sporting Kansas City; 2013 SuperDraft Round 2 pick acquired from FC Dallas.

Future picks traded: None.

References

References

1. Ramin Majd. "Goal.com MLS Guidebook: The 2011 Philadelphia Union".
2. (November 22, 2010). "Union Acquire MF Brian Carroll". Philadelphia Union.
3. (December 22, 2010). "Union Sign Pfeffer as First Homegrown Player". Philadelphia Union.
4. "Union Select Three in MLS SuperDraft". Philadelphia Union.
5. (January 18, 2011). "Union Select Three in Supplemental Draft". Philadelphia Union.
6. (January 14, 2011). "Union Decline Option on MF Stahl". Philadelphia Union.
7. (January 25, 2011). "Union Waive Goalkeeper Knighton". Philadelphia Union.
8. (January 20, 2011). "Union Agree to Terms with GK Mondragón, D Valdés". Philadelphia Union.
9. Lalas, Greg. (January 11, 2011). "How the Union Cooked Up Bimbo Sponsorship". Philadelphia Union.
10. Tannenwald, Jonathan. (January 11, 2011). "What the Union's marriage with Bimbo means". Philadelphia Inquirer.
11. (January 31, 2011). "Union to Play Four Exhibition Matches in Orlando". Philadelphia Union.
12. (December 20, 2010). "Union to Open 2011 in Houston March 19". Philadelphia Union.
13. "Players {{!".
14. (February 6, 2011). "Union Draw First Preseason Match 1-1". Philadelphia Union.
15. (February 10, 2011). "Union Top USF 2-0 in Second Preseason Match". Philadelphia Union.
16. (February 13, 2011). "Union Down UCF 1-0 in Third Preseason Match". Philadelphia Union.
17. (February 19, 2011). "Union Fall to Orlando City 1-0". Philadelphia Union.
18. (February 28, 2011). "Union Play to 1-1 Draw with Ergotelis". Philadelphia Union.
19. (March 2, 2011). "Union Cruise to 5-0 Win vs. Hersonissos". Philadelphia Union.
20. Jasner, Andy. (March 1, 2008). "Chester Park". thefieldfinder.com.
21. "Standings - 2011". Major League Soccer.
22. (January 20, 2011). "Union Agree to Terms With GK Mondragón, D Valdés". Philadelphia Union.
23. (February 14, 2011). "Union Acquire Forward Chris Agorsor". Philadelphia Union.
24. (February 22, 2011). "Union Acquire Forward Carlos Ruiz". Philadelphia Union.
25. (March 1, 2011). "Union Sign Two, Waive Two". Philadelphia Union.
26. (March 18, 2011). "Union Sign Daniel, Farfan, Houapeu". Philadelphia Union.
27. (June 13, 2011). "Union Sign Paunović". Philadelphia Union.
28. (August 12, 2011). "Union Sign Attacking Midfielder Freddy Adu". Philadelphia Union.
29. (August 22, 2011). "Union Reacquire Goalkeeper Thorne Holder". Philadelphia Union.
30. (September 13, 2011). "Union Sign Defender English Joe Tait". Philadelphia Union.
31. (September 15, 2011). "Union Sign Midfielder Langley From City Islanders". Philadelphia Union.
32. (September 23, 2011). "Union Sign Goalkeeper Harrison From City Islanders". Philadelphia Union.
33. (November 24, 2010). "Union Lose Salinas, Moreno in Expansion Draft". Philadelphia Union.
34. (December 15, 2010). "Union Lose Seitz, Fred In Re-Entry Draft". Philadelphia Union.
35. (February 8, 2011). "Union Waive Defender Cristian Arrieta". Philadelphia Union.
36. (February 14, 2011). "Union Waive Midfielder Eduardo Coudet". Philadelphia Union.
37. (February 19, 2011). "Union Trade Andrew Jacobson to FC Dallas". Philadelphia Union.
38. Tannenwald, Jonathan. (March 2, 2011). "Nowak: Union did not extend Orozco Fiscal's loan". Philadelphia Inquirer.
39. (June 2, 2011). "Union cut ties with former youth sensation Agorsor". Philadelphia Union.
40. (July 7, 2011). "Union trade defender Jordan Harvey to Vancouver Whitecaps". Philadelphia Union.
41. (July 26, 2011). "Union waive goalkeeper Thorne Holder". Philadelphia Union.
42. (August 5, 2011). "Union secure full rights to Valdés, transfer Ruiz". Philadelphia Union.
43. (March 8, 2010). "Midfielder Roger Torres on Loan to Union". Philadelphia Union.
44. [http://www.mlssoccer.com/2011-mls-roster-rules 2011 MLS Roster Rules | Major League Soccer] {{webarchive. link. (April 30, 2011)