THE MLS EXPANSION DRAFT

[EPJr]

Philadelphia to pick first 10 members in MLS Expansion Draft on Wednesday


YORK -- Major League Soccer will hold the 2009 MLS Expansion Draft on Wednesday, Nov. 25 at 1 p.m. ET. The League's 16th team, Philadelphia Union, will begin to take shape following the 10-round draft.
Listed below are the details regarding the League's expansion draft, as well as the protected player list and the list of players who are graduating from Generation adidas. Philadelphia may not claim more than one player from any given team in MLS, and five teams will not have a player taken in the expansion draft.

MLS DRAFT RULES

[slycat]

Union is going to struggle next year.

By this time last year Seattle had already signed players including Keller and Ljunberg.

[DukeJack]

Philly picks:

MF Andrew Jacobson (D.C. United) age 24
F Alejandro Moreno (Columbus) 30
D Shavar Thomas (Chivas USA) 28
GK Brad Knighton (New England) 24
F Nick Zimmerman (New York) 22
F Sebastien Le Toux (Seattle) 25
MF Shea Salinas (San Jose) 23
MF Stefani Miglioranzi (Los Angeles) 32
D Dave Myrie (Chicago) 21
D Jordan Harvey (Colorado) 25

It's like they didn't even try.....but they did manage to trade Real Salt Lake for former U-20 and U-23 goalie Chris Seitz.

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/soccer ... l#comments

[EPJr]

GALLERY OF UNION ROSTER

http://web.mlsnet.com/gallery/photogall ... 0&vkey=mls

[slycat]

Philly picks:

MF Andrew Jacobson (D.C. United) age 24
F Alejandro Moreno (Columbus) 30
D Shavar Thomas (Chivas USA) 28
GK Brad Knighton (New England) 24
F Nick Zimmerman (New York) 22
F Sebastien Le Toux (Seattle) 25
MF Shea Salinas (San Jose) 23
MF Stefani Miglioranzi (Los Angeles) 32
D Dave Myrie (Chicago) 21
D Jordan Harvey (Colorado) 25

It's like they didn't even try.....but they did manage to trade Real Salt Lake for former U-20 and U-23 goalie Chris Seitz.


http://voices.washingtonpost.com/soccer ... l#comments

Ran cross country with this guy in high school. He played at Furman in college where he was a standout.

[EPJr]

CHESTER, Pa (November 30, 2009) — Just four days after drafting 10 players from in the 2009 Major League Soccer Expansion Draft, Philadelphia Union have added former Real Salt Lake goalkeeper Chris Seitz to their roster in exchange for allocation money. Financial terms, as per club policy, are not disclosed.

“We are extremely excited about acquiring Chris Seitz who has been in the U.S. Men’s National Team goalkeeper pool and with Real Salt Lake the past three seasons,” said Philadelphia Union Team Manager Peter Nowak. “He’s physically imposing and now has a chance to compete to become a starting goalkeeper in MLS and realize his full potential.”

[isumatt]

Chicago got off easy...and I agree, Philly is going to struggle

[DukeJack]

Chicago got off easy...and I agree, Philly is going to struggle

Not necessarily...Danny Califf has been released from Midtjylland and PU is negotiating with Houston who somehow still own his rights from when they were the Earthquakes. There are also several reports that they are trying to lure back Jeremiah White from Aarhus. Seitz has always shown a lot of promise, but looked rusty at the Olympics, most likely due to lack of playing time behind Rimando. Looking over the list of exposed players versus who they drafted it doesn't seem like they tried at all, even selecting a name player like Blanco or Jesse Marsch and essentially holding them hostage for draft picks or other players would have been a better strategy. But they do fit Nowak's MO - young, cheap, and hustle.

[EPJr]

U.S. national team defender to join Philadelphia from Danish Superliga



CHESTER, Pa. -- Philadelphia Union have acquired the rights to United States Men's National Team veteran Danny Califf. The 29-year old central defender will join Philadelphia Union from FC Midtjylland in the Danish Superliga, after the club acquired his League rights in a trade with the Houston Dynamo for allocation money. As per club policy, details of the deal will not be disclosed.

Califf brings leadership and international experience to Philadelphia Union, having earned 23 caps with the USMNT. In 2009, he captained the side's 3-2 win over Sweden and helped them to a first place finish in the CONCACAF region to earn a trip to the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa.

http://web.mlsnet.com/news/mls_news.jsp ... &fext=.jsp

[EPJr]

Philadelphia players meet their adoring public

Sizable crowd turns out to meet newest Union members
- By Andy Jasner / MLSnet.com Staff


PHILADELPHIA -- The first 11 players in Philadelphia Union history had a chance to mingle with the club's already passionate fan base Tuesday night at Tir Na Nog, an Irish pub in the downtown area.

They were amazed by the reaction.

In a packed restaurant with the Sons of Ben chanting, the players soon realized how excitable the region is for Major League Soccer. They had heard about the fans, but witnessing it in person was something to see.

"This is incredible, let me tell you," said defender David Myrie, who played last season for the Chicago Fire. "You look around and it makes you want to play right now. These fans are going crazy. I was told they were like this and it's true. I can't wait to get started for real in 2010."

The players signed autographs and shook hands. They chatted with the Sons of Ben and the hundreds of other patrons. Being in this type of atmosphere was more than they imagined.

[EPJr]

The Union’s new soccer stadium name: PPL Park

Energy company PPL Corp. is close to signing a 10-year, $20 million naming-rights deal with the Philadelphia Union, the region's new pro soccer team. The Union's new stadium, under construction in the city of Chester, will be called PPL Park.

Team officials confirmed the outlines of deal, first reported in Street & Smith's Sports Business Journal, that marks another major step for the return of pro soccer to the region.

The Union will be Major League Soccer's 16th team when they take the field in March. The first home game will be played at Lincoln Financial Field, as the 18,500-seat Chester stadium will not be finished in time for the April opener, team officials said earlier.

[EPJr]

Philadelphia Union earned a 5-0 victory against ACC powerhouse University of North Carolina in the club's first exhibition match on Saturday night. Here's a photo gallery from the expansion side's successful debut in Greensboro, NC.

http://philadelphiaunion.com/Content1.aspx?cid=2.1

[EPJr]

MLS releases details of Montreal expansion draft
Impact will select 10 players during draft on November 23


Head coach Jesse Marsch and the 2012 expansion Montreal Impact have signed two players to date: defender Nelson Rivas and midfielder Hassoun Camara. On Wednesday, they learned when they'll be able to get some teammates, as MLS announced the date and details of the 2012 MLS Expansion Draft.

The draft will take place on Wednesday, November 23, beginning at 2 pm ET.

As in past years, the expansion draft will last 10 rounds, meaning the Impact will select 10 players.

Current MLS clubs will be allowed to protect 11 players from their 2011 roster, though there are several categories of players who have special status. Generation adidas players and Homegrown Players on the team’s Off-budget Roster are automatically protected, without counting as one of the team’s 11 protected spots.

Designated Players do not have to be protected unless the player’s contract includes a no-trade clause.

Clubs must submit their protected roster to MLS on Monday, November 21.

Click here for complete 2012 MLS Expansion Draft rules.


http://pressbox.mlssoccer.com/content/2 ... raft-rules