Terms are settled between the clubs and the rest is paperwork and a photograph. Around Philadelphia Union they have already started talking about him in the past tense.
Another week, another link, another denial nobody quite believes. Philadelphia Union know the market decides these things, not the back pages — but the back pages are louder.
The fee is $970.0K, the contract is signed, and the argument about whether he is worth it can begin. St. Louis CITY SC drove a hard bargain; time will say who won it.
Terms are settled between the clubs and the rest is paperwork and a photograph. Around Philadelphia Union they have already started talking about him in the past tense.
Another week, another link, another denial nobody quite believes. Philadelphia Union know the market decides these things, not the back pages — but the back pages are louder.
Some afternoons a goalkeeper is the team. 7 saves, several of them the sort nobody expects to see stopped, and a scoreline that flatters everybody in front of him.
“I did not go to Orlando City to sit and watch. I want to come back to Philadelphia Union and fight for my place.” 0 appearances in 14 matches say the rest.
The captaincy has been taken off Agustín Anello. Philadelphia Union will call it a decision about the team; a dressing room reads it as a verdict on a man.
Another week, another link, another denial nobody quite believes. Philadelphia Union know the market decides these things, not the back pages — but the back pages are louder.
Terms are settled between the clubs and the rest is paperwork and a photograph. Around Philadelphia Union they have already started talking about him in the past tense.
6 matches now without a victory, and the excuses have worn thinner than the patience. Somebody at Philadelphia Union has to find a result from somewhere.
Terms are settled between the clubs and the rest is paperwork and a photograph. Around Philadelphia Union they have already started talking about him in the past tense.
“The easiest signature of my career.” Nathan Ordaz and Philadelphia Union agree another 3 years, and the manager can plan around him rather than about him.
5 matches now without a victory, and the excuses have worn thinner than the patience. Somebody at Philadelphia Union has to find a result from somewhere.
“I did not go to Orlando City to sit and watch. I want to come back to Philadelphia Union and fight for my place.” 0 appearances in 10 matches say the rest.
4 matches now without a victory, and the excuses have worn thinner than the patience. Somebody at Philadelphia Union has to find a result from somewhere.
“The easiest signature of my career.” Philippe Ndinga and Philadelphia Union agree another 5 years, and the manager can plan around him rather than about him.
Another week, another link, another denial nobody quite believes. Philadelphia Union know the market decides these things, not the back pages — but the back pages are louder.
It is a strip of cloth and it decides nothing on a Saturday. It still tells the dressing room exactly whose opinion the manager values, which is the whole point of it.
Terms are settled between the clubs and the rest is paperwork and a photograph. Around Philadelphia Union they have already started talking about him in the past tense.
Public backing, and the sort that costs a manager something if it turns out to be wrong. Japhet Sery Larsen has been told in front of everybody that the shirt is his.
Terms are settled between the clubs and the rest is paperwork and a photograph. Around Philadelphia Union they have already started talking about him in the past tense.
A defender's mistake gets tidied up by somebody else; a goalkeeper's ends up in the net. He knew before the ball crossed the line, and so did everybody in the ground.
He is the name in every column and on every phone-in, which is a heavy thing to carry at any age. Some footballers thrive on it; others are quietly finished by it.
“It had gone on long enough. I would rather have it out than leave it sitting there.” Ten minutes behind a closed door at Philadelphia Union, and both men came out saying it was fine.
“The easiest signature of my career.” Andre Blake and Philadelphia Union agree another 2 years, and the manager can plan around him rather than about him.
“I did not go to Orlando City to sit and watch. I want to come back to Philadelphia Union and fight for my place.” 0 appearances in 5 matches say the rest.
He wheeled away like a man who had been carrying it for months, because he had. Philadelphia Union have their signing off the mark and one press-conference question retired.
Terms are settled between the clubs and the rest is paperwork and a photograph. Around Philadelphia Union they have already started talking about him in the past tense.
Philadelphia Union spent the window trying to move John McCarthy on and nobody came. He trains with a squad that has already told him he is not part of it, and both sides now wait for the next one.
Terms are settled between the clubs and the rest is paperwork and a photograph. Around Philadelphia Union they have already started talking about him in the past tense.
Another week, another link, another denial nobody quite believes. Philadelphia Union know the market decides these things, not the back pages — but the back pages are louder.
Philadelphia Union spent a month trying to move him and nobody rang back. He trains with a squad that has told him where he stands, and both sides start counting down to the next one.
“It had gone on long enough. I would rather have it out than leave it sitting there.” Ten minutes behind a closed door at Philadelphia Union, and both men came out saying it was fine.
A shoot-out is remembered by its ending, and this one ends with George Marks: 3 kept out, and a set of supporters who will describe every one of them for the next twenty years.
The name of Frankie Westfield has come up in conversations Philadelphia Union were not part of. Nothing formal, nothing signed — but nothing about it accidental either.
Terms are settled between the clubs and the rest is paperwork and a photograph. Around Philadelphia Union they have already started talking about him in the past tense.
The captaincy has been taken off Indiana Vassilev. Philadelphia Union will call it a decision about the team; a dressing room reads it as a verdict on a man.
He wheeled away like a man who had been carrying it for months, because he had. Philadelphia Union have their signing off the mark and one press-conference question retired.
Another week, another link, another denial nobody quite believes. Philadelphia Union know the market decides these things, not the back pages — but the back pages are louder.
“It had gone on long enough. I would rather have it out than leave it sitting there.” Ten minutes behind a closed door at Philadelphia Union, and both men came out saying it was fine.
The fee is $3.5M, the contract is signed, and the argument about whether he is worth it can begin. Ural drove a hard bargain; time will say who won it.
“The easiest signature of my career.” Walker Zardes and Philadelphia Union agree another 4 years, and the manager can plan around him rather than about him.
Every touch is being weighed now, in print and everywhere else. Some players grow into that and some are quietly ruined by it, and nobody knows which in advance.
He wheeled away like a man who had been carrying it for months, because he had. Philadelphia Union have their signing off the mark and one press-conference question retired.
He wheeled away like a man who had been carrying it for months, because he had. Philadelphia Union have their signing off the mark and one press-conference question retired.
Another week, another link, another denial nobody quite believes. Philadelphia Union know the market decides these things, not the back pages — but the back pages are louder.
“I have nothing bad to say about this place. I just need to be somewhere else.” It is in writing now, which changes what Philadelphia Union can pretend not to have heard.
5 matches now without a victory, and the excuses have worn thinner than the patience. Somebody at Philadelphia Union has to find a result from somewhere.
“The easiest signature of my career.” Léo Borges and Philadelphia Union agree another 4 years, and the manager can plan around him rather than about him.
The shirt still fits. Ian Ortega is back at Philadelphia Union, and half the ground remembers him in these colours already. Some signings need selling to the town; this one sold itself.
The shirt still fits. Christian Musah is back at Philadelphia Union, and half the ground remembers him in these colours already. Some signings need selling to the town; this one sold itself.
The shirt still fits. Sean Wright is back at Philadelphia Union, and half the ground remembers him in these colours already. Some signings need selling to the town; this one sold itself.
Another week, another link, another denial nobody quite believes. Philadelphia Union know the market decides these things, not the back pages — but the back pages are louder.
“It had gone on long enough. I would rather have it out than leave it sitting there.” Ten minutes behind a closed door at Philadelphia Union, and both men came out saying it was fine.
The competition arrived without a word said to him about it. Indiana Vassilev keeps the shirt for now, at Philadelphia Union's convenience rather than his own.
Public backing, and the sort that costs a manager something if it turns out to be wrong. Agustín Anello has been told in front of everybody that the shirt is his.
The board have said in public what they had been saying in private. Results between now and the next meeting decide it, and everybody in the building knows the arithmetic.
Everything was agreed until it was not, and Ezekiel Kwame Alladoh reports back to Philadelphia Union with a summer to forget. Neither club is saying who walked away from the table.
“The easiest signature of my career.” Andrew Rick and Philadelphia Union agree another 4 years, and the manager can plan around him rather than about him.
6 months left and silence from upstairs — no offer, no talks, nothing for his people to answer. Clubs that let a calendar do their negotiating usually end up negotiating with the calendar.
Another week, another link, another denial nobody quite believes. Philadelphia Union know the market decides these things, not the back pages — but the back pages are louder.
Another week, another link, another denial nobody quite believes. Philadelphia Union know the market decides these things, not the back pages — but the back pages are louder.
Another week, another link, another denial nobody quite believes. Philadelphia Union know the market decides these things, not the back pages — but the back pages are louder.
“I have nothing bad to say about this place. I just need to be somewhere else.” It is in writing now, which changes what Philadelphia Union can pretend not to have heard.
Another week, another link, another denial nobody quite believes. Philadelphia Union know the market decides these things, not the back pages — but the back pages are louder.
The club looked outside for a month, found nothing it preferred, and handed the job to the man who had been doing it anyway. He knows the building; now he has to prove he knows the rest.
42 days with the chair empty, a list of names that grows and shrinks by the day, and not one signature on anything. Every week that passes takes the best candidates off it.
“The easiest signature of my career.” Alejandro Bedoya and Philadelphia Union agree another 2 years, and the manager can plan around him rather than about him.
“I have nothing bad to say about this place. I just need to be somewhere else.” It is in writing now, which changes what Philadelphia Union can pretend not to have heard.
“It had gone on long enough. I would rather have it out than leave it sitting there.” Ten minutes behind a closed door at Philadelphia Union, and both men came out saying it was fine.
Public backing, and the sort that costs a manager something if it turns out to be wrong. Nathan Harriel has been told in front of everybody that the shirt is his.
Public backing, and the sort that costs a manager something if it turns out to be wrong. Quinn Sullivan has been told in front of everybody that the shirt is his.
“Somebody has to pick the team on Saturday, and this week that is me.” An interim appointment with no promises attached, which is how most of them start.
“It had gone on long enough. I would rather have it out than leave it sitting there.” Ten minutes behind a closed door at Philadelphia Union, and both men came out saying it was fine.
“I have nothing bad to say about this place. I just need to be somewhere else.” It is in writing now, which changes what Philadelphia Union can pretend not to have heard.
“Things were said to me before I signed. I am not going to repeat them, but I remember all of them.” Philadelphia Union have not answered, which is an answer of sorts.
“I did not go to Dinamo Tbilisi to sit and watch. I want to come back to Philadelphia Union and fight for my place.” 2 appearances in 6 matches say the rest.
“It had gone on long enough. I would rather have it out than leave it sitting there.” Ten minutes behind a closed door at Philadelphia Union, and both men came out saying it was fine.
Another week, another link, another denial nobody quite believes. Philadelphia Union know the market decides these things, not the back pages — but the back pages are louder.
He is 20, and nobody at Philadelphia Union signed him for this season. Deals like this are judged in four years, by people who may not still be in the building.
“The easiest signature of my career.” Andre Blake and Philadelphia Union agree another 2 years, and the manager can plan around him rather than about him.
“The easiest signature of my career.” Ezekiel Kwame Alladoh and Philadelphia Union agree another 5 years, and the manager can plan around him rather than about him.
He found out with everybody else, an hour before kick-off, from a sheet of paper on a wall. Nobody at Philadelphia Union pretended it was anything other than a decision about him.
A player who expected to start watched it instead. The manager will call it a decision for the team; Léo Borges will call it something else in private.
“I am grateful for the games, but I did not become a footballer to be somebody else's spare part.” He wants to be at Philadelphia Union, and 0 appearances in 33 say he has earned the hearing.
Everything was agreed until it was not, and Frankie Westfield reports back to Philadelphia Union with a summer to forget. Neither club is saying who walked away from the table.
At 28 he has made the position his own, and the man he took it from has to find something to say about it. Philadelphia Union have a decision that made itself.
The competition arrived without a word said to him about it. Facundo Pereyra keeps the shirt for now, at Philadelphia Union's convenience rather than his own.
What was said behind closed doors has now been said in front of a microphone. Everybody at Philadelphia Union can do the arithmetic, including the man it is aimed at.
A window away with the national side, and a shirt at Philadelphia Union that briefly doubles as an advertisement. A call-up flatters the player and the club that built him in the same breath.
“It had gone on long enough. I would rather have it out than leave it sitting there.” Ten minutes behind a closed door at Philadelphia Union, and both men came out saying it was fine.
DC United will want this one forgotten quickly: 3-0, every duel lost, and a long ride home. Philadelphia Union were ruthless in the way good sides are ruthless.
“I am grateful for the games, but I did not become a footballer to be somebody else's spare part.” He wants to be at Philadelphia Union, and 0 appearances in 29 say he has earned the hearing.
A player who expected to start watched it instead. The manager will call it a decision for the team; Facundo Pereyra will call it something else in private.
A new face in his position, and Milan Iloski suddenly has to win back what he thought he owned. Philadelphia Union have promised nothing — clubs rarely do at this stage.
“The easiest signature of my career.” Alejandro Bedoya and Philadelphia Union agree another 1 years, and the manager can plan around him rather than about him.
The fee is $1.9M, the contract is signed, and the argument about whether he is worth it can begin. Minnesota United FC drove a hard bargain; time will say who won it.
Every touch is being weighed now, in print and everywhere else. Some players grow into that and some are quietly ruined by it, and nobody knows which in advance.
A new face in his position, and Milan Iloski suddenly has to win back what he thought he owned. Philadelphia Union have promised nothing — clubs rarely do at this stage.
“I am grateful for the games, but I did not become a footballer to be somebody else's spare part.” He wants to be at Philadelphia Union, and 0 appearances in 25 say he has earned the hearing.
The list is a quiet document with a loud meaning. Olwethu Makhanya may talk to anybody who asks, and everybody at the club understands what that means.
Another week, another link, another denial nobody quite believes. Philadelphia Union know the market decides these things, not the back pages — but the back pages are louder.
He is the name in every column and on every phone-in, which is a heavy thing to carry at any age. Some footballers thrive on it; others are quietly finished by it.
“I was told straight, and I would rather have it straight.” The manager at Philadelphia Union has been clear about where Olwethu Makhanya stands, which is more than many ever get.
Asked to play a role that is not his, or taken off before the hour once too often — Ben Bender has let it be known that he does not like the way Philadelphia Union are using him. Managers hear this long before the press does.
3 wins on the spin now, and the question has changed from whether the run ends to who ends it. Confidence like this cannot be bought; it has to be earned exactly this way.
A 1-0 win over New England Revolution, earned rather than given, and the sort of afternoon that sends everyone home talking about next week instead of this one.
“I am grateful for the games, but I did not become a footballer to be somebody else's spare part.” He wants to be at Philadelphia Union, and 0 appearances in 21 say he has earned the hearing.
“It had gone on long enough. I would rather have it out than leave it sitting there.” Ten minutes behind a closed door at Philadelphia Union, and both men came out saying it was fine.
Another week, another link, another denial nobody quite believes. Philadelphia Union know the market decides these things, not the back pages — but the back pages are louder.
The competition arrived without a word said to him about it. Jesús Bueno keeps the shirt for now, at Philadelphia Union's convenience rather than his own.
“The easiest signature of my career.” Philippe Ndinga and Philadelphia Union agree another 4 years, and the manager can plan around him rather than about him.
“I have nothing bad to say about this place. I just need to be somewhere else.” It is in writing now, which changes what Philadelphia Union can pretend not to have heard.
“I am grateful for the games, but I did not become a footballer to be somebody else's spare part.” He wants to be at Philadelphia Union, and 0 appearances in 17 say he has earned the hearing.
Another week, another link, another denial nobody quite believes. Philadelphia Union know the market decides these things, not the back pages — but the back pages are louder.
He is the name in every column and on every phone-in, which is a heavy thing to carry at any age. Some footballers thrive on it; others are quietly finished by it.
Some afternoons a goalkeeper is the team. 8 saves, several of them the sort nobody expects to see stopped, and a scoreline that flatters everybody in front of him.
“Things were said to me before I signed. I am not going to repeat them, but I remember all of them.” Philadelphia Union have not answered, which is an answer of sorts.
A 1-0 win over Inter Miami CF, earned rather than given, and the sort of afternoon that sends everyone home talking about next week instead of this one.
“It had gone on long enough. I would rather have it out than leave it sitting there.” Ten minutes behind a closed door at Philadelphia Union, and both men came out saying it was fine.
“It had gone on long enough. I would rather have it out than leave it sitting there.” Ten minutes behind a closed door at Philadelphia Union, and both men came out saying it was fine.
“Things were said to me before I signed. I am not going to repeat them, but I remember all of them.” Philadelphia Union have not answered, which is an answer of sorts.
“The easiest signature of my career.” Eddy Davis and Philadelphia Union agree another 4 years, and the manager can plan around him rather than about him.
“The easiest signature of my career.” Olwethu Makhanya and Philadelphia Union agree another 4 years, and the manager can plan around him rather than about him.
“I am grateful for the games, but I did not become a footballer to be somebody else's spare part.” He wants to be at Philadelphia Union, and 0 appearances in 13 say he has earned the hearing.
Another week, another link, another denial nobody quite believes. Philadelphia Union know the market decides these things, not the back pages — but the back pages are louder.
He is the name in every column and on every phone-in, which is a heavy thing to carry at any age. Some footballers thrive on it; others are quietly finished by it.
A new face in his position, and Agustín Anello suddenly has to win back what he thought he owned. Philadelphia Union have promised nothing — clubs rarely do at this stage.
The best deals are the ones the accountants never notice. Sergio Leiva arrives at Philadelphia Union with his wages the only cost and something to prove the only clause.
The competition arrived without a word said to him about it. Agustín Anello keeps the shirt for now, at Philadelphia Union's convenience rather than his own.
Shifted about, taken off before the hour, asked to do somebody else's running — Facundo Pereyra has had enough of being useful and would like to be picked. Philadelphia Union know, and have known for weeks.
“I have nothing bad to say about this place. I just need to be somewhere else.” It is in writing now, which changes what Philadelphia Union can pretend not to have heard.
“The easiest signature of my career.” Ben Bender and Philadelphia Union agree another 3 years, and the manager can plan around him rather than about him.
“Things were said to me before I signed. I am not going to repeat them, but I remember all of them.” Philadelphia Union have not answered, which is an answer of sorts.
There were 6 saves in it, and at least three that had no business being saves at all. The ten outfield players owe him a drink and they know it.
The terraces5 Apr 2027
The boos come down from three sides
“We pay for this every fortnight. The least we want is somebody who looks like he cares.” 5 of the 24 senior players walked off into it; the rest were not playing.
The shirt still fits. John McCarthy is back at Philadelphia Union, and half the ground remembers him in these colours already. Some signings need selling to the town; this one sold itself.
A 2-0 win over Charlotte Football Club, earned rather than given, and the sort of afternoon that sends everyone home talking about next week instead of this one.
“It had gone on long enough. I would rather have it out than leave it sitting there.” Ten minutes behind a closed door at Philadelphia Union, and both men came out saying it was fine.
He wheeled away like a man who had been carrying it for months, because he had. Philadelphia Union have their signing off the mark and one press-conference question retired.
Another week, another link, another denial nobody quite believes. Philadelphia Union know the market decides these things, not the back pages — but the back pages are louder.
A defender's mistake gets tidied up by somebody else; a goalkeeper's ends up in the net. He knew before the ball crossed the line, and so did everybody in the ground.
Every touch is being weighed now, in print and everywhere else. Some players grow into that and some are quietly ruined by it, and nobody knows which in advance.
“It had gone on long enough. I would rather have it out than leave it sitting there.” Ten minutes behind a closed door at Philadelphia Union, and both men came out saying it was fine.
Some afternoons a goalkeeper is the team. 6 saves, several of them the sort nobody expects to see stopped, and a scoreline that flatters everybody in front of him.
The terraces8 Mar 2027
The boos come down from three sides
“We pay for this every fortnight. The least we want is somebody who looks like he cares.” 5 of the 22 senior players walked off into it; the rest were not playing.
The shirt still fits. Cameron Ferreira is back at Philadelphia Union, and half the ground remembers him in these colours already. Some signings need selling to the town; this one sold itself.
The shirt still fits. George Weah is back at Philadelphia Union, and half the ground remembers him in these colours already. Some signings need selling to the town; this one sold itself.
The shirt still fits. Mark McKennie is back at Philadelphia Union, and half the ground remembers him in these colours already. Some signings need selling to the town; this one sold itself.
Another week, another link, another denial nobody quite believes. Philadelphia Union know the market decides these things, not the back pages — but the back pages are louder.
Public backing, and the sort that costs a manager something if it turns out to be wrong. Nathan Harriel has been told in front of everybody that the shirt is his.
“It had gone on long enough. I would rather have it out than leave it sitting there.” Ten minutes behind a closed door at Philadelphia Union, and both men came out saying it was fine.
“It had gone on long enough. I would rather have it out than leave it sitting there.” Ten minutes behind a closed door at Philadelphia Union, and both men came out saying it was fine.
Public backing, and the sort that costs a manager something if it turns out to be wrong. Ezekiel Kwame Alladoh has been told in front of everybody that the shirt is his.
“It had gone on long enough. I would rather have it out than leave it sitting there.” Ten minutes behind a closed door at Philadelphia Union, and both men came out saying it was fine.
Another week, another link, another denial nobody quite believes. Philadelphia Union know the market decides these things, not the back pages — but the back pages are louder.
Public backing, and the sort that costs a manager something if it turns out to be wrong. Jovan Lukić has been told in front of everybody that the shirt is his.
“It had gone on long enough. I would rather have it out than leave it sitting there.” Ten minutes behind a closed door at Philadelphia Union, and both men came out saying it was fine.
The competition arrived without a word said to him about it. Japhet Sery Larsen keeps the shirt for now, at Philadelphia Union's convenience rather than his own.
Another week, another link, another denial nobody quite believes. Philadelphia Union know the market decides these things, not the back pages — but the back pages are louder.
“I have nothing bad to say about this place. I just need to be somewhere else.” It is in writing now, which changes what Philadelphia Union can pretend not to have heard.
Terms are settled between the clubs and the rest is paperwork and a photograph. Around Philadelphia Union they have already started talking about him in the past tense.
“It had gone on long enough. I would rather have it out than leave it sitting there.” Ten minutes behind a closed door at Philadelphia Union, and both men came out saying it was fine.
Another week, another link, another denial nobody quite believes. Philadelphia Union know the market decides these things, not the back pages — but the back pages are louder.
The message was aimed at the stands as much as the dressing room: Olwethu Makhanya plays, and the argument is closed until the manager decides otherwise.
“The easiest signature of my career.” Frankie Westfield and Philadelphia Union agree another 5 years, and the manager can plan around him rather than about him.
“It had gone on long enough. I would rather have it out than leave it sitting there.” Ten minutes behind a closed door at Philadelphia Union, and both men came out saying it was fine.
“I have nothing bad to say about this place. I just need to be somewhere else.” It is in writing now, which changes what Philadelphia Union can pretend not to have heard.
Terms are settled between the clubs and the rest is paperwork and a photograph. Around Philadelphia Union they have already started talking about him in the past tense.
There is a figure at which a wage bill stops being ambitious and becomes the reason nothing else is possible, and this club has reached it. Nothing is left over for a transfer, a stand or a rainy afternoon.
“Things were said to me before I signed. I am not going to repeat them, but I remember all of them.” Philadelphia Union have not answered, which is an answer of sorts.
Terms are settled between the clubs and the rest is paperwork and a photograph. Around Philadelphia Union they have already started talking about him in the past tense.
“Things were said to me before I signed. I am not going to repeat them, but I remember all of them.” Philadelphia Union have not answered, which is an answer of sorts.
“It had gone on long enough. I would rather have it out than leave it sitting there.” Ten minutes behind a closed door at Philadelphia Union, and both men came out saying it was fine.
“I have nothing bad to say about this place. I just need to be somewhere else.” It is in writing now, which changes what Philadelphia Union can pretend not to have heard.
Terms are settled between the clubs and the rest is paperwork and a photograph. Around Philadelphia Union they have already started talking about him in the past tense.
There is a figure at which a wage bill stops being ambitious and becomes the reason nothing else is possible, and this club has reached it. Nothing is left over for a transfer, a stand or a rainy afternoon.
Terms are settled between the clubs and the rest is paperwork and a photograph. Around Philadelphia Union they have already started talking about him in the past tense.
“The easiest signature of my career.” Olwethu Makhanya and Philadelphia Union agree another 4 years, and the manager can plan around him rather than about him.
“It had gone on long enough. I would rather have it out than leave it sitting there.” Ten minutes behind a closed door at Philadelphia Union, and both men came out saying it was fine.
Terms are settled between the clubs and the rest is paperwork and a photograph. Around Philadelphia Union they have already started talking about him in the past tense.
Every club in football pays most of what it earns to its players. Paying nearly all of it is a different arrangement, and it has ended the same way every time somebody has tried it.
New York Red Bulls will want this one forgotten quickly: 3-0, every duel lost, and a long ride home. Philadelphia Union were ruthless in the way good sides are ruthless.
Terms are settled between the clubs and the rest is paperwork and a photograph. Around Philadelphia Union they have already started talking about him in the past tense.
He wheeled away like a man who had been carrying it for months, because he had. Philadelphia Union have their signing off the mark and one press-conference question retired.
9 matches now without a victory, and the excuses have worn thinner than the patience. Somebody at Philadelphia Union has to find a result from somewhere.
“I have nothing bad to say about this place. I just need to be somewhere else.” It is in writing now, which changes what Philadelphia Union can pretend not to have heard.
“It had gone on long enough. I would rather have it out than leave it sitting there.” Ten minutes behind a closed door at Philadelphia Union, and both men came out saying it was fine.
8 matches now without a victory, and the excuses have worn thinner than the patience. Somebody at Philadelphia Union has to find a result from somewhere.
Another week, another link, another denial nobody quite believes. Philadelphia Union know the market decides these things, not the back pages — but the back pages are louder.
7 matches now without a victory, and the excuses have worn thinner than the patience. Somebody at Philadelphia Union has to find a result from somewhere.
Terms are settled between the clubs and the rest is paperwork and a photograph. Around Philadelphia Union they have already started talking about him in the past tense.
There is a figure at which a wage bill stops being ambitious and becomes the reason nothing else is possible, and this club has reached it. Nothing is left over for a transfer, a stand or a rainy afternoon.
The captaincy has been taken off Milan Iloski. Philadelphia Union will call it a decision about the team; a dressing room reads it as a verdict on a man.
Terms are settled between the clubs and the rest is paperwork and a photograph. Around Philadelphia Union they have already started talking about him in the past tense.