Last year around this time, when the Union lined up Celtic FC and Manchester United a week apart, the break from the MLS regular season seemed a welcome one. Philadelphia was sputtering in the middle of its inaugural campaign, the baby steps they had been making beginning to take their physical and emotional toll. Now, however, as Philadelphia prepares to take a week off and host world-renowned opponents Everton FC and Real Madrid in a span of just 4 days, they put on the back burner a highly successful first half of the season.
With their convincing road win against New England on Sunday, the Union find themselves 3 points clear at the top of the table in the Eastern Conference, ahead of the Columbus Crew as well as the Red Bulls, who have played 2 more games than Philadelphia.
The task at hand, however, is upon Philadelphia. Over the last few years, the MLS has risen to the challenge of taking on the world’s best and taken representing the league in these friendlies as a matter of pride. No less than Sir Alex Ferguson told ESPN the Magazine: “MLS is developing into a far more competitive league. The games are more difficult.” Ferguson should know, as his Manchester United squad was on the receiving end of a 2-1 Kansas City win last year after squeaking by the Union 1-0.
In Everton, the Union will get a fair test of how far they’ve come. In a midweek match at PPL Park, the team will be able to ease into the pomp and circumstance, not to mention the away-match feel, that will accompany the galácticos of Real Madrid at Lincoln Financial Field on Saturday.
With the organization of the Herbalife World Football Challenge, the European teams have been incentivized to bring their A teams as well as their A games to the United States. All of the stars of Everton, including Tim Howard, Tim Cahill, Phil Neville & Mikel Arteta, are expected to see significant action tomorrow night at PPL Park. (EDIT: Howard is not with the club and will not be playing tomorrow; see below for update.)
Everton will have an open practice today at PPL Park from 4-5 pm. Season ticket holders are invited to attend. Park in Lot B at no cost and enter the stadium through the PPL EnergyPlus Gate, which opens at 3:00 p.m. Check back for updates later today & feel free to post your match predictions in the comments!
UPDATES:
Following a press conference with Manager David Moyes, defender and Captain Phil Neville, and midfielder Mikel Arteta, it was divulged that Tim Howard was not with the team presently. He was given a “rest & recuperation period” following the Gold Cup and prior to the start of the English Premier League season in 3 weeks. It is not likely that Howard will be in attendance tomorrow night and it does not sound as though he will play in DC, either. He is scheduled to join the club and accompany them back to England at the end of the week.
Other notes from the press conference:
- David Moyes, expanding on the European opinion of the MLS’ improvement when asked whether the average European fan would give the MLS credit that the managers and players do: “No, I don’t think they would. But we’re [the players and managers] are the people in the know, aren’t we? Your national team has been doing well these past few years. We see your stadiums full, your fanbase growing. Thousands of American children play soccer. Because all of the other sports you’ve got over here, they’re for freaks: you’ve got to be 6’5, 6’7 to play basketball, you’ve got to weigh 18 stone [which converts to 252 pounds] and solid as a rock to play American football. Soccer is something which everybody can play. If you’re talented and gifted, you can play soccer.”
- David Moyes on playing in the United States and in Philadelphia, in particular: “We’ve been in the States several years and we’ve really enjoyed it. It gives us the freedom to train. We’ve actually been training at the Eagles’ facility and it’s fantastic. They’ve been very accommodating to have us in at this time. So, we look forward to it; we’ve played in several cities in the U.S., but never before in Philadelphia. I haven’t had the chance yet to have a look at [PPL Park], but I’m told that it’s one of the really good new stadiums.”
- Phil Neville, on the benefits of playing a team that is in the middle of their season: “The last couple of years we’ve come here, playing Real Salt Lake, playing the MLS All-Stars, they have been a bit ahead of us in terms of their fitness. It’s a good test for us. We played a League One team [English 3rd Division, Bury F.C.] and it was quite an easy game for us. We know this week, with the MLS in the middle of its season, are going to be real tough games. I’ve seen a lot of Washington and a lot of Philadelphia and I know that both teams are very fit. It’s a test that we need at this stage. We’ve done a lot of fitness work, and it’s time to get tested in match situations.”
- David Moyes, on how the MLS teams might see these friendlies during their midseason: “It’s different for the Union, they’re in the middle of their season. Maybe they’re thinking ‘hey, maybe we don’t want all these games just now’, I don’t know how they see it. But I’m sure their players will be keen to do well against the well-known European teams.”
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