Saturday Afternoon Union Freekicks: Historical Comparisons, Qatar, USMNT

Good day to you all.  We are less than a week away from the MLS SuperDraft and it is 3rd round FA Cup weekend overseas. 

If you are reading us from somewhere in the Philadelphia region, enjoy yet another snow day.  If you are a Union fan living elsewhere in the country, do not envy the fact that we all need to shovel snow now for the 3rd time in a two week period.  As a college student who lives in an apartment during the semesters and at home during the breaks, this angers me greatly. 

Talk about soccer, talk about snow, talk about whatever.  Join in the daily discussion!

Akron's Nagbe wins Hermann Trophy [MLSSoccer.com] – Congrats to the young Akron striker.  Darlington Nagbe is expected to be one of the top players in this year's draft.

Qatar open Asian Cup with Loss to Uzbekistan [Brooks Peck, Dirty Tackle] – Ladies and gentlemen, your 2022 FIFA World Cup host nation!

Blatter expects winter World Cup [ESPNsoccernet] – Yeah because this will not interfere with most of the soccer world's club schedule or anything

Historical Comparison of Second Year MLS Clubs [Kevin Kinkead, PhiladelphiaUnion.com] – If history is any indication, the Philadelphia Union are going to be a much improved side in their 2nd year.  Although I fear what may become of their hair….

Carlo Ancelotti Laughs Off Chelsea Fan Protest Outside Cobham [Graham, We Ain't Got No History] – It's doofuses like this that give Chelsea fans a bad name.

Manchester United: Team of the Decade (2000-2010) [Tui11BRoy3, The Busby Babe] – I post this as a self-inflicted punishment for guessing Scott's 1st round SB Nation mock SuperDraft pick wrong.  And the author writes a nice piece.  The topic of the content, on the other hand, had me taking a spoon and gagging myself with it.

Steve Sidwell Leaves Aston Villa For Fulham (Or, Ding Dong The Ginger's Gone) [Kirsten Schlewitz, 7500 To Holte] – Our friends at 7500 To Holte are celebrating like they just won the EPL.

2011 For The US National Teams [sidereal, Sounder At Heart] – The schedule for the USMNT in 2011.

Watch the MLS SuperDraft Combine Games Live Today [Geoff Gibson, Stumptown Footy] – For those that do not follow college soccer, here is your chance to see some of the players who will be taken in this year's SuperDraft.