PREVIEW: Minnesota United v Swans (from the club site) . . . action from the final game of America tour "I've got the response from them that I have wanted. Their attitudes have been excellent, and now I want them to finish off the tour in the right way." Garry Monk Garry Monk is looking for his Swans side to sign off their tour of America on a positive note when they face Minnesota United today (Saturday, 7pm local time). The Swans take on the NASL side at the National Sports Center Stadium looking to build on the midweek draw with Mexican side Chivas Guadalajara, which was the first game of the tour. Monk's side will fly home on Sunday after spending two weeks in three different locations, with the trip providing a number of benefits. And the Swans boss wants to see a positive finish from his squad. "As a club we have taken a lot of positives from this tour," said Monk. "We spent a week in Chicago and then moved up to Milwaukee to prepare further for the Chivas game. "The players have worked - very hard. They have bonded further with the new players and young lads on the trip, and we gained a lot from the game against Chivas on Wednesday. "The players now need to get more minutes under their belts and this game will help them do that on top of improving match sharpness. "I have got the response from them that I have wanted. Their attitudes have been excellent, and now I want them to finish off the tour in the right way." Minnesota currently play in the North American Soccer League, with ambitions of being part of the MLS set up. Managed by Manny Lagos, a former American international, Minnesota are currently top of their league. Having finished top of the Spring Season, they have made a fine start to the Fall Season with two wins from as many games. Around 8,000 expected at the game, which will see the Swans become the first Premier League side to play in Minnesota. And Lagos is looking forward to seeing how his side fares against the Swans. "It a great continuation of a special summer of international soccer," "Whether the games were on TV and now live here in Minnesota, it's a significant development for Minnesota soccer for us to be bringing in a team that is in the Premier League - the best league in the world. "It's special for us to welcome Swansea City here, the first time a Premier League will ever play in Minnesota. It's a great segue from what the World Cup presented globally into the local game here in Minnesota." - Manny Lagos The Swans are expected to give the majority of players at least 45 minutes game-time, though Monk will be without the injured Jay Fulton and Ashley Williams, who is back home due to a family matter. And Monk expects it to be a good test for his side as they finish off their tour. "This is an opportunity for the players to continue building towards where we want to be come the first game of the season," added Monk. "Minnesota are an ambitious club and are pushing towards being involved in the MLS, which would be great for them and the area. "So this will be another good test for us. We are the first Premier League club to be playing in Minnesota, so it's a big incentive for them to beat us. "That means it will be a really competitive game, which is great for both teams. "Our game with Chivas helped us measure where we are in terms of fitness and sharpness, and this friendly with Minnesota is another opportunity to push on further in those areas. "Our training sessions have also been demanding, but what the players have shown me is that they are ready to work hard. That is important. "With the way we play we need to match teams physically and be at our peak fitness, whether that's when we have the ball or not." THE NORTH AMERICAN SOCCER LEAGUE The 2014 North American Soccer League is made up of 10 teams: Minnesota United, Tampa Bay Rowdies, Fort Lauderdale Strikers, New York Cosmos, Atlanta Silverbacks, Carolina RailHawks, Ottawa Fury, FC Edmonton, San Antonio Scorpions and Indy 11. NASL is a split season format â broken into the Spring Season and the Fall Season This year the Spring Season was only nine games due to the league taking a break for the World Cup. The Fall Season is 18 games. This year, the NASL has a new post-season format: The winner of the Spring (Minnesota United) automatically qualifies for the post-season and will host their semi-final game. The winner of the Fall will also host their semi-final match. The next two best combined records (Spring + Fall) will fill in the final two post-season teams. If Minnesota win the Fall Season, it will be the next three teams with the best overall records (Spring + Fall). Read more at http://www.swanseacity.net/news/article/usa-minnesota-preview-1769133.aspx#GLyZODM7dQ7Oue42.99
Minnesota United FC: Who We Are Minnesota United FC represents the next era of professional soccer in the land of 10,000 lakes. We are proud of who and what has come before us—from the raucous party that was the Kicks to the recent 2014 NASL Spring Championship. Minnesota United FC represents the next era of professional soccer in the land of 10,000 lakes. We are proud of who and what has come before us—from the raucous party that was the Kicks to the recent 2014 NASL Spring Championship. Now we are excited for what the future holds. We seek to help the world’s game grow in the Twin Cities through strong play on the field and constant giveback off it. We are fully committed to making professional soccer an accessible source of pride for people from all walks of life in Minnesota and the Twin Cities. With an average ticket price comparable to the cost of a movie, Minnesota United FC provides an opportunity to unite around the world’s beautiful game and unite our community. With involvement in initiatives supporting children and adults throughout the state, we seek to pour as much heart and soul into our off-field efforts as we do to our pursuit of championships. We are industrious and built around the idea that hard work yields the greatest rewards. We are strong and getting stronger. We are United. NASL Soccer The original North American Soccer League lasted from 1968 to 1984. In that period of time, high level soccer was brought to North America by world class superstar players, including Pele, Johan Cruyff, Franz Beckenhauer, George Best, and Bobby Moore, among others. The league started a second chapter in 2011 with an eight-team league featuring teams from the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico. United FC enjoyed a magical run to the League championship game, the Soccer Bowl, where it defeated the Fort Lauderdale Strikers across to claim the reborn league’s inaugural championship. Following the 2011 season, NASL founders the Montreal Impact stepped up a division, joining Major League Soccer as its 19th club. The San Antonio Scorpions took Montreal’s place in the NASL, bringing a passionate new fan base into the NASL family. In 2014 two additional clubs join the NASL in Indianapolis and Ottawa. Minnesota Soccer The NASL brought the Kicks to Minnesota and professional soccer has been a part of the sports landscape in the land of 10,000 lakes ever since. The Minnesota Thunder followed in 1994 and had a great run of success that included sending several players on to the U.S. National Team and other professional teams. After the Thunder dismantled in 2009, the Stars began play in 2010 as the NSC Minnesota Stars, a team owned and operated by the National Sports Center in Blaine. In 2011, the team changed hands, becoming a league-owned franchise, winning the 2011 NASL crown in the first season of the re-launched league. On January 9, 2013, the NSC Minnesota Stars unveiled a new crest and announced a change in name, as the team became known as Minnesota United FC.
Monk's Squad (for Prem) and the US tour. 1) Michel Vorm (GK....30-31yrs old) - Not on US Tour 2) Angel Rangel (RB....31-32yrs old) 3) Neil Taylor (LB....25-26yrs old) 4) Chico Flores (CB....27-28yrs old) 5) Ashley Williams (CB....30-31yrs old) - Left the tour early 6) Leon Britton (DM....31-32yrs old) 7) Nathan Dyer (RW....26-27yrs old) 8) Jonjo Shelvey (CM/AM....22-23yrs old) 9) Wilfried Bony (ST....25-26yrs old) - Not on US tour 10) Bafetimbi Gomis (ST....29-30yrs old) - Joined Tour late 11) Wayne Routledge (LW, RW, AM....29-30yrs old) 12) Dwight Tiendalli (RB/LB....28-29yrs old) 13) Stephen Kingsley (LB....20-21yrs old) 14) Jordi Amat (CB....22-23yrs old) 15) Kyle Bartley (CB....23-24yrs old) 16) Jazz Richards (RB, LB, DM....23-24yrs old) 17) Gerhard Tremmel (GK....35-36yrs old) 18) Jay Fulton (CM....20-21yrs old) - Injured until September/October 19) Marvin Emnes (ST/AM/WG....26-27yrs old) 20) Ki Seung-Yeung (CM/AM....25-26yrs old) - Not on US tour 21) Łukasz Fabiański (GK....29-30yrs old)
If Canas and Pozuello (if he is 21 or over) are still on our books when the 25 man Prem squad is submitted, then they will both be in the squad. A club has to name all seniors on its books up to 25 to fill a squad. U-21 do not count to the 25. This by the way would include Tate, Cornell, Obeng etc.
Yeah, shouldn't worry. We've got 3 weeks to shake off the holiday blues before the tough games start!
I hoping for lots of sales , that dont flatter the buying teams , and building a tight , cheap squad thar keeps us close to survival . Let everyone else panic buy while we hunt gems that will grow in value .
The most concerning thing here despite the pathetic result. Is that we dont appear to have hardly had a shot on target. Yes I know it is pre season, but come on guys.
Pathetic. But then again we lost to Neath just before our first season in the Prem. Another game I wish I hadn't gone to watch.
Have a look how piss poor the defending was for both goals. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pe7A0aJuFn0
