2010: Preview

The preseason is out of the way, and we're ready begin 2010 and try to retain the MLS Cup. We did make quite a few changes to the squad for the upcoming season, and we also won the Pan-Pacific Championship.

Here is a look at the 2010 roster:
-----Goleiros
Chris Seitz (USA)
Mark Birighitti (AUS)

-----Zagueiros
Chad Marshall (USA)
Bobby Boswell (USA)
Lucas Galdino (BRA)
Gale Agbossoumonde (USA)

-----Laterais
Marvell Wynne (USA)
Heath Pearce (USA)
Danny O'Rourke (USA)
Adrián Peralta (ARG)
Robert Osorio (USA)

-----Volantes
Sebastián Nayar (ARG)
Danny Szetela (USA)
Sam Cronin (USA)

-----Meias
Justin Mapp (USA)
Michael Adenyinka (NGA)
Feham Bouazza (ALG)
Carlos Torres (USA)
Pete Krause (USA)

-----Atacante
Ciro (BRA)
Brian Klinger (USA)
Peri Marosevic (USA)
Carl Perez (USA)
Israel Sesay (USA)

We also have some players out on loan:
Goleiro - Carlos Balderas (USA) - Philadelphia Academy
Lateral - Bryan Medina (USA) - Minnesota
Zagueiro - Phil Wheeldon (CAN) - Minnesota
Meia - Youness Mokhtar (NED) - Minnesota
Meia/Atacante - Juan Carlos Mercado (USA) - Philadelphia Academy
Atacante - Carlos Richards (USA) - Minnesota

Transfers In
We added several players in the offseason. We drafted Wheeldon and a winger named Daniel Harrison. We immediately traded Harrison to FC Dallas for Klinger. We also traded for Torres (FC Dallas) and Carl Perez. Mokhtar was purchased from PSV (NED), Galdino from Flamingo (BRA), and Agbossoumonde from Miami FC. Sesay and Peralta were acquired via the Waiver Draft. We also have purchased a Tunisia volante, Fethi Trabelsi, from Etoile du Sahel in Tunisia who will join the club in April.

New Affiliate:

We have also linked up with USL-1 outfit Minnesota Thunder. This will give us a nice place to send players on loan to develop. We will now focus on getting affiliates overseas to expand the influence of the Philadelphia Union brand.