Posted: Sunday, February 20, 2011, 8:35 PM | 15 comments |
 
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The Union are expected to introduce Carlos Ruiz as their newest signing this week. (Jack Dempsey/AP file photo)

The Philadelphia Union will announce this week that they have signed Guatemalan striker Carlos Ruiz, a source with direct knowledge of the deal told me this evening.

I've been told that Ruiz has been training with the Union, although I was not told exactly when that started. The Union left their preseason training camp in Orlando this morning, having been there since February 1.

The club will be in Philadelphia until Wednesday, when they will leave for Greece. That trip will last until March 10, and will include two exhibition matches.

I was told to expect an official announcement of the Ruiz deal tomorrow or Tuesday. I was not given any details about whether there will be a formal introduction, the way there was for Faryd Mondragón and Carlos Valdés.

The Union have been extremely tight-lipped about the trialists they have had in during their various preseason training camps so far, and they have never commented about players not signed to contracts.

We know that the club played an exhibition game against Orlando City yesterday at the Citrus Bowl (and lost 1-0), but we don't know who was on the field. Neither the Union's official recap nor Orlando City's official recap listed starting lineups.

From reading those stories and Orlando City's live match commentary, we know tha the following players appeared: Mondragón, Zac MacMath, Valdés (who was sent off in the 17th minute), Michael Orozco Fiscal (who was booked in the 36th minute), Danny Califf, Kyle Nakazawa, Brian Carroll (as pointed out by you all in the comments), Amobi Okugo, Justin Mapp, Sebastien Le Toux, Danny Mwanga and Jack McInerney.

To save you the counting, that's 12 total names, including two goalkeepers. It's a pretty safe bet that not all 10 outfield players played all 90 minutes.

The Orlando City website had a live match commentary during the game. At one point in the second half, the author wrote: "I believe mostly trialists are on the field right now for Philadelphia." But he did not provide any further details.

Before you ask, since I have been asked a few times: I wasn't in Orlando for any part of the Union's camp. I've been covering college basketball, including a trip to New England this weekend. It's not very easy to be in Rhode Island and Florida at the same time.

But if Ruiz is introduced this week, there will be plenty of coverage here on the blog.

Posted by Jonathan Tannenwald @ 8:35 PM  Permalink | File Under: Philadelphia Union | 15 comments
15
Comments   
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 9:27 PM, 02/20/2011
    It's Brian Carroll. He's wearing #7 with Union, and you can make out a bit of the top of the number on his shorts.
    HazmatCorntail
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 9:29 PM, 02/20/2011
    Standing in the wall? That is Brian Carroll.
    Dwall
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 9:30 PM, 02/20/2011
    Chooch 2?
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 9:31 PM, 02/20/2011
    wow 1st if you didn't recognize him as Brian Carroll, you surely don't follow the Union....but on the other hand, i really hope this signing is true. The U desperetely need a third proven striker to go along with mwanga and le toux
    dirksydirk
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 9:51 PM, 02/20/2011
    Thanks. I'll be honest, the haircut threw me off. He used to have much longer hair. I corrected the post.
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 9:52 PM, 02/20/2011
    CHOOOOOOOOOOCHHH!
    AreaMan
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 2:19 AM, 02/21/2011
    chooooooooooooooooooooooooch
    Mike G
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 8:11 AM, 02/21/2011
    Does this mean the Union will now print real, non-generic tickets for fans who have spent thousands of dollars on seasons?
    Earl J
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 6:51 PM, 02/21/2011
    Let me guess...you collect coins and stamps, too, right? Frame your access card at the end of the season, and be glad that money is going to player acquisitions instead of wasted paper.
    Mr Tips
  • Comment removed.
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 2:11 PM, 02/22/2011
    It's been confirmed by the team on union.com, so the bed has been officially made. Knocking on wood and fingers crossed that this works out.
    HazmatCorntail
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 9:00 PM, 02/22/2011
    You want to see what he can do?????

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wc-mzkX71hg

    You want to know if he still can do it???
    ...
    From his last team and a Europa League match:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2-0MZY4lqd0

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b3rJlk2aVME
    GuateRob
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 3:19 PM, 02/22/2011
    Just bring some fishing rods to PPL Park and when this cheater drops on the deck and flops like a fish, you can all cast out hooks on the field in unison.
    When he wins free kicks by cheating and making clowns of the refs, and the Union score, you can feel all dirty about it. Go Revs!
    kraftownzrevs
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 8:47 PM, 02/22/2011
    What's a Rev?
    venus4
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 9:06 PM, 02/22/2011
    We got Carlos El Pescado Ruiz!!!!!!!!!!! Doop, Doop, Doop, .......!!!!!!! Bout time they anounced it!!!!! Its gona be a GREAT season!!!!!

    The Fish is coming to town!!!!

    Wanna see what he can do?????

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wc-mzkX71hg

    One of my favorite goal of his, this one with the Guatemalan NAtional Team:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9W_SrdwXkmw

    Why do some of you have to hate so much? I guess some people just love to hate!!! City of Brotherly love right? C´mon, LoVe Park..... this is Philly baby, who the hell are you!

    Philly Welcomes you to the Union Fish!!!!!!!
    GuateRob


15 comments
About Jonathan Tannenwald
The Goalkeeper is your home for the latest news about the Philadelphia Union, Philadelphia Independence, U.S. national teams and the rest of the world's most popular sport. It's also a place for fans to gather and celebrate the culture of soccer and its unique place on the sports landscape.

Jonathan Tannenwald is a sports producer for Philly.com. He became a soccer fan while watching the 1998 World Cup at a bar in Avignon, France, and he's been writing about the sport ever since.

He also writes Philly.com's college sports blog, Soft Pretzel Logic.

Email him by clicking here.

You'll also see occasional contributions from Inquirer soccer writer Marc Narducci and Daily News soccer writer Kerith Gabriel.
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