Rosenberry, Blake, and Pontius up for year-end awards, more news

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http://www.phillysoccerpage.net/2016/11/02/rosenberry-blake-and-pontius-up-for-year-end-awards-more-news/

Rosenberry, Blake, and Pontius up for year-end awards, more news

MLS

Sebastian Giovinco was not among the finalists for leage MVP (Sacha Kljestan, David Villa, and Bradley Wright-Phillips are the finalists). Pro Soccer Talk asays the ommission is “almost unforgiveable,” MLSsoccer.com says it may be the “biggest snub” in league history. More snubs at Goal.com.

At SI, Grant Wahl reports David Villa will not be retroactively punished for kicking out at a player in last Sunday’s Eastern Conference semifinal first leg loss to Toronto. The disciplinary committee reportedly unanimously agreed the offense was red card worthy but, because referee Silviu Petrescu made no call, the panel would also have to unanimously agree the offense was “egregious or reckless” enough to warrant a retroactive suspension, and the panel did not. The Toronto Sun’s Kurtis Larson is, predictably, not pleased.

At ESPN, Noah Davis considers whether aging Designated Players are worth the money: “the DP conundrum comes down to production and return on investment.”

Orlando City has announced a partnership with Brazilian Serie A side Clube Atlético Paranaense. “As part of the affiliation, Paranaense will visit Orlando City for a friendly match in 2017. Orlando City will also play a friendly in Curitiba during the 2018 preseason. Additional details of the friendly matches will be released when available.” Orlando City has existing partnerships with Benfica and Stoke City.

At SI, Grant Wahl has this update on David Beckham’s Miami MLS franchise: “even though MLS says officially that Beckham’s Miami team could start play in 2018, a source in Beckham’s camp says it would be much smarter to start in 2019.”