Union Reportedly Set To Sign French Left Back Cedric Fabien

by Scott Kessler on Dec 19, 2011 10:15 AM EST in Offseason Content

French news outlet MLS-News is reporting that the Philadelphia Union are set to add a French left back to the team's roster soon.

Cedric Fabien is considered one of the best left backs in France's League Two, at least by ~~a one person who follows the league~~ his agent (see the YouTube video below). Fabien is a former Le Mans player, and has spent the vast majority of his career in the second division of France. The soon to be 29-year-old is considered a versatile player along the left side of the field, something that complements head coach Piotr Nowak's tactics. Currently playing for Boulogne, Fabien joined the team upon its relegation from Ligue 1 after leaving Brest upon its accession to the top league.

It has long been speculated that the Union would attempt to acquire a left back to replace Gabriel Farfan as the starter at the position. Farfan is a natural attacking midfielder, having played there throughout his college career and stint with America of the Mexican top league. With the loss of Justin Mapp to the Montreal Impact in the 2012 MLS Expansion Draft, and the unknown situation of left midfielder Keon Daniel's visa, moving Farfan into the midfielder could help to solve some of the Union's remaining problems.

The defender's agent, Jerome Meary, told MLS-News that Fabien will "complete [his] transfer quickly." Also coming to the United States and MLS are midfielder Nicolas Dieuze, another Meary client, to Chivas USA, and Cameroonian Théophile n'tama Junior will join the New England Revolution.

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So how many international slots do the Union have and how many would this make if the signing comes to fruition?

by Dean_Moriarty on Dec 19, 2011 10:29 AM EST reply actions

They'll be negative two slots based upon last year's roster...

with the additions of Martinez, Gomez and now Fabien.

Managing Editor for Brotherly Game, SBNation's Philadelphia Union blog and contributor for SBN Philly. // @scottdkessler
"College is only 4 years, but the Eagles are for life." - Ironhank

by Scott Kessler on Dec 19, 2011 10:41 AM EST up reply actions

If that’s the case, that doesn’t bode well for a Torres return in ’12.

by Phil McCrack'n on Dec 19, 2011 11:28 AM EST up reply actions

That may not necessarily be the case..

Especially given Cali’s financial woes and their relegation, they would probably be interested in selling off most of their talent to stay solvent.. Also, we have “lower tier” internationals we could shed instead that haven’t played much/at all for us, such as Levi Houapeu and Joe Tait..

If this whole thing with Restrepo goes through, does he have U.S. citizenship/green card?

by Domin8ing the Big Ten(11) on Dec 19, 2011 12:12 PM EST up reply actions

Restrepo is a US citizen.

Managing Editor for Brotherly Game, SBNation's Philadelphia Union blog and contributor for SBN Philly. // @scottdkessler
"College is only 4 years, but the Eagles are for life." - Ironhank

by Scott Kessler on Dec 19, 2011 12:29 PM EST up reply actions

We'll see

If you assume that (rumored) incoming players sign and stay:

Gomez, Martinez, Fabien

Then you assume the players that we know aren’t going anywhere:

Mondragon, Valdes

Now you have the interesting cases with impact players:

Torres (loan buyout?), Daniel (visa issues)

And the rest of the list:

Khalfan, Paunovic, Houapeu, Tait

Khalfan probably only made things tougher on Houapeu – Piotr showed very little patience with Salinas and injuries – unless Levi acquires a Green card and qualifies as a domestic, I don’t see a spot for him. Similar age, similar height, similar skill set. They could send him out on season long loan to avoid the roster count and Internation slot, but then theyd have to pay his salary out of operating costs.

Tait might be a vicitim of landing more transfer targets than we planned on. But you know the coaches favor youth over age and we arent very deep on defense to begin with. I’m not convinced he’d be the next to go given our bevy of young attacking talent needing to find minutes. Paunovic might be on the block next.

Despite our best wishes that both Daniel and Torres return next season, there’s no guarantee that either will be back with the U. One not coming back means that two on the bottom list would be safe, both on the OUT list would mean that we would only be over by one slot.

Incoming or outgoing, a lot still depends on what happens with Daniel and Torres. Remember that roster compliance isnt until early March.

by PSPTim on Dec 20, 2011 1:54 AM EST up reply actions

but we can buy more spots right? maybe thats why matinez and adu arent DP

by Joel Prushan on Dec 19, 2011 10:00 PM EST up reply actions

Its still a trade

You’d have to buy the slots from another team – MLS doesnt sell them that I know of. Now, some of our salary overages are probably paid down with allocation, keeping DP salaries as non-DP but that actually would diminish our allocation funding that would most likely be used to acquire extra International slots. Otherwise we are trading draft picks, players, allocation ranking, or some other commodity.

by PSPTim on Dec 20, 2011 1:32 AM EST up reply actions