The Philadelphia Union announced, over Twitter, that along with second year goalkeeper Zac MacMath, the team has former third stringer Chase Harrison and Chris Konopka, a former New York Red Bulls goalkeeper, in their Florida training camp.

Union head coach Piotr Nowak has made it clear that he's both comfortable with heading into the season with Harrison as MacMath's backup and no veteran goalkeeper on the roster.

"Why do I need to bring in a veteran?" Nowak said to reporters during Wednesday's press conference. "I don't think it's necessary right now to think about that."

Nowak went on to answer questions concerning Konopka's future status with the team.

"The situation right now is that he's training with us," Nowak said. "He's a very good guy. We'll see where he is at the end of this camp."

"He's been in Europe, he has a good pedigree in Major League Soccer."

Konopka was one of the MLS pool keepers last season, yet managed to make it into a Red Bulls game last year as a starter, much to the curiosity of New York fans and media.

"It was a bit of a surprise when he actually got a start for the Red Bulls against Chicago," Matt Conroy, who runs The Vipers Nest and is a contributor to Once A Metro, said to the Brotherly Game. "Pool keepers are typically called in when an MLS club has a goalkeeping crisis and needs a backup, but they're rarely thrown to the wolves right off the bat."

"In this case, Bouna Coundoul was away on international duty, Greg Sutton had been loaned to Montreal and Frank Rost was injured, so I think most fans expected to see Alex Horwath, who had started earlier in the season at Columbus, between the pipes."

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Veljko Paunovic released an open letter to Philadelphia Union fans through Twitter. The Brotherly Game asked the now retired player if the letter could be republished here, upon the site. With Paunovic's blessing, here's the full text of his letter:

I want to thank the great Union family for welcoming me from the very first day that I came here. I've been so many places around the world and I have never felt as happy as I have been here.

It is with great sadness that I announce my retirement from soccer due to family reasons but I will never forget the Union fans and the atmosphere at PPL Park every game.

I have proudly worn the Union Jersey wherever we have played throughout the country and I will always feel like a Union "soldier" wherever I am in the world.

I also wanted to give a special thanks to my teammates, coaching staff, CEO & Operating Partner Nick Sakiewicz, Diego Gutierrez, and all the employees that work so hard for all of us.

I especially would like to thank Peter Nowak, who gave me this opportunity. His knowledge of soccer and great ability to lead the team have taught me so much.

I am deeply grateful to everyone associated with Philadelphia Union.

Always yours,

Serb of Ben

Veljko Paunovic

No more games in hand, no more disparity between games played at home and on the road, no more asterisks denoting games that didn't really count because the opposition was bad.  With the regular season over and playoffs under way, we can finally look back on the MLS regular season and compare statistics through 34 games, where every team played every other team twice.

The Philadelphia Union and Houston Dynamo met once in PPL Park and once in Robertson Stadium this season, in games that totaled 53 fouls, 3 goals, and 5 yellow cards.  The Dynamo out-passed the Union 970-610 during the series and they registered 45 open-play crosses as the Union managed only 11.  The U were outshot 35-15, yet they got 4 points out of two games.  Sure, playoffs are all about momentum and experience, but how do the players on each team stack up after the long haul?  Hit the jump for a look at statistics on either side of Sunday's Eastern Conference Semifinal...

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The interview, and translation of it, was facilitated by Ahmet Turgut of Turkey Football and @TurkishSoccer.

Freddy Adu spent four long seasons dealing with an inability to make his way into a strong Benfica squad, moving around Europe on four consecutive loans. Then MLS came calling, with both Chivas USA and the Philadelphia Union showing major interest in Adu, before the Union ended up signing the 22-year-old.

Adu's last destination was Turkey, where he played for Çaykur Rizespor of the Turkish Football Federation League One (division two in the country).

Umit Kayihan spent that season as Adu's coach, watching the former teenage soccer prodigy grow from a player that count never justify his $2 million transfer fee from Real Salt Lake to Benfica into one worthy of play in major European leagues.

"[Adu] is very good skilled-full player and he has a good personalty," Kayihan told the Brotherly Game. "[Freddy] is very different now" that he has spent time in Turkey.

11 games with Rizespor brought four goals for Adu, with his first goal making its way into the soccer media mainstream. Adu had finally found a place to thrive and a place to mature.

"It's a little town and there isn't much, but I was there to play soccer," Adu told Yanks Abroad in June. "That was the main focus."

"I think I am a better player today than when I left MLS four years ago. Maturing helps a lot. As the years go on, you get older and start to put things together," said Adu to PhiladelphiaUnion.com last week.

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Article republished on businessofsoccer.com

Yesterday in West Philadelphia, former U.S. Men's National Team Goalkeeper Tony Meola and former Mexican National Team Goalkeeper Adolfo Rios surprised the players of the West Philadelphia Hurricanes Youth Team. Partnered with the official insurance sponsor of the U.S. Men's National Team, Major League Soccer, and the Federacion Mexicana de Futbol, Allstate hosted the event which provided Meola and Rios with an opportunity to give back to the community.

The event which was intended to be held at the Lee Cultural Center on 44th and Haverford was moved indoors due to yesterday's scattered rain showers. The clinic was held in the gymnaisum at the Shepard Recreation Center several blocks away on 57th and Haverford. In addition to Meola and Rios, local coaches assisted with instruction throughout the session.

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With tonight being MLS All-Star Game night, now is probably a good time to pause for just a moment and reflect on the unofficial first half of the Philadelphia Union's season, as well as look ahead to the remainder of their regular season fixtures (unofficial because they, like all MLS teams, are already a couple of matches into the second half of their schedule).

What we've seen this season from the Union, given their form last year, is nothing short of remarkable. They've gone from seemingly defensively inept to tied with the LA Galaxy for the second stingiest defense in Major League Soccer. (The Galaxy have played three more regular season matches than the Union to this point, but still.) Full credit for this turnaround must go to four people: Faryd Mondragon, Carlos Valdes, Piotr Nowak and Diego Gutierrez.

What can you say about Mondragon? His play has been everything Philadelphia has hoped for, and then some -- and not because he's made dozens of outlandish saves (although he has made several). It's the fact that he hasn't had to make that many difficult saves because of how superb his backline organization has been that is most impressive. Every Union player has the utmost respect for Mondragon, and the feeling seems to be mutual. And it shows. Big time. As for Valdes? Well, he's right at the top of the list for MLS All-Star snubs. His instant chemistry with Danny Califf and his immense talent has many observers wondering just how long he'll be with the Union before getting plucked off by a European side.

Full props to Diego Gutierrez, who is now the Union's Head of Scouting and Player Development, for working to acquire Mondragon and Valdes (and Roger Torres, too, a year ago). Goodness knows who he'll bring to the Union next. And you can't forget Union manager Piotr Nowak, whose player decisions are sometimes questioned (especially when they come without an explanation of any kind), but you simply cannot argue with the results of his work. This team is fun to watch, and their record speaks for itself.

A look at the Union's unofficial second half of the season after the jump. 

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The following are reader comments from our new series, "Your Take," that were posted here on the Brotherly Game on Sunday. Enjoy.

bluetooner:

#3 JDG
He is obviously in witness protection from the Columbian mafia, and can't be seen on TV.

danielfarrell:

My best guess is that he's there still here as a favor for a connection in Columbia, or because of his implications to our recruiting in Columbia. I'm guessing they promised someone he'd be employed here for at least a certain time period. Whatever the reason, and there has to be one, hopefully it will pay off. Because he's not bringing any value to the club on the pitch this year.

Alex TB:

He seems to be the new Toni Stahl
That confuses me about how MLS teams operate with regards to their personnel, the NFL is similar. Players will join the team and proceed to never play. Look at Chris Agorsor as another example.

Then there's the players that show up once or twice, and then just go. Does anyone remember Shavar Thomas, or David Myrie-who started the first regular season for the Union, ever, and was promptly released?

A good example that makes even less sense IMO is Dominic Oduro, who was released from Houston to go to Chicago after, again, the very first game of the season-against Union. I didn't think he was that bad!

I've never understood it.

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This story will be a trial for a possible weekly piece asking for your opinions on a certain subject. The Brotherly Game will present the facts and link to any tBG articles involving the question posed during any given week. We will then publish a follow up story within the next couple of days with your answers. Please feel free to write as much, or as little, as you want in the comments section below. It's your time to shine.

Why is Juan Diego Gonzalez still a part of the Philadelphia Union?

The Colombian defensive veteran has not made an appearance with the Union's first team in the 2011 MLS season and is being paid over $193,000 in guaranteed compensation. Gonzalez started all 7 of his appearances in 2010, when he filled in during periods of injury and change in the Union back four. His 630 minutes played in 2010 mark the only minutes of his nearly one year MLS career.

Despite being available, Gonzalez wasn't taken with the team to play the Portland Timbers earlier in the season, when both Jordan Harvey (suspension) and Danny Califf (illness) were unavailable. The center defender has seen more time in the team's gameday 18, but again wasn't used when Carlos Valdes (illness) did not make the trip to San Jose this past weekend.

At only 30 years of age, Gonzalez has played for 10 teams - including the Union - throughout his 14-year professional career (Envigado, Independiente Medellín, Almagro, San Lorenzo, Santa Fe, Santos Laguna, Once Caldas, La Equidad, Deportivo Pereira, Philadelphia Union).

What are your thoughts?