I have a solution to our goalkeeping problem

Much like Bigfoot we have had to go into the deep depths trying to figure out our goal keeper. Looking at grainy videos, and trying to figure out what are we actually going to be doing this year at goalkeeper. 

I even caught my own self breaking down a 10 second instagram video of a goalkeeper just standing there. I don’t even know if it’s just some intern we hired or an actual goalkeeper we could be signing. 

But damn it that goalkeeper looked to have a nice stance in that ten second video. 

Now a lot of fans are panicking and looking for solutions. Well, you came to the right place. 

Because I have thought of all the answers to fix the problem. 

GO EMPTY NET

They do it in hockey all the time! That seems to work a lot! Why can’t we! 

Maybe Union Omaha is officially on the forefront of being the change in soccer around the world. 

Games would be 10-7 and it would be the most entertaining game in the world. People from around the world would come to Omaha just to bask in the glory that is what we would call it…. “Chaotic Soccer.” No organization. No formation. It would be 22 grown men playing like 10 year olds for 90 mins. Maybe we even go over the top and put them in like a WWE hell in the cell cage. Who knows the possibilities are endless. 

Maybe, 20 years from now my kids and I  will be watching Chelsea winning the Champions League for the 5th time in 7 years, and I will tell my kids about the long lost art of goalkeeping. Then when I tell them that it all ended in our own backyard they will freak out, read this blog and say “wow dad you’re the coolest.” 

I know I am Pierce Jr. I know. 

INVINCIBLE

In an old disney movie starring Mark Wahlberg there is a movie about a man from Philadelphia who tries out for the Eagles and actually makes the team.  

The Eagles in that movie had a big need on the Special Teams, and they wanted to draw more local fans….. Does this situation sound familiar? Oh it does? Does it sound like Union Omaha and their need for a goal keeper? 

Well, when I asked the front office about this possible scenario they sent me back a laughing face emoji. 

Which if I remember correctly from my high school flirting days means that while it’s not a yes right now, the door is still open for a fan to try out….. Maybe? 

I think Luke still has some bounce in his step? Maybe Patrick Tyler could make some moves? Liam seems to be the best one in shape, but so maybe he’s our starting goalkeeper? I don’t know. 

But what I do know is that if you’re reading this…. You may have a chance at being our starting keeper this year. 

THEY SIGN A GOALKEEPER

Which is boring, and dumb. 

Reaction to the CAS Decision on MLS System

On Friday, February 7th 2020, the Court of Arbitration of Sport (CAS) made a decision to a very arduous lawsuit in regards to the MLS closed system and the potential force of a promotion/relegation system to the top flight soccer league in the United States.

The lawsuit was originally filed by USL-C Miami FC and USL League 2 Kingston Stockade FC in 2017. The lawsuit, which was against FIFA, CONCACAF and the USSF, was intended to end the closed system of the MLS and to stop clubs from paying $200M in franchise fee’s to enter the league.

The ruling that the CAS came to was that for countries registered to FIFA that have never participated in a Promotion/Relegation system, IE the United States and Australia, do not have to participate in the system and can be allowed to use the closed system, even though it is not recommended by FIFA.

The decision that was come to by the CAS, solely based on opinion, is a huge step back for US soccer, but also provides better hope for the USL to take the spot light and hopefully leap frog the MLS in terms of popularity.

Jake Edwards, president of the USL, has publicly come forward in an SI article in 2016 and explained how he dreams of having a promotion/relegation system integrated in the USL.

“The sport is evolving, the sport is changing. What is considered normal now might not be correct in a couple of seasons’ time. How we’re approaching that, and I get asked the question all the time, is the launch of our second league, League One. A lot of focus and attention needs to go into building that league up over a short period of time. But we’ve got to get the right owners in League One, the right stadiums and infrastructure. We’ve got to make sure the quality on the field is at a good standard. You have to create parity as much as you can between the two divisions. Of course, the Championship will be different from League One in many respects, but it can’t be obscenely different.”

Credit to Sports Illustrated: As American Soccer Builds Toward 2026, USL Ramps Up Its Ambition

If you are looking for more from Jake Edwards on his goal of promotion/relegation, here is a great clip of him Landon Donovan sitting down with Tyler Terens during the 2019 USL-C Championship game.

The United Soccer League, for those who are new to following the current second tier league, currently has adopted 3 leagues: tier 2 USL Championship, tier 3 USL League One (where Union Omaha Currently plays in) and tier 4 USL League 2 (once formally known as the NPSL). There are 35 teams in the Championship with 2 expansion teams on their way, followed by 12 in League One, and 82 in League 2, split among 3 conferences.

This makes a grand total of 129 teams in the USL. For reference to top European countries who have a promotion/relegation system, there are 92 professional teams in England, 80 professional teams in Italy (S/O to AC Milan), 307 in Germany (really there are only 56 but the Germany system recognizes 307 because why not?) and Spain has 62.

If England can handle 92 professional soccer teams in a promotion/relegation system, than why can’t the USSF? Why are we always striving to be 3 steps behind the top flight leagues in the world?

For those who might not understand why I am frustrated with this, here is a break down of how the current system works:

In 2019 there were 24 teams in the MLS (Yes there are now 26 teams with the additions of Inter Miami and Nashville SC, but we’ll stick with just the 24 for right now). The 24 teams are split into 2 conferences. The top 8 teams in each conference at the end of the season are sent into a playoff format. This means even if you are in 8th place, you still have a shot of winning the MLS Cup, therefore there is no real weight to losing games other than not having a shot of winning the league.

In all other countries with the exception to Australia they have a promotion and relegation system, which is pretty simple to understand: the bottom 3 teams in each league are all relegated to the next lowest division, and each of the top 3 teams below the top tier division are promoted. For example, if the USL were to adopt a promotion/relegation system, the bottom 3 teams of the Championship would drop to League One, and when Union Omaha wins League One they would be promoted, along with 2nd and 3rd place, to the Championship.

This system just simply adds more weight to the value of winning and losing. Zlatan Ibrahimovic, former striker of LA Galaxy, has called out the MLS on numerous occasions about not having a proper promotion/relegation system, for the same reason as I have mentioned above.

Needless to say, I am beyond disappointed that the CAS has decided against a promotion/relegation system for US soccer as a whole, but I believe that if the USL could adapt such a system, it would boost them in popularity, and it would help us Owls reach that next big step in our new club.

Meet the Owls: Forwards

On Jan. 14, Union Omaha announced the first batch of signings that will be competing in the 2020 inaugural season. 13 players consisting of local talent, USL experience and international success represent this group of players. 

Four forwards were signed on Jan. 14 along with one more who signed on Jan. 31. For now, here are your five forwards that will represent the Owls this season. 

Evan Conway

Conway finished his illustrious goal scoring career with University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in 2019. He bagged 6 goals to lead the Panthers along with adding 5 assists. The six-foot-one-inch forward tied for the third most goals in USL League 2 side, Ventura County Fusion, in 2019. He added 9 goals in 12 games for the Fusion. 

Conway’s length will be a problem for defenses this season which is evident in this video. He gains good position on the back of the defender and meets the ball in the air with an aggressive header which finds the back of the net. Conway’s clinical finish in this video and his other highlights showcase the talent from the forward. 

Elma Nfor 

The Bamenda, Cameroon native comes to the Owls from USL League One’s Lansing Ignite. Nfor finished with four goals on the season. Ex-Ignite player and now Owls midfielder, Xavier Gomez, and Nfor already have a strong partnership on the field. Their familiarity with each other should prove to be successful especially in transition. 

Nfor’s impressive top shelf goal gained him an ESPN Top 10 appearance on Sportscenter in 2019. His shot rockets off of his right foot as he goes for the acrobatic finish. Nfor’s athleticism and pace will be tough for defenders to track especially against the run of play. 

Juan Mare

Mare comes to Omaha via USL League One club, Chattanooga Red Wolves SC. Mare finished 2019 with 16 appearances for the Red Wolves, but he could not find the back of the net or create an assist during the season. Previously in 2018, Mare rounded out the Real Monarchs squad in the USL Championship. He played in 21 games while scoring two sound goals. 

Mare’s goal in 2018 earned him consideration for USL goal of the week. He stops just outside the box and hits a rocket towards the back post. This shot shows the quality that he possesses. More time as a starter might give him more opportunities to score where in the past he has been featured as a substitute for his club. 

Ethan Vanacore-Decker

Last season, Vanacore-Decker played for Swope Park Rankers (now Sporting KC II) in the USL Championship. He scored 4 goals in 29 appearances for Swope Park while creating 10 key passes and adding an assist to his name. 

Vanacore-Decker’s late goal could not change the outcome of the game for Swope Park, but it did show his skill. The right-footed flick towards the back post, upper 90 was well executed especially for a first touch. This type of confidence to try a shot of this magnitude is refreshing. 

Elvir Ibisevic

The most recent player to sign for the Owls. Ibisevic joined Union Omaha last week on Jan. 31. He is also the second player to come from University of Nebraska Omaha where he played under Coach Jay Mims. The last two seasons has seen Ibisevic depart for Europe where he gained valuable experience. In 2018 and part of 2019, he played for NK Celje in Slovenia’s first tier football league. Ibisevic was transferred to Chemie Leipzig in Germany’s fourth division of professional soccer on September 2, 2019. 

Ibisevic’s first professional soccer goal came from his time with NK Celje. He calmly puts the ball in the back of net after a miscue from the keeper. Many fans know of his quality from his time with the Mavericks, but the skill and knowledge that was gained during his stints in Europe will be priceless for the Owls.  

Getting to know UO pt 2

We at Who Gives a Hoot want you to get the insider info on our supporters and members of the Union Omaha front office. To get you an insight, we’ve asked each group four of the same questions as well as one unique to the front office and one unique to supporters for a total of FIVE fun answers. ENJOY!

Meet the Owls: Sousa & Hauswirth

Union Omaha announced three new signing on Jan. 31. Midfielder Ferrety Sousa, defender Luke Hauswirth and forward Elvir Ibisevic. These three singings will be joining a squad that is primed for their inaugural season. 

Sousa and Hauswirth will be previewed as Ibisevic will be highlighted with the rest of the forwards next week. 

Ferrety Sousa

Sousa joins the Owls after one season with USL Championship team, the Las Vegas Lights. Sousa’s explosiveness and athleticism will be on full display as he holds down the right wing of the midfield. Sousa appeared in 14 games and started in 9 contests for the Lights. He scored 1 goals and 2 assists while completing over 82 % of his passes. 

Sousa’s lone goal of the season was a beauty. He slips behind the defense and finishes towards the back post. His joy for the game is evident in his back flip celebration while his fluid play will add to an already strong roster. 

Luke Hauswirth 

The right back saw the field 24 times while starting 21 games for FC Tucson of USL League One last season. Hauswirth is a player that likes to play box-to-box, but he did not record a goal or assist. Although, he did create 12 chances for his squad. He had a 74% passing accuracy during this stint while leading the backline of FC Tucson to 5 clean sheets. 

The 5-foot-11-inch right back is fearless defending this corner. He meets the ball and gets it out of his box. This no-nonsense play is appreciated from a right back that is zonal marking at the front post. Strong defense, such as this, during set pieces is a good sign of quality from an outside back. 

Meet the Owls: Midfield

On Jan. 14, Union Omaha announced the first batch of signings that will be competing in the 2020 inaugural season. 13 players consisting of local talent, USL experience and international success will represent Union Omaha on the field. 

Over the next couple weeks, a detailed description along with videos will be used to showcase the talent of the new players of Union Omaha including any new signing that may pop up from now until match day 1. 

This week, the midfield of Tobias Otieno, Christian Molina, Kobe Perez, Austin Panchot and Xavier Gomez will be featured

Tobias Otieno

Otieno comes to Union Omaha from Kenyan Premier League powerhouse Gor Mahia FC. Otieno’s hometown of Kisumu is located on the western half of Kenya on Lake Victoria. The 21 year old will be playing his first football outside of his home nation for the very first time. 

The midfielder is a box-to-box player capable of playing defense as well as attacking in a change of possession. He has a strong touch and is capable of finding the open striker in a holding position. 

Otieno delivers a perfect half volley pass to his forward. A change of possession led to the ability to huff the ball up the field to the attacker. Otieno was fearless in attempting a difficult ball up the pitch. His athleticism and experience in the Kenyan Premier League will be pivotal to Union Omaha’s 2020 success.                                   

Christian Molina

5-foot-4-inch, Molina, comes to the Owls with a strong pedigree. Molina gained accolades from the Mid-America Conference for his skills leading Northern Illinois Huskies. Molina scored a goal and had three assists during his 2019 campaign. 

Molina finds open space to for his teammates to find him outside the box. He turns and passes a perfectly weighted ball to his teammate. His teammate is able to finish a top shelf finish and Molina is credited for the assist. 

Kobe Perez

Last year, Perez played in 17 games for South Georgia Tormenta FC 2 where he bagged 3 goals and 3 assists. The Mercer University graduate has great touch along with a great defensive work rate especially in a high pressing team. 

Perez pressures the opposing team after they struggle to get out of their own box after a short goal kick. Perez picks the ball off of the weaker defender and uses his skill to get past the keeper for the chip finish. Perez will be a nice option offensively for Coach Mims to choose from. 

Austin Panchot

Panchot is one of the winningest players on the Union Omaha roster. He played his college soccer at Indiana University where he participated in two College Cup runs. Last year, he played for USL Championship club, North Carolina FC. Panchot saw the field five times during the season. He completed over 80% of his passes in his midfield role. 

Panchot’s goal may not seem spectacular, but it is. His header was the decisive goal for the Hoosiers victory over Notre Dame in the Elite 8. This goal sent Indiana into the College Cup for the second straight year. Panchot knows how to win and to build a winning culture, you need players that win to win. 

Xavier Gomez

The most famous of the new signings for the Owls. Gomez will be welcomed back to the city where he played his college soccer like a king. Gomez played for Coach Mims during his college days at University of Nebraska-Omaha until his final season in 2017. Last year, Gomez was the star player for USL League One team, Lansing Ignite. He played in 28 games where he scored 3 goals and added 5 assists while creating the third most chances on his team. 

Gomez’s in-swinging ball towards the back post is magnificent. He made this assist in Lansing’s first game of the season in 2019. The height and power coming from his right leg just out of the box will make any attacker’s mouth water while making the defense shiver. Gomez’s quality on free kicks is going to be a thing of beauty for the Owls in 2020. 

Union Omaha U.S. Open Cup Round 2 Draw

Here is a quick write up about Union Omaha U.S. Open Cup draw

After waiting for what seemed like all day long the U.S Open cup announced that Union Omaha will be playing either Des Monies Menace or Med City in the second round. 

The game will be hosted on April 9th at 7 pm and it will be played at not Werner Park, but at UNO’s field Caniglia Field.

So here’s a very quick preview of both teams. 

*Author’s note this was all found on Wikipedia. If you want more information (shameless plug) a greater break down will be on the podcast. Give it a 5-star review and tell me you are a Chelsea fan and I will give you a shout out, or I don’t know maybe I’ll cook you dinner or something.  Also don’t roast me too bad if there is a misspelling. First blog in a long time.

Des Monies Menace

Obviously the closest possible professional team to Union Omaha. A dream match-up for literally everyone. Iowa v. Nebraska. The old team v. the new team on the block. This is a match-up that everyone has been begging for since the club was even founded. People were clambering just to even get a pre-season game with these guys. But now? Now we get a game with BIG BUZZ. A cup game. At home. Not much more than what you can ask for when it comes to a match-up.  

A little bit about them founded in 1996, an established team that has made it to at least their conference semi-finals every single year since 2013. Also in last year’s 2019 U.S. Open cup they made it to the second round and lost to St. Louis FC in what looks to be a thrilling game losing to them in penalty kicks. 

A team that has been very tough to beat, and could be very tough to handle for Union Omaha if they beat Med City and come to Omaha.  

Med City 

To be honest, I don’t know anything about this team, so legit everything I know about them is straight from their Wikipedia page. 

Founded in 2017, and located in Rochester Minnesota they are in the NPSL Midwest Region’s North Conference. 

That’s all that they hand on their Wiki page, so after that, it’s all up to you. 

You can find out more about them on their very nice website https://www.medcityfc.com/ 

Some additional things that I found out are that they finished 2nd in the North Conference last year going 7-0-3. They could be very sneaky and might actually be able to give the heavy favorite Des Monies Menace a tough game. 

My first takeaway is that we should be able to win this game who ever we play. We are taking on a team that is in a lower division at home. This could be a much-needed tune-up game for us, that could help build the team for the rest of the year. Giving them confidence and helping propel us in League One. 

But even though there is snow on the ground and freezing cold temperatures all throughout the week. It’s hard not to look forward to warm summer days watching Union Omaha is hosting U.S Open cup games like this, and fighting for a playoff spot in USL 1. 

*I’m new to the blogging game but if I was savvier I would insert a GIF here saying “Soon”

Getting to know UO

We at Who Gives a Hoot want you to get the insider info on our supporters and members of the Union Omaha front office. To get you an insight, we’ve asked each group four of the same questions as well as one unique to the front office and one unique to supporters for a total of FIVE fun answers. ENJOY!

Meet the Owls: Defenders

On Jan. 14, Union Omaha announced the first batch of signings that will be competing in the 2020 inaugural season. 13 players consisting of local talent, USL experience and international success will represent Union Omaha on the field. 

Over the next couple weeks, a detailed description along with videos will be used to showcase the talent of the new players of Union Omaha. 

This week, the backline of Damia Viader, Jacob Crull, Daltyn Knutson and Nathan Aune will be shown. 

Damia Viader

Viader hails from Barcelona, Spain. He played his college soccer for Iowa Western Community College in Council Bluffs. Viader was a standout who scored 9 goals and added 12 assists for the Reivers. He recorded the second most assists on the team while starting in 17 matches. 

https://vimeo.com/387010925

In the video, the 5-foot-8-inch defender is strong on the ball. He makes a poor pass, but uses his strength to gain it back and look up field. He makes a couple moves to get past the defender and finishes past the keeper. His relentlessness in pursuit makes him a viable choice for the Owls as he begins his first season of professional soccer. 

Jacob Crull

Crull finished his last season for NAIA powerhouse Spring Arbor Cougars in Michigan. Crull is listed as a midfielder for the team, but Union Omaha has listed him as a defender. The Carmel, Indiana native made 79 starts in his career for the Cougars. He finished with 23 goals and 50 assists. His success on the field gained him the honors of NAIA All-American in 2019 and 2018 while being the Crossroads League Player of the Year in the same years. 

https://vimeo.com/387012830

Crull delivers a tasty ball from the back to his forward up. the field. The forward does well and has a great finish for the Cougars. The weight of the ball showcases Crull’s talents from deep in his own half while having great confidence to consider such a difficult pass. Crull’s distribution was key to the Cougars success the past four seasons. His 14 assists ranked him 9th in the whole NAIA for total assists. 

Daltyn Knutson 

Knutson is a versatile defender who last played for the Tormenta of South Georgia in USL 1. Knutson started 21 games and played across the line at left back, right back and center back during his one year stint with the Tormenta. He did not pick up a goal or an assist during this past season, but he helped South Georgia collect 9 clean sheets during the season. 

https://vimeo.com/387012910

Knutson intellectually stops the oncoming attacker by being strong and fearless. His first step towards forward halted the opposing team’s attack as they had to play the ball back towards the midfield. Knutson played left back during this game and showed poise while the opposing team ran at him. 

Nathan Aune 

Aune comes to Union Omaha from Reno 1868 which is the USL Championship affiliate of the San Jose Earthquakes. Aune was drafted by San Jose in the MLS SuperDraft in 2019. Aune made only 2 appearances for Reno last season, but he had very strong college career.

He played his college soccer at Seattle University not far from his hometown of Arlington, Washington. In 2018, Aune started 16 games for the Redhawks helping them to 6 clean sheets and two goals. 

https://vimeo.com/387014138

Aune’s flying header comes from his time for the Seattle Sounders U-23 club team two years ago. His ability to be at the right place at the right time rings true for this defender. The 6-foot-4-inch defender is strong in the air and should be a viable attacker on set pieces this season. 

Something Extra…

Hello!

You may know us from our podcast, Who Gives A Hoot!? and if you do, you know the answer… WE DO! We give so many hoots about Union Omaha that not all of them will fit in the format of a podcast! In that vein we have created this site to keep track of information too good to miss but too difficult to fit into at of a podcast effectively!

Don’t worry, you’ll still be hearing our voices on the pod! We’ll be continuing to bring the content and interviews you crave on Union Omaha, USL1, and the soccer community of the Omaha/Council Bluffs Metro.

As the season and life of Union Omaha soccer culture continues you’ll meet a few new faces on this site. They will be bringing their passionate writing in the form of articles to tide you over between Union Omaha’s fantastic season!

With that being said, keep your eyes peeled on this space for a lot of exciting content coming from us here at Who Gives A Hoot!

Just for the heck of it, say it with us….

WE DO!