A week after he was not benched for a mysterious injury, Philadelphia Union captain Danny Califf has now been left off the travel squad, according to Brotherly Game.
Danny Califf Left Off Philadelphia Union’s Travel Roster, Brotherly Game Reports
One possible explanation is that Califf is injured. That seems a tad unlikely as Califf himself has declared himself fit, despite Nowak suggesting that was the reason for his benching last week.
It’s also possible that Califf has simply lost his job based on performance. That also seems unlikely as the Union have not played particularly well in his absence, allowing five goals in their first two games. By contrast, when Califf was the starting center back last year, the Union only gave up more than four goals in any two consecutive games once all season and only gave up more than two goals in a game once.
Read Article >Danny Califf ‘Injury’ Situation Opens More Questions About Peter Nowak’s Man Management
CHESTER, PA - JUNE 27: Danny Califf #4 of the Philadelphia Union celebrates win over Seattle Sounders FC at the PPL Park stadium opener on June 27, 2010 in Chester, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images) Getty ImagesPeter Nowak is a complicated man. There are clearly things going on the Philadelphia Union coach’s head that we are no privy, too. Trade your best player just a few weeks before the season? Sure, why not. Hand over the starting goalkeeper job to a 20-year-old and not bother to make sure he has a suitable backup? Yep. Bench your only veteran MLS defender? Definitely.
Of all Nowak’s recent decisions, though, that last one is absolutely the hardest to fathom. Now, Nowak is swearing up and down that Califf wasn’t actually benched and that he’s recovering from some kind of knee injury.
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