With 2014 firmly in the rearview mirror, we’re taking a deeper look at some highlights from the past season. But who better to tell that story than the ones involved?
It was a season of highs and lows, new players and old. In all, 29 players suited up for two different head coaches. But from the season opener all the way on the West Coast in Portland, to the finale in Columbus, there were plenty of quotable moments throughout the season. Here are some that we wanted to highlight:
“I’m excited for the first home game, walking out of the tunnel and looking around at all the fans. Actually, I’m most excited for the first goal, so I can hear that ‘Doop’ song. That’ll be good.”
- Maurice Edu at his introductory press conference
“I feel a little bit older, they call me grandpa, but I felt great today on the field and I think I can help Philadelphia get to the top.”
- Fred after playing 90 minutes during a 3-0 win over Chivas USA on May 31
“Yeah, that’s a confidence builder. You know, he scored twice against Kansas City, I joked with him and said, “You always score against KC.” He was like, he was kind of confused I think, just because he hasn’t played a ton.”
- Jim Curtin on Brian Brown after Brown scored his second goal of the year, against SKC again.
“Yeah, I’m enjoying it. It’s just me with the one-on-one battle. With the pass or shot, I’m trying to be a little bit more precise there at times. That’s where the challenge is.”
- Andrew Wenger after scoring two goals against San Jose on Aug. 24
“I didn’t know what to say. I was stuttering and the guys started to make fun of me. It was good you know, it was an honor filling in for Brian Carroll and trying to lead by example.”
- Amobi Okugo on being named captain for the New England game on March 15
“Right now we’re a blue collar, hardworking team that, if everybody plays a good game, not a great game, we’ll get a result. If four guys don’t have a great game, we’ll lose to teams in MLS. We’re more Spurs than Miami Heat, you know what I mean? That’s kind of the way we go. Everybody has a role to do, everybody needs to do it.”
- Jim Curtin following a 4-2 win over San Jose on Aug. 24
“But, I’m telling you man, the walking around the city now, the shouts that you get out the window of ‘Good job, Jim,’ ‘Tough one against Seattle, Jim,’ — you know, it’s hitting me, it’s starting to hit me that, you’re in charge and there’s a big responsibility that comes with it.”
- Jim Curtin after being announced as the permanent head coach
The heartbreak
“We deserve a trophy; we came up a bit short this time. Our guys will remember that feeling though of how close we were.”
- Jim Curtin after losing to Seattle in the U.S. Open Cup championship
“We’ve put ourselves in a big hole and now we have to find a way to dig out of it. I haven’t felt like this for a long time after a game and to be honest, it’s hard to put into words.”
- Danny Cruz after a 1-1 draw to Chicago on Oct. 2
“Tough game, one that is tough to take in right now; I’d have to go back and look [at the game tape] to really tell you what happened, but honestly we just have to want it more and finish out these games.”
- Ray Gaddis after the team lost to Columbus 3-2, Oct. 11, eliminating the Union from the playoffs.
Off the field
“New York and Philadelphia across all sports is a bitter rivalry. We just don’t like each other too much.”
- Jim Curtin before a Sept. 13 match with the Red Bulls
“She’s going to be 3 this January and just getting to spend a bunch of time with her – obviously we don’t work the longest hours – getting to drop her off at school, pick her up from school, those are the little things that you enjoy doing and you know she doesn’t see it as me being a professional soccer player; she just sees me as Dad so it’s fun in that sense.”
- Sheanon Williams on being a father
“We were very pleased with how Philadelphia approached the game, and the way they’ve looked after us. The city has been wonderful, loads to do and great things happening here, the stadium is also fantastic. I’m really pleased with everything that’s happened tonight.”
- Crystal Palace manager Tony Pulis
“I’m trying to get used to the city. Jamaica is a small country, so the area here is much bigger. I’ll get used to it by day-in and day-out, so by next week I’ll know many more places, but it’s good to be here and I really like it here so far.”
- Brian Brown on moving to Philadelphia
“I’m looking forward to meeting those two new teams and trying to beat them most of the time, give them a good welcoming.”
- Sebastien Le Toux on NYCFC and Orlando City joining the league next year
