Time: 8pm ET

Location: PPL Park, Chester, PA

TV: Galavision

At 4-11-11, the New England Revolution hold the worst record in the east. And they hold the ignominious honor of being the team the Union most thoroughly thrashed this season.

But with the transfer window, suspensions, and injuries, the team you face in September can be a lot different than the one you beat in July.

A stronger squad

Peter Nowak always said Carlos Ruiz was the first name on his team sheet. We never knew if he was serious or just trying to make a point. For Steve Nicol, the first name on the sheet is no joking matter. Shalrie Joseph.

Kyle Beckerman ran rampant on Saturday, and the Union need a better plan to contain Joseph. He is one of the most influential players in MLS and his absence in July was a big reason the Union waltzed through the Revolution midfield for 90 minutes.

Joseph will likely sit behind Benny Feilhaber or Pat Phelan. Feilhaber hit the showers early when these teams last met, and Philly will be doing their best to get under his skin from the opening whistle.

With Joseph and Ryan Cochrane returning to the lineup, the Revolution have a much stronger spine than they did in July. This could cause major problems for Philly if they continue to have only Danny Mwanga and… Danny Mwanga in the box for crosses. The Union will have to use their wings effectively to possess the ball in the final third, allowing more runners into dangerous areas.

When Keon Daniel has been absent, the Union have struggled to connect their fullbacks and wingers. A strong offensive performance from Sheanon Williams needs to be matched by good interplay between the starting Farfan and likely left mid Justin Mapp.

What else is different?

Aside from returning players, the Revs have a few new faces this time around. Designated Player Milton Caraglio scored two against New York on August 20th. He was actually called up to the Argentina national squad during Diego Maradona’s reign, but an injury forced him out. He will likely partner with Rajko Lekic, and both will receive service from new signing Monsef Zerka. Signed just before the originally scheduled Union-Revs matchup, Zerka has yet to feature in MLS play. He was used in a wide role in a reserve match against Toronto.

In the back

Carlos Valdes returns for the Union but Brian Carroll remains a doubt. [UPDATE: Brian Carroll’s status was updated to probable on WEdnesday afternoon.] Why was Gabe Farfan out of the starting eleven last game? Did anybody ask Mr. Nowak? Did I miss it? Stefani Miglioranzi could step up a few yards into the holding midfield role or Nowak could allow Amobi Okugo to continue. Okugo recovered from a tough start to show flashes of his box-to-box ability against Real Salt Lake. But Nowak has been reluctant to use him as a lone holding mid since his toe injury, and that could be an issue if the other center midfielder is…

Adu, Freddy Adu

He is a gifted creator, and the assumption is that he was brought in to fill the clear void the Union have at attacking midfield. Thus far, Adu has only fulfilled that old chess adage that ‘Knights on the rim are twice as dim.’ Meaning he has been pretty mehhh as a winger.

The only things that would keep Adu out of the starting eleven at this point are his fitness or a very real fear that Shalrie Joseph will manhandle him. And that’s no knock on Adu, it’s just what Joseph does to attacking mids. With that in mind, don’t be surprised to see Nakazawa on Wednesday night, as he has proven to be quite adept at playing a simple and specific man-marking role.

If neither Naka or Adu are in the starting eleven, you can go ahead and get your beers and snacks during Union corners and free kicks.

What all of this hemming and hawing tells us is that there is still no clear starting midfield for the Union.

Between the pipes

The big news is that Zac MacMath will make his first MLS start on Wednesday. With Faryd Mondragon out for a month, MacMath is the clear number one (the Union’s goalkeeping promo calls him “The Future” and Thorne Holder “The Wildcard”).

MacMath aggressively attacked corner kicks against RSL, and he will have to mix it up again against the 6’2″ Caraglio and omnipresent Shalrie Joseph.

Last time around

New England 0-3 Union

Goals: PHI – Carlos Ruiz (Keon Daniel, Justin Mapp) 12th minute; Carlos Valdes (Sebastien Le Toux, Kyle Nakazawa) 24th minute; Sheanon Williams (Danny Mwanga) 93+ minute

Yellow Cards: Feilhaber (49); Keon Daniel (71)

Red Cards: Feilhaber (66)

Probable lineups

Philadelphia (4-2-2-2)

MacMath; Williams; Valdes; Califf (c); Garfan; Le Toux; Nakazawa; Miglioranzi; Mapp; Paunovic; Mwanga

New England (4-4-2 diamond)

Reis; Alston; Cochrane; Soares; Tierney; Boggs; Joseph; Phelan; Feilhaber; Caraglio; Lekic

Likely subs

NE: Fagundez; Zerka

PHI: Pele; Crouch; Cruyff; random guess; whoknows

Injuries

NE: OUT: Nyassi (R knee MCL sprain); QUESTIONABLE: Dube (whiplash), McCarthy (L shoulder subluxation); PROBABLE: Reis (L knee irritation), Caraglio (L groin strain), Alston (L hamstring irritation), Coria (L knee MCL sprain)

PHI: OUT: Houapeu (L ankle strain); DOUBTFUL: Carroll (R foot sprain); QUESTIONABLE: Marfan (L knee contusion)

Suspended

NE: Kenny Mansally

Suspended after next caution

NE: Phelan

PHI: Califf; Carroll

International duty

PHI: Keon Daniel

Miscellany

• The Union have never lost to New England (2-0-1)
• Philly and New England have identical records since the beginning of July
• The Revs haven’t been shut out since the Union blanked them on July 17
• Since Fabian Espindola tied the match at 3 in the 83rd minute on July 4, the Revs have given up a goal in the final ten minutes of every match except one (a 1-0 win over DC on July 20)
• In their last meeting, the Union had 7 shots on goal to New England’s 0
• The Union are 5-1-6 at PPL Park, with no game being decided by more than one goal
• The official pronunciation of “Thorne Holder” is “Thorn Holder”

Prediction

You tell us.