photo: Daniel Studio
Darlington Nagbe, Roy Miller, and Fernando Adi were all on target as the Portland Timbers rattled off three unanswered goals to beat the Philadelphia Union 3-1 in Chester.
Richie Marquez scored his first goal of the season to open the scoring, but it would only end up being a consolation.
Union head coach Jim Curtin made just one change to the team that lost in D.C. last Saturday. C.J. Sapong replaced Jay Simpson leading the line. Richie Marquez recovered from concussion protocol in time to keep his place alongside Oguchi Onyewu in central defense.
The first chance of the match fell to Philadelphia as Sapong did ever so well to backheel a ball into space on the left corner of the Portland area for Fabinho to run onto. But Jake Gleeson was out quickly to smother the attempt, sliding out and saving with his feet as Fabinho tried to poke the ball through.
Alejandro Bedoya earned the Union a set piece about 25 yards out from the Portland goal, just off to the right in the 17th minute. Haris Medunjanin took the free kick and forced a fine save from Gleeson with a well struck ball that the Timbers’ keeper dove to his left to push aside.
Philadelphia would finally break through in the 26th minute. Medunjanin swung in a well-placed corner from the left, and Richie Marquez rose highest to head into the bottom right corner from just inside the penalty spot.
The lead would be short lived though, with the Timbers striking back in the 32nd minute. Derrick Jones failed to clear a bouncing ball and Darlington Nagbe intercepted. The Union youngster failed to push into a big enough challenge to win the ball back, and Nagbe was able to fire into the bottom corner from 20 yards. The shot came through sets of Union defender legs, but Blake will be disappointed to have been beaten from such distance.
The Union started the second half on the front foot. Ilsinho made a driving run with the ball in the 53rd minute, picking up the ball near the midfield line and making a mazy run through the Portland back line before firing just wide with his left foot from 20 yards.
Jim Curtin would call on Roland Alberg and Fabian Herbers in the 65th minute, as they replaced Derrick Jones and Chris Pontius.
But Portland would take the lead in the 66th minute. Diego Valeri floated in a perfect free kick from 40 yards out that Roy Miller was able to flick on and beat Blake to the far post on the left side.
Portland put the game out of reach with a third goal in the 88th minute. Fabinho scuffed a clearance, and Portland sub Darren Mattocks latched onto the ball and was one on one with Andre Blake. Mattocks did well to push the ball past Blake and the Union goalkeeper could only pull down the midfielder. The foul looked to be on the edge of the area, but a penalty was awarded.
Fanendo Adi stepped up to take the penalty, and sent Blake the wrong way, firing down the center of the goal.
The Union are next in action when they host NYCFC on Friday at 7 p.m. at Talen Energy Field.
Three points
- Killed on corner counters: Portland took advantage of Philadelphia’s lack of speed by quickly initiating the counterattack after Union corners. It worked multiple times, including the final goal.
- Bedoya at the 8: Bedoya dropped back to the No. 8 center midfield role after Roland Alberg entered the match, but it didn’t help the result.
- Simpson/Sapong: Simpson and Sapong finally featured together at the same time, but it wasn’t the two-striker set you’d expect. Instead, Sapong slid out to the wing.
Lineups
Philadelphia Union
Andre Blake, Fabinho, Richie Marquez, Oguchi Onyewu, Keegan Rosenberry, Derrick Jones (Fabian Herbers 65′), Haris Medunjanin, Ilsinho (Jay Simpson 78′), Alejandro Bedoya, Chris Pontius (Roland Alberg 65′), C.J. Sapong
Unused Subs: Jake McGuire, Ray Gaddis, Jack Elliott, Warren Creavalle, Marcus Epps
Portland Timbers
Jake Gleeson, Lawrence Olum, Roy Miller, Marco Farfan, Alvas Powell, Diego Chara, Darlington Nagbe, Diego Valeri (Amobi Okugo 82′), Sebastian Blanco (Darren Mattocks 71′), David Guzman, Fanendo Adi (Jack Barmby 89′)
Unused subs: Vytautas Andriuskevicuius, Chance Myers, Jeremy Ebobisse, Darren Mattocks, Jeff Attinella
Scoring summary
PHI: Richie Marquez — 26′ (Haris Medujanin)
POR: Darlington Nagbe — 32′
POR: Roy Miller — 66′ (Diego Valeri)
POR: Fanendo Adi – 88′ (penalty kick)
Disciplinary summary
POR: David Guzman — 16′ (unsporting behavior)
PHI: Haris Mejunjanin— 45+3′ (unsporting behavior)
POR: Lawrence Olum – 73′ (unsporting behavior)
PHI: Andre Blake – 85′ (unsporting behavior)
POR: Fanendo Adi – 89′ (delaying the restart of play)
PHI: Oguchi Onyewu – 90+4′(dissent)
| Philadelphia Union | Portland Timbers | |
|---|---|---|
| 11 | Shots | 12 |
| 4 | Shots on Target | 6 |
| 3 | Shots off Target | 4 |
| 4 | Blocked Shots | 2 |
| 6 | Corner Kicks | 3 |
| 20 | Crosses | 11 |
| 0 | Offsides | 3 |
| 12 | Fouls | 8 |
| 3 | Yellow Cards | 3 |
| 0 | Red Cards | 0 |
| 404 | Total Passes | 419 |
| 79% | Passing Accuracy | 78% |
| 49.6% | Possession | 50.4% |
| 52 | Duels Won | 48 |
| 52% | Duels Won % | 48% |
| 19 | Tackles Won | 16 |
| 3 | Saves | 3 |
| 13 | Clearances | 16 |
Holy fuck we are depressing to watch.
When do we play Minnesota?
At this point, I think Minnesota is saying “when do we play Philly?”
My Dearly Departed. No coincidence this has been a morass since he got hatcheted by the sitting manager then traded for a guy who isn’t going to play for almost two years. Karma.
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I love this team and I love this franchise… a recessive gene trait has given me no choice in this matter and have so inherited this Union of the Snake as a fan base– but I simply refuse to stand by casually and accept the many gross misjudgements of play which plagues them week in week out – game in game out- season in season out. So I write..
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… and put them to the tusks. Squarely gutted in the viscera just as I feel squarely gutted in the viscera almost regularly.
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The series of plays and thinking that led to the third Portland gol in the 84th minute typifies almost every shortcoming this team has. From the utter lack of understanding by two players to find a half-space for a marvelous header back into play from Marquez that would have likely evened the score, to the gutless tepid toe poke by Keegan Rosenberry, to the utterly mind-numbing ineptitude of Fabinho who should NEVER step foot on a Union field again after such a grievous and terrible decision that even my elementary school players know to play back to the keeper under that kind of circumstance. Laughingstock. Flailing aimlessly. You are what you earn.
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I repeat now for the third time without yet one single reply, who is pushing Keegan Rosenberry. In any other league, he would be in significant danger of losing his job- but here, safe and cushioned and it shows in his play almost every week. He is not young— so don’t give me the bullshit excuse.” It’s okay buddy. Go get em next time.” NO EDGE. SOFT… casual and I’m sad to say it. Who is putting him to the stone to get his act together. I know the answer- No Body.
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I was this close {…} to accepting defeat in the name of what appeared to be playing somewhat better– but then the last 30 minutes happened and you blew it. Not Cool.
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Winless in 13. Three wins since the All Star Break last season. 35 goals against. 22 goals for.
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“I knew this was a big mistake
There’s a fine line drawing
My senses together
And I think it’s about to break
If I listen close I can hear them singers.”
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Union of the Snake. Duran Duran.
Jerome is back , SAME OLS SH-T DIFFERENT YEAR, TIME TO GET ANOTHER TEAM , BUILT A STADIUM IN DOWNTOWN PHILLY WITH NEW OWNERSHIP, LET THE AMATEURS STAY IN CHESTER
The extra kick to the beanbag was Amobi coming on, wasn’t it………Lol! Everything you said, plus I’ll add that Bedoya is a turnover factory in the middle of the pitch, nightmare stuff. Hope all is well and here we go again! ” Will it go round in circles”……..
Upsetting performance. Very little on field leadership particularly in the second half. Bedoya displayed poor possession and passing. Ugh
Absolutely everything… every part of this club… is flat out NOT GOOD ENOUGH. (save: the Academy). Everyone is accountable.
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I don’t know what else to say. I thought we (some what) turned a corner last year. This is getting old 🙁
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WSSM
I’ll spare you reading tomorrow’s pressed quotes:
Uh yeah, so a tale of two halves,thought we looked good early, then let in an equalizer, tough break really unlucky on that header. Thought Richie showed a lot, back in the lineup, gets a goal, so I’m happy for him.
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Again, yeah, you know, there’s a lot of accountability in the locker room, guys are tight,we’ll work hard, tight week with NYC Friday.
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Did I think it was a PK? Well, there’s contact outside, I mean you guys can judge, but the ref saw something, kind of unlucky but yeah some calls go against.
Spot on. I’d rather he skip it.
WoW.
That’s amazing. I swear if I didn’t know better I’d say that was Curtain for sure!
There may have been 30 mins of good soccer in that match. I’m not saying together, but it wasn’t all awful. the beginning was bright, middle was saggy, subs were at least 5 mins too late. The last 30+ was just awful.
I hate walking out before the final whistle but I saw enough. Don’t think I’ll be down to Chester again until some very important moves are made.
Very important moves? Like a new coach. And new players. And a sporting director who signs more than just retreads from leagues that are marginally better than MLS.
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And a sponsor other than a derogatory term for a woman.
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And a number 10.
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Does anyone besides me worry that the academy players are looking at the first team and thinking, “I better go to college or sign overseas, because I don’t want to be stuck playing for this shitty team.”
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Has Blake ever saved a penalty? Ever? Who imagined that he was going to be sold to England for 7 figures? Wishful thinking.
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The pundits were saying the team needed and could get 7 points from the 3 game homestand. I predicted 1 point. That would be an amazing accomplishment now.
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Goodbye Curtin. Earnie, hire a real manager or you’ll be next.
Yes, yes he has. I think it was against Kaka last year… the only one that comes to mind though.
Portland was average tonight. They didn’t impress. Not saying they aren’t good cause they are better than the Union, but this was a winnable home game. We just aren’t good. Annoying… and aggravating.
For a myriad of reasons the Union are just not a good MLS team right now.
So, would anybody be disappointed if I magically failed to find any news links about this game? It’s getting more and more depressing to do :'(
Yes. 😉
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Now, you truly know what it is to be part of PSP, to keep producing when the team just flat out sucks.
Yeoman’s work bro. Not unnoticed either. Please keep on keepin’ on!
I thought the Union played well until they scored and then lost all their momentum. Of course, that’s not how it’s supposed to be, when you score you need to gain rather than lose momentum.
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Glad the foul was called inside the box rather than outside. Otherwise it’s probably a red card and Blake doesn’t play Friday. Better to give up another goal in a game you’re not getting anything out of anyway (at least the way they were playing).
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One thing I noticed was that when Portland would get the ball off a set piece deep in their own territory, they would look to counter quickly. The Union, not so much. Until they learn to do this they are just going to keep getting beaten.
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Still haven’t figured out why this was a 7pm start rather than 4 or earlier. It was warmer earlier and they wouldn’t have been directly competing with the Phillies/76’ers for attendance.
There was a match on Unimas at 4 — DC/NYCFC. Is that an exclusive window where no other matches can be played?
Then play the game at 1. Too bad for the Portland fans who have to watch the game at 10am. It’s not like the games out there don’t start at a pretty inconvenient time for us.
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In addition to the team being so poor, attendance is not going to be helped by playing at the same time as other local teams.
I’m sticking with this team…because when they eventually get their s*** together in 5 years, I want to say I never left them.
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That’s all I got, and it’s flimsy at best.
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Where’s the reset button? How about we do like the Cleveland Browns, where the team relocated, and then we get a new franchise with the same name.
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Wait…that didn’t work out well for Cleveland. Dammit. Out of ideas.
I’m sticking with the Union. Till the day I die… ruthless in truth and abandonment are two different agendas.
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Lucky for MLS. Lucky for Union… we are not the casuals so desperately sought… notice slacking attendance, more listless fan base.
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Reset Good Friday.
I’m sticking with the U too. I love this team and I love football. It’s just getting obnoxious. We have to get better. Excuse my language BUT – It’s been 7 fucking years… get it the fuck together
I’m sticking with the club as well, but continuing to being a STH which I’ve been since Day 1 is up for review. It’s just too depressing walking out after each home match and wondering if things will ever change with this franchise.
Same here. Agreed with everything you said
+1
I did not renew my STH status for last year’s season, hoping these guys would lure me back, eventually. For now though that money has been better spent elsewhere and as time goes by I’m liking my decision more and more… Hopefully one day the product is good enough to make the commitment again
Same here, an unfortunate truth but most of us have to be pragmatic about these things. The cost of being a STH is enormous, in time as much if not arguably more so, as in dollars.
I didn’t like not re-upping last year but after that season, and so far this one, it’s feeling like a v. good decision.
Ilsinho was a black hole tonight, with every ball that went to him reappearing as a Portland possession. Turnovers from bad passes and from over-dribbling are all that I see from him these last couple of weeks. The rest of the midfield is where offense goes to die. I cannot understand why the central defenders are racing strikers that are in offside position back, just to bring them back onside. The set pieces were again a problem…and I haven’t even thought about everything negative tonight. Honestly, I am beginning to think that this team is competing for the lowest expectations since the beginning. I find very little hopeful.
Funny of all the things upside down, this comment about the one guy with skill capable of destroying the other team’s shape … who unleashed pretty much the only good offensive run of play threat in the whole game – aside from a seeing eye header.
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6inches to the right and that’s a fantastic gol… like we see quite often from other skill players.
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Ilsinho is for certainty– NOT the problem.
Agreed. Ilsinho is not great but he is certainly not a problem
Disagree – he is not the problem, but he is certainly one of them. That sequence was pretty, but was about the only thing he contributed all night. Sick of him attempting to make his own highlight reel then losing the ball. He has become this teams Ronaldinho – good for a trick or two, but doesn’t really affect the game nor have positives that outweigh his negatives.
I have noticed is whenever he tries to make something out of nothing it is because he has few to no options. Without Rosenberry for support he is often forced to go it alone.
At least Pontius has Fabhino trying to provide relief.
Sorry, but frequently I agree with you, not here. That was a nice run, and it would have been a beautiful goal. Still, even a blind pig finds a truffle occasionally. Here, he was not confronted, he crossed the field and actually had a passing option ahead that could have worked a give and go to free Ilsinho himself. I am still critical of him.
Let’s all agree. Too many problems.
Trotting out the same formation w/ the same players making the same mistakes. There is no free flowing instinctual ball movement. It’s like watching someone trying to dance and counting steps out loud to themselves.The slightest interruption throws them off. Either this team is not physically skilled enough to make even basic plays or they’re not mature enough or mentally tough enough to do so. Is it the coach? Yes it’s the coach! Acting like your making some big sacrifice by taking the blame when you are a big part of the problem just highlights what’s wrong. All these new players an it’s the same problems. Why not for the heck of it fit the formation to you team. The world says play 2 up top(Simpson and Sapong) and move Bedoya to a position he actually plays. RB is no longer catching opponents by surprise and needs to step it up. LB is still a problem after how many years? Fitting squares into round holes smacks of Hackworth. It’s not always that you lose but it’s how you lose. Set play…again! But it shouldn’t even come to that. You lose because you don’t create enough sustained quality pressure.
Its called INSANITY… doing the same thing, over and over, expecting different results.
4-4-2 would allow our full talents to flourish, with people in proper positions. But Curtin will never do that. So enough is enough.
PROTEST FRIDAY NIGHT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
LOUDLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
AUG-UST TWENTY SEVENTH!
is the cheer…
AUG-UST TWENTY SEVENTH!
AUG-UST TWENTY SEVENTH!
AUG-UST TWENTY SEVENTH!
AUG-UST TWENTY SEVENTH!
AUG-UST TWENTY SEVENTH!
AUG-UST TWENTY SEVENTH!
AUG-UST TWENTY SEVENTH!
AUG-UST TWENTY SEVENTH!
AUG-UST TWENTY SEVENTH!
Predicted Union 1, Timbers 4. Watching it at the stadium, I thought the Timbers actually looked flat much of the time.
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Kudos to the ballboy who tried to hold off Adi from taking it out of his hands after his goal.
Best part of the evening.
Give that kid a paying job!
My friends in Oregon asked me for a prediction and I had it 1-4 as well. WSSM. But I’m hanging in there waiting patiently for Union 3.0 which cannot come soon enough.
Had a chance to attend a 30-minute “Chalk Talk” session with Jim Curtain in the press room from 5:30pm to 6:00pm. Some good questions from the limited number of fans in attendance. I hope I’m not breaking some type of confidence or confidentially assumption. Hey, it was the press room… so here goes.
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He acknowledged Ale’s tendency to get too high and the need for him to come back in order to link play. (So, it’s not instruction coming from the couches.) He also noted that losing Yaro has had a domino effect on the right… different style of play at CB (pros and cons), but it’s limited Rosenberry’s involvement in the attack. “Oguchi likes to keep Keegan close.”
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Talked about inverting the triangle with Derrick and Ale up top… hinted at Alberg at 10 and maybe Ale on the right (mentioned the expected level of fitness it takes to cover ground at the 10 in this system and that Alberg is very close.
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He ran through top 3 defensive and attacking priorities for the game. What passing lanes they sought to block (Pontius and Ilsinho responsibilities), for example. An emphasis on restarts/corners this week in practice. (Two good ones in the first half with the Richie’s corner header and Haris’ free kick.) Attacking the rookie left back, etc.
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He acknowledged the importance of the next three games and finishing chances. He takes responsibility for the results. Talked about managing the balance of having confidence/belief in players and the competition/holding accountable, not panicking into dramatic overhauls to the 11, but knowing when to make changes and what changes to make if a player is struggling.
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It was quite candid.
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No one asked outright if there was a plan to find a more natural “10” during the summer transfer window. Ran out of time, but it was on my list.
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Oh, and Yaro’s healing seems to be going well. Saw him signing autographs in the stadium at half-time.
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Curtain’s response to Edu’s healing process seemed guarded to me… This is purely speculation and trying to read, body language/tone, but it seemed like it’s really not a good outlook. Maybe that is unfair to say, but that’s how it came across to me.
Good stuff. Thanks for sharing.
Its the Coach… and the formation… 4-1-2-1-2-1 (whatever) does NOT work in MLS or anywhere else.
Simpson excelled in the 4-4-2, scored a lot of goals because of his speed. And combined with the toughness Sapong brings to the pitch, am I the only one that can see this?
And Haris… PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE… look up before you pass the ball. 6th grade fundamental. I watched you last night. EVERY PASS THAT DID NOT CONNECT, YOUR HEAD WAS LOOKING DOWN. PLEASE, look up!
Bedoya = waste of money so far… but because he’s lost some gas… or because of Curtin’s uninspiring field management, playing Aly out of position, constantly.
And as far as Mo is concerned… sorry, life is tough, but that’s that. He might come back in 2018… but to what end? Might be time to hang ’em up Mo… and that’s OK. Really, REALLY loved watching you at PPL. Thanks for it all!
Thanks for posting this.
Great report. Very telling! @HopkinsMD
I’m bummed about the continual losing and mediocrity but really this was the strangest verb tense for a recap… The team would do a lot of things, and they DID lose.
Two games in a row where Fabinho comically gifts the adversary goals that basically deflate any hope that the Union might have had in stealing a point. He brings something to the attack and works hard, but his crosses have been wanting, as Tommy Smith pointed out several times last night, and, thus, it’s time to give Wijnaldum a shot. And Picault. Seems that we are lacking in pace, and those two would help out big time in that regard, but the lapses in concentration are probably the biggest problem.
I do not lose faith, but that coiled snake in our logo is beginning to look like something else, something reflective of the inescapable fact that our team’s initials are PU!
On the coaching question, it might help were Curtin to actually get angry or happy once in a while — Come on, dude, kick over a Gatorade bottle or something! They guy obviously knows the game and cares, but he has the personality of a doorknob and one wonders how inspirational he can possibly be. Thank God we’re not in a fox-hole with him in charge.
If we do not beat Montreal, also winless thus far this season, at Talen on Delaware, Curtin simply must go. Sorber, too. Steward should do everything in his power to replace them with Ray Hudson and Carlos Valderrama and Tony Meola!
John Harkes
Was discussing the U the other night and one of my friends had a VERY interesting idea. As you said, “Two games in a row where Fabinho comically gifts the adversary goals”
I said to my buddy they should start Wijnaldum, but he has seen a lot of BSFC games and says that there are academy players better than Wijnaldum.
So he said, why not give Pontius a try there? Pontius is the ultimate professional, works had but has been almost invisible this year. You move him back, fix the Fabinho problem and make room for Picault or some other game-changer to start on the left.
Interesting idea. I think it sounds good on paper, but honestly I’ve noticed that Pontius does not really commit to tackles too much, I think he’s very mindful of contact given his history of injuries and I’m not sure how that would work for a left back playing defense.
Wow we are horrible. It angers me to see such poor attendance and terrible atmosphere though. I feel that if they put the stadium either in the heart of Philly or in the suburbs that it would be a sellout every game. The only reason I don’t go to every game is that the stadium is too far away and I don’t wanna get shot every time I drive through Chester to go to the game.
Not “terrible atmosphere”, just quieter than normal, and kudos to the SOB for going rain or shine.
Yesterday had no energy in the stadium. Even the Doop song after Richie goal was muted.
I know personally, this has been the toughest season to watch. Curtin refuses to change ANYTHING. The line up is the same as it was… and ya’ know what? That’s called INSANITY… doing the same thing, over and over, expecting different results.
Its time to check them all in.
A PROTEST IS IN ORDER FRIDAY NIGHT…
ENOUGH IS ENOUGH
“NICE GUYS FINISH LAST”.
POOD!
If you do something multiple times and end up seeing the same thing happen over and over again, wouldn’t your enthusiasm for that thing drop just a bit with each passing day? It’s human nature.
I disagree with the idea of putting the stadium in Philly. It might bring more people from the city but you’d lose a lot of people from Delco. My wife and I would definitely not be STH in the city and almost certainly wouldn’t have gone last night with the traffic hassles of the Phillies and 76’ers playing simultaneously.
Dude that’s weak as hell, you wouldnt be a STH because the stadium would b in the city and you’d have to deal with traffic my god thats rediculous man take a train or just deal with the five minutes of traffic, it’s really not that bad, I can get back to south jersey from an Eagles game in a 5 to 10 min range.It would be great if the stadium was closer or in the city itself. People could make a day out of it by mayb goin to a bar having lunch and head to game like they do in places such as Portland and the like
Do you really have the right to make a judgement on the decision as to how my family and I spend our time and money? If we decide we don’t want to go to games in the city that is our business and not yours. We happen to not like it enough that we don’t bother going in when the USMNT is playing there either. The traffic hassles I mentioned were specifically for last night when 2 other games were being played in the same area.
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And that’s a great idea of yours, suggesting people go have lunch at a bar before a 7 o’clock game. Just what we need, more people who’ve been drinking for 7 hours to make the experience even worse.
For every fan coming from Delco there would be 20 fans if the stadium was actually in the city. I know it’s a moot point but that was the greatest mistake this franchise made. WSSM
I’m old enough to remember all the previous “professional” soccer teams that played in the city of Philadelphia.
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Funny how all of them failed with a lack of attendance.
Apples and oranges – different era.
▼ And the count down continues…..
Listless, playing as individuals, hands in HIS pockets yelling at the 4th ref with no answers for this squad.
One down, two to go… meaning why Earnie is waiting for Curtin to lose all three home games in April is beyond me. Is it to further alienate a loyal fan base, drive attendance to its lowest(er) level, take the heart out of this fan base once and for all? Because our cheap *ss owner’s decisions are nothing more than a slimy profit strategy, like the 76ers?
Just do it… we all know you will. Just sell Andre for $10m and PLEASE, Jay, just walk away. PLEASE. Allow SOMEONE with some sense of Philadelphia pride to own this team (Mr. Middleton?). You sir, have NONE. Locating the stadium in Chester was the first sign this would be a debacle… and then the cascade of cheap decisions over the years have forced the fan base to what? Sit on their hands and do nothing? Really?
When is the fan base going to protest this cr*p?
WHEN ARE THE SOBs going to stop this nonsense and ACT, do something?
When can we expect our first win since August 27, 2016… 2018?
WHEN ARE WE GOING TO BOYCOT THIS MANEGEMENT AND SEND A CLEAR MESSAGE?
“NICE GUYS FINISH LAST”
POOD (the polar opposite of Doop!)
“Sell Andre for $10M”
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I needed a laugh this AM so thank you for providing that.
http://www.transfermarkt.com/andre-blake/profil/spieler/244149
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$800K. Slight difference.
Is Picault hurt? Why was he not in the eighteen again? Two weeks ago Curtain hinted that Fafa would definitely be getting his chance. wtf?
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Fabinho needs to sit. I don’t care if Wijnaldum is ready. He just cannot be worse than an obviously snake bitten Fabinho.
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It makes sense that Keegan is “staying close” to Gooch. But geeeeez it’s “turning the lights off” offensively on our entire right side. Yaro’s mobility is sorely missed.
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WE ARE PLAYING THE EXACT OPPOSITE OF TOTAAL VOETBAL NEDERLAND. Cruyff would probably barf watching our slow, technically challenged, one-dimensional starting eleven. C’mon Earnie take the reins. Just because JC is a ‘local boy’ doesn’t mean the fan base is blind! #takethereins
WSSM.
There’s really nothing to say at this point other than that this team is playing dazed and confused and Curtin is clearly not the guy who can fix it. He got the job too soon. Needs more time as an assistant coach. And he’d probably be an excellent one for a more experienced manager.
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Time to cut Jim loose and find a replacement fast. Interview Gio Savaese. Bring in someone who has a track record as a head coach.
I feel like I’ve seen this move before. Maybe sometime around 2014…
#closethecurtin
Who the hell on the union staff yelled out “next question” as soon as a reporter mentioned a coaching change? Thirteen winless in a row! Have some accountability and let your coach answer the damn question. Pathetic.
Surely he realizes that the quick fix to quiet a revolting fanbase is sack the manager. Curtin must make lineup changes: Pontius at LB mentioned above; start Ale at 8; Ilson Jr at 10; Sapong and Fafa at wings.
Lose Friday and it’s only a matter of time until . . . WHO is your next coach? Ramos? Harkes?
Curtin is a complete joke of a manager and the Union are losing fans at an alarming rate. He should resign if he had any self respect I mean he really sucks at preparing and motivating our mediocre players. Not a single good thing have I seen from this squad except Blake
Always love my team but damn it’s hard. Doop Doop
As far as the coach is concerned, this is still the same page from the previous regime. As a franchise we have never had a new coach from the outside. Curtin was assistant to hackworth who was assistant to Nowak. We need new! We’ve never had a real coach search to get excited about. Curtin is a great guy but his time is up. He’s got to go. Let’s get someone who has no idea about previous management decisions and all those debacles and start fresh.
Turned down tickets to go to this game. Very sorry style of play. There should be $100 fine for blindly kicking the ball down field with no union players around to receive it. Why can’t the union play the ball forward on the ground to their team mates feet. The team is missing something. Where is my Samuel Eto’o like player? Spend some money on impact players.
We are the slowest team in the Milky Way galaxy. The wings are where the attacks go to die, but the middle of the offensive field is like one gigantic black tile from the supermarket, and we sure as hell don’t want to step on that! Holy shit think about how many fans have given up on this team. Jesus you can’t call someone a Euro-snob just cause they refuse to watch the Union: last night nothing looked comfortable nothing looked inspired nothing looked right. Too slow in every way possible
Chivas Chester
There once was a GM (recently departed) who fired his manager and took over the on field management himself. Resulted in a parade down Broad Street. You listening Earnie?
+1 – until permanent replacement found…
The saddest part of all is that so many people saw this coming for so long. Some of you preached patience, but most of us saw this coming. Nothing changes
Somebody said it great a week or so ago:
MLS 1.0 – group of average MLS players with a/some USA DPs and college draft picks thrown in.
MLS 2.0 – group of average MLS players with some European world-class DPs on the downside of their career thrown in.
MLS 3.0 – group of average/above average MLS players with some DP world-class players in their prime added strategically to the mix.
We have one USA DP playing out of position. It should be no big surprise that MLS 1.0 is not working in 2017.
Hell even the fire just moved to 2.0
The team is not well coached. The current player mix is not good enough. Key positions are not adequately filled. There is no reason to believe that players being developed at the academy and USL levels offer long term promise. There is no indication that the sporting director has an adequate plan to address the above problems. The ownership is not going to invest in a major talent overhaul.
Simply, with the exception of not having to look at Sakiewicz or listen to him. are we really any better off than we were two years ago?
Not one vote for Jimbo today. One for Big Ern.
This organization at least makes a show of listening to SOBs, STHs, . . .
So I ask (again): who do you nominate – realistically?
I like Ramos.
Before this game I was hoping we were just on a slump and rationalizing that slump with reasons like: “we just need to wait for the pieces to gel” or “they just need to gain from after pre-season”. After this game I finally came to accept that we’re just a bad team, plain and simple. A disorganized collection of individuals of varying levels of talent and skill but without a common purpose, organization and leadership. No creativity on the field and it’s clear they’re not having fun playing soccer. They don’t want it and it’s just really hard to watch, and harder to turn it round I think. I hope changes are coming and soon or it’ll be a very long year.
This sums it up for me perfectly…
My positives…
We’re still very much in the running for the USOC 2017.
There were sincere apologies given at the concession stands for whatever problems they were having.
Scoring baseball games can be fun when you’re trying to not think about soccer.
Hot Dog Nation had no regular hot dogs available for a LONG time. One guy said he had been waiting since he entered the stadium and missed the entire team warm up, which he normally likes to watch. He finally got his about 10 minutes before the match started.
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The staff was sincerely apologetic, but how does that happen?
Are there planned protests?
Dear Ernie, welcome to America, it’s time to wheel and deal. Chicago has a number ten and we have a right back. There to many similar players and a few missing pieces. Time to go to work!
Voice of reason. Excellent.
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I think everyone should be moveable at this point. No one on the roster should be considered untouchable.
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Make something happen and make this roster better.
Wow. Glad I stopped going to games after last year. Seems like the downward trajectory has continued. So, I’ll chime in with usual — given the players we have, best hope is review by coach with team of fundamentals: trap, look, pass. Or, in competitive leagues it goes look, trap, pass, because you never have time after you trap the ball to look because opponents are on you. Discern where the space is opening, and since you are slow, get there before the ball is near you, because then too late. Improve all mental aspects of game: throw-in balls quickly if you have a player open, don’t wait until everyone is covered. Attack in packs, overload one area of the field. Defend in same way. You can overcome mediocre speed and talent with attention to mental game — passing angles, beating the offside trap, faking passes to buy time and draw out defenders. (When was the last time anyone saw a union player “fake” a pass?) Anyway, good luck Union. Rough times. Keep working. Good things will eventually occur.