Photo Paul Rudderow
The Gold Cup break, the halfway point of the regular season schedule, and the summer transfer window all suggest it is time to estimate a combined depth chart for the Philadelphia Union, the Bethlehem Steel, and the upper echelon of the Academy as a single whole.
The Union roster numbers 31 and the Steel just 13. The Academy young men who have played significant match-day roles for the Steel are in transition. Eric Ayuk is loaned out, so he will not be listed.
Remember that the USL roster players are open to offers from other MLS clubs, technically. The Union have right of first refusal on three Steel players, and after that, in theory, another club could offer an MLS contract and sign the USL player. However, such roster raiding does not seem to happen, so far.
Explanatory notes
“This roster has been assembled to be disassembled when the time comes for youth to take their place.” – quoted from a comment by “Phil in Wilmington” on Philly Soccer Page, May 1st, 2017 at 1:55 pm EDT.
What follows below is PSP’s take — from the perspective of the Steel — on such a chart for 2017.
As with any matrix, the horizontal rows are all of a piece, as are the vertical columns, whether implicit or overt for particular cells. Each block of cells is in rank order. Injured players not currently available are in grey strikethrough typeface. Academy graduated seniors — all, save Fontana and Romero who are younger — matriculate at NCAA post-secondary institutions beginning August 1.
Flank Midfielders especially should be considered interchangeable for depth purposes.
Whether Adam Najem is a number 10 or a number 8 remains a question. Comments from coach Burke suggest the organizations favors the number 10.
Union 18 Candidates Union-Steel Loanees Steel/Academy* Players
Strikers – 5
| C. J. Sapong |
|
Seku Conneh |
| Jay Simpson |
|
Amoy Brown |
| Charlie Davies |
|
|
Right Flank Midfielders – 6
| Chris Pontius |
|
Santi Moar |
| Marcus Epps |
|
Yosef Samuel |
| Fabian Herbers |
|
Seth Kuhn* |
Attacking Center Midfielders – 6
| Ilsinho |
Adam Najem |
Anthony Fontana* |
| Roland Alberg |
|
Josh Heard |
Left Flank Midfielders – 3
| Fafa Picault |
|
Cory Burke |
|
|
Chris Nanco |
Center Midfielders – 6
| Alejandro Bedoya |
|
James Chambers |
| Derrick Jones |
|
Brenden Aaronson* |
Maurice Edu |
|
|
Defensive Center Midfielders – 5
| Haris Medunjanin |
Ken Tribbett |
|
| Warren Creavalle |
|
|
| Brian Carroll |
|
Chris Wingate |
Right Backs – 3
| Ray Gaddis |
Aaron Jones |
|
| Keegan Rosenberry |
|
|
Right Center Backs – 3
| Jack Elliott |
|
Hugh Roberts |
| Josh Yaro |
|
|
|
|
|
Left Center Backs – 3
| Oguchi Onyewu |
Auston Trusty |
Matt Mahoney |
| Richie Marquez |
|
|
Left Backs – 4
| Giliano Wijnaldum |
|
Matt Real |
| Fabinho |
|
Charlie Reymann |
Goalkeepers – 6
| Andre Blake |
Jake McGuire |
Tomas Romero* |
| John McCarthy |
|
Kris Shakes* |
| |
|
Eoin Gawrownski* |
Author: Tim Jones
Still learning soccer after nearly five decades. A southwestern Ohio buckeye transplanted to Chester County. Used to teach history, enjoys new ideas, sometimes bakes bread, is a sports fan, and loves apparently unconnected connections.
Why is Chris Wingate crossed out? I believe he played in Steel’s last game
Yes, he started. And he came off injured in the 42nd minute.kj
I filed this before the Fontana signing was announced yesterday afternoon.
.
He is now listed on the union’s website in their roster. The announcement implies he is inactive until January 1, 2018, although it does not use that exact wording