Photo by Paul Rudderow

Technically, the Union still have a chance to make the playoffs. It’s a small chance, but it is there. But with no action at the close of the Secondary Transfer Window last week paired with an embarrassing loss to Montreal, many Union fans are trying to figure out why they should keep watching the rest of the season. Granted, making the playoffs, let alone finding the team’s first ever playoff win, would make for a Cinderella story like nothing this league has ever seen before. That slimmest of possibilities isn’t enough for many people.

Luckily, even though the team doesn’t have much left to play for, there’s plenty of reasons for individual players to keep giving it their all until the season closes in late October. Some will be playing to cement their position in the starting lineup next year, some will be playing to earn a contract extension or renewal, and a few will be looking to draw attention from outside the team or even the league.

Andre Blake

The Jamaican’s contract could end with this season, but with a team option to add one more year, there’s no reason to expect him to leave for free. He turned heads at the Gold Cup, but an unfortunate injury means he missed an opportunity to showcase his skill in the final. Once his hand is healed, he’ll likely be giving his all for the remainder of the season, trying to draw attention for a well-deserved move to Europe. It’s also his last chance to show his talent this year, as Jamaica failed to make the cut for the Hex in CONCACAF World Cup Qualifying.

Jack Elliott

He’s a rookie of the year contender and performing well above what could be expected of a Generation Adidas player, let alone a fourth round pick. Not only could a continued run of form change the “contender” title to “favorite”, he could also make an impact on how the Union handle the rest of their depth at center back. With a lower contract and more than adequate skill, it wouldn’t be shocking to see the Union move on from Richie Marquez should the young Brit give them a chance to.

Oguchi Onyewu

Another surprise success story at center back, he’s allegedly 35. That’s perilously close to ancient by soccer standards, but he’s shown he still has plenty of gas left in the tank so far this season. If he keeps it up, he could find himself playing when he’s 36, and with the right contract, the Union would be lucky to have him.

Ilsinho

Ilsinho has been a bit of a frustration for fans since he arrived, as his unquestionable skill with the ball is almost crippled with occasionally poor decision making. He’s been the best of the No. 10s this year, but that’s faint praise, and his contract is very heavy for what else the Union could be getting for that money. However, it’s not inconceivable that even at 31 he’s not quite ready to hang up his cleats. If he shows value in the remaining games this season, it’s not unbelievable that the Union could offer him a (much smaller) contract for next year, or maybe he could find a home on some other team.

Jay Simpson

This is a tough one, since it seems very likely that he’s only going to have fragments of games to work with through the end of the season. Making things even tougher is the fact that he simply does not fit the system the Union insist on playing, so he won’t exactly have ideal conditions to make his case with the few minutes he’ll find. But what he will have is stacks of motivation. Presumably he’s not crying over the sizable checks he’s receiving for hanging out at practice, but at 28 years old this can’t be when, where, or how he wants his career to end. And that’s what he’s up against if he doesn’t get out of Philadelphia- the end of his career. So his best hope is to showcase his talent with every second he gets and hope for a trade or transfer to somewhere his skills will be better used.