Photo courtesy of Philadelphia Union
After announcing a heap of roster moves at both the first team and Bethlehem Steel level this morning, Philadelphia Union sporting director Ernst Tanner and head coach Jim Curtin held a press conference Monday afternoon, in which they spoke about the roster moves, reflected on the past season, and gave fans a preview of what to expect in the club’s upcoming tenth season.
Jim Curtin returning for 2019
Tanner satisfied the curiosities of most Union fans early, confirming that Jim Curtin would be returning to the club on a one-year contract extension.
“It’s more or less an extension of a collaboration,” Tanner said. “If it’s going well, we can prolong it anyway.”
Tanner also praised Curtin, now heading into his fifth full season as head coach, for his connection with his players.
“His relationship with the players is, from what I have seen, very, very good.” Tanner said. “And he’s an expert in developing young players, which will be a clear focus in the future as well.”
Tanner also mentioned Curtin’s fourth place finish in MLS Coach of the Year voting as part of his credentials.
Curtin spoke on the extension as well.
“This will be my fifth season at a pro soccer club,” Curtin said. “That’s a long time. I recognize that… I don’t really self-promote, but I think it is a little bit of a reflection that, no matter who I’ve worked with, they’ve found good qualities in what I do.”
Tanner’s tactical changes
Although he praised many aspects of the Union’s 2018 season and their current assets, including USL side Bethlehem Steel and the Academy, their training facilities, and their successful possession game throughout the past season, Tanner made it clear that he will be bringing some tactical changes to a side that he feels needs them.
“We’ve been doing very well in our possession game… but in a way it is time to change some other things in order to take the next step,” Tanner said. “I want to see a little bit more dynamics in our game, playing a little more aggressive with a little bit more compactness.”
His comments stood in stark contrast with the approach adopted by former sporting director Earnie Stewart, who preached a strict adherence to defined philosophy and principles regardless of opponent. While Stewart saw this adherence as a means to grow the club in a unified manner from the first team down to the youngest academy squads, Tanner sees a rigidity that can be a detriment at times.
“I find that we are a little bit too easy to reckon, especially when everyone knows that we are playing in a 4-2-3-1,” Tanner said. “Everything which helps you to win games… is welcome. We are not that stubborn focusing on [one thing] just for the sake of philosophy or whatever.”
More specifically, Tanner aims to add a transition-heavy aspect to the Union’s game that they can employ when a possession-based style isn’t a good fit for the opponent.
“The use of out of transition and the vertical play, that’s what we need to focus on… Maybe we should… focus on, in addition, what we are doing when we don’t have the ball.”
Playing quickly in transition is something Tanner has emphasized before — think Jesse Marsch’s Red Bulls side this season — and you can expect it to define many of the Union’s 2019 games.
Roster moves
“We for sure need to improve our roster.”
After parting ways with Jake McGuire, Richie Marquez, Josh Yaro, Marcus Epps, Fabian Herbers, Adam Najem, and Jay Simpson, Tanner and Curtin spoke about the moves and what the Union need to do to put the best product on the pitch.
“It’s always difficult to move on from players. They gave everything, when they had the opportunity, for the badge,” Curtin said. “Good players. I have no ill will or anything like that.”
Looking ahead, Tanner explained, “We are going to scout now… I will be over in Europe. Maybe going to Africa. I will be around in South America, maybe Latin America.” Tanner didn’t imply that he had any players in mind in particular, but scouting has been an issue for the Union in the past. Tanner’s history finding talent implies that it’s one of his strong points.
Tanner also updated the media on players whose contracts are still up in the air.
Tanner explained that star midfielder Borek Dockal’s return is “out of our hands.” Dockal’s club, Henan Jianye, has not renewed his loan to the Union. Tanner also mentioned that Dockal has made it clear that he wants to return to Europe, a wish that Tanner pledged to “take into account and respect.” The Union will do their best to retrieve Dockal for at least another season, but with his heart in Europe and his contract in China the Union aren’t in a strong negotiating position.
It seems like the Union will move on from longtime reserve goalkeeper John McCarthy. “He has been here for such a long time being the second goalkeeper, and he wants to play,” Tanner said. “I think we should respect this.”
The Union are currently speaking to the agents of Warren Creavalle and Ray Gaddis, who are both out of contract. The club hopes to bring both players back for next season.
Additional notes
Coaching changes. Goalkeeping coach Tim Hanley will not be returning to the Union for the 2019 season after just one season on the job. Tanner mentioned that he is “currently in talks” with another goalkeeping coach and hopes to make an announcement soon.
Matt Real’s impact next season. Curtin praised Matt Real’s performance this season with the Union and the Steel, and he praised the Academy product’s ceiling even more. “We’re very happy that we have [Real] in our system,” Curtin said. “His preseason will be critical… Being ready to grab a hold of [the left back] position is something we have high hopes for Matthew.”
Fafa Picault’s move inside. Curtin and Tanner also mentioned implementing a two-striker system. After two years used mainly on the wing, expect to see Fafa Picault at one of those two spots. “I see [Picault] more as a striker than a winger,” Tanner said. “And [he]… told us that he wants to play inside a little more.”
$1,314,409.27 cleared from the salary budget.
And 2 DP slots open. One of which was used last year. Dockal should be replaced by someone of similar quality/price (at ACM or ST) and honestly it’s not unreasonable to want the team to fill both DP slots.
They’ll probably fill one of the two, because they won’t want to pay the tax/premium on top of the salary for the 3rd DP.
Whether it works out or not, it’s so refreshing to hear the Sporting Director talk about flexibility and the need to change tactics depending on opponent or circumstance. Now we’ll really see what Jim can do.
Agreed… would KILL to see a 3-5-2
Whoa, two striker system? Finally.
Agreed. I have high hopes. Would’ve been nice if this had happened while Jay Simpson was still under contract.
Yea but Fafa as our second striker.
I have doubts.
Clearly ownership is content with mediocrity. Nothing else explains Curtin still having a job.
Sounds like he has no idea on a specific #10. I hope I am wrong. Starting a scouting /fishing trip in December is just wrong. WTF was the Union brain trust doing all season. At this point they should have already done their homework. They knew that Dokal was likely leaving after 1 year. This team is totally f’d if they don’t sign an equal or better player at his spot. They also need a quality hold up forward. Burke had a great year but they still need to get much better at that position. Keeping Accam and Sapong is just wrong if they want to improve. They need to leave both of those guys unprotected and pray that Cincinati takes them. Another 2 to 3 million plus the 1.7 million in players they won’t resign might get them a garaunteed equal to Dokal and maybe the forward they need to play their proposed 2 forward attack.They seem to have high expectations from Real.I hope they are right. So disappointed that Curtin is still here.
Get over it, the Dockal situation is over. Dockal is gone. Either back to China (who has his contract)or back to the Czech Republic(who probably want him and he wants to go to). It would be silly to get into a bidding war with Sparta when the player has expressed a desire to go home. We got his services for barely a season, but it put him back on the radar of Sparta and his national team. Thank you Borek, it was nice while it lasted, but time to move on.
“Keeping Accam and Sapong is just wrong” I completely agree. They have gotta go. When I watch Accam just let balls go by him because he doesn’t want to make the effort – I cringe. CJ, I cant explain him at all, its like he pulls back on a play. What I don’t understand is how/why they are picking apart the Steel.
Steel has been and will always be picked apart like this. There will be very few long term Steel players, which is the plan. Chambers is clearly one of them because he’s like a coach on the field for the young guys. Otherwise you get 1-3 years to show you can move up or your gone. That’s the reality of the team.
We just had our best season playing a possession system, and are one of the few in MLS doing that (so there is a chance for us to find value in players). I don’t get the reset. How does it help us to become the 5th or 6th team in the league that high presses.
I don’t think it’s a reset. I think possession will still be our general goal. They just want to be able to counter quickly against teams that can beat our possession or if the possession just isn’t working during a game. It’s more of an evolution of our philosophy than a rest.
Yeah i don’t think they are moving away from the possession game. In fact Ernst said something to the effect that they wanted to do more of this. It’s the shape and compactness when the Union doesn’t have the ball, is what they want to change. I for one totally agree. Their shape and spacing has been horrible except for a short stints during Curtin’s reign.
Tanner’s quote: “if we continue like we did until [now], that last playoff spot will probably be the choice we face. We are in professional soccer, and our measure is not developing players. Our measure is achieving ranks in the table, winning titles, doing as good as we can, winning every possible game.” Cue the angelic chorus!