Photo: Marjorie Elzey
Editor’s note: Tim Herring of Blue Bell, Pa., sent us this guest column after Philadelphia Union’s loss to Atlanta United.
Once again, Philadelphia Union complete a season — this their 10th. The team made a valiant effort (well, at least in the first half) in their second round playoff match against 3rd year Atlanta United, who blanked them 2-0 at Mercedes Benz Stadium in Atlanta. Congratulations, Atlanta.
Now that this season is complete for the Union, we must focus on the results and thus fully put aside the statistics, spin, exaggerations, and hype.
First, let’s focus on the overall results of this 10th season of the franchise:
- Finished the regular season in 5th place in MLS overall, out of 24 teams. No, don’t try and quote our Eastern Conference 3rd place finish. That is spin and no longer allowed. MLS is the top tier U.S. league, and we must compare ourselves with other such leagues of the world in order to improve our league and our team. So combine the two conferences into one league table and look at the results: We finished 5th. One year — though probably no earlier than 20 years into the future with the spineless group of MLS owners we have — we will have promotion and relegation in this league, and thus must prepare.
- “Made the playoffs.” But, a reality check: MLS has an inordinate proportion of (i.e. 50 percent — too many) teams allowed into the playoffs. So how impressive is this achievement in reality? (Those of us who played at least high school and college sports know the answer: Playoffs should be reserved for only the top tier teams, e.g. the top third at the most.)
- Won their first playoff match in history. (Though only by one late goal, to a team that finished three places below us at the end of the regular season, and in our own house.)
- Lost in the second round of the playoffs. To a franchise with a mere three years of existence against our ten.
- Yes, we spent many weeks allegedly “in first place” in the Eastern division of the MLS. A deeper look into that during the season showed — to those with an objective eye — that, when points were adjusted for matches played. the team was in fact mostly at a lower place during that run.
Now, let’s summarize the overall results of the Union’s 10 years as a club:
- For the 10th year in a row, we did not win an MLS Cup.
- For the 10th year in a row, we did not advance to the MLS Cup final.
- For the 10th year in a row, we did not advance deep into the playoffs.
- For the 10th year in a row, we have the same principal owner of the team.
Oh, now that last point is especially interesting.
Here’s a trivia question: What MLS owner’s team won the MLS championship last year, in only their second year of their franchise?
Answer: Arthur Blank of Atlanta United FC.
Oh, and guess what — in now only their third year Atlanta entered the playoffs, won their first round match, then knocked us out easily in the second.
Now that we have reviewed the results (i.e. the facts) — with no spin/exaggeration — let’s ask some questions about the Union franchise (and dare to answer them).
- Why have Union never won an MLS Cup?
- Why have the Union never appeared in an MLS Cup final?
- Why have the Union never gone deep into the MLS playoffs?
- Why have the Union never done these things despite 10 years of opportunity?
Of course their are many detailed answers to these questions, but those answers all summarize to the following:
The ownership of this team has simply failed us.
Further, why has the ownership not played any matches since season 1 — especially the big ones, e.g. the match several weeks ago against Atlanta — at the Linc to bring in a bigger crowd?
Why has the ownership not expanded Talen Energy Stadium when our extremely loyal fan base usually fills the stadium — even when the team’s play is mediocre and poor?
Why is it that a team in their 10th season and in the city metropolitan area having the eighth highest population in the US still only playing home matches in a stadium with capacity of only 18,500, while Atlanta United, with a metro population ninth highest (just behind Philly), in only their first three years of their franchise is playing their home matches in a stadium with capacity 70,000+ (and often filling it)?
Both cities have metropolitan populations of about 6 million people.
Why has the Union team ownership allowed the sporting director to renew the contract of the team manager continually in the last few years despite the overall poor to mediocre results listed above?
The answers to these questions are simply self evident: The principal owner is satisfied with the results and comfortable with the profits he continually makes owning this franchise, so he has no significant motivation to improve the situation.
As one further example, take a look at the Union website’s history section. there is not a single entry for any results after the 2013 season (though much space is spent on the team colors and symbol). Where is the transparent self-evaluation of the Union? This is utterly appalling.
Therefore, we must ask this critical question of ourselves:
Why do fans continue to give money to the chief owner of this team by purchasing season tickets or various one-off match tickets, when the results of the team overall are mediocre at best?
Last year, after nine years of being a founding member and continuous season tickets holder, I saw the writing on the wall of the Philadelphia Union franchise and refused to renew my season tickets until two things happen:
- The principal owner moves aside by selling the team to someone with the vision, creativity, and motivation to win us an MLS championship, which we sorely deserve; and
- The team replace the manager with someone with a high likelihood of producing that result.
Now, after one season of sitting out from holding season tickets but still following the team’s performance, those criteria are still not met for me to renew financial support of the team, and also once again the overall results are essentially unchanged.
Someone else last year in this publication summarized the overall quality of this Team quite spot-on: “infuriating mediocrity.”
Okay, now we have infuriating mediocrity and won one playoff match — only to be shut out by a kid on the block. Until we have changes in the principal ownership and manager of this team, no prospect is seen to improve the situation.
So, finally, we ask ourselves one last question:
What can improve this situation so that we reach our overall goal (i.e. winning an MLS Cup)?
The answer is that the only way those two criteria change I listed will occur is if we pressure the owner to abandon his lack of urgency (as Taylor Twellman so well put it in when speaking of our US Men’s National Team’s performance in failing to qualify for the World Cup two years ago) and find an owner who has such urgency and vision.
The only way get an owner to do that is to deny him the funds to continue the status quo. I invite you to do that also.
appropriate criticism of the helicopter in the room.
I respect your pessimistic outlook viewpoint and unwillingness to travel to Chester half of your Saturdays, and I am not as into the team as I was a few years ago, despite the excellent season, but I am very confused with your arguments.
—-
Placing 5th/24 would make the playoffs in any reasonable system and would have no impact on the Union’s promotion/relegation for top tier league.
—-
Even if you don’t want to grade-on-a-curve with regards to the spending gap between Philadelphia and Atlanta, that 3-year-old-team was also the Defending Champions at home.
—–
Random odds for not winning the MLS Cup in these past 10 years is 59%. Random odds for not reaching the final is 32%. 10 years is not a lot of time, and I would argue the Union did go deep into the playoffs this year.
—–
I don’t think the data agrees with your statement that our fan base does fill the stadium every season. While moving the team into the sports complex would probably help, non-soccer fans that I know are pretty stubborn about refusing to like soccer, so getting to 60k fans for the Linc (assuming Lurie wants to rent it out) is probably dependent on generational changes in sports interest.
—-
I would love for a filthy rich & free-spending owner to buy the club and drastically inflate the team’s budget, but I don’t think Sugarman has been declining lucrative investor offers. Nor has proven, world-class managers been begging to take the reins from Curtin who has improved the club’s record every season.
—-
I think a more reasonable pessimistic view would be that inconsistency showed through last season’s streaks (and previous seasons), and is downright likely to regress towards the club’s typical season performance for next year without significant investment, especially how the Union relied upon unlikely diamonds-in-the-rough-finds like Wagner and Monteiro to puff up the team.
Good riddance to you.
.
You make a big deal about not having won an MLS Cup. 49 clubs have been in the Premier League since 1992. 6 have won the title. Does that mean that all of the fans of the other 43 teams should just give up on their team?
.
5th place makes Europa League in Spain, Germany, England, and Italy.
.
Not sure where you get the idea that “our extremely loyal fan base usually fills the stadium — even when the team’s play is mediocre and poor”. It was only in the last month and a half of the current season that the Union were regularly selling out games for the first time since around 2010 or 2011. People weren’t showing up when the team was poor.
.
As far as going to a 70,000 seat football stadium for games, I for one would just stay home. One of the great things about Talen is that it is a soccer specific stadium with no seat in the house being a bad seat. At Lincoln Financial, the best seats aren’t much better than the worst seats at Talen.
.
Why do people like you insist on continuing to criticize the manager who was a finalist for coach of the year? Do you really think that someone else who was available for hire could have gotten better results? On the planet I live on, the odds are that another coach would have had worse results than Curtin got and there should be no change there for next year.
+1, well said.
+1
+2
No Andy it does not mean all fans should give up — it means those teams consistently not winning should change course.
Fan attendance over the years sure has waxed and wanned. But I have been to many matches where the stadium was nearly full even when the Team was doing poorly. Our fan base is extremely supportive and loyal.
No a manager only change would not be enough for the Team — we need a new owner etc.
Sir, your solutiom is probably more likely to drive the team out of town than to drive it to improvement.
Sir Al, now you are really onto something there! A move to Philadelphia City and playing all matches at the Linc would be even better!
“I am soooo done with the Union that I wrote a really long article about it.”
–
This is a safe space…just let it all out.
–
You know that you’re in love with the team so just stop denying that to yourself. While it can make you angry and feel bad at times, that’s all part of being a fan of any team.
Yes Zizou I love this Team — so much so that I give the tough love by being objective and honest.
My first reaction? Rough deal to be a STH for 9 years, then miss what was a really fun, exciting season this year. Yes, the owner is still suspect, but what a great, committed group of players this year. And a talented coach who clearly has improved. I don’t profess to know how Atlanta draws so well, but question that we’d draw that well in the linc, outside of hosting the LA teams there (maybe).
I don’t see the shame in finishing behind NYCFC, Atlanta, LAFC, and Seattle.
Some fair points made, though seems like an odd time to make them when pretty much every indicator of success moved in a positive direction this year (best point total ever, won playoff game, top 5 coach of the year, kacper among goal scoring leaders, infused young talent into lineup with some success).
And relegation just isn’t going to happen here. I don’t get the hang up on that topic.
ScottE I did not “miss” the season — just watched on the tube without giving my money to the owner.
Atlanta draws so well because of the combination of 1) a great, creative owner, 2) great Team direction and management, who 3) built a great collection of players who perform consistently very well to excellent, and 4) play in a house that can FIT a large draw.
Yes some indicators moved in the right direction — but ultimately did not (again) reach the overall goal. We have had many such directions over the years with this club. The ultimate indicator of success is winning an MLS Cup — and again we are 0 in 10 on that metric.
“Now that we have reviewed the results (i.e. the facts) — with no spin/exaggeration…”
.
This is demonstrably false. Just because it’s the spin you want to apply (for example, combining the full table) doesn’t mean there’s no spin.
.
“Further, why has the ownership not played any matches since season 1 — especially the big ones, e.g. the match several weeks ago against Atlanta — at the Linc to bring in a bigger crowd?”
.
Why do you think they’d sell enough extra tickets to not look utterly ridiculous inside the Linc? The Linc seats 65,000 (give or take). How many tickets would they need to sell so the stadium looked and sounded full? Even if they doubled what Talen holds (37,000), it would barely put the Linc above half-capacity. That would be terrible optics, and would make for a lesser environment during the match.
.
“Why has the ownership not expanded Talen Energy Stadium when our extremely loyal fan base usually fills the stadium — even when the team’s play is mediocre and poor?”
.
This is also demonstrably false. Average attendance by season:
.
2010 — 19,254*
2011 — 18,259
2012 — 18,053
2013 — 17,867
2014 — 17,631
2015 — 17,451
2016 — 17,519
2017 — 16,812
2018 — 16,518
2019 — 17,111
* Note: 2010’s number is inflated by the two games at the Linc
(Source: https://www.philadelphiaunion.com/club/pressbox/almanac/attendance)
.
And that’s almost certainly “tickets sold” attendance and not the actual gate, which will be lower. The Union have never sold out the stadium for a season, and haven’t even been above 18K since 2012. Why should they expand when there’s already unsold tickets for most games?
.
“Why has the Union team ownership allowed the sporting director to renew the contract of the team manager continually in the last few years despite the overall poor to mediocre results listed above?”
.
So, look… I’m one of those people who thought Jim Curtin should be fired two years ago. I’m willing to admit I was wrong, even if you aren’t. Curtin has clearly shown growth and the ability to adapt to the roster he’s given. As the Union’s budget has risen over the past few years, Curtin has gotten better results year after year – and that includes this year with $2mil spent on a center mid (Marco Fabian) who didn’t fit and didn’t play nearly enough to justify the largest-ever salary in team history.
.
“I saw the writing on the wall of the Philadelphia Union franchise and refused to renew my season tickets until two things happen:
1. The principal owner moves aside by selling the team to someone with the vision, creativity, and motivation to win us an MLS championship, which we sorely deserve; and
2. The team replace the manager with someone with a high likelihood of producing that result.”
.
So, then… if the Union win MLS Cup next season, with this owner and this coach, that’s not good enough for you? Curtin is clearly an improving coach. Sugarman is clearly willing to spend at least a little bit of money – not to the level of Blank in Atlanta or LAFC or Seattle, sure; but they’re overall salary is up (though their ranking within the league remains about the same, around 16th). That doesn’t factor in the money spent (finally!) on the practice facility, practice fields, or the academy – all things, yes, that should’ve been in place from the start; but are in place now and by all accounts are world-class (especially the academy).
.
You’ve clearly got an ax to grind, Tim. That’s OK, but don’t try and present your argument as purely factual, unbiased, and without spin. It’s none of those things.
Now that’s well said along with most of the responses here. This article reminds me of those political opinions being passed off as facts when it’s just their spin like you said.
+1. My only complaint is how much time you must’ve spent making this comment. You are clearly an intelligent person, so don’t waste precious time destroying biased arguments from internet trolls. It’s so well researched, which isn’t a like-for-like response to this article.
Well, it was write this or do work. It wasn’t a tough choice. 😉
So true
Maybe the reason the Union haven’t played at the Linc since 2010 is because it’s not worth the Eagles and Union time. Everyone blames the Union and a lack of money or vision but it could very well be the Eagles don’t want to open up for a regular season MLS game for 40k to 50k people.
John the team would not look ridiculous playing at the Linc — a smart Team staffer would simply adopt what the Seattle Sounders do when they do not have a sellout at their house (they cover large blocks of seats with plastic in their team colors).
As per attendance — thanks for helping me make my point. I said the team usually fills the stadium. I did not literally mean every single seat but rather the vast majority of seats. Anyone looking objectively at the attendance stats would say that filling 90%+ of paid attendance is a great success when the team overall for 10 years has played a mediocre level of futbol.
Yes winning an MLS Cup would be good enough for me — but that simply is extremely unlikely to happen with the owner and manager we have.
No thanks.
The most recent Forbes data suggests that the owner loses about a million dollars a year. The franchise value is probably going up (so it is a good investment) but the idea that the owner is pocketing cash is probably bunk.
$5 million in annual losses
5MM – SUM, which I figured at 4MM/team, so losses of 1MM. SUM could be 5MM, which puts the Union at break even.
Make no mistake about it. Whatever losses that occur on the MLS side of things is made up for on the SUM side. I’m not anti-SUM, but owners taking ‘huge hits’ from operating losses is Garber spin. I’m sure Sugarman and other MLS owners are compartmentalizing the two.
I seriously doubt that SUM is paying out 120 million in profit every year to MLS owner’s. Yes, the hits aren’t as big as reported but I seriously doubt they are covering losses. Chance are they are being reinvested by building infrastructure like training facilities and academies. Also TAM and GAM money isn’t coming from just anywhere, I would imagine that shoe of that money comes from SUM as well.
.
Say what you want about the Sugarman but his vision is a double edged sword and I seriously doubt Richie Graham would want to change it much.
.
This team is dedicated to building with homegrown talent or developing young foreign talent by signing players to Bethlehem Steel. They went out and hired Ernst Tanner and obviously he’s on board with the vision, especially since he’s quite experienced doing this in the past. Just look at the players he has signed that performed this year. Fabian was basically the only one who didn’t fit the mold and he was a wash at best contributing to this team.
.
Even at the end of the season he explained that the team isn’t just going to sell on but continue the development until they think the player is ready.
.
I can get if you can’t be patient after a decade but this article comes off like every person I know who wants pro/rel but only supports (insert lame reason why and not promoted team) a top club in Europe. Relating it to Philadelphia, basically a bandwagon jumper of the team that wins championships because you couldn’t suffer.
.
The thing with me is, once that team finally breaks through, it’s so much sweeter and I get to enjoy that experience with the community. So stay away but truthfully in the end you’re only punishing yourself. I recognize MLS is filled with more big money spending teams but I also believe there is still enough parity to give teams dictated to developing young players a chance and where the league is heading in the future.
It may be a coincidence that in the 2 years following a new minority investor for the club we’ve had the two most promising years, but I’m thinking there might be more to it than that.
.
https://www.bizjournals.com/philadelphia/news/2018/03/16/philadelphia-union-net-new-minority-owner.html
.
Sugarman finally seems to be righting the ship that we’ve thought was long lost.
Oh gosh he is a very slow sailor to right a ship. Arthur Blank did it in two years in Atlanta but Jay Sugarman has had 10 years and still has’nt sailed into port.
This was a well written article. Too bad its full of garbage hot takes
Dummest piece of garbage “justified” opinion I can ever remember reading here (as a column. It’s kind of a regular everyday occurance in the comments).
.
We’re supposed ignore statistics (facts) and set aside “spin”. (Unless it’s Tim’s “Tasmanian Devil” spin.) Geez.
.
Tim, you’re a douche.
-In defense of Sugarman-
I’m not going to say he’s been a great owner, he hasn’t, but…
.
Union are finally to the point where we have caught up to the rest of the league in our base infrastructure. The U have a full training facility and large office space for the FO (no more getting kicked off their training fields for a U-11 team). As a result there is more money in the operating budget to focus on other things.
.
Our front office now has more employees than it ever has.
Getting TD was a big step in the right direction.
McDermott is putting more marketing dollars out there than we have in the past.
Larger transfer fees are now on the table, e.g. Fabian.
This has been the largest amount of $$ put into the roster to date.
And hey, they are starting to pave the lots.
.
The Union have been sorely lacking for proper funding for a long time, but I think that time is passing. We still aren’t going to get Blank $$ tossed about, but we are trending in the right direction. And it helps that iStar is doing well for Jay.
.
I, for one, am looking forward to seeing what Tanner can do in the off-season.
.
And I absolutely Re-Doop’d.
Even more to the fact with having McDermott, I think the players/team are finally visible in the city.
They’re being seen at Sixers games and practices.
Eagles players have come to games.
Social media is integrating into the Philly sports scene.
H*ck, even Philly Sports Radio is “talking” about the Union.
.
That means more $$$ (advertising and ticket sales).
I’m excited.
Ooohh woww — we have players being seen about the town! Gosh, social media and radio has discussions! We even have a mascot, and its name is Phang!!!
Those are all just great metrics to measure a Team’s success!
So instead of proving that we have a fanbase that will stick close by in good times and bad, instead of rewarding a winning effort with more support, instead of showing a Philly passion for our guys, you want us to boycott and throw a tantrum because things aren’t perfect? Your vision is a fair weather fan and frontrunner’s dream, so count me out.
.
Another thing, 5th place isn’t a laughing stock. How happy would Wolverhampton be to finish 5th this year? How happy would Browns fans be to make it to the divisional round of the playoffs? We should be happy to have a team, and show our support in good times and bad. Not just when they’re winning. I can’t believe I’ve wasted this much of my day on clickbait. Go cheer for Man City, Barcelona, PSG, Juventus, and Bayern. Or have you jumped ship on Bayern now that they’re in 4th?
Fortnite
We have already proved the loyalty of our fanbase — been there, done that. We have not had our loyalty paid back by an MLS Cup.
No tantrum’s allowed — rather, just measured, objective, votes with the old wallet.
No I do not cheer for those other countries’/cities Teams you listed — rather just for the U and the US men’s and women’s national Teamsl
When you support a club, you do it because you love the club, love the city, and enjoy the sport. Did you refuse to support your NFL team when they went years without winning a super bowl? Would you stop supporting your NFL team if they were consistently middle of the pack for the next ten years? Opinions like the one in this article are plastic. It is okay to be frustrated with the team, frustrated with the owner, and demand change for aspects you don’t like. However, being “done” with the team is weak-minded.
Yes I support our club because I love it, the city, and sport — I just do it now without giving my money to the owner.at
Yes I have always refused to support my NFL teams where I have lived because that sport is not futbol but rather hands and throwball and is utterly a slow and generally easy sport.
No, voting with the ole wallet is a strong move — these things make the world go round (listen to the song and learn — find it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PIAXG_QcQNU).
First off, it’s hard to add to what’s already been said above, so well. But I’ll try.
.
As someone who has argued in the past that the only way to achieve change in the Union’s(Sugarman’s) approach, was to boycott and not give him your money. As someone who was indifferent and willing to give Curtin time, then had seen enough and wanted him gone, to finally accepting his ability. As someone who is both stubborn and willing to admit when I’m wrong, I find your stance in this opinion piece quite pig-headed and a bit spiteful.
.
Things have changed around here, whether you refuse to see it or not. The hiring Ernst Tanner alone should have told you that. The transfer and signing of Marco Fabian should have told you that.
.
It has been argued here, by myself and others, that the team has spent enough in the past years to have been more competitive. The Union of the past spent money in wasteful ways, on players, and in positions of the field, where the percentage of ROI was quite low. Ernst arrived and changed that.
.
It states in the byline(?), that you sent this opinion piece in once the Union were beaten by Atlanta. Without further detail as to how close it arrived from that point, what I say now, I can’t say with definitive certainty. But I’m pretty damn sure I’m right anyway. Most of this was written well before the match, whether in your head or on the screen. They are beliefs you had to hold on to in order to make your choice of quitting your support of the team, the right one, in your mind. You saw the progress being made this year, the fun being had by fans, team, coach, and choose to double-down on your choice of exile. Sad really. If I ever get to the point of being this much of a curmudgeon, someone, anyone, please shoot me. If I had been you this year, and missed the Union becoming the one thing we all hoped for, relevant, I would be quite sad myself. But I would have admitted being wrong in the end. It’s OK, it really doesn’t hurt. At least not as much as missing the joy of watching the Union win their first playoff match in history, must sting. Which is really why we have this opinion piece. I’d feel sorry for you sir if it wasn’t a misguided endeavor. Best wishes with your new love, Atlanta.
Yes many things have changed with this team — as in previous years — except we still have not won or played in an MLS Cup final.
Yes you are partially correct as some of my article was written before the Atlanta match — some even early in the season. But, the article was finished after the Atlanta match and thus after our season was complete — that is the whole point: an objective, honest, analysis after all the data and results are in.
No, my new love is not Atlanta. I still love Philly and simply love it enough to give it the tough love it so sorely needs.
I’m going to give Dan Walsh some props here! In the midst of the unions best season he publishes the counter point. Again, unafraid allow the opposing voice a place to be heard! Ten years reading this site and this is why I always tell people to come here! This column reads like we didn’t beat Pink Cows for the first playoff win. Really sorry Mr. View. I don’t share yours!
Thanks for noticing that, Montag. I’m glad people still appreciate that. 🙂
–
Yes, that is why we ran it. We’ve always believed in publishing various points of view. The column is called Fans’ View, and Tim was willing to put the time and effort in to get his voice heard. Credit to him for doing so.
–
(Credit Pete Andrews, PSP’s current managing editor, and Ryan Rose, our assistant managing editor. They’re really running the show these days. It’s a mere fluke that I happened to pitch in on editing this one because we were shorthanded.)
It is a different kind of site here. Most commenters can agree to disagree so long as there’s a solid argument behind the two views. Footy is a beautiful game and like our opinions,there’s lots of ways to see it.
As a side note. Full name is Montagnoli. But not related to the Italian hotel chain. Hope you and the family are well.
Hi Montag. Yes indeed big Kudos to Dan Walsh and his colleagues at the Philly Soccer Page for a great online mag and coverage. Indeed he has the fortitude to accept and participate in a healthy discussion.
However, I think you missed the parts of my article where I precisely did mention our victory over the pink cows — suggest you read it again.
with Deadspin hollowed out, I need more of this in my life, thanks to all including commenters
My two cents:
.
– JC certainly proved his merit; I’m happy for him.
.
– Ernst certainly relieved some pressure on ownership but he will leave soon (either for lack of resources or better pay or both) then we’re back to being a team with cheap ownership consistently refusing to make reasonable, competitive expenditures (3rd DP; charters; Monty?). Hope not but eh…
.
– Ernst’s connections in Germany are now a year dated. He will have less to choose from and he already got his primary targets this past year. He may wiff. In Ernst we trust has some logical limits as a team/fan credo. Ernst all but said so in the post season press conference.
.
– There are Union sponsored posters in these comments that defend ownership. I have concluded that.
.
– As stated above cudos for posting this counter point commentary piece.
.
I’m paid by the Union to put positive comments here. They pay me one million dollars a year to work from home and you can as well by clicking the link below.
.
Lolololol dot com
It’s just entertainment. I pay for movies, I pay for video games, and I pay for live sports among other things to keep me entertained. This past year was the most bang-for-buck I’ve gotten from this club. That’s how I square it in my brain.
.
Of course Arthur Blank United and $LAFC$ are dominant, don’t you know your place? We’re a mid table club with a budget owner in the poorest big city in America.
.
I too wish for Sugarman to sell but I don’t see that happening. The league should step but I feel they probably won’t because we’re from Philly and no one likes us. Just suck it up, baby, we’re in for a long and disappointing haul.
Dear The Truth: thanks for your important comments. Those represent the majority of fans, who simply pay for and are satisfied with mediocre to occaisionally good entertainment — points I have made to many other fans and U staff. atHowever, some of us are purest fans of this sport and are not satisfied with not winning an MLS Cup and not going deep into the playoffs.
Your predictions may prove to be correct — but we have already been in a long and dissapointing haul.
This whole thing was almost as fun as this season was. I don’t have much to add that hasn’t already been said. Hopefully the team took a real, actual step forward this season and Tanner and Co. build on what we have. I Re-DOOP’d… I’ve been doing this since Day One and as long as I can afford it… I will keep doing it. I love the team and I love the sport. PLUS… I’m a Lot A guy and I’ll be damned if I’m not going to be there now that it’s getting paved!! (I saw it with my own eyes… it was partially done at the playoff game)
Dear OneManWolfpack — thank you! The U is extremely lucky to have your (and others’) continued loyalty. I hope we are paid in return for that loyalty with an MLS Cup one of these years…
Glad you got your pavement! I had been a lot C guy for years — always loved that longer walk to and from the stadium along the water…
All we neeed to do is resign Freddy Adu. Then we will win our first MLS Cup!
Eddy that is so funny! Thank you for that great laugh.
i totally agree with the author.
this team will not win anything until Jim Curtain is replaced.