Photo: Marjorie Elzey

Two different kinds of victories.

One different kind of player.

After a thrilling few days in Uniontown, a chance to reflect on what happened.

Inter Miami

The Union should be proud of their road victory on Wednesday night, as much or more than their other wins from a whirlwind week.

Why? First, midweek games in the July heat of Southern Florida are no joke. Road games in general in MLS are a nightmare.

When European players come to the league and begin to adjust, they mention two things as being unexpected, despite their preparations: the travel, and the varying weather conditions – especially the muggy heat (as hard as it might be to play a rainy midweek game in Stoke, the said can be said of one in hot Miami, smoggy Los Angeles, at altitude in Colorado, etc…).

Why? Phil Neville’s side are rounding into form since benching Gonzalo Higuain – and said Designated Player scored a banger of a goal on the night, leaving Best XI defender Jakob Glesnes in the dust (a wonderful play, as good as his defending was poor on the Union’s second goal, around the 2:30 mark).

The game itself wasn’t all that entertaining, but when a boa constrictor kills its prey, the commentary rarely goes, “You know, the snake didn’t move around enough for me to be entertained.” The snake makes its move and slowly chokes out whatever unlucky animal is about to be dinner.

In this case, it was a heron.

New England

Sometimes a title bout is simply about making the right adjustments more than it is about being better than the other team.

On Saturday night, the Union and New England Revolution played a scintillating game. It was a match wherein both teams could lay claim to the statistical advantage and thus claim they might be due the spoils.

But if the game is about adjustments, one such change the Union made was in formation, bringing in a double-pivot to the base of their midfield by including Jack McGlynn in a 4-2-3-1. This is a familiar formation for Union fans, the team’s preferred shape pre-Ernst Tanner – with a wrinkle: It wasn’t a passing formation, per se. Instead, the Boys in Blue used the two defensive midfielders to close the space in which Carles Gil likes to receive the ball. This forced the league’s top assist man to go searching for gaps, usually out wide. Waiting for him on the wings were the team’s best defender in Leon Flach and it’s freshest legs, Paxten Aaronson.

They weren’t really wingers so much as they were high-pressing, wide-set central midfielders.

The Revs build up in a lot of different ways, but the ball invariably ends up on Gil’s feet before they score. With defenders in his pocket on every inch of the manicured Subaru Park grass, it was hard for the visitors to string much together. Their tremendously built goal was the exception, not the rule.

Jack McGlynn

Speaking of the young homegrown, Jack McGlynn is quickly becoming the most promising prospect of the new Academy class.

Quinn Sullivan is a goal-scoring tweener right now, Aaronson is peppy but unfinished, and Brenden Craig is like most young defenders – still in need of some seasoning. McGlynn? He’s a veritable Sergio Busquets.

Hyperbolic? Fine. Just start with the young man’s highlights from Saturday before making a decision.

McGlynn Masterclass vs NE Revs pic.twitter.com/xrRezYnuOw

— Jack Stephen 🇺🇸🇮🇳 (@USMNTZ) July 17, 2022

Now, watch this reel of the Barcelona man’s majesty (kudos to @JordanDunathan for the tweet). Obviously the context is different, but watch the body shape, watch the hips, watch the vision. This isn’t a “run harder and run harder” American prospect, but a careful, thoughtful, and creative one who can move the midfield and measure a pass well beyond his years.

The Union have some tactical flexibility now, and it’s in large part because of this teenager.