Photo: Ron Soliman

The Philadelphia Union dismantled Nashville SC on Saturday evening, marking the second game in a row that Philly channeled their elite 2022 form.

The return of Andre Blake has jolted confidence into the side. Tai Baribo has finally come out of his shell and is scoring goals by the bundle. While both Jose Martinez and Daniel Gazdag have returned from their respective international teams with an intense focus that was lacking in the first half of the season.

The attack

After a couple games of run with the 3-5-2 when the team had limited options in the midfield, Jim Curtin has consecutively deployed slightly different variations of the 4-4-2 diamond to great success.

On Wednesday vs. New England, the majority of Union attacks were down the left, with Wagner contributing a significant amount going forward. On Saturday however, the Union played a little more of their traditional style with the majority of the attacks coming down the right.

(Attack sides 7/18 vs. NE from WhoScored.com)

(Attack sides graphic 7/21 vs. NSH from WhoScored.com)

A major reason for this difference is the personnel deployed in each match. Bedoya got the start as a right shuttler vs. New England, which led to more attacks filtering through Wagner down the left with Bedoya playing a bit deeper.

On Saturday vs. Nashville, Quinn Sullivan got the start at right shuttler. His ability to pick up possession deeper in transition and run at defenses by beating defenders with his pace, allowed the Union to get numbers in the attack more fluidly down the right.

It was evident as early as the Union’s first goal that Sullivan’s ability to drive at defenders to spur attacks was going to be on the menu all night.

A great pass from Flach to boot.

As the Union head into Leagues Cup, they may be without McGlynn and Harriel. Though, the return of Martinez and Gazdag, along with the signing of Sam Adeniran has allowed for the likes of Sullivan and Flach to be deployed at the more preferred shuttler role.

The added depth has afforded the Union the ability to use different skillsets and personnel more strategically. Of course, this is a nice luxury afforded to the Union after months of playing with short benches full of reserve players with very little experience.

The Green Zone

Solid band name? Na, probably not.

Though, Jim Curtin referred to the area the Union were trying to exploit as such.

“We’re telling Mikael you’re best running in behind, so you pin the two center backs back and now Tai comes off the back line into that green zone, the area between the center backs and the six,” Curtin posited when asked.

“Anunga was isolated by himself and he has to deal with Gazdag and Baribo coming off so we found a lot of space in there, giving him two things to deal with.”

Baribo’s strong movement and overall incredible form has been a welcome occurrence for the Union in life after Carranza. Tai has a certain craftiness and clinical ability in front of goal that can compliment both Gazdag and Uhre in an attacking-efficient fashion.

Another welcome addition to the squad is Sam Adeniran, who joined the team shortly after the match vs. New England on Wednesday. The somewhat of a journeyman forward entered the match Saturday in the 61st minute after only practicing twice with the group. The new forward really handled himself well.

“Sam came into the game and I thought it influenced it in a big way,” said Curtin. “You see how good he is and strong in the air, his speed to get in behind could have had a couple goals but we’ll save those for the the 1-0 wins rather than the 4-0 at the end of a game.”

Adeniran even had the initial pressure leading to the turnover on Gazdag’s third goal, forcing the Nashville’s Josh Bauer into playing back to Joe Willis.

“He did a great job,” Curtin added. “I really liked his work rate. I liked how he won headers, he held balls up, made some good passes, was involved and helped us in a time where you know right around 60 minutes we lost a little momentum and they came at us.”

The return of the D

If the Union’s attack has come alive these last two matches, their defense has been resuscitated from a coma. Giving up just one goal over the last two games, the defense played well enough Saturday to help Andre Blake record his first clean sheet of the season.

One way they made this happen was their positioning vs. Nashville. In order for the defense to properly account for playmakers Hany Mukhtar and Jacob Shaffelburg, the back four sat deeper than normal, keeping the Nashville attack in front of them.

(Back four heat maps 7/18 vs. NE from WhoScored.com)

(Back four heat maps 7/21 vs. NSH from WhoScored.com)

This resulted in the Union conceding possession to Nashville 42/58. However, it also allowed the team to focus on winning the ball back and breaking out on the counter with numbers – akin to the scintiliating counter attacking football the team made deep runs with.

Just ahead of the back four, Martinez has come back from his Copa America semi-final run with Venezuela with a vengeance. Earlier in the season, catastrophic giveaways and some frustrating defensive play indicative of a lack of focus were thematic for El Brujo.

Over the last two matches Martinez has brought a level of intensity and focus that has totally reinvigorated the defensive posture of the side. His ability to track down attacking bodies stride-for-stride over 70 yards, recover the ball cleanly, and jump start attacks going the other way has elevated the defensive play to levels that are not far off of 2022.

Yet, this analysis of the defense wouldn’t be complete if it made no mention of Andre Blake’s return.

Dre has truly been the difference over the last two matches. In reality, the defense did give up two to three chances in this match that could have easily been goals.

But Blake was there to deny both Hany Mukhtar and Teal Bunbury on chances that, almost certainly, would have been goals with either Rick or Semmle in net.

Outside of a small injury scare with Blake late in the first half, his return has been just what the doctor ordered to quell what was a seemingly endless downward spiral for the side.

Now that the Union have two of their most important pieces back in the side, can the team make a run at hardware in Leagues Cup and beyond?