Philadelphia Union went head to head against FC Cincinnati on Oct. 19, 2024 at Subaru Park in Chester, PA.
Photo by Ron Soliman
Photo Credit: Ron Soliman
The Philadelphia Union saw their long-shot playoff hopes end as they fell to FC Cincinnati 2 – 1 at home on Saturday evening. It was the first time in franchise history the Union had lost to Cincinnati in Chester.
To make the playoffs, the Union needed a win over Cincinnati a loss from either CF Montréal or D.C. United, which would have vaulted the Union into Wild Card play-in game on goal-difference. While D.C. United lost to Charlotte FC 3-0, the Union’s sixth home loss of the season instead means they will miss the postseason for the first time since 2017. Their season also ends with their fewest home victories in club history.
Things looked bright for the Union when Quinn Sullivan opened the scoring in the second minute. Sullivan did well to stay onside as he received a pass from Jack McGlynn and buried his shot at the far post.
Cincinnati nearly wiped the goal away on the restart when DeAndre Yedlin broke behind the Union back line and took Andre Blake, but put his shot wide as Kai Wagner closed and applied contact.
Blake denied Yedlin in the 9th minute when Yedlin rose over Kai Wagner at the edge of the siz and fired a header hard toward goal off a cross from Lucho Acosta, but a diving Blake parried the ball away
Daniel Gazdag received treatment in the 11th minute while Union fans held their breath. Gazdag went down untouched and held his face as trainers worked on this right leg. Gazdag walked off with head athletic trainer Paul Rushing under his own power holding his lower back, and tried to run a few times before relenting that he could not continue.
Tai Baribo had a strong shot saved by Roman Celenatano in the 23rd minute after receiving a pass from Kai Wagner in the middle of the box, but Celantano diving save forced the shot wide.
Blake was nearly chipped in the 31st minute when Luca Orellano noticed Blake standing at the top of the 18 and launched a shot from the midfield line. Blake was sent sprinting back for a leaping save near the post.
Blake made another save on a Luca Orellano shot in the 39th minute when Orellano put a hard shot from just outside the six low toward the corner, but Blake was waiting and handled it easily.
The Union nearly scored a second goal in the 44th minute when Uhre sprinted around the Cincinnati wall on a free kick from Kai Wagner and received the ball with just the keeper to beat, but a kick save from Roman Celentano sent the ball back out of the box.
Cincinnati scored on a shot from just outside the box from Yamil Asad in the fourth of three minutes of first half stoppage time. The Union were unable to clear the ball multiple times from inside the box as clearance attempts rattled off of Cincinnati players, including Yuya Kubo’s elbow as it clattered out to Asad, but a check by the assistant referee allowed the goal to stand.
Cincinnati benefitted from an inexplicable Union own-goal from Jakob Glesnes in the first minute of the second half when Glesnes sent a panicked pass blindly to Blake who was coming out to collect the ball and nowhere near where Glesnes sent his pass. Glesnes seemed to think Cincinnati was pursuing what had been an errant cross but no attacking player was within 20 yards of Glesnes when he reached the ball. It was the first time Cincinnati had held a lead in a game since September 18th.
Neither team mounted a convincing challenge (despite a number of Union free kicks outside the box) until Alejandro Bedoya launched a shot in the 86th minute from 35 yards out that Roman Celentano forced wide for a Union corner. On the ensuing kick, the Union called for a hand ball, but were denied. Their next corner was cleared out and the return shots ended out for a goal kick.
The Union won another corner in the 90th minute but Jack McGlynn’s kick found no one and a return ball from Jeremy Rafanello turned into a Cincinnati counter that Rafanello himself chased down just outside the six, forcing an awkward shot from Sergio Santos that Andre Blake saved with his leg and out for a corner.
Jack Elliott had a shot from the penalty spot blocked point-blank by Alvas Powell in the fourth of six minutes of second half stoppage time, which proved to be the last real chance the Union had in the game.
After six minutes of stoppage time, the Union’s season ended.
Three points
- Where do the Union go from here?: The Philadelphia Union face major questions as the off-season begins far earlier than they’d hoped at the start of the campaign. Do they choose to blow up the roster and restart? Do they find the missing pieces on the transfer market? Do they continue to rely on Union II to fill out their roster? It’s hard to imagine the Union can find better than Glesnes, Elliott, or Wagner on the back line given the club’s spending philosophy, should they opt for a total teardown. Likewise, if they’re unwilling to spend to bring in upgrades it seems a foregone conclusion they’ll remain a long way from their title-contending form from 2020-2023.
- Alejandro Bedoya: I was a bit surprised Bedoya didn’t start what has to be his final game in Union colors, especially given it was coming at Subaru Park. Bedoya has been been in the starting lineup repeatedly when the Union have needed a win this season and while that may not always produce the best starting eleven the club has, Curtin it’s seemed has relied on the veteran’s leadership to keep the squad settled in big moments. With the Union’s season over, it’ll be interesting to see if Bedoya takes on the vague front office position mentioned when he signed his contract before the season or pursues another season with a contender elsewhere. Bedoya has said he intends to play another season, but where would that be?
- Bookending Own Goals: Jakob Glesnes began and ended the season with two of the oddest own goals you may ever see, especially from a player of his caliber. Fans who remember the Union’s opening match of the CONCACAF Champions Cup at Deportivo Saprissa had to have flashbacks like I did when Glesnes buried the ball in his own net tonight. In that match, Glesnes scored from 40 yards out when he sent a pass back to Blake that took an odd bounce in the driving wind and rain into the net over a leaping Blake. Tonight Glesnes ended his season, and the Union’s, the same way it began when his blind pass back to Andre Blake inside the box found his own net. I would be shocked if another player had started and ended his season with own goals in league history and I’d love someone to tell me if it’s ever happened in any league for that matter.
Lineups
Philadelphia: Andre Blake, Kai Wagner, Jack Elliott, Jakob Glesnes (Alejandro Bedoya – 65′), Nathan Harriel, Leon Flach (Jeremy Rafanello — 88′), Jack McGlynn, Quinn Sullivan, Daniel Gazdag (Danley Jean Jacques — 16′), Mikael Uhre, Tai Baribo
Unused subs: Andrew Rick, Olivier Mbaizo, Jesus Bueno, Cavan Sullivan, Chris Donovan, Samuel Adeniran
Cincinnati: Roman Celentano, Yamil Asad (Corey Baird – 82′), Teenage Hadebe (Ian Murphy – 82′), Miles Robinson, Chidozie Awaziem (Alvas Powell – 60′), DeAndre Yedlin, Obinna Nwobodo, Pavel Bucha, Luciano Acosta, Luca Orellano (Nicholas Gioacchini – 69′), Yuya Kubo (Sergio Santos – 60′)
Unused subs: Kevin Kelsy, Gerardo Valenzuela, Malik Pinto, Evan Louro
Scoring summary
PHI – Quinn Sullivan — 2′
CIN –Yamil Asad — 45+4′
CIN – Jakob Glesnes (OG) — 46′
Misconduct summary
PHI – Tai Baribo — 38′
CIN – Obinna Nwobodo — 58′
PHI – Jack Elliott — 64′
CIN – Yamil Asad — 66′
CIN – Luca Orellano — 68′
Kyle – thanks for the report.
That’s So Union 🙁
See y’all next season ~
Peace.
Cincinnati had nothing to play for and STILL beat this dumpster fire of a USL side masquerading as an MLS 11. Fans deserved better. Union are MLSINO; major league soccer in name only.
FC Cincinnati needed a win to get into a berth in Concacaf next season, so they did have something to play for. They also had lost several in a row and wanted to right the ship before the playoffs started.
Not even disappointed. Expected the result and am more than ready to close the book on this season.
A fitting ending…Pure shit. Sugarman’s ‘spending philosophy’.
The bookend own goals summed up the season in a nutshell. As soon as they gave it up, I said it would be an appropriate last goal in a Union game considering the own goal to start the season in Costa Rica.
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But watching the first half anytime after the Union goal, did anyone really think that this Union team wouldn’t give up at least two goals at some point?
I was at the game. Few things sum up the season like PHANG taking a ball to the head mid game.
I didn’t watch any of it – I just didn’t care. I did check the score around half time. It must have been before chucklefuck put it in his own goal. I was not at all surprised to see that the U had scored and, of course, had also allowed the equalizer.
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Later, I checked again, but not in great detail, and again was in no way surprised to see that they allowed another. I didn’t know at the time it was an OG. Great! Nice job JG.
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This season’s team leaks goals. The situation at CB must be addressed. They are BAD! There are many others but I am too tired to care right now.
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meh
I will not renew a season ticket. I am not sure when/if I will buy another game ticket, and even more importantly (to the U and MLS) not sure if I will pay for crapple tv.
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I hope there are more like me. It’s not that the team is bad, it’s that they are directionless. I am not convinced that ET is that great. Perhaps it was Chris Albright all along? Is that possible? I think so.
While I renewed because it’s one of the few things to get my wife and I out of the house for an evening, I haven’t watched a game on TV since June or July, so I would suggest not buying the TV package.
This. Correct.
Harriel again with just a staggering inability to read the game or queue to responsibility on the tying goal. Standing there watching a soccer game from field level. For 2 seconds I was screaming at him to step up the field. But no. Just kinda hung out. US National team player. And this years bullseye for me. How many gols came from his unawares on the right side of defensive channel. UNREAL.
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Good riddance Union. Good riddance to your marketing team who tweeted 5 min after the game about a second year of sellouts. Tone deaf as possible. Good riddance to your new field level luxury seats you’ll build in front of TRE.
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The sellout joke is on you. You sold out this season. Piss off.
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Will sit and observe how in the world ‘you’ rectify this unabashed disappointment of a season. No team can let 2 of it’s 3 best players walk during the run of play of a season and think it will all just work out. It’s insulting in truth.
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“When I am King. You will be first against the wall.”
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The last fart of a deflating balloon. The Union did a hell of a job squandering the good will and hope of their fan base — a fan base that has seen a lot. But never, I think, have we had to watch a sleep walk through a season like this one. I’ve never been this bored by this team.
Bingo! Next year will take a major philosophy change for the organization or a change in ownership for them to keep selling out the stadium and growing this fan base.
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Kai Wagner after the game with the opinion that players on the team are alright with missing the playoffs. Watching this game I just didn’t see players playing with any urgency down two goals to qualify. I think Curtin is a good coach but that’s the guy who this falls on. There are three men who run this franchise and the high mark was losing the Cup in epic fashion. Every year since they’ve taken a step back. Winning with homegrown players and obscure international players has never proven to be a winning formula for the last decade.
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Watching MLS this year and how Miami, Columbus, LAFC & LA Galaxy have built teams, I think you’re watching the future of the league. If this somehow turns into the conference finals and they get ratings and social media clicks, expect more changes in roster building for 2025.
Pretty appropriate that we didn’t use all 5 subs in a game we’re chasing. Part of this is Curtin as well, which seems to always get overlooked. We never changed strategies, he still always defaults to his favorites, and you can bet your mortgage on that first 60ish min sub. All too predictable, admins you can’t do that with a shitty lineup.
True, but also: which guy on the bench would’ve made a difference? It’s the Open Cup final against Seattle all over again.
With this result, I believe the Union are 1-12 in one-goal games this season…. The only win was all the way back in April.
I was up top at the river end where they sell beer and sausages. Sugarman was up there in the corner facing out over the new fields and the power plant corp office, looking like he was surveying his U investment empire. The sad part is that he wasn’t even interested in watching the soccer going on inside or the fans who pay. Doest’t that typify where his interest lies? Making alot more money or providing entertainment. He made his choice. I made mine.
Here is the view from Section 105, having had a night to sleep on last night’s game and its meaning:
1) For which team was this a meaningless game and for which team was this a make or break game for the entire season? Had you tried to answer that question from the play last night, you would have gotten it wrong. Other than for the last 10 minutes of the game during which Danley ran around like a madman, the Union showed no fire whatsoever. John O’D. is spot on–the Union lacked fire.
2) It’s over. I wrote about my fear on this page in May–that the Union had aged beyond excellence as a team. Perhaps they can compete in the Senior MLS, but this team is what it is, mediocre in every respect, except perhaps at goalkeeper. We are now watching a team in decline, and it is now time for a rebuild with younger players.
3) Part of me says that a 30 year-old Jose Martinez would not have allowed his team to play without emotion–never was he missed so much as last night.
4) Though it for sure was not the cause of the result, the officiating last night was awful. It started in the first minute when during an aerial duel right in front of us, a Cincinnati defender was draped over Tai Baribo like a cheap suit and no call was made. Later in the half, when Tai Baribo was similarly draped over a Cincinnati player with the ball who retaliated by forcebully backing into Baribo after the play was whistled to a stop, Baribo was called for the foul. Ridiculous.
5) The gaffe. I don’t think that I have seen as bad a gaffe as Glesnes made last night resulting in an own goal at any level of soccer, including youth soccer. I have always coached goalkeepers to call defenders away from balls that they intend to play, and from what I could see, Andre Blake did do that. There was no defender within 20 yards of the play. Andre was so shocked that he just stood there while the ball rolled into the goal. Needless to say (but I am saying it), that cannot happen EVER, but it did. After having given up the tying goal in the last minute of first half stoppage time, this mistake completed deflated the crowd (about 70% of capacity from what I could tell) and the team.
6) So goodbye Miss American (Union) Pie–it was an enjoyable run and we got to see some excellent soccer. I wish all of the Union seniors good luck in their new homes–hopefully they can find places that fit their now-modest talents.
Here is the view from Section 105.
1) I was watching with my friend Don, my eldest granddaughter Keira and her brother Jack. As we were walking in, we were talking about our predictions. Jack thought that the Union would win 2-0; Keira agreed, and correctly predicted that Quinn Sullivan would score. I correctly said that the Union would not have a clean sheet, and I did predict a 2-1 Union win because they would “be the more desperate team.” Except that they weren’t, and that was the most disappointing thing about last night’s loss–even more than The Gaffe.
2) Would Jose Martinez have tolerated this level of play from his mates? I think not. Since I don’t follow soccer in Brazil, I have no idea how Jose has done there, but I have seen his will to win and his giving everything on the field (especially during the first Eastern Championship match with NYCFC) and I have nothing but respect and admiration for him. As things turned out, he was the emotional core of this team and without him, this team was destined to fail.
3) It’s over. As I worried on this page in May, the core of this team have aged out of excellence and have descended to mediocrity. My then worries have become a reality.
4) John O’D is absolutely spot on observing that the team played with no urgency (except for the last 10 minutes when Danley was running around like a madman). The Union need to look to Brighton in the EPL for the winning formula to win with young players–it is not the usual, but it can be done.
5) It is reasonable to ask whether or not Harriel can defend–though he is a true aerial threat, his ball-watching on defense was costly. A back has to play defense first, period. Can he learn that? I don’t know.
6) The Gaffe. I have never seen as bad an own goal as the Glesnes produced at any level of soccer. One of the first lessons that I taught coaching at the youth level was for the goalie to call the balls he intended to play. I looked from where we were sitting that Andre called the ball. There was no reason for Glesnes to play it–there was no opponent within 20 yards. Before the The Gaffe, I thought it was possible that the Union could take the game, but I did not think that they could score 3 goals against Cincinnati. The Gaffe was a fitting end to a sad and disappointing season.
7) It is time for the younger players to step up. I am willing to watch a team with upside play with emotion and perhaps lose by the same score.
15 years ago my excitement and passion for the Union was never wavering. Year after year the rocky road of the ever improving team and players effort continued to support my desire to DOOP it up every game win or loose, to the crescendo of seconds left in THE CHAMPIONSHIP that never became a reality. From that loss in LA YEARS ago, until last night’s total complete unprofessional and at times almost high schoolish disaster has been a complete shit show that dedicated fans of the Union DO NOT DESERVE. I demand an apology from sugarman for taking our money and investing it in the deep pockets of the ownership instead of the players/future players. I find it appalling that the coach after so many games with a man advantage STILL can not have the team perform to control the pace and run of play let alone score and/or WIN the game… how is that not possible? RRRRRRRRRRR… Winning clubs inve$t in winning players, the Union converted a dilapidated garage into a beer hall and I guess expected winning results?!?!?!? Your smoke and mirrors game is exposed, it appears no matter how many times you portray your dedication to a WINNING TEAM you care only about YOUR BOTTOM LINE. One final example of your greed was my meal I purchased at last night’s game, dried out chicken tenders, almost warm soggy french fries, a bottle of water and a diet coke, all for the wonderful price of $54.00 after a tip… oh let’s not forget the extravagant $2 cheese cup. Thnx for the worst season since conception, see ya next season (mental illness runs in the family)…GO UNION!!!!!
Thank you Kyle and the entire PSP team for coverage this year. This year’s challenges at the beginning of the year and then the commitment to continue to put out content in the most difficult season in years made me appreciate you all more. Of course it’s easier to write your articles when the team is flying, but you kept going through the ups and downs. I really love the club and appreciate the community of supporters you convene each week to share thoughts on the team. The community are a big part of why I like to read PSP but it doesn’t exist without your efforts. Thank you so much and I look forward to continuing to follow you.
Spot on. Well said. I always read.
+1
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An appropriate message to all of the PSP contributors. Thank you for giving your time and talents to create a virtual space for the rest of us to gather.
Oh wow, I often see “that’s so Union” on these message boards and it’s said with a snicker, but LAST NIGHT…where to begin…
1) The Union jump out to a quick lead, exactly the start you want, and then nothing. It’s almost as if taking the lead was the worst thing to happen.
2) A huge blow to lose Gazdag to injury. So you put Danley in which is fine and does what he can.
3) Cincinnati dominates for the most part the rest of the half, but the Union hang on…THEN the ref inexplicably adds 30 seconds of stoppage time despite the ball being near the sideline and of course Cincinnati scores.
4) Glesnes gives up a horrible own goal…BUT it’s everything that happened after that makes me stick to my stomach.
5) Curtin subs Glesnes out for Bedoya!? Are you f’n kidding me! Was Glesnes hurt? A hail mary sub in the 60th minute? To makes matters worse, with the earlier injury, you only had one more window to make three more subs. So Curtin only uses one more sub in Rafanello. I can’t help but think this was a message from Jim to management. Because looking at our bench, I really couldn’t justify putting anyone else in. Unless you wanted a fresh forward or Mbaizo for Harriel. But what’s the point. I don’t think it would have made a bit of a difference.
6) The biggest point was during the 50th-90th minute, when the season was on the line, the Union had nothing. That hail mary sub had ZERO effect. The fans should have been 100% zoned in getting that tying goal. Instead, I became more disinterested as the half went on. Even the news that Charlotte had taken the lead over DC did nothing.
7) But this is on management/Sugarman. Nothing was really done for the pillaging of our players this season…Carranza, Martinez and even Lowe.
8) One last thing…seeing the news that FIFA gave the World Club Cup spot to Miami made me sick to my stomach. But not surprising at all. They said it was because they won the Supporters Shield this year (yeah right lol). And I see some who justify that that is how other leagues decide it, so that’s fair…Uh no, those others spots were determined by clubs beating other clubs in their region/confederation. So if you’re rooting for a club in the MLS playoffs, root for Columbus. Think about it, THEY’RE the defending MLS Cup champions, THEY WON the Leagues Cup, AND to make matters worse they finished runners up this past year in the CCL… the very competition that DECIDES the spots! But Miami has Messi so whatever I guess.
Thoughtful comments…
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My rebut… when we stop a reakuze and acquire—> from the bottom to top of US Soccer it’s all a rotten apple… nothing comes as a surprise.
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Unfortunately most of the rotten grassroots apples laying under the tree die their from no real fault of their own.
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A season ticket mass cancellation seems to be in order, especially if Curtin isn’t sacked this coming week. Any other MLS side fires such an underachieving manager long before this. Make NRG stadium a ghost town next year.
The guy’s won more games than anyone in the league over the last 5 years. Not a good take.
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Need to figure some stuff out. Shit canning Jim Curtin is 100% not ‘some stuff.’
Winning games isn’t the goal. Winning trophies is the goal. He’s won one trophy in a shortened season unless you want to count the eastern conference trophy, which I don’t.
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That being said he’s not a bad coach but in this situation he’s better off leaving much like Andy Reid did because if he won somewhere else that would help his career. Right now in this situation he can’t get over the top. The Eagles won a Superbowl after Reid left but also changed philosophies as well.
To quote the movie Moneyball, that really doesn’t matter unless you win the last game of the season. The window of opportunity has slammed shut.
2014 is what I’ve been saying since April. That’s when I canceled season tix. I couldn’t stomach the consistent, poor investment in talent and uninspired soccer. I feel for anyone who sat through these home matches. I just revisited the schedule month by month. Woof! I also didn’t renew Apple season pass this season and was spared most of the disappointment, honestly for self preservation. If the org doesn’t care to invest, I don’t either.
I was at the match last night. My major sponsor CEO being wooed by Sugarman, et al., acting like this product is acceptable.
Man oh man… you guys are nailing it in the comments.
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Also want to shout out the current regime of PSP. Tough year to inherit and more on the horizon. I’m here for your efforts. We’ll get through this together.
What annoys me the most (well maybe not the most of ALL – but certainly a ton)… is that this team didn’t have to end up being this way.
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The FO for all their current failings, starting in 2017-18, built this team into a good, solid squad… culminating in 2022 MLS Cup Final – which arguably they should have won. So instead of taking that momentum and adding to say – damn, we were so close, let’s push this over the edge – they squander the shit out of it, by running it back for TWO years. Lazy. Cheap. Ridiculous.
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I’m a day one STH, like many of you, and I have renewed for next season (like some of you), but this is my line in the sand. If investments aren’t made to make this team legitimately better this offseason, this coming 2025 year will be my last. I understand we won’t win MLS Cup every year (or maybe ever), that’s sports – your teams doesn’t always win. But to bullshit and gaslight the fans by saying we’ll spend whatever we are asked to spend, etc., is just absurd. Enough is enough. Spend the money. Or cash out your investment and move on. As a day one STH, I deserve better and so does everyone else.
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As always – THANK YOU PSP writers for a great season. I love this site. I donate monthly to help keep it alive. I would urge you, if you can, to throw a few bucks toward it. It’s great and I love commenting and reading, etc. Keep up the excellent work!
Perfect ending poetic ending to this season. Started with a Glesnes OG, and ended with one as well.
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Carranza leaving didn’t hurt the team as much as some would like to believe. They were planning and trying to move him on last summer and this past offseason. Baribo scored more goals this season than JC as well. The team scored 62, which the second highest scoring season in team history.
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Losing Martinez stings,for sure. He’s at a big club in Brazil now, and I’m happy for him.
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The biggest issues on this team are at Centerback. The blind backpasses, blind clearances to the middle of the field, and underhit passes in their own half have been killing this team for the past two seasons. Younger starting caliber upgrades are needed, desperately.
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It’s time for young Cavan abd Vasquez to step up this winter and seize the backup role to Gazdag, because when he’s not in the lineup this team struggles mightily. When he left due to injury Saturday night….. it fell apart.
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They need to resign Leon and Ale. Leon for his great defensive play and versatility (can play LB in a pinch). Ale for his leadership.
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They should sell McGlynn, as they will need some funds to go out and retool the team (centerback(s), LM/DM, and third striker). Plus, for as skilled and good as Jack is, this team will function better with a more dynamic box to box player. Which could be Danley, and in that case they’ll need a workhorse dynamic 6.
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Lastly, I ask that fans read up on the league’s roster rules and then look at the Union’s roster spend on the MLSPA’s website. When folks call for the team to “spend more money” what exactly are people referring to? Player salaries? Transfer fees? Both? Do we ant Philly to be the Chicago Fire??? They spend money like crazy…… Orlando spends LESS than Philly does and they are near the top of the table….