Photo courtesy of the Philadelphia Union

Brutal. The team photo at the start of the game is the best the Union looked all night. 

We all knew Head Coach Bradley Carnell was going to rotate his squad to semi-prioritize Tuesday’s USOC Semi against Nashville. I understand the desire to win the USOC, though I believe a MLS Cup is the only hardware that really matters. And the Union have already clinched a playoff spot and are likely to have home-field advantage. So go ahead and rotate.

But this rotation was catastrophic. There is no other word to describe it. Sure, Andrew Rick is a capable backup (and will probably be a very good starter someday). Nate Harriel has filled in admirably at times at center back. Mikael Uhre should be an MLS-quality starter. Jesus Bueno should be able to fill in for Danley Jean Jacques once in a while. And Alejandro Bedoya is the ultimate team player and probably volunteered again to play right back. But Carnell should have known that all of these changes at once was a bad idea. Jim Curtin did not rotate enough and ran players into the ground. Carnell orchestrated a masterful rotation in Chicago. Vancouver is no Chicago. Coach’s rating: 2.

There is no way to sugarcoat the worst loss in team history. It was a debacle. Carnell deserves the blame for putting his players in poor position to even compete, let alone try to get a point. I am a Carnell supporter who thinks he has overachieved with this team. I don’t even have an issue with him making substitutions in first half injury time (he made three, so there was no need to worry about the number of remaining substitution windows, something lost on the announcers). Though I would have subbed Bedoya off after 20 minutes. Pride be damned. 

This was Carnell’s catastrophe. Anything short of a win on Tuesday and Saturday will have me questioning whether he should return next year.

Lest readers think I am being too generous in my ratings, I follow these as a guideline: Soccer player ratings from 0-10 explained: Performances from Erling Häland, Ali Dia, Geoff Hurst and more – CBSSports.com. FYI, 1 equates with “can this person actually play professionally?” A 2 is “exceptionally bad”, a 3 is “bad”, while a 4 is “not up to standard.” Here are the ratings.

Player Ratings

GK Andrew Rick – 4

I can’t believe I am writing this, when The Union allowed seven (!!) goals, but it is hard to fault Rick for the scoreline. Two penalties. Horrible defending. Unmarked men. He actually made some nice saves. This loss (and scoreline) is not the goalkeeper’s fault. Then why rank Rick a 4 (“not up to standard”)? How can I not after seven (!!) goals?

LB Frankie Westfield – 4

“Westfield at left back?” was probably muttered by many when the line-ups were announced. But in previous years Westfield was on the LB depth chart. He was the replacement if Kai Wagner ever left. But he clearly was overmatched on defense and could not contribute anything offensively, unlike when he plays on the right. Is only ranked a 4 because he played the second half at right back and was not a disaster in that half.

CB Nate Harriel – 4

I think Harriel has, in the past, filled in at center back and done so admirably. His 30+ minutes at CB after Makhanya’s red card in Cincinnati were terrific. But Harriel is not a CB. Harriel did not play well in Vancouver. He was beaten in the air on the first goal. But he was playing out of position because the Union have absolutely no depth at CB beyond a 17-year-old. Only for that reason does he rank a 4.

CB Jakob Glesnes – 3

Glesnes was pulled out of position for the entire first half, covering for Bedoya. Is that his fault? Nope. It is the coach’s fault. But that led to him having one of his worst Union games ever, even including when he was injured last season.

RB Alejandro Bedoya – 2

I never saw Bedoya play in Europe. I’ve only ever seen him play for the Union. But I think I can make an argument that this was his worst game ever. Ever. I know he is the ultimate team player and was looking to help the team but starting him was a horrible idea. On turf. Against a speedy Ali Ahmed. How can Olivier Mbaizo not even get consideration?

DM Jesus Bueno – 4

Last time I authored a Players’ Ratings I wrote: “[t]he drop off from Danley Jean Jacques was not massive, and Bueno was an acceptable starter on a night that Bradley Carnell chose to rotate his line-up.” Well, not this time. The drop off was massive. Flying across the box with an arm in the air is not bright, to say the least. 

DM Jovan Lukić – 5

Believe it or not, but Lukić was probably the best starter for the Union. On a night when the defense was lacking across the board and Vancouver seemed to have no problem passing through, over, or around the Union’s lines, Lukić made the most plays.

AM Indiana Vassilev– 5

On a night when the Union’s offense sputtered, more was needed from Vassilev. Though he was very accurate passing on the night, Vassilev only created one chance and only touched the ball twice in the Vancouver box. 

AM Quinn Sullivan – 5

At least Sullivan had a shot on target. Called on to do too much defensively on the right to make up for Bedoya, his attacking play suffered. 

FWD Milan Iloski – 4

He never really looked a threat offensively and lost more duels than any other player on the pitch. 

FWD Mikael Uhre – 5

I know the goal was disallowed by VAR for offsides (what ever happened to “clear and obvious error?), but Uhre did what a striker was supposed to do. He scored. Almost. Unfortunately, it was the only time he looked a threat.

Substitutes:

(45+2′) Danley Jean Jacques – 5

Danley had the most passes into the final third, played every long ball accurately, and actually looked like he deserved to be on the pitch.

(45+2′) Tai Baribo – 4

Never really got into a groove; perhaps starting in first-half injury time was the reason. Only had 2 passes into the final third, did not create any chances and had no shots. Not all his fault. But even pressing, Baribo had a poor night, not winning any duels.

(45+2′) Kai Wagner – 5

From the moment Wagner entered, the Union looked slightly more dangerous going forward. Slightly. By that time, however, Vancouver was going downhill and nothing could stop them. Not a bad game, but not up to the German’s standards.

(62’) Bruno Damiani – 4

Missed what was perhaps the biggest chance on the night. Was really brought on just to save some legs for Tuesday.

(70’) Neil Pierre – 5

Pierre was given his MLS debut in a match well out of hand. What could he do wrong that would make things worse? He actually connected on 100% of his passes.

Geiger Counter

Allen Chapman – 6

Chapman called a fair match. But chalking off the goal after a mere glance at the monitor was a joke. Would it have changed the match? No. That’s why he’s at a 6 and not a 3.

Player of the Match – Ali Ahmed

Is it fair to pick a player who had only one assist as Player of the Match when Sebastian Berhalter had two assists, Emmanuel Sabbi had two goals, and Thomas Muller had a hat-trick? I don’t know. But I am. Ahmed simply abused Bedoya (and Glesnes). It wasn’t a fair fight.

What’s Next…

The Union travel to GEODIS Park to face Nashville SC in the U.S. Open Cup semi-final on Tuesday, September 16.  (8:00 p.m. ET / Paramount+).