The last-place Philadelphia Union showed some life over the course of the last 5 games. Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough to produce any meaningful soccer. Jeremy and Chris are back, throwing out any pretense of game reporting, to talk about the problems in Chester and the potential ways forward.
Great convo as usual!
I try to be positive about both the present and the future, but everything that has happened to the Union since Quinn blew out his knee has been a net negative and looks to continue in that direction for maybe years to come?
Nate is having a good year, Cavan is our one functioning spark plug, Ilsoski has the intelligence but he can’t both be service and the one to score, and Bueno has been mucho bueno.
But now to the Cliffs of Union Despair rambling stream of consciousness
Dominoes falling – delinquent TD, veteran brain drain, failed offseason, total disregard/dissolution of SS winning team, total lack of interest (and ability) in competing in CCC (B/C squad against Club America at home? wtf), youngest squad in MLS, lowest payroll in MLS, no new scoring threat, no new defensive threat, guys don’t know the system, Bradley coaching up half the squad, what happened to our physios/injuries on a thin squad, worst points/game in Union history
Things that have me scared for the Union – so dependent on fan revenue, 2nd smallest stadium, highest concession prices in MLS, STM loss after ’24 hasn’t been replaced, faltering attendance, winter schedule only going to make both worse, failed to ride SS bump, failed to make CCC run, most likely a minimal LC bump, failed spectacularly to take advantage of WC being in Philly lead up to tournament with current results lack of groundswell around the team, any post WC bump will be short lived unless they find a way to flip results, summer window might change things but don’t see any reason it will be different than winter window at this point, and this mini season is going to make player recruitment tough, though it might help in bringing in a TD/coach to give them a runway into the full season, or are the Union still trying for the Tanner redemption arc?
With all that in mind is the Winter Schedule going to benefit Union at all? STM’s already talking about bailing, attendance will take a big hit from Nov to Mar w/o playoff draw or beginning of the season to get people in the seats when its cold (it already drops off games 2-5 until it warms up late March), are they really going to get players that will offset any of that?
These next two years are going to be a rough stretch I fear