Photo Kyle Grantham

Former Philadelphia Union head coach Jim Curtin used to say that after ten games played, a league table began to show what a soccer team was going to produce in its season. 

Interim head coach Ryan Richter has been in charge since before June 11th when Union practices were allowed to resume. And hIs regime has now played nine games between MLS’s resumed 2026 schedule and the Leagues Cup’s group stage.  

As of Sunday evening August 23rd, Richter’s overall record is 5-2-2. Here are the details.

For the Santos Laguna match Richter fully rotated his squad. None of his top 17 or 18 players started. Some of them substituted on for the last half an hour which did not affect their ability to play the full 90 in their next match at NYC FC.

Richter’s starters and primary reserves

After nine games this seems to be how coach Richter perceives and deploys his squad.

Playoff chances 

Richter’s team now lies three points below the away slot for the wild-card play-in game. The play-in game has conference team number nine visit team number eight for the right to play a best two out of three against the conference’s first place team. 

Philadelphia has 13 games left in its regular season and as mentioned lies three points below the minimum for playoff qualification. Making the play-in game now seems plausible, although we doubt it is the limit of Richter’s ambition. Philadelphia are twelve points below hosting a home a first round series currently, seemingly still quite the reach. But last May 28th any playoff game was a reach.

Quinn Sullivan looks capable of being the first substitute at attacking midfield in every game as he works his way back towards starting fitness. Agustin Anello has been handled cautiously as an attacking substitute, creating questions whether he also recovering from something physical.

The other big roster question is when Neil Pierre will leave for a bigger club. Mark McKenzie’s reported arrival in January would be an obvious time for a transition, but that logic has no supporting factual evidence.

Final thoughts

We assume that Kai Wagner’s and Mark McKenzie’s returns will absorb all the transfer fee money the Union has available for the rest of the 2026 season. And how such money will be available after 2026 ends, for the sprint season and beyond, is a question to which the general public needs answers.

Pierre’s sale will generate money. So will Philippe Ndinga’s. A recent change to current rules means that up to three million dollars of those proceeds will convert into general allocation money usable in transfer fees. We have no idea how much of those monies are already earmarked towards McKenzie’s return, said to be a $2.5 million transaction. 

The four defensive midfielders will also increase costs, since  none are on guaranteed contracts for 2027’s two seasons. Allocation money itself would only become involved if newly negotiated salaries were to need buying down. But at the moment none of Jean Jacques, Lukic, Bueno, or Rafanello are certain to be here come January. The club can still be in control of the defensive midfield situation if it chooses. No one will become free agents next January 1st unless the club declines their options.  But bringing them back could involve more money since each has done well is his respective role.  Negotiating new contracts is certainly a possibility for one or more of them.

Richter has rekindled hope among his squad and among the fanbase. How far can he take them?