The Philadelphia Union open their third season on the road in Portland tonight. The team that will face the Timbers is a vastly different one than walked off the field at Robertson Stadium following the playoff loss to Houston in November. If there?s one thing we learned about the Union this offseason it?s that they do not fear change.
Their captain and starting goalkeeper? Gone. The face of the franchise and all-time leading scorer? Gone. Make no mistake, you do not jettison your two most popular players and risk alienating a rabid fan base without having the courage of your convictions. Whether you agree with them or not, this is an organization with a clearly defined philosophy.
What is that philosophy? They value youth and they exploit inefficiencies in undervalued player acquisition markets like Colombia, Costa Rica, and Panama. When taken as whole, the stunning offseason moves are consistent with those two tenets.
So, with that mind let?s take a look at the offseason moves and the key storylines to look for in Season Three.
Key Departures
Sebastien Le Toux (traded to Vancouver) ? We?ve covered the Le Toux trade here and here. The reality is that the Union are going to need to find a way to replace a prolific goal scorer. In two seasons Le Toux scored 31.6% of the Union?s goals. He didn?t wait long to open his account in Vancouver ? scoring just three minutes into his first game with the Whitecaps.
Faryd Mondragon (released by Union so he could rejoin Colombia?s Deportivo Cali) ? The captain and starting goalkeeper was a huge reason why the Union went from conceding 49 goals in 2010 to 36 in 2011. Truth be told, Mondragon?s greatest contribution was his ability to organize his back line. His lateral movement wasn?t great and he wasn?t the quickest, but he was a tremendous leader.
Justin Mapp (selected by the Montreal Impact in the expansion draft) ? Mapp, ever the enigma, was left unprotected in the expansion draft. His propensity for wandering in and out of games was maddening. The only thing consistent about him was his inconsistency.
Kyle Nakazawa (traded to the LA Galaxy) ? He was never able to establish himself as a regular in Nowak?s lineup. His service on set pieces was a strength, but he only managed to crack the starting lineup eight times last season.
Key Arrivals
Gabriel Gomez (acquired from Indios de Cuidad Juarez) ? Gomez, a Panamanian international, will partner with Brian Carroll in the center of the Union midfield. Physically the guy is a rock. He?ll bring a rugged, physical presence to the center of the park. He looks and plays much bigger than his listed 6?0?, 178 lbs. Also, he?ll provide the bulk of the service on free kicks.
Josu? Martinez (acquired from Deportivo Saprissa) ? Martinez, a Costa Rican international, is a 21-year old striker who the Union hope will help fill the void left by Le Toux. He brings a ton of pace and an ability to stretch opposing defenses.
Lionard Pajoy (acquired from ?Itag?? Ditaires) ? Pajoy is yet another Colombian player to join the Union. Like Martinez, Pajoy is a forward. He brings good size (6?1?, 185 lbs.) and finishing ability. He scored 13 goals in 27 games last season in the Colombian first division.
Porfirio Lopez (acquired from Deportiva Alajuelense) ? Lopez is being counted on to step in and assume the starting left back spot. Gabe Farfan, playing out of position there last season, was serviceable, but Lopez is a natural left back. Easily identifiable by his afro, Lopez will be the lone new member of the Union?s back line.
Youth to be Served
In light of the roster turnover the Union will need a number of young players to step up. Roger Torres (20 years old) will be counted on to provide a creative presence in the midfield. He?s the closest thing the Union has to a string-puller. He?ll likely play in front of Gomez and Carroll, who will provide defensive cover and allow the diminutive playmaker to initiate the offense.
Zac MacMath (20 years old) was the fifth overall pick in the 2011 MLS Super Draft. He deputized for Mondragon last season, and will assume the starting role. There aren?t a whole lot of questions surrounding his ability. However, it remains to be seen whether he can assert himself and organize his back line.
It?s hard to believe, but Freddy Adu is only 22 years old. He struggled to make an impact with the Union after joining the team in August, but should benefit from his first full preseason camp under Nowak. I am not sure exactly where he?ll play, but he was a confident, attacking force for the US U23?s on the right wing. He?s too creative and skilled to not find a role on this team. Quite simply, it?s time for Freddy to step up. Union fans understand his desire to play overseas, but would appreciate him focusing on his responsibilities to his current club.
Danny Mwanga (20 years old) will likely be given every opportunity to step in and take over for Le Toux. The former first overall pick has all the physical attributes you want from a forward (size, pace, skill). The one thing he has not shown is a consistent work rate, which was one area where you could never question Le Toux. Fair or not, his performance is going to be compared with the Frenchman. Although, work rate aside, at the end of the day the only thing that will matter is the number of times Mwanga puts the ball in the net.
Michael Farfan (23 years old), who is fresh off a training spell with Premier League team Sunderland, was the best of the Union?s young players last season. His contributions were recognized league-wide as he was a finalist for MLS Rookie of the Year. There isn?t one particular area of the game where Farfan excels. He doesn?t blow you away with his speed. He isn?t physically imposing. He?s not flashy. He just has ?it?. It?s plain to see whenever he?s on the ball. I could write 1,000+ words on the subtlety of his game, but I?ll spare you. Just watch the guy play and you?ll know what I am talking about.
Sheanon Williams (21 years old) was just rewarded with a new contract. The starting right back is a tireless runner. He provides width to the Union attack and has the green light to get forward and make overlapping runs. He has room for improvement, particularly in his man marking, but he?s exactly the sort of young player the Union wants to build around.
All six of the players mentioned above should likely start for the Union. However, they are not the only young players who will factor into the equation this season. Jack McInereny (19 years old), Amobi Okugo (20 years old), 2011 first round pick Chandler Hoffman (21 years old), and homegrown signings Cristhian Hernandez (18 years old), Jimmy McLaughlin (18 years old) and Zach Pfeffer (17 years old)will all play a role this season.
STORYLINES
Will the Depth at Forward Compensate for the Loss of Le Toux?
The departure of Le Toux opened an opportunity for someone to step up and claim his minutes (and he played every minute). The good news is that there is no shortage of forward attacking options. The group of forwards assembled by the front office is the deepest in the short history of the franchise. Mwanga, Martinez, Pajoy, McInerney, and Hoffman will all fight to be included in the first XI.
I?d imagine that Mwanga, Martinez and Pajoy will
see the bulk of the minutes. I would love for McInerney to be given
an opportunity to play a full 90 minutes at his natural forward position,
but I currently see him as fourth in the pecking order.
Honestly, he has to. The Union decided not to bring in a veteran backup. MacMath stepped in and played well when Mondragon was injured last season. He went 3-0-4 with a 1.07 goals against average ? posting three shutouts. I don?t think Union fans are the least bit worried that MacMath will be overwhelmed in the same manner Chris Seitz was in 2010. However, the question remains whether MacMath can be the assertive, vocal organizer capable of commanding his box like Mondragon.
How Many Players Can the Union Expect to Lose for Olympic Qualifying and the Olympics?
At various points this summer five Union players were in the US U23 camp (Adu, MacMath, McInerney, Okugo, and Williams). However, only two of those players (Adu and Okugo) were called in for the most recent camp and friendly with Mexico. The Union are in a decent position to absorb the temporary losses of all of those players save for MacMath and Williams. There is a frightening lack of depth on the back line and between the sticks. Losing either player for a significant period would be a major problem. Ultimately, I think US U23 coach Caleb Porter selects Adu and Okugo.
Which Union Player Will Have a Breakout Season?
If I had to put money on it I?d bet on Michael Farfan.
As mentioned, the guy just has ?it?. And yes, this goes way beyond
him chipping the keeper against Real Madrid. He plays way beyond his
years. He exhibits unbelievable patience on the ball. He?s proficient
in working out of tight spaces. His game doesn?t jump up and grab
you, but the more you watch him the more you appreciate just how good
he is.
Yes, I know. Califf, who will wear the captain?s armband, and Valdes are probably the two most important players on the team. Their partnership in the middle of the back line was crucial to the Union?s success last season. Their struggles against Houston on set pieces during the playoffs overshadowed what was otherwise a stellar season for the center back pairing. With goal scoring a question mark the Union will have to be even better defensively this season. It all starts with Califf and Valdes.
What Formation Will Peter Nowak Play?
Your guess is as good as mine. I honestly have no idea. He could play an 8-1-1 and it wouldn?t surprise me. Realistically though I think the formation that best suits this team is a 4-2-3-1. I?d fill in that shape with Williams, Valdes, Califf, Lopez, Carroll, Gomez, M. Farfan, Torres, Adu, and Mwanga. Again, I don?t think there?s any shot Nowak does that, but that?s the way I?d like them to set up.
SEASON PREDICTION
With all of the new faces it may take a bit of time for the Union to start clicking. Fortunately they play in the MLS Eastern Conference, which is much less competitive than the West. The top five teams in each conference will qualify for the playoffs. I see the Union battling for either that fourth or fifth spot. Kansas City and Houston are absolutely the class of the conference. I think the Union fall into the second tier of teams along with New York, Chicago, Columbus, and an improving D.C.
FINAL VERDICT: I?ll say the Union gel as the season progresses and make a late push to clinch the final playoff spot in the East.
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