FanPost

The 2015 Season

Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports

I would like to start this post by saying it is to early to honestly predict what the Philadelphia Union will look like in 2015. However, it is always fun to speculate. After reading the posts about Zack Steffen, Amobi Okugo, Pedro Ribeiro, and CJ Sapong, here are my thoughts on what we might expect the Union to look like when they take the field. Whether you like the moves or not, I believe that the Union are taking a win now approach to next year.

So let’s start with how I expect the Union to line up with their current roster. My guess is that Jim Curtin will continue to use the 4-2-3-1 as his base formation making adjustment based on the opponent. So based on who is currently on the team, I believe the starting lineup will look something like:

GK – Rais M'Bolhi

D – Sheanon Williams, Ethan White, Carlos Valdes, Raymon Gaddis

DM – Maurice Edu, Vincent Nogueira

AM – Sebastien Le Toux, Cristian Maidana, Andrew Wenger

F – CJ Sapong

This personal could easily shift into a 4-3-3 on the fly by pushing two attaching midfielders forward, or to a 4-1-3-2 by pairing Le Toux with Sapong shifting Nogueira up and leaving Edu as the one DM.

On paper you would have to say this is a pretty strong lineup. So where are the biggest holes? People keep talking about a proven striker. I agree that if you could get a big name star (i.e. Robbie Keane) and that would be ideal, but is it likely to happen? How many of those guys are out there? If so, would this push Sapong out wide and Wenger to the bench? I might be okay with that, but that does not play to Sapong’s strengths (as seen this year in KC).

The other position people talk about is left back. Let’s say the Union sign someone like Ashley Cole (highly doubtful). That would bump Gaddis out of his position, would you really want to see him relegate to the bench? Or would he then in turn bump Williams at right back?

As much as I like Okugo, if he wanted to play his natural position (defensive midfielder) who do you take out? Edu? Nogueira? There just is no room on the field to play three defensive midfielders. And, yes I know people talk about Edu dropping back into defense but do you really what your star, your highest paid player anchoring your backline?

We still need to remember that we can only use eleven players at a time. I hear people calling for Zach Pfeffer to play a larger role, and what about Leo Fernandes who impressed early last year? How do they fit into this current side? I can’t see them getting many minutes with the players currently here. Adding a striker I think pushes them even further down the pecking order.

Based on the current roster are your three subs off the bench: Conor Casey, Danny Cruz, and Michael Lahoud?

At this being said the team currently doesn't have a ton of depth, with the exception of goal.

1. If Zac MacMath is our backup and Andre Blake our three, I feel good about the strength at this position.

2. On defense, Austin Berry showed glimpses promise and Fabinho can be used out on the left. Williams has also shown versatility to play every position on the back line.

3. With Lahoud and I believe they will resign Brian Carroll, we have proven leadership to spell Edu and Nogueira as DMs.

4. Attaching midfield options are limited with Pfeffer, Cruz, Fabinho, maybe the return of Fred - again in a limited role. New need to strengthen this position.

5. Up top I’m excited to see what Casey can do in a more limited role, a fresh Casey in the last 10-20 minutes of a game could be extremely effective. And what about Antoine Hoppenot? He showed promise in past seasons, where does he fit in?

6. Plus where do we see Aaron Wheeler in line up - as a forward or defender? Do the Union bring back Brian Brown?

For me personally, I think we need three things:

1. A striker that will consistently score goals

2. Help in the back. We need to add defense piece or two to sure up the back line (maybe not even a starter but support for depth).

3. And the outside attaching winger midfielder that stays wide, stretches the field and opens up space.

Again, it this is all speculation based on what I've seen till today. Thank you for reading and I’d like to see what other people think the starting lineup will look like.

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