Breaking Down the 2015 Philadelphia Union Schedule

I only hoped for one thing in the 2015 season when it came to the Philadelphia Union's schedule and it was the ability to travel with the away support to the Philadelphia Union vs. New York City FC match. Unfortunately the combination of a Thursday and my relocation to Maryland I am incapable of doing so. Not only did my one hope about the schedule not come to for wishing, the Union really got the raw end of the MLS Schedule deal.

Lets break down the schedule month by month and I'll give you my opinions about what to look for and what to hide from regarding the schedule.

March

3/7 - Colorado Rapids

3/14 - @ Real Salt Lake

3/20 - FC Dallas

3/29 - @ Chicago Fire

Pretty run of the mill schedule going on in March. Things might get tricky against RSL and FC Dallas in the middle of the month, especially with the short week in between. I have full faith that the Union won't go into April winless or pointless given a trip to Chicago has treated the Union well in their history.

April

4/5 - @ Sporting Kansas City

4/11 - New York City FC

4/16 - @ New York City FC

4/19 - New England Revolution

4/25 - @ Columbus Crew SC

The first of 4 separate instances back to back road games occurs at the beginning of the month when the Union travel to Sporting Park to play CJ Sapong's old outfit. Following that? The first of 3 instances of a stretch run of 3 games in a week. The NYCFC home and away will be an interesting test as the Union will square off with the expansion side for the first time in their history. A big month in regards to Eastern Conference matches after following a Western Conference heavy March. Its early in the season yet, but these matches may come back to reward or haunt the Union come September and October.

May

5/2 - Toronto FC

5/9 - @ Vancouver Whitecaps

5/17 - DC United

5/24 - @ New York Red Bulls

5/30 - @DC United

May features the second back to back road games for the Union and a triple header of rival action. Away trips to Harrison and RFK highlight this month as I know I'll be getting my Sons of Ben heckling out of the dusty attic for at least one of those matches. The Union are treated to a trip to the Pacific Northwest in May just before the fun against DC United and New York Red Bulls begins

June

6/3 - Columbus Crew SC

6/6 - New York City FC

6/20 - @ LA Galaxy

6/24 - Seattle Sounders FC

6/27 - Montreal Impact

June on paper looks like a great month for the Union. 4 home matches, a week break in there, and a game against last year's bottom feeders. If you're satisfied, look again. This lovely week long break is sandwiched between 3 games in 8 days and then another 3 games in 8 days. Yay! Starting with the DC road game at the end of May followed by a midweek match against Columbus and then a New York City FC finish by Saturday. If things didn't sound great already after a week off the Union have fun by traveling to LA on the 20th only to turn around and come back for a match against Seattle 3 days later. Need a breath? Sorry, Montreal visits 3 days after Seattle does.

So the Union have 4 home games, but that comes with the price of playing the 2014 MLS Cup Champions and the 2014 US Open Cup and Supporters Shield Winners. Is this more of a take the good with the bad or a potential unexpected moment of collapse for the Union? June will absolutely be a crucial month for them.

July

7/11 - Portland Timbers

7/18 - @ Toronto FC

7/26 - @ DC United

The Union finish a three game homestand against the Portland Timbers after a much deserved week off in the beginning of June. Another 2 travel dates to mark on your calendar follow with trips north and south to Toronto and DC. A relaxing month given the previous will seem a bit rushed. This marks the beginning of the schedule calming down a bit for the Union, but also sees the start of a 7 game stretch against Eastern Conference opponents with their match in Canada.

August

8/1 - New York Red Bulls

8/8 - @ Orlando City SC

8/16 - Chicago Fire

8/22 - @Montreal Impact

8/29 - New England Revolution

After the back to back road games in July, the Union will go every other at home through the duration of August. Things begin to get serious in the playoff race in August, if the Union are partaking, and the intensity of the US Open Cup raises as well. Again, that hinges on the Union's participation. With a game at every weekend, it could be crucial to have depth if they in fact make another run at the cup. We all know how gassed the team looked heading down the stretch and they won't have another week off until October.

September

9/5 - @ San Jose Earthquakes

9/12 - Columbus Crew SC

9/20 - Houston Dynamo

9/26 - @ New England Revolution

A west coast trip begins the month of September with not so open arms. San Jose is going to be a team that sneaks under the radar in my opinion, with clubs who open a new stadium having a pretty good track record in MLS history (most recently Sporting Kansas City). My concerns don't stop there as a new and improved Houston Dynamo come to town and I'm sure they will continue to give the Union fits. Their trip to the Eastern Conference champions home is the first of a 3 game stretch of away games and will ultimately be all hands on deck games for your beloved Philadelphia Union.

October

10/3 - @ Toronto FC

10/18 - @ New York Red Bulls

10/25 - Orlando City SC

A very welcome week off will hopefully give Philadelphia a chance to recuperate and make a final push for the playoffs as they will go up to Red Bull Arena and actually fill the seats the Red Bull "fans" leave open on a weekly basis. Things won't be easy for the Blue and Gold as they have only accumulated just one point at RBA over the course of 5 seasons and something tells me that October 18th, 2015 will be the perfect time to end that streak. Points will be necessary, but hard to come by as Orlando City visits PPL to end the 2015 season in what could be a tension filled matchup deciding playoff seeding. Not to mention the return of Amobi Okugo and Pedro Ribeiro.