Last week, I was invited (dared?) on Twitter to post on this site in response to taking exception to tBG's assertion that the Union were,"getting there". So let's take a look at what progression looks like:

Well, we can see right away that the Union regressed from 2013 in terms of points from 46 to 42. If we do not include the inaugural campaign(30 games instead of 34), the Union average a 6th place EC finish, a 13th for MLS at 43 points (1.26 PPG). Pretty much last season's results. More like stagnation than progress, but with 6 teams now making the playoffs, being 6th suddenly looks more appealing.

How else can a club show progress? Ambition is one, and the signing of Maurice Edu demonstrates it to some degree. Investment back into the club is another way, and Front Office supporters will quickly point to the new training fields as prima facie evidence that the Union are making steps. My view? These are basic level requirements to running an MLS franchise. Dropping sod over a parking lot is about as basic a training facility you can make. (In doing some research, there doesn't seem to be an aggregate of MLS facilities, but this thread comes close http://forums.bigsoccer.com/threads/mls-training-grounds-round-up.1989279/page-4 )

Well, how about attendance? Are we getting there with the fans?

Um...nope. The Union aren't at "staying away in droves" territory, but they are moving towards "caught in his jet wash, in a flat spin headed out to sea" territory. If we use this site's average ticket price of $53 (https://www.brotherlygame.com/2013/4/16/4213526/tiqiq-philadelphia-union-ticket-prices-mls-2013-ppl-park) , that represents $380,222 annually the Union are no longer capturing (using the capacity 18,053 baseline). Or, you know, one of those DP strikers(Blas Peres, Dom Dwyer,Lee Nguyen,Gyasi Zardes,Cubo Torres all under that $). Funny enough, Bradley Wright-Phillips and his 27 goals cost RBNY $372,500 in guaranteed comp in 2014. So why is this important, glad you asked. Let's move onto the most important area, the Front Office.

If only Sakiewicz would learn this...

The Philadelphia Union currently list 14 members of the soccer side of their FO, this includes some recent chiropractor additions who have yet to have bio's posted to the team site. The MLS average is 19.5 staff, which includes all roles the clubs attribute as "soccer operations". But the Union hired Rene Meulensteen!!! Yes. As a consultant. You hire consultants when you don't have the bandwidth to do the job, you don't have the expertise, or you don't have the budget to add headcount. The Union meet all 3 of these criteria. What does it really mean for the club? Well, player acquisition requires scouting. Currently all of that resides on the plate of Chris Albright, a man who only two short seasons ago was beaten at midfield and who is variously described as the Technical Director/Assistant Coach or Assistant Technical Director. The reality? You get to watch his learning curve.

So what is the answer? If the Union are making only the minimum investments in staffing, scouting, training facilities, player acquisition (rumors point to 2 signings soon), what's a fan to do? You can do a few things -

• A)Keep on wishin' a deeper pocket comes along
• B) Vote with your wallet

1prog·ress

noun \ˈprä-grəs, -ˌgres, US also & British usually ˈprō-ˌgres\

: movement forward or toward a place

: the process of improving or developing something over a period of time

That word just doesn't describe the team I've been watching.